Genetic Dissection of Cytoplasmic Effector Trafficking in the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

This project will investigate the cellular mechanisms that control effector trafficking during plant infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, a major pathogen of rice and other cereal crops. Using an innovative dual-reporter system combined with forward genetic screening, the research will identify fungal genes required for the secretion and host delivery of cytoplasmic effectors. Mutants defective in effector trafficking will be characterized through fluorescence microscopy, pathogenicity assays, and genomic analysis to identify causal mutations and define the cellular pathways governing effector export. The resulting datasets will provide new insight into fungal infection biology while supporting advanced training in quantitative microscopy, fungal genetics, and genomic analysis within the agricultural sciences.