Publications by authors named "Prabhakaran T Sambasivam"
Article Synopsis
- Ascochyta blight, caused by a fungal pathogen, significantly threatens the global chickpea industry, particularly affecting Australia’s multimillion-dollar market through disease management costs and yield losses.
- The disease was introduced to Australia in the 1970s and has since established itself with varying levels of aggressiveness among local isolates, including some that can severely impact even resistant chickpea varieties.
- Recent genomic studies of 230 isolates revealed three main genetic clusters and indicated that highly aggressive traits emerged independently multiple times, suggesting that aggressiveness may be influenced by a combination of minor genetic factors and epigenomic variations.
Article Synopsis
- Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) uses small RNA molecules to target and silence essential genes in fungal pathogens, thereby controlling plant diseases.
- The stability of RNA in the environment poses challenges, but using BioClay, a formulation with clay particles, can enhance the durability and effectiveness of the delivered RNA.
- Research shows that BioClay significantly extends protection against the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea on tomato and chickpea plants compared to standard RNA treatments, marking SIGS as a promising eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides.
Ascochyta blight disease, caused by the necrotrophic fungus , is a major biotic constraint to chickpea production in Australia and worldwide. Detailed knowledge of the structure of the pathogen population and its potential to adapt to our farming practices is key to informing optimal management of the disease. This includes understanding the molecular diversity among isolates and the frequency and distribution of the isolates that have adapted to overcome host resistance across agroecologically distinct regions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChickpea ( L.) is an important cool season food legume, however, its production is severely constrained by the foliar disease Ascochyta blight caused by the fungus (syn. ).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF