Department of Molecular Genetics and Department of Horticulture and Crop Science

Induced immune responses are critical to maintaining plant health despite constant assault by potential pathogens. The responses must be strongly and swiftly activated in order to be effective. However, the same responses are detrimental to growth and reproduction if inappropriately activated. Thus plants use exquisite molecular control mechanisms to ensure timely activation of specific defenses in response to proper stimuli and also to limit the magnitude of those responses. In the Mackey lab, we seek to understand fundamental properties of the plant immune system and its targeting by pathogen-derived virulence factors.