i. Complete the experiments to determine if the soybean GRP7 RNA-binding protein can be manipulated to improve resistance to biotic stress in the field.
ii. Determine the extent that the microtubule network, a target of multiple type lll effectors, can be manipulated to improve plant immunity.
iii. Determine the role that the blue light receptor Phototropin 2 has in soybean immunity.
iv. Continue to identify soybean targets of type lll effectors from the soybean pathogen P. syringae pv. glycinea, evaluate the importance of these targets to soybean immunity, and explore the extent that these targets can be manipulated to produce soybean plants with improve resistance to biotic stress.