Plant immune system in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus during interaction with the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans

This diploma thesis focuses on the root immune response of plants, specifically Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus, during interaction with the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans. The work included the development of an in vitro system for studying the roots of these plants in contact with the pathogen. Using microscopic techniques, root defense responses were observed, including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), callose deposition, promoter activity associated with phytohormone signalling, and programmed cell death. Additionally, morphological changes in roots in response to the presence of the pathogen were monitored. Another aim of the thesis was the identification of candidate genes related to the resistance of aerial parts of A. thaliana to L. maculans using GWAS analysis, their functional testing in mutants, and verification of their expression by qPCR. Subsequently, these genes were compared with orthologous genes in B. napus and their expression in root and leaf tissues was analyzed. Keywords: A. thaliana, B. napus, L. maculans, root immunity, ROS, callose, phytohormones, gene expression