Advances in Crop Science and Technology
Open Access

Abstract

Late blight is the most devastating disease in potato production around the world. It is caused by Phytophthora infestans which mutates rapidly. Renewed control strategies aimed at higher efficiency and lower environmental impact are urgently required. Research carried out for a decade in our laboratories demonstrated that we can prime potato plants to boost diverse defense functions against Phytophthora infestans. Priming could reduce the use of fungicides and pesticides and ensure the protection of human health and the environment. In this talk, I will present our knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of priming against P. infestans based on our studies using proteomics, metabolomics and gene expression profiling tools.

Biography

Gefu Wang-Pruski has received her PhD from University of Alberta in Canada and completed her Post doctorate from Loma Linda University in Southern California. She has over 30 year’s research experience. She is currently a full Professor at Dalhousie University. She has been leading over 20 national and international research programs in the past 15 years and generated over 50 peer-reviewed publications. She has been serving as an Editorial Board Member for many journals.

E-mail: gefu.wang-pruski@dal.ca