Academic and Professional Background

• Background:

  BSc: Plant protection, Ferdowsi University, Iran. MSc: Plant Pathology, Bou-Ali University, Iran. Title: Evaluation of resistance in wheat advanced genotypes to pathotypes of wheat common bunt (Tilletia laevis Kuhn.) in Kermanshah province, Iran.

• Research:

  Vegetable and forage brassicas are susceptible to black rot disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Currently, there is no effective control method for the pathogen, and therefore biological control warrants investigation as a potential control measure for the seed borne disease. The “Smart Seeds” programme aims to develop microbial seed treatments for vegetable and brassica crops to decrease the economic losses caused by black rot. Research in the first two years of the programme has focused on identifying bioactive microbes isolated from commercial cabbage and rape seed lots and this has already identified some potential biocontrol agents. The bacterium Paenibacillus gave good bioactivity in these early tests and this will be the focus of my PhD study. The biocontrol activity of Paenibacillus isolates against black rot, their population dynamics in the soil and interactions with the plant roots will be investigated. In addition, the influence of abiotic factors on biocontrol performance will be determined, and potential mechanism(s) of action of Paenibacillus explored.