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MAES Researchers JAZ(zed) about Plant Resistance DiscoverySheng Yang He

The mystery of how a major plant hormone works to defend plants against invaders has been revealed, thanks to collaborative research efforts by Michigan State University and Washington State University.

Gregg Howe

Scientists have known for years that a common plant hormone, jasmonate, plays a crucial role in plant development and function, but the steps that convert the hormone's signal into genetic and cellular action have remained elusive. MAES scientists Sheng Yang He and Gregg Howe were part of two back-to-back discoveries that solved the mystery, described in the July 18 online issue of the journal Nature.

Jasmonate is the last major plant hormone to have its signaling process revealed. Initial research by WSU researchers identified the family of proteins -- dubbed JAZ proteins -- that are critical to plants receiving and responding to the jasmonate signal.

Independent of the WSU work, Howe and He used Arabidopsis, a common lab plant, and tomato plants to determine how the JAZ proteins work. Their experiments showed that the jasmonate signal causes direct interaction between JAZ proteins and a second protein complex, SCFCOI1, that works to eliminate the JAZ protein so that the plant can mount a defense response. He is an MAES plant biology, plant pathology, and microbiology and molecular genetics scientist. Howe is an MAES biochemistry and molecular biology scientist.

"In a healthy environment, these JAZ proteins are doing their job -- they're blocking all the defenses and signals, because they are not needed," Howe said. "But when a plant becomes stressed by an insect or pathogen, the plant needs to respond very quickly if it's going to be successful in warding off the attacker."

Based on the research findings, there is strong evidence to suggest that Howe and He might have identified the SCFCOI1 protein complex as the receptor for jasmonate.

"We found that when jasmonate is present the COI1 and JAZ proteins bind together," said He. "This opens the way for the plant to turn on the necessary genetic or cellular response."

As part of their research, Howe and He have proposed a model for how this interaction works.

"Now that we know what the active signals are and have identified the key regulatory proteins -- the JAZ proteins -- involved, the hope is to be able to either genetically modify plants or develop compounds that mimic the jasmonate hormone," Howe said. "The research may help scientists engineer plants for increased resistance to insects and pathogens."

Researchers at both universities will continue to work on other critical aspects of this research.

"Understanding how the jasmonate system works will shed light on all the processes in which the hormone is involved -- notably, plant reproduction and defense," said John Browse, head of the WSU Institute of Biological Chemistry research team.

"This study represents a significant advance in our understanding of a major plant hormone and how it works," He said. "We are excited to be part of this collaborative effort and look forward to extending the understanding and application of this important work."

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Energy and supported by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

A copy of the Nature article is available online.

Cellulosic Ethanol Plant to be Built in Michigan; MSU to be Research PartnerBiomass grass

Massachusetts-based Mascoma Corporation plans to build one of the country's first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants in Michigan. Bruce Jamerson, Mascoma CEO, said the company chose the location for the plant because of the abundance of forestry and agricultural materials in Michigan and the expertise at Michigan State University and Michigan Technological University.

Mascoma will collaborate with MSU and MTU to develop and hone scientific processes and Michigan feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production. MSU will provide expertise in several areas, including pretreatment technology for cellulosic ethanol production and assistance with energy crops that can be used by the biorefinery.

Mascoma's Michigan cellulosic plant will make ethanol from wood chips and other non-food agricultural crops. Most of the nation's ethanol facilities now in production or under construction convert corn grain, soy and other food crops into fuel.

"Mascoma's decision to choose Michigan is helping us achieve a key part of our economic plan -- making our state a leader in alternative energy production," said Gov. Jennifer Granholm. "Cellulosic is the next step in wide-scale ethanol production, and this puts Michigan on the leading edge of technology that will create good-paying jobs for Michigan citizens."

"It is exciting that the birthplace of the American automobile industry is becoming a leader in next-generation biofuels," Jamerson said. "Michigan is an excellent state for one of the country's first cellulosic ethanol plants, given its many tons of biomass available for conversion into low-carbon, domestically produced fuel. We look forward to working with Gov. Granholm and Mr. Epolito [CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation] in this initiative to rapidly advance the commercial production of cellulosic ethanol in Michigan."

"Mascoma is an acknowledged leader in cellulosic ethanol technology," said Bruce Dale, MAES researcher and associate director of the MSU Office of Biobased Technologies. An international biofuel expert, Dale has studied cellulosic ethanol technology for more than 30 years and invented a patented pretreatment for biomass conversion called ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX). Dale is also a member of the Mascoma scientific advisory board. "The combination of the Department of Energy award to MSU for the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and Mascoma's new facility here will position Michigan as a leader in both the technology and commercialization of biofuels."

MTU will provide expertise through its "Wood to Wheels" initiative, including optimizing forestry feedstock materials for energy use, sustainable forestry management practices, and access to its automotive engineering laboratories for analysis of the biofuels produced at the project site.

"Mascoma and Michigan are a great match because our research institutions are focused on this science and our 21st Century Jobs fund is focused on bringing job-creating alternative energy projects to Michigan," Epolito said. "This new facility will lead to more jobs within our agriculture, timber and manufacturing industries, while ensuring sustainability and helping reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil."

New Invasive Wood Wasp Found in MichiganSirex noctilio

An exotic wood wasp, Sirex noctilio, has made its way to Michigan, reports Deb McCullough, MAES forest entomologist.

"The wasp was recently captured in a trap in Macomb County," McCullough said. "The larvae of this insect feed in stressed, dying or recently killed pine trees. Sirex noctilio has been an important pest in pine plantations in Australia, New Zealand and some South American countries."

