Agricultural Plant Pathology
We conduct research within plant pathology and plant-microbe interactions with relevance for plant health. This includes pathogenic interactions in agricultural systems, but also beneficial interactions used for biological disease control and plant growth promotion.
Our research group focuses on dissecting and understanding mechanisms of disease development in plant-pathogen interactions, and mechanisms of biological control of plant diseases. We do this by combining approaches in molecular biology, evolutionary genetics and comparative genomics. Our applied research focuses on developing biocontrol solutions and disease-resistant crops through field trials and breeding.
We also contribute to plant pathology teaching, and capacity building in low-income countries. Our goal is to contribute to future efficient plant protection strategies and sustainable crop production.
Teaching
We are teaching plant pathology, biological disease control, mycology and plant health on several basic, advanced and post-graduate courses.
Current projects
- Biological control of plant diseases using fungal biocontrol agents (funded by SLU)
- Genomics of biocontrol fungi (funded by SLU)
- Mycotoxins and food safety in Rwanda: Understanding the biology and epidemiology of maize ear rots for sustainable maize production (funded by the Swedish Research Council)
- Bio-based inputs: Biocontrol of coffee fungal pathogens. Microbial treatment for quinoa growth (funded by SIDA)
- Harnessing soil–microbe-plant interactions for sustainable wheat production (funded by Formas)
- Breeding for Biologicals: Biological control of septoria tritici blotch on wheat (funded by SLU Grogrund).
- Breeding for root rot resistance in pea (funded by SLU Grogrund)
- Characterization of Aphanomyces cochlioides in Europe (funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture).
- Small-RNA based strategies to control fungal plant pathogens- an unexplored mechanism in biocontrol interactions (funded by Formas).