Contact Details
| Organization: | Botany |
| Position: | PROFESSOR |
| Email: | |
| Homepage: | http://www.botany.unimelb.edu.au/blackleg/ |
| Work: | 8344 5062 |
| Fax: | 9347 5460 |
| Room: | 105 |
| Level: | Ground |
| Building: | Botany |
| Campus: | Parkville |
Biography
Research Interests
My main research interests are fungal genetics and fungal diseases of plants. Most of the research involves Leptosphaeria maculans, the fungus that causes blackleg disease of canola. My approach ranges from developing plant disease management strategies, to jointly leading an initiative with French scientists to sequence and annotate the 16,000 genes of this fungus. My research team has pioneered the development of genetic and molecular techniques for the blackleg fungus to understand how the fungus causes disease. We use molecular markers to monitor populations of the blackleg fungus for changes of virulence. We also study sclerotinia stem rot of canola. Many findings are of major significance to fungal biology and plant disease.
I also am analyzing genes involved in the biosynthesis of an important class of toxins (epipolythiodioxopiperazines) in a range of filamentous fungi, including animal and plant pathogens. These toxins include sirodesmin in L.maculans and gliotoxin in Aspergillus fumigatus. We are analysing regulation and evolution of toxin gene clusters in fungi.
Current projects are listed in my lab home page http://www.botany.unimelb.edu.au/blackleg.html
Editorial Responsibilities
2009: Editorial Board: Eukaryotic Cell
2009: Associate Editor: PLoS Pathogens
2007-8: Associate Editor: PLoS One
2005-present: Senior Editor: Molecular Plant Pathology
Research Expertise and International Linkages
Research Expertise
| Research Interest | Key Words | Country of Expertise |
|---|---|---|
| Fungal Diseases of Plants, Fungal Genetics | Mycology, Agriculture, Genetics | Australia |
International Linkages
| Country | Establishment | Collaboration |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Murdoch University | Research |
| United States | Texas A&M University | Research |
| Israel | Technion Israel Institute of Technology | Research |
| United States | University of Wisconsin | Research |
| Australia | Department of Primary Industries | Research |
| France | Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique | Exchange, Research |
| France | Genoscope - Centre National de Sequencage | Exchange, Research |
| Australia | CSIRO | Research |
| Australia | La Trobe University | Research |
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards
Qualifications
| Title | Institution | Date Awarded | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science (Hons) | University of Melbourne | 31-Dec-1970 | |
| Master of Science | The Australian National University | 31-Dec-1973 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy | University of Melbourne | 31-Dec-1981 |
Memberships
| Membership Type | Membership Body | Description | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Australasian Plant Pathology Society | General | 01-Jan-1995 | |
| Member | Australian Society of Plant Biologists | General | 01-Jan-1995 | |
| Council | International Fungal Genetics Policy Committee | One of nine members | 21-Mar-2007 |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
- Mechanisms of Reactions (PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY INCL. STRUCTURAL) (250106)
- Cell Metabolism (BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY) (270102)
- Cellular Interactions (incl. Adhesion, Matrix, Cell Wall) (BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY) (270105)
- Gene Expression (GENETICS) (270201)
- Genome Structure (GENETICS) (270202)
- Population and Ecological Genetics (GENETICS) (270203)
- Anthropological Genetics (GENETICS) (270204)
- Infectious Agents (MICROBIOLOGY) (270304)
- Mycology (MICROBIOLOGY) (270305)
- Microbial Genetics (MICROBIOLOGY) (270306)
- Microbial Systematics, Taxonomy and Phylogeny (MICROBIOLOGY) (270308)
- Plant Pathology (BOTANY) (270403)
- Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified (OTHER BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES) (279999)
- Plant Improvement (Selection, Breeding & Genetic Eng) (CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION) (300203)
- Plant Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds) (CROP AND PASTURE PRODUCTION) (300204)
- Plant Improvement (Selection, Breeding & Genetic Eng) (HORTICULTURE) (300301)
- Pathology (CLINICAL SCIENCES) (321020)
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
- Other cereals (FIELD CROPS) (620104)
- Oilseeds (FIELD CROPS) (620105)
- Infectious diseases (CLINICAL; ORGANS, DISEASES AND ABNORMAL CONDITIONS) (730101)
- Immune system and allergy (CLINICAL; ORGANS, DISEASES AND ABNORMAL CONDITIONS) (730102)
- Cancer and related disorders (CLINICAL; ORGANS, DISEASES AND ABNORMAL CONDITIONS) (730108)
- Biological sciences (NON-ORIENTED RESEARCH) (780105)
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Grants
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Scheme | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characterisation of genes involved in secondary metabolism in the Blackleg Pathogen of Canola | Chief Investigator | AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL | Discovery Projects | 01/01/2002 |
| Factors affecting yield decline of canola | Principal Supervisor | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Industry Research Scholarship | 01/01/2003 |
| Fungal pathology developments for management of diseases of oilseed Brassicas in Australia | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Crop Protection | 04/09/2003 |
| BIOSYNTHESIS AND ROLE OF FUNGAL TOXINS IN BLACKLEG DISEASE OF CANOLA | Principal Supervisor | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Industry Research Scholarship | 01/01/2004 |
| Biosynthesis of a fungal toxin and its role in plant disease | Chief Investigator | AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL | Discovery Projects | 01/01/2005 |
| Monitoring populations of the blackleg fungus to develop strategies for deployment of resistance genes in Oilseed Brassicas | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Response to Tender | 04/03/2005 |
| Genomics of the blackleg fungus, Leptosphaeria maculans | Chief Investigator | DEPT OF INNOVATION INDUSTRY SCIENCE & RESEARCH, DEPT OF EDUCATION SCIENCE & TRAINING |
French Australian Science & Technology Programme (DEPT OF EDUCATION SCIENCE & TRAINING) | 10/10/2005 |
| Mutant of the blackleg fungus with reduced pathogenicity on canola | Principal Supervisor | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Industry In Service Training | 06/02/2006 |
| FUNGAL PATHOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS FOR MANAGEMENT OF OILSEED BRASSICAS IN AUSTRALIA | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Research Grants | 01/07/2006 |
| MONITORING VIRULENCE IN AUSTRALIAN POPULATIONS OF THE BLACKLEG FUNGUS | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Research Grants | 01/07/2007 |
| Pilot scale implementation strategy to maximise durability of blackleg resistance in canola | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Research Grants | 01/07/2007 |
| BIOSYNTHESIS OF A TOXIN INVOLVED IN BLACKLEG CANOLA | Principal Supervisor | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Undergraduate Honours Scholarship | 04/02/2008 |
| Identification of resistance genes in Australian canola through development of a differential set of blackleg isolates | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Research Grants | 01/07/2008 |
| Novel approaches to control fungal diseases of oilseed Brassicas in Australia | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Research Grants | 01/07/2009 |
| Functional genomics for improved disease resistance in grain crops: gene discovery from fungal pathogens | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Functional Genomics Program | |
| Novel approaches for the control of Blackleg of Canola | Chief Investigator | AFFA GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | Research Grants (GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP) |
Contracts
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sclerotinia stem rot of oilseed Brassicas: molecular mechanisms involved in infection | Chief Investigator | GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORP | 01/01/2003 |
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.