Current research
My work focuses on the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes. I am currently studying the potential of nematophagous fungi of the Esteya genus for the sustainable management of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, by:
Characterizing Esteya isolates from different origins and species;
Studying several aspects of nematode-fungus interactions;
Performing a transcriptomics analysis of this nematode-fungus interaction;
Exploring the implementation of biocontrol strategies involving Esteya spp. in P. pinaster seedlings in a first stage, and later applied to older trees in the field, for a sustainable management of pine wilt disease.
