Professor Dilantha Fernando from the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba, a renowned plant pathologist and Dean, visited the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, on September 25, 2024. Professor Fernando is internationally recognized for his research on host-pathogen interactions, particularly in canola diseases like blackleg, Verticillium, Sclerotinia, and wheat fusarium head blight. His expertise lies in the epidemiology and spread of these pathogens in canola and cereals.
During his visit, he delivered a talk titled "Genetics in Host-Pathogen Interactions: A Path to Sustainable Agriculture and the Future." He shared a success story on combating the plant pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa, which affect canola/oilseed rape, the world's second-largest oilseed crop. Highlighting the importance of global collaboration, Professor Fernando's research detailed efforts to mitigate these destructive diseases in canola production across Australia, Canada, and Europe. His presentation emphasized the early success of resistance (R) genes in combating the disease, followed by the pathogens’ evolution under crop-induced disease pressure, which led to the breakdown of these R genes. Professor Fernando's group in Canada has been pivotal in equipping growers with the tools needed to make informed decisions, such as selecting the most appropriate R gene for their fields, to keep disease levels low. A key to this success was a deeper understanding of the complex host-pathogen interaction, where pathogen genes can mask others and behave in a "hide-and-seek" manner. The talk also covered the cloning of multiple avirulence genes within the pathogen, characterization of specific R genes, development of molecular tools like KASP markers for pathogen monitoring, and the introduction of innovative disease management strategies, including R gene labeling, rotation, stacking, and the creation of a universal pathogen isolate collection. This collection fosters the exchange of information among laboratories and has added a new dimension to disease control.
After the presentation, Professor Fernando discussed potential collaboration opportunities between the two institutions with Department Head Professor Tang-Long Shen and other faculty members. This visit not only strengthened academic exchanges between the parties but also laid a solid foundation for future research cooperation in pathogen control of oilseed crops, with the hope of contributing more knowledge and efforts towards sustainable agricultural development globally.