Dr
Ravjit Khangura
Plant Pathologist
My role in the department
I am based at DPIRD's South Perth office developing efficient technologies to minimise disease constraints for sustainable and profitable canola production in WA, and allowing its expansion into new regions. I lead the western node of the GRDC funded project, ‘National Canola Pathology Program, new molecular knowledge, pathogen evolution and control technologies’. My research focuses on blackleg, sclerotinia stem rot and other diseases of economic significance. I collaborate with the University of Melbourne, Marcroft Grains Pathology, NSW DPI, SARDI and CSIRO, as well as national and international canola breeders and pathologists. I am passionately committed to extend my research findings to WA canola growers, consultants , other industry stakeholders and scientists through online publications, field days, seminars, scientific publications, presenting at national and international conferences. I co-supervise PhD students and international post-doctoral scientists.
My background
I have more than 23 years experience, predominantly in canola pathology research and extension in particular developing best disease management practices for a wide range of canola and mustard diseases in India at Punjab Agricultural University and Australia at DPIRD. Before joining DPIRD in 1995, I worked at Murdoch University investigating mechanisms of resistance to jarrah die back and then at UWA exploring endophyes in native grasses. My expertise include developing sustainable disease management approaches encompassing cultural, host resistance, epidemiological and chemical control techniques, host – pathogen interactions, disease diagnostics and extension. My epidemiological research has led to the development of ‘Blackleg Sporacle’ model in collaboration with DPIRD’s modelling team. My three year research on surveillence of cereal root disease pathogens in the Western Australian grainbelt highlighted the importance of several root diseases impacting cereal production.
Projects
- National Canola Pathology Program including new molecular knowledge, pathogen evolution and control technologies – UM00051.
- National Pathogen management modelling and delivery of decision support. National GRDC funded project - DAW00228.
- Improving growers surveillance, management, epidemiology knowledge and tools to manage crop disease. GRDC funded project - DAW00229.
Key Expertise
Canola pathology research, blackleg, Sclerotinia, downy mildew, hypocotyl rot, powdery mildew, resistance screening, cultural and chemical control, epidemiology, canola and cereal disease surveillance, mycology, project management, extension.
Qualifications
- Ph.D in Palnt Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India (achieved highest grade point average 4.0/4.0
- M.Phil in Mycology and Plant Pathology, Punjabi University, Patiala, India (achieved highest grade - outstanding)
- M.Sc. in Botany (specialisation in mycology and plant pathology), Punjabi University, Patiala, India. (Dux of M Sc and was awarded a University medal)
- B.Sc., Punjabi University, Patiala, India (achieved high distinction).
My articles
Wednesday, 31 January 2018 - 10:52am
