Golden State Today

UC Davis researchers are engaged in a global struggle between plants and the changing environment. Microbes continuously develop new illnesses, while plants, sometimes aided by breeders, evolve new immunities. Plant geneticist Luca Comai, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of plant biology at UC Davis, has witnessed this dynamic through his extensive research on plant chromosomes.

UC Davis boasts over 50 faculty members who are part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. These academies recognize individuals for their significant contributions to research. Each month, Dateline UC Davis highlights one such faculty member to honor their scientific achievements.

Comai explains that much of plant breeding focuses on protecting plants from evolving pathogens. "You give them a new target — you protect the plant, now you have huge selective pressure for all microbes to figure out a way to overcome that protection," he said. "It’s a battlefield, and new weapons are being developed and aimed across the divide."

His current research examines how plants safeguard their genomes during growth and ensure they pass intact to future generations. A notable discovery in this area is that the reproductive parts of plants exhibit fewer mutations.

Comai's work earned him membership in the National Academy of Sciences last year. He is also affiliated with the Genome Center at UC Davis and expresses enthusiasm about the available technology. "The past 50 years of DNA sequencing has been great because every year things have gotten better," he stated.

Reflecting on his early inspiration from Paul de Kruif’s book "The Microbe Hunters," Comai recalled his motivation to become a scientist: “I wanted a great challenge: How can you manipulate plant genomes? When I started there was very little way of doing that.”

Today, genome sequencing is not only feasible but also affordable at institutions like UC Davis. Comai collaborates with experts such as viticulturists working on grape skin improvements for pathogen resistance.

He also addresses real-world issues like Verticillium wilt, a fungal disease threatening mint crops nationwide. His lab is exploring whether mint can be modified for disease resistance.

While Comai does not anticipate complete immunity for plants against all diseases, he remains optimistic about science staying ahead. “We are doing things that would have been impossible 20 years ago,” he remarked. “It’s a privilege.”

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