Plant genetic resistance; Reverse genetics, Functional genetics, Gene cloning, Gene silencing, Gene overexpression, VIGS, DNA sequencing, real time PCR, Western blotting, Northern blotting. Biology of fungal pathogens; Isolation of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, Molecular identification of fungi. Host-pathogen interaction; Light and fluorescence microscopy, Developing lab, greenhouse and field bioassays for testing plant disease resistance and virulence of plant pathogens. Mycovirus studies; dsRNA isolation and sequencing.