Staff Profile
Professor
Alison Stewart
BSc (Hons) (Glas) PhD (Stir)
Contact Details
Bio-Protection and Ecology Division
| Location | Burns 629b |
| Phone | 64 3 325 2811 |
| Extension | 8196 |
| Professor Alison Stewart |
Academic and Professional Background
I am actively involved in the development and promotion of plant pathology through my role as scientific editor of two plant pathology journals (Biocontrol Science and Technology, Australasian Plant Pathology) and as Vice President of both the New Zealand Plant Protection Society and the Australasian Plant Pathology Society.
I am a member of the organising committee for the Australasian Soilborne Diseases Conference to be held in Queenstown in 2006 and am also a member of the FRST Reference Panel for Natural Ecosystems Research.
Previous employment: 1985-1994: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland.
Current Research and Publications
The main focus of my research is on the effective management of economically important plant diseases in New Zealand using biological control methods.
My research investigates the use of naturally occurring micro-organisms or their metabolites to control soil-borne fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia species, Sclerotium cepivorum, Pythium and Phytophthora species. I have a particular interest in the study of the beneficial soil fungus Trichoderma. This fungus is naturally present in many diverse soil types and has a wide range of biological attributes which make it suitable for use in biological control (eg. properties such as plant growth promotion, antibiosis, parasitism, induced host plant resistance).
My research group has successfully commercialised three Trichoderma-based biocontrol products for the control of fruit and vegetable diseases.
Trichoderma studies range in diversity from molecular characterisation of biocontrol strains, production of molecular markers for ecological monitoring studies, laboratory and glass house evaluation of strains for biological control potential, determination of mechanisms of action of biocontrol agents through to commercial field evaluation of biocontrol agents and development of novel formulations.
Selected Publications
Carpenter, M.A., Stewart, A., Ridgway, H.J. Identification of novel Trichoderma hamatum genes expressed during mycoparasitism using subtractive hybridisation. FEMS Microbiology Letters 251: 105-112. 2005.
McLean, K.L., Swaminathan, J., Frampton, C.M. Hunt, J.S., Ridgway, H.J., Stewart, A. Effect of formulation on the rhizosphere competence and biocontrol ability of Trichoderma atroviride C52. Plant Pathology 54: 212-218. 2005.
van Toor, R.F., Pay, J.M., Jaspers, M.V., Stewart, A. 2005. Evaluation of phylloplane microorganisms for biological control of camellia flower blight. Australasian Plant Pathology, 34: pp. 525-531.
Dodd, S.L., Hill, R.A., Stewart, A. 2004. Monitoring the survival and spread of the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma atroviride (C65) on kiwifruit using a molecular marker. Australasian Plant Pathology 33:189-196.
Steyaert, J.M., Ridgway, H.J., Elad, Y., Stewart, A. 2003. Genetic basis of mycoparasitism: mechanism of biological control by species of Trichoderma. NZ Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 31: 281-291.
Every effort is made to ensure the information contained herein is correct at the time of printing, but the content may be subject to change. Lincoln University reserves the right to make changes, amendments or deletions - including withdrawal of courses, should circumstances change. Lincoln University does not assume and hereby disclaims any express or implied liability whatsoever to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether these errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.
Site Navigation Links:Jump to main page content.