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Amir Sohail
M.Sc. (Honours) Agriculture, Plant Pathology
PhD Student
School
School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences
Location Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
Phone (02) 6933 2749
Email asohail@csu.edu.au
Project
Genetic diversity, epidemiology and management of Elsinoë australis, causal organism of black scab disease of jojoba plants (Simmondsia chinensis)
Summary
Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is an evergreen shrub which has emerged as a viable cash crop in many regions of the world. Its main value is the seed of the plant which can be harvested and crushed for wax oil of commercial value to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. Several agronomic characteristics make the plant suited to farming systems adapted to climate change while providing a diversified income for farmers. In Australia different cultivars of jojoba have been growing since 1992. Scab disease of jojoba caused by Elsinoë australis was first reported by our team at CSU and has yet to be described anywhere else in the world. While this pathogen has been reported on citrus varieties outside of Australia, it has not been previously found on any other crop within Australia. Elsinoë australis is on the watch list of Plant Health Australia as a citrus pathogen. How this pathogen came to be in Australia on jojoba and how long it has been present is still unknown. The main objective of this research is to understand the genetic diversity and biology of this pathogen, its interaction with the host and how Australian growers may manage its effect in integrated systems approach.
Supervisors
Dr Gavin Ash, Dr Ben Stodart, Dr John Harper
Funding source
CSU Postgraduate Research Scholarship and EH Graham Centre