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Plant immune system forms the molecular basis of disease resistance, but it is known that even plants with the same genotype can exhibit different infection levels or disease responses in different parts or tissues when exposed to pathogens. Although there has been limited research on these discrete disease resistance, recent studies have gradually revealed the importance of microbiome in such resistance. In screening of soybean varieties in Taiwan for resistance to Calonectria ilicicola, Ph.D. student Ping-Hu Wu discovered that some soybean varieties exhibited seed rot resistance, but this resistance did not extend to root rot. Microbiome analysis using full-length 16S rDNA gene sequencing and bacterial isolation identified two ASVs belonging to Bacillus altitudinis, and two B. altitudinis strains were confirmed to antagonize various fungi. It was further discovered that seed rot resistance was only restored in compatible soybean varieties that were colonized by higher densities of B. altitudinis, and qPCR detection showed that B. altitudinis could not persist in the roots, explaining the absence of root rot resistance. This study has been published in The ISME Journal of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME). [5-year impact factor 11.8, 2023 JCI ranking: 2/195 (99.23 percentile) in Ecology; 9/161 (94.72 percentile) in Microbiology]. link    

A health food company founded and managed by alumni of our department has successfully developed a stress-relief and sleep-aid product, "輕鬆茶 Ching-Sung Cha (Relax Tea)" using Cordyceps militaris and has launched it at our university's agricultural product sales center. This Cordyceps cultivation technology was transferred from our department and represents a successful example of translating academic research into a marketable product, showcasing the outstanding achievements of alumni and the university in integrating research with industry.   Professor Shean-Shong Tzean pioneered research in entomopathogenic fungi, while Professor Tang-Long Shen continued to develop the physiological activities of Cordyceps fungi (Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps) and promote their application in various health products. Associate Professor Hiran A. Ariyawansa collaborated to explore the biodiversity of Cordyceps fungi, further enriching the knowledge base in this research area. These studies have not only enhanced the department's academic reputation domestically and internationally but also successfully translated research results into market products, benefiting the broader community. Moving forward, the department will continue to promote industry-academia collaboration, striving to develop more high-quality health products and contributing to research and innovation in related fields.  

Dr. Ariyawansa's research team has made significant progress in the control of Welsh onion leaf diseases. Leaf diseases caused by Stemphylium and Colletotrichum species are major biotic limiting factors for the Welsh onion industry in Taiwan. Considering pathogen resistance to existing fungicides and potential environmental pollution, Dr. Ariyawansa aims to use endophytes from Welsh onions as a biological control method to replace chemical control.   The research team isolated several bacterial and fungal strains from healthy Welsh onion leaves. These strains were classified into 16 bacterial and 9 fungal genera through morphological and DNA sequence-based molecular identification techniques. Subsequent evaluation through dual culture assays and greenhouse experiments assessed the biocontrol mechanisms of these endophytic strains against the major leaf pathogens Colletotrichum spaethianum and Stemphylium vesicarium.   The results indicated that Bacillus velezensis GFB08 possesses multiple antimicrobial peptide genes and the ability to secrete cell wall-degrading enzymes. It demonstrated significant preventive and curative effects against diseases caused by C. spaethianum and S. vesicarium. This strain can serve as a biocontrol agent to reduce leaf diseases in Welsh onions in Taiwan, thereby decreasing the use of fungicides.   Paper link: Wang, J.-Y., Jayasinghe, H., Cho, Y.-T., Tsai, Y.-C., Chen, C.-Y., Doan, H. K., Ariyawansa, H. A. (2023). Diversity and biocontrol potential of endophytic fungi and bacteria associated with healthy welsh onion leaves in Taiwan. Microorganisms. 11(7):1801. Doi:10.3390/microorganisms11071801

Dr. Chung's research team developed 166 F9 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between the elite Taiwanese japonica cultivar ‘Taikeng 16 (TK16)’ and the bakanae-resistant variety ‘Budda’. Utilizing genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technology, 6,492 SNPs were obtained, and the disease severity index (DSI) was evaluated, successfully identifying two bakanae resistance QTLs: the novel qBK2.1 (21.97–30.15 Mb) on chromosome 2 and qBK1.8 (5.24–8.66 Mb) on chromosome 1. The 64 RILs carrying both qBK1.8 and qBK2.1 exhibited significantly lower DSI (7%) compared to those carrying only qBK1.8 (15%), only qBK2.1 (13%), or neither QTLs (21%). The study developed 11 Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) and 3 Insertions and deletions (InDel) markers, providing essential tools for future fine-mapping and resistance breeding.   This discovery offers a new source of bakanae resistance, with resistant RILs combining good plant type, taste, and high yield characteristics from TK16, serving as excellent donors for resistance breeding.     Paper link: Chen, S.-Y., Lai, M.-H., Chu, Y.-L., Wu, D.-H., Tung, C.-W., Chen, Y.-J., Chung, C.-L. (2023). Identification of qBK2.1, a novel QTL controlling rice resistance against Fusarium fujikuroi. Botanical Studies. 64:11. Doi:10.1186/s40529-023-00375-y