What Does the Lab Specialize in?
My main research interests are: Canola and Wheat Pathology. Currently my research focuses on:
Epidemiology of plant pathogens especially on R-genes and Avr/avr gene interactions
Evolution/genetic variation of fungal pathogens
Biological control of plant diseases and their mechanisms
PGPR Research and effect on the rhizosphere microbiome
Pre-Breeding for disease resistance for Blackleg, and Fusarium Head blight Diseases
Microbial ecology and microbial interactions including microbiome research
Includes Transcriptomics and Genomics Research New: Proteomics research
Major Pathogens of Interest:
Blackleg in Canola
Verticillium in Canola
Sclrerotinia in Canola
Fusarium head blight in Wheat
Fusarium head blight in Barley
MAJOR RESEARCH: BOTH BASIC & APPLIED NATURAL SCIENCES RESEARCH
Host-pathogen interactions: understanding pathogen genetics (Avr, effectors) and host recognition (R-genes and receptors). Understanding the virulence factors, emergence of virulence from avirulence, pathogen reproduction, their mating types and competiveness in the environment. My lab with collaborators from AAFC (Gary Peng) were able to successfully introduce a new labelling model to canola cultivars through our extensive studies on R-genes in canola cultivars and pathogen-Avr profiling in prairie farmers’ fields. The new labelling model adopted by WCCRRC and the Life Sciences companies has led to the proposed R-gene rotation to be implemented within grower fields. In addition, in collaboration with AAFC (Hossein Borhan) my lab developed KASP-markers for the rapid detection of the pathogen Avr/avr profile. These markers are now used by industry to support the identification of the pathogen alleles in farmers’ fields. Collectively, this is a new tool in disease management, and most of the work was carried out in my lab in collaboration with AAFC/SK (Drs. Gary Peng and Hossein Borhan).
Population Dynamics and Cropping Systems Pathology. Long term studies on influence of rotations/tillage practices and in spatial and temporal spread of spores. Population dynamics of stubble-borne pathogens, their Avr/avr gene changes and chemotypic changes. Host R-genes and their durability under pathogen pressure (gene-for-gene interactions). Development of markers for rapid identification of Avr profiles through gene cloning. The seminal publications on spore movement of fusarium head blight pathogen in wheat led other groups to follow monitoring spore movement in air (Cornell University, Virginia Tech and AAFC researchers). Many useful novel findings in the area of epidemiology, population genetics, populations structure, genotypic diversity and genetic variability has been published from this work.
Breeding for disease resistance traits: Pre-breeding for desirable disease resistant traits and breeding for disease resistance. This is another success story from my lab. In collaboration with the canola and HEAR breeders at the University of Manitoba, my lab has developed 37 canola/HEAR cultivars with excellent resistance to blackleg, white rust and other wilt diseases that have been either registered or commercially grown. Was part of a team that developed including world’s first Roundup-Ready high erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR) cultivars, and world’s first HEAR Hybrid cultivars. This brings an enormous amount of Royalty to the University of Manitoba. The team effort and breeding work was honoured by the Canadian government with a Canadian Post stage stamp in 28 February 2002. My lab was also instrumental in setting up the first FHB screening nursery wheat in Canada (in Carman, MB). This and the screening nursery for blackleg disease in canola has helped breeders screen their material efficiently and release varieties to the growers.
Biological Control: Beneficial microorganisms such as PGPR and biological control agents in disease management. My lab was instrumental in finding two biocontrol agents, Pseudomonas chlororaphis (strain PA23) and Pseudomonas brassicacae (strain DF41) were the first successful phyllosphere biocontrol agents reported from Canada. Both biocontrol agents successfully control Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the stem rot pathogen of canola and 400 other crops. One of the seminal papers cited highly and often is the identification of organic volatile compounds in PA23 that inhibit pathogen inoculum and overwintering structures (cited 428 times). The studies on the mechanisms of biocontrol have led to many novel discoveries, including antibiotic production, how they differ in preferential and discriminatory biological control of different plant pathogens, and their gene expression mechanisms, and gene regulation, biofilm formation in biocontrol. Both PA23 and DF41’s genome have been fully sequenced and published. At present studies are carried out to understanding the tripartite interaction (host-pathogen-beneficial organisms) with genomics and transcriptomics. In addition, we have a patent (pending) on a novel regulatory gene identified from PA23. At present a commercial company has funded our research to investigate the interactions of PA23 and DF41 with the microbiome.
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS [citations 6195; h-index: 45; i10-index: 111]
https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=vUFlELUAAAAJ&hl=en
1. Pioneered an agricultural revolution in Canada in 2017 by introducing a new disease management tool - R-gene rotations to reduce blackleg disease in canola in collaboration with AAFC scientists, CCC and the Blackleg Steering Committee. The canola industry which contributes $ 27 Billion annual revenue to Canadian economy has embraced this new technology to serve the growers and seed industry.