McCullough said the wood wasp is native to Europe, Asia and North Africa but was discovered in New York in 2005 and in Ontario in 2006.

"Like many other wood-boring insects, it probably came to North America in solid wood packing material, and it was likely present for several years before it was discovered," she said.

The discovery of Sirex has led to claims by many residents that their trees may be infested with the pest. There are some important aspects of the Sirex noctilio capture in Michigan that residents need to know about before they claim they have seen it or have trees infested with the pest.

"First, horntails, including Sirex noctilio, are related to wasps," McCullough said. "Horntails can look very similar to wasps, and many people will likely mistake the bluish black wasps that they see around their homes for horntails.

"Second, 23 species and subspecies of horntails are native to North America," she added. "Some species colonize pines or other conifer trees. Other horntail species colonize hardwood trees -- beech, for example, is a common host. Virtually all horntails are some combination of yellowish brown or black, and they all look alike. Even entomologists have a difficult time trying to distinguish one species from another. Native horntails are not considered a problem. Because they colonize dying or recently dead trees, they play an important role in decomposition and nutrient cycling."

Whether Sirex noctilio will become an important pest of pine in Michigan or other areas of North America is yet to be determined, McCullough said.

"We have many insect species that colonize stressed, dying or recently killed pines," she said. "Sirex wood wasps will have to interact with and compete with those native insects for that same pine resource. In addition, we do not yet know if Sirex noctilio is established in Michigan or if the insect collected in the trap was simply dispersing from an infestation in Ontario. Wood wasps are very good fliers, and it's quite possible this particular insect originated in Ontario. Many traps were set in Michigan this year for Sirex noctilio following the identification of the infestations in Ontario last year. After horntail flight ends (late summer) and once all the horntails collected from traps or trap trees have been identified, we'll have a much better idea of whether Sirex noctilio is actually established in Michigan."

She also noted that Sirex noctilio will face native natural enemies in North America and possibly an introduced biological control. At least two groups of native parasitoid wasps will attack horntail larvae. In addition, an active biological control program developed in Australia makes use of parasitic nematodes. Methods have been developed to inoculate pines and introduce the nematode into Sirex noctilio populations. Research is under way in the United States to assess potential non-target effects of the nematode. If results indicate that the nematode can be safely released, the methods developed in Australia will likely be used to establish the nematode in Michigan.

MAES Scientist Discusses Vodka and Other Distilled Spirits on Wisconsin Public RadioKris Berglund

Though most people think of ethanol as something that could replace gasoline, there are a host of other uses for the alcohol, including beverages.

Kris Berglund, MSU distinguished professor and MAES forestry and chemical engineering and materials science researcher, is internationally known for his fermentation research. In July, he was a guest on Here On Earth on Wisconsin Public Radio to discuss distilled spirits -- specifically vodka -- and how the production of these beverages could be integrated into ethanol plants, among other topics.

"Ethanol production for beverage use is a high margin business based on bioprocessing," Berglund explained. "In Michigan, we have diverse agricultural commodities that can be used as raw materials, as well as the necessary water resources -- the state is an ideal location for producing premium distilled spirits."

Michigan as a home for premium boutique vodka and other spirits is an idea that has sparked some interest.

"Designing beverage facilities that can produce a full complement of products, such as distilled spirits, results in a diversified operation that isn't subject to the ups and downs of a single market," Berglund said. "We've created a diversification strategy for beverage producers that allows them to be able to respond to changes in market demand. This strategy allows beverage production facilities to operate as the biorefineries that they truly are."

To listen to Berglund's radio interview, visit Here On Earth online.

Marketing West African Agricultural Products Via RadioJohn Staatz

An MAES researcher is promoting regional agricultural trade in western Africa by distributing up-to-date market data to farmers and traders in remote areas via radio broadcasts.

Nango Dembele

With support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the West Africa Market Information and Agricultural Trade Promotion project is operating out of Mali and will coordinate the national Market Information Systems (MIS) in three countries - Mali, Niger and Guinea.

"Market Information Systems is an organization that gathers information for agricultural markets such as prices and other market conditions, analyzes the data and diffuses the information via radio broadcasts in the form of farm news reports to farmers, consumers and policy-makers," said John Staatz, MAES agricultural economics researcher.

Building on what already exists in Mali -- thanks to previous MSU efforts supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development -- MIS staff members are visiting area markets and recording the high and low prices for grains, crops and livestock. Once the statistics are recorded on solar-powered laptops, the information is e-mailed via radio waves to regional offices, where the data are sorted and compiled.

Radio stations under contract with the project routinely broadcast the market reports to listeners.

In a region where AM/FM mini radio sets are as common as telephones are in U.S. homes, the farm pricing FM radio show brings up-to-date prices on crops and livestock to listeners everywhere.

In Mali, about 70 percent of its 11 million people routinely tune in to the market report.

Staatz and Nango Dembele, visiting assistant professor of agricultural economics, hope to extend the project gradually to the 15-nation trading bloc on Africa's west coast known as ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States).

"The farmer will benefit through increased demand for his products by linking to a broader regional market," Staatz said. "Knowing when and where to sell, and for what price, makes a great difference."

Because of the cross-border trading that is involved, the MIS networks will include, as part of their activities with the traders, needed commercial information such as who is a reliable trading partner in neighboring countries, what grades and standards are required by importers, as well as what the import regulations are.

"The regional traders' network with whom we are working is open to all countries in ECOWAS, and ECOWAS is now going to be sponsoring regional agricultural market outlook conferences that MSU helped initiate in 1999 in a previous phase of our work on regional market information," Staatz added.

Increases in regional trade will be analyzed by fall 2008 to demonstrate the benefits of this project.

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Last Updated: March 17, 2009
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