Powdery mildew fungi (Erysiphales) are one of the most conspicuous groups of plant pathogens. Important crops, including wheat, barley, grapevine, and a number of fruit and vegetable crops, as well as ornamentals, grown in the field and glasshouses, are amongst the major targets of powdery mildew fungi. Their control is mainly based on the use of resistant cultivars, repeated application of fungicides, and agro-technical methods. In spite of their economic importance, the precise identity, host range, life cycle, perennation, virulence patterns, and other characteristics of a number of powdery mildew fungi infecting diverse crop species have not been deciphered yet. The project will focus on these aspects of powdery mildew fungi causing disease in horticultural crops in Queensland and elsewhere, based on field, glasshouse and laboratory experiments, as well as molecular studies including DNA genotyping, phylogenetic analyses, and qPCR methods.

Professor Levente Kiss

• Professor Roger Shivas

• Centre for Crop Health

• Crop and Pasture Production

• Doctor of Philosophy (DPHD)