XIV International Botrytis Symposium, 2007 Cape Town News Letter #1

Keynote speakers: Paul Tudzynski and Jan van Kan
"Until a few years ago, it was considered that host plants play a rather passive role in the interaction with necrotrophic pathogens. It appears that the host in fact plays quite an active role in the process and the interactions between plants and necrotrophic fungi are more subtle and complex than previously appreciated. The ability to induce programmed cell death plays a pivotal role in the success of B. cinerea. Modulating cell death processes in plants may be an effective way to enhance resistance to grey mould."

Details of the speakers:

Dr JAL van Kan, Wageningen University Laboratory of Phytopathology, Binnenhaven 5, 6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands
Phone: * 31 317 483126, E-mail: jan.vankan@wur.nl
Biography:
1983: MSc Biochemistry, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
1988: PhD Plant-Virus interactions, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
1988: Post-doc, Wageningen University Laboratory of Phytopathology.
Since 1990: Assistant Professor, Wageningen University Laboratory of Phytopathology.
Research focus on molecular-genetic studies of Botrytis cinerea pathogenicity factors, resistance mechanisms in tomato to B. cinerea, genetic diversity and sexual reproduction in several Botrytis species.
For more details see: www.php.wur.nl/UK/Research/Botrytis/

Prof P Tudzynski, Institut fuer Botanik,Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet, Schlossgarten 3 D 48149 Muenster, Germany.
Phone +49 251 8324998; Fax: +49 251 8321601; E-Mail: tudzyns@uni-muenster.de
Biography:
1978: PhD Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
1978-86: Senior scientist and group leader, Chair of General Botany, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
1983: Habilitation (Botany)
1986: Associate Professor for Microbiology, University Duesseldorf, Germany.
Since 1988: Full Professor (General Botany and Microbiology), Botanical Institute , Westf. Wilhelms University Muenster.
Research focuses on molecular genetics of fungi, with respect to phytopathological and biotechnological topics; major systems include Botrytis cinerea and Claviceps purpurea
For more details see: www.uni-muenster.de/Biologie.Botanik/agtudzynski/Tudzynsk.htm

The Host Pathogen Interaction Session:
Botrytis cinerea causes serious losses in more than 200 crop species worldwide. It is most destructive on mature or senescent tissues of dicotyledonous hosts and on harvested commodities. The pathogen often gains entry at an earlier stage in crop development and remains quiescent for a considerable period before rapidly rotting tissues when the environment is conducive and the host physiology changes. Molecular-genetic and physiological research has in recent years unraveled a lot of information on the attack mechanisms exploited by the pathogen and the defense mechanisms deployed by the host plant. The interaction of B. cinerea with its hosts appears to be a subtle balance in which multiple factors collectively determine whether the pathogen thrives or the plant survives.

This session will discuss the recent views on the biochemical and genetic factors that determine whether or not B. cinerea will successfully invade and colonise a plant, with attention for both partners in the interaction. Paul Tudzynski will provide an overview of fungal pathogenicity factors, whereas Jan van Kan will provide an overview of plant defense responses and resistance mechanisms. Further speakers will be selected from the abstracts submitted for this session.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS IS
30 JULY 2007.

Important Symposium Dates

30 July: Deadline for submission of abstracts and application for student sponsorship.

13 Aug: Authors will be advised whether their abstracts have been accepted to be included in the programme as an oral or poster presentation. Please note that the Scientific Committee reserves the right to make changes to the programme.

20 Aug: Deadline for Early Bird registration and accommodation reservations at special Symposium rates.

7 Sept: Final day for registration and payment of presenting authors. We do, however, urge authors to register and pay their registration fee by 20 August in order to qualify for the early bird registration fee. PLEASE NOTE that abstracts by presenting authors who have not registered and paid by 7 September, will be removed from the official programme and book of abstracts.

1 Oct: Final day for Secretariat to receive registrations.

21 - 26 Oct: 14th International Botrytis Symposium.

Student Sponsorships

The Botrytis 2007 organising committee is pleased to announce that a limited number of student sponsorships will be awarded to successful applicants. These sponsorships will entail partial or complete registration fees for attendance of the 14th International Botrytis Symposium. Applications can be made to the Symposium Secretariat (Email: deidre@iafrica.com) and should include:

A completed Botrytis 2007 regstration form
Abstract submission
Curriculum vitae of student applicant
Proof of registration as full time student at a tertiary institution - please include a letter from the head of your department.

Deadline for applications is 30 July 2007. Applicants for Student Sponsorship will be notified by mid-August whether their application was successful.

Please contact the Symposium Secretariat should you require any information or assistance.
Tel + 27 21 886 4496 Fax +27 21 883 8177
Email: conf@conferencesetal.co.za and deidre@iafrica.com

Conferences et al
P O Box 452
Stellenbosch
7599
Tel 27 21 886 4496
Fax 27 21 883 8177
Website: www.conferencesetal.co.za

For more information on the The XIV International Botrytis Symposium please visit the website at
http://academic.sun.ac.za/botrytis2007

Sponsors:
BASF, DFPT Research, Inqaba Biotech, Sigma-Aldrich, Separation Scientific, Cape Biotech, Philagro, ABSA, Winetech, SAWWV, NRF

Exhibitors:
Bayer CropScience, Inqaba Biotech, BASF, Separation Scientific, Pocket Diagnostics, FieldClimate