Miss Therese De Castro
MSc Student
Research Interests
I completed my BSc in Human Genetics (2006) and BSc (Hons) in Genetics (2007). I am currently busy with my
2nd year of masters in Genetics under the supervision of Dr. Naidoo and Prof A.A. Myburg.
My honour’s project was entitled: Molecular quantification of in planta bacterial growth of Ralstonia solanacearum from
Eucalyptus and disease resistance response in the model plant system, Arabidopsis thaliana. The aim of this project was to determine whether irregular xylem mutants
(irx1, irx3 and irx5) exhibit enhanced resistance to R. solanacearum isolate CK from eucalyptus trees. And also determine whether there is a
correlation between resistance and a decrease in bacterial load.
R. solanacearum causes major crop loss every year and therefore we would like to understand the disease-resistance mechanism in plants with
the hope of increasing plant defence in these plants. This study can also provide new information on the effects that altering cell wall components will have on plant defence.
My master’s project is entitled: Investigating a candidate defence response gene, peroxidase 34 of
Arabidopsis thaliana against Ralstonia solanacearum isolate CK (BCCF 402) from Eucalyptus trees. The aim of this functional
study is to clarify PRX34 role in resistance against the pathogen, R. solanacearum. This will consist of conducting plant-pathogen trial on genetically modified Kil-O, Be-O and
Col-O to assess PRX34 function in conferring resistance to R. solanacearum by both overexpression and knockdown of this target gene.
Posters
De Castro T.C., Berger D.K., Myburg A.A. and Naidoo S. 2007. Molecular quantification of in planta bacterial growth of Ralstonia solanacearum
from Eucalyptus and disease resistance response in the model plant system Arabidopsis thaliana. Genetics Symposium, Deparment of Genetics, University of Pretoria. (Poster
Presentation).
De Castro T.C., Berger D.K., Myburg A.A.and Naidoo S. 2008. Susceptibility of Arabidopsis secondary cell wall mutants to Ralstonia solanacearum
isolate CK (BCCF 402) from Eucalyptus. Congress of the South African Genetics Society (SAGS), University of Pretoria. (Poster Presentation).
