Ke Zhang

I'm interested in the population genetics, evolution, detection, epidemiology, infection biology of fugal pathogens in the forest. My current research is focused on Scots pine blister rust caused by Cronatium pini.

·  Develop molecular tools for detection and identification of the host-alternating and non-host alternating C. pini. 

·  Investigate the C. pini genetic diversity by molecular markers in Sweden and other European countries. 

·  Investigate the evolution of C. pini relevant to other C. pini based on phylogeny and genomics. 

·  Identify the risk factors and infer the future projection of Scots pine blister rust under climate change.

·   Develop protocols to inoculate Scots pine seedlings and detect successful infection at early stages using multi-spectral imaging. 

·  Investigate the host-pathogen interaction between C. pini, pine and other hosts.

2023 to now, BI1433 Fungi and Insects in Managed Forests

2017, Ph. D. in Plant Pathology
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida (USA)

2013, M. S.  in Microbiology
Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) 

2010, B. S. in Biotechnology
Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)

1.     (Accepted) K Zhang, P Gómez-Zapata, Å Olson. 2025. Distinguish the autoecious and heteroecious forms of Scots pine blister rust by digital PCR and aeciospore germination. Plant Pathology. 

2.    M Stein Åslund, M Reichelt, K Zhang, C Castaño, J Stenlid, J Gershenzon, M Elfstrand. 2025. Scots pines with tolerance to Melampsora pinitorqua and Diplodia sapinea show distinct metabolic profiles. Plant, Cell & Environment, 48(2), 1479-1493.

3.    H Hartmann, A Battisti, E Brockerhoff, M Bełka, R Hurling, H Jactel, J Oliva, J Rousselet, E Terhonen, T Ylioja, M Melin, Å Olson, F De Prins, K Zhang, M Stein Åslund, K Davydenko, A Menkis, M Elfstrand, M Zúbrik, A Kunca, J Galko, M Paulin, G Csóka, G Hoch, M Pernek, S Preid, R Fischer. 2025. European forests are under increasing pressure from global change-driven invasions and accelerating epidemics by insects and diseases. Journal für Kulturpflanzen, 77(02), 6-24.

4.    L Vilanova, M Caballol, K Zhang, Å Olson, I Barnes, MJ Wingfield, J Oliva. 2024. New simple sequence repeat markers reveal undetected diversity in Spanish and Californian Diplodia sapinea populations. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 175, 103937.

5.    K Zhang, B Samils. 2024. Differences in population structure and zygosity between heteroecious and autoecious forms of Cronartium pini suggest selfing in the autoecious form. Fungal Biology. 128(8), 2207-2217.

6.    K Zhang, J Stenlid. 2023. Detection and quantification of Cronartium pini from Scots pine with quantitative PCR. Forest Pathology. 53(6): e12833. 

7.    K Zhang, B Samils, J Kaitera, Å Olson. 2022. Low disease incidence and cone bagging in Picea abies are associated with low genotypic diversity in Thekopsora areolata. Plant Pathology. 71(8): 1743-1756.

8.    K Zhang, J Kaitera, B Samils, Å Olson. 2022. Temporal and spatial dispersal of Thekopsora areolata basidiospores, aeciospores, and urediniospores. Plant Pathology. 71(3): 668-683.

9.    K Zhang, Å Olson, B Samils, J Kaitera. 2021. Alternate host screening of Thekopsora areolata in Scandinavia: a new record on Prunus grayana. Botany. 99(10): 589-600. 

10.  J Jiang, K Zhang, S Cheng, Q Nie, S Zhou, Q Chen, J Zhou, X Zhen, et al. 2020. Fusarium oxysporum KB-3 from Bletilla striata: an orchid mycorrhizal fungus. Mycorrhiza 29 (5), 531-540.