2. Phyllosphere biological control to target Sclerotinia control in canola (cited 197 times).
3. Identified the role of bacterial organic volatiles in biocontrol of plant pathogens (cited 428 times).
4. First to model the spatial and temporal spread and spore release of Gibberella zeae, the head blight pathogen, in Eastern Canada (cited 178 times).
5. First to report daily & seasonal dynamics of airborne spores of G. zeae in Canada (cited 144 times).
6. Played a major role in heading the pathology team in the development of 37 canola cultivars, including world’s first Roundup-Ready high erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR) cultivars, and world’s first HEAR Hybrid cultivar with excellent resistance to blackleg and white rust diseases.
7. First to identify the teleomorph-anamorph connection in Apiosporina morbosa and Cladosporium. herbarum.
8. Identified new races of the blackleg pathogen in Canada, USA, Hungary, Brazil and Iran.
9. Developed a PCR-based rapid pathogen detection method in chokecherry seedlings in nursery.
10. Developed a SCAR marker to identify R-genes in canola/HEAR germplasm against new races of the blackleg pathogen.
11. First to study the spatial and temporal spread of the blackleg disease in Canada.
12. Identified a pathogenicity gene responsible for infection by blackleg pathogen on canola (LmCBP1)
13. Identified a new sub species of the Leptosphaeria biglobosa (sub species americiensis)
PROJECTS AND FUNDS:
Over 38 million research dollars. Over 116 research proposals funded in the last 22 years in which I am the PI or co-PI in more than 65%. These grants were for research to deduce biological control mechanisms, to understand sustainability of cropping practices and microbial ecology of each cropping system, influence on pathogen load, breeding for disease resistance, gene-for-gene interactions, adult plant resistance, and developing disease forecasting models to reduce fungicide applications.
Links to Articles related to interviews
Other Publications (eg. Extension Bulletins, Popular Articles) – 2016 to 2019 only
2019:
1. Developing new blackleg labeling systems; Feature article. Top Crop manager
https://www.topcropmanager.com/blackleg-races-and-resistance-20790/
2. New tool on the way for canola grower safeguards against blackleg. Manitoba Co-operator
2018:
1. Real Agriculture – on blackleg
2. Blackleg summit:
https://canoladigest.ca/september-2018/blackleg-summit-shares-new-management-approaches/
3. Reduced risk strategy for FHB:
2016-2017:
1. The battle for supremacy in wheat-fusarium interactions. Top Crop Manager. July 2, 2017. . https://www.topcropmanager.com/diseases/the-battle-for-supremacy-in-wheat-fusarium-interactions-20653
2. Developing the new blackleg resistance labeling system. – Top Crop Manager – Oct 15, 2017. https://www.topcropmanager.com/diseases/blackleg-races-and-resistance-20790
3. A hub of activity at canola palooza – Canola Digest. Sept 1, 2017. https://canoladigest.ca/september-2017/a-hub-of-activity-at-canolapalooza/
4. What’s really behind China’s decision to restrict canola: science or politics? – Globe and Mail (The most popular national newspaper in Canada). Aug 30, 2016. https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/whats-really-behind-chinas-decision-to-restrict-canola-science-or-politics/article31625635/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&
5. Is Canada addicted to canola? Macleans Magazine (Canada’s TIME magazine). – Sept 6, 2016. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/is-canada-addicted-to-canola/
6. One step closer to Sclerotinia control. Canola Digest. Nov 15, 2016. https://canoladigest.ca/science-edition-2016/one-step-closer-to-sclerotinia-control/
7. A race against evolving blackleg. - Grain News. Feb 18, 2016. https://www.grainews.ca/2016/02/18/a-race-against-evolving-blackleg/
8. Genetic breakthrough to combat blackleg disease in canola. – 2016. Grain Central. https://www.graincentral.com/cropping/genetic-breakthrough-to-combat-blackleg-disease-in-canola/
9. Disease management tools for blackleg and Sclerotinia – Canola Digest. Nov 15, 2016
https://canoladigest.ca/science-edition-2016/disease-management-tools-for-blackleg-and-sclerotinia/
10. What better way to learn about blackleg – Canola Digest. Nov 15, 2016.
https://canoladigest.ca/science-edition-2016/what-better-way-to-learn-about-blackleg/
11. Reducing blackleg key to increasing trade – The Western Producer. – Nov 3, 2016. http://www.producer.com/2016/11/reducing-blackleg-key-to-increased-trade/