Pablo Olivera

Pablo D. Olivera
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Minnesota

495 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN, 55108

E-mail: oliv0132@umn.edu

Graduate Advisor: Brian Steffenson

My research project involves the  study of Sharon goat grass (Aegilops sharonensis), a wild relative of wheat endemic from the  coastal areas of Israel and  southern Lebanon. Aegiolops sharonensis is a potential  source of useful genes for wheat improvement, and it is considered a threatened  species.It grows in the  most highly populated area of Israel,  where agriculture and urbanization are rapidly replacing its natural