Plant Pathology

Academic staff

The following staff are available to supervise honours and masters research in the field of Plant Pathology.

Project topics:

  • Fungal taxonomy, phylogenetics, and phylogenomics - The very first step in successful management of a plant disease is correct identification of the causal agent. Therefore, an important aspect of Plant Pathology research is taxonomic studies and diagnostic assay development for accurate and rapid identification of plant pathogens. Under this theme, projects can be developed on traditional and modern aspects of fungal taxonomy, multi-locus sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, whole genome comparisons and phylogenomic studies.
  • Genomics and Pathogenomics of Plant Pathogens - Advances in second and third generation sequencing have enabled whole genome sequencing and rapid characterization of plant pathogenic microbes with the aim of better understanding their biology and evolution. Whole genome sequencing of emerging plant pathogens help us understand how microbes live and evolve, identify genetic factors underlying pathogenicity and virulence, improve disease management strategies and develop diagnostic assays. Under this theme, projects can be developed on short-read and long-read whole genome sequencing of plant pathogenic organisms and advanced bioinformatic analyses to produce genome assemblies and annotations and characterise pathogenicity factors.

Email: vaghefin@unimelb.edu.au