XIV International Botrytis Symposium, 2007 Cape Town Newsletter #2

Session Announcement: Biology and Genetics of Botrytis

Keynote speakers: Matthias Hahn
“Botrytis cinerea causes grey rot on a large number of plant species. Infection is usually initiated by asexual spores and occurs preferentially on soft and carbohydrate-rich tissues, such as ripe fruits and vegetables. Despite the rare observations of sexual structures in the field, Botrytis has been shown to be genetically highly diverse, which contributes to its physiological adaptability. In the last decade, the isolation and characterisation of defined gene disruption mutants have revealed molecular components and regulatory mechanisms that are important for Botrytis growth, development and pathogenesis.”

Details of the speaker:
Prof M Hahn, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Postbox 3049, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
Phone: * 49 631 2052402, E-mail: hahn@rhrk.uni-kl.de

Biography:
1986: PhD Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
1986-2000: Postdoc, Zurich (CH), Stanford (USA), Cologne (D), Konstanz (D)
since 2000: Professor of Plant Pathology, Kaiserslautern University
Research focuses on molecular biology of fungi, in particular Botrytis cinerea spore germination, signal transduction and efflux-transporter-mediated multiple fungicide resistance in vineyards.
For more details see: www.uni-kl.de/FB-Biologie/AG-Hahn/Research/

The Biology and Genetics of Botrytis Session:
The genus Botrytis comprises two dozens species, most of which are host specific pathogens of monocot plants. In contrast, B. cinerea has a broad host range amongst dicotyledonous plants. The availability of full genome sequences from B. cinerea and related ascomycetes, and the continuous improvement of molecular genetic tools have opened the way towards a thorough understanding of the biology of B. cinerea and other Botrytis species. Recent advances include novel insights in various pathogenesis-associated processes of the grey mold fungus, including germination, penetration and host tissue destruction.
This session will discuss novel insights into the genetic factors that determine central aspects of Botrytis biology and their relation to its behaviour as a pathogen. Matthias Hahn will present an overview of the impact of modern techniques in molecular biology, genetics and genomics on our knowledge about the biology of the grey mold fungus, highlighting some of the major discoveries of the last years. 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