International Committee Profiles
Dr John Kirkegaard is Senior Principal Research Scientist in farming systems agronomy at CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra. His research on biofumigation began in 1993 with investigations of the benefits of canola in broad-acre cereal rotations. With his close colleague John Matthiessen (CSIRO Entomology), he subsequently promoted a more systematic research framework to improve the biofumigation potential of brassicas in broad-acre and horticultural crops. Recently he has been focussed on the use of biofumigation for control of root knot nematode and bacterial wilt in tropical vegetable production systems and in separating the ITC-related impacts of brassica green manures from other beneficial effects to the farming system.
http://www.csiro.au/people/ps1ri.html
Matthew J. Morra is a Professor of Soil Biochemistry at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, USA. His research program is focused on the chemistry and fate of glucosinolate hydrolysis products within soil as related to rapeseed and mustard crops as plowdowns and the use of rapeseed and mustard seed meals as biopesticides. More information can be found at this website: http://soils.ag.uidaho.edu/mmorra/
Dr Anne Louise Gimsing is Associate Professor and soil chemist with expertise in the chemistry of pure GSLs and ITCs in soil. Dr. Gimsing has conducted several projects related to the chemistry of GSLs and ITCs in soil, in particular the impacts of soil properties on the sorption and degradation of GSLs and ITCs in soils. In 2005, she studied the efficiency of ITC release from incorporated biofumigants in Australia with Dr. John Kirkegaard, CSIRO.
http://www.igv.life.ku.dk/Staff_IGV/igv_soilEnvChem/Personvisning.aspx?personid=340&tab=1
Dr Jaw-Fen Wang is Associate Plant Pathologist, Head of Bacteriology Unit, and Theme Coordinator on “Seed and safe vegetable production” at AVRDC World Vegetable Centre, Taiwan. The goal of the biofumigation research at AVRDC is to see its application in tropical vegetable production systems. Currently tomato bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacarum, is used as a case study. Accessions of Brassica juncea have been evaluated for their biocidal effect on the bacterial pathogen. Selected accessions have been evaluated for their agronomic properties. Contribution of the organic matters by incorporating Brassica green manure to the disease control will be investigated. Preliminary field trial has been conducted in tropical highland where insect pests of Indian mustard are not present.
Dr Reinette Gouws is Senior Researcher and Project Manager for Bacterial Diseases of Vegetable Crops at Agricultural Research Council in South Africa. Her research on biofumigation has primarily been focussed on alternative control measures against common scab on potatoes and the practical application of these measures in commercial as well as emerging agricultural industries. The research during the last 9 years and has included greenhouse, field and on-farm experiments. Biochemical analysis on Brassica tissues as well as in-vitro bio-assays on the efficacy of biofumigation on major potato pathogens were included in our most recent research efforts. These findings will be furthered in a study on the ecology and host pathogen interactions associated with the suppressive effect of biofumigation on soilborne potato pathogens.
Australian Committee Profiles
Robin Harding is a Senior Research Scientist in Horticulture Pathology, Plant & Soil Health, and Sustainable Systems. He has over 13 years experience in potato diseases. In that time he has undertaken research on the use of Brassicas for biofumigation effects and crop rotation strategies on number soil borne diseases of potatoes. He is currently working on two projects "Management of Black dot" and "DNA Monitoring Tools For Soil-Borne Diseases of Potato". This research is looking at the relationship between soil populations of several pathogenic fungi and their subsequent infection on potato tubers.
http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pages/hort/hort_crops/potatoes/potato.htm:sectID=818&tempID=1\
Dr Hoong Pung is a Principal Research Scientist (plant pathology) at Peracto Pty Ltd based in Devonport, Tasmania. She has extensive experience and knowledge on a wide range of diseases. Since 1995 she has conducted plant pathology research in over 20 industry funded horticultural projects to develop commercially acceptable integrated disease management strategies with chemical, cultural and non-chemical methods. In 2000-03, she led and completed a national project in identifying soil factors that are associated with the productivity and sustainability of vegetable production in Australia. In 2003-06, she conducted field trials on the potential use of biofumigant crops for reducing soil-borne diseases and improving soil health. Apart from industry funded research studies, Hoong also conducts private investigative and diagnostic studies as well as product developmental research for the individual grower, farm or corporate client.