Chiu-ping Cheng

Biography

Plants constantly encounter a wide range of diseases, leading to tremendous crop losses. Plant bacterial wilt (BW), caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a deadly and complex soil-borne vascular disease of many agronomically important crops worldwide. Control for this disease via traditional practices has been very ineffective. To gather important information and resources potentially useful for disease control, our researches aim to gain insights into molecular mechanisms andsignaling pathways involved in the interactions among plants, R. solanacearum and biocontrol agents. Through systematic genomic screening, we currently focus on studying the functions and the involved mechanisms of a group of plant and R. solanacearum genes which play crucial roles in plant-pathogen interactions. In addition, resources have been collecting from tentative biocontrol agents, including bacteriophages and symbiotic fungi.   Plants constantly encounter a wide range of diseases, leading to tremendous crop losses. Plant bacterial wilt (BW), caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a deadly and complex soil-borne vascular disease of many agronomically important crops worldwide. Control for this disease via traditional practices has been very ineffective. To gather important information and resources potentially useful for disease control, our researches aim to gain insights into molecular mechanisms andsignaling pathways involved in the interactions among plants, R. solanacearum and biocontrol agents. Through systematic genomic screening, we currently focus on studying the functions and the involved mechanisms of a group of plant and R. solanacearum genes which play crucial roles in plant-pathogen interactions. In addition, resources have been collecting from tentative biocontrol agents, including bacteriophages and symbiotic fungi.  

Research Interest

Soil Sciences, Plant Science