This action funds a Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER) in plant-pathogen interactions. The mechanism by which breakdown products of the plant cell wall are transported or taken up into phytopathogenic Xanthomonas, Erwinia and Fusarium species is the major focus of this research. The uptake of radiolabeled galacturonic acid into plant pathogens is being measured to determine the kinetics of transport, the number of transport systems, and the inducibility of cell wall degrading enzymes. The SGER mechanism was selected for this project because of the high cost of custom synthesis for the requisite radiolabeled compound. The element of risk involved is more than would normally be assumed in a fully funded, multi-year project. Some preliminary observations make a strong case for the project and it is highly likely that new information will be gained of a basic nature as well as on the processes of soft-rot diseases of many agriculturally important plants.***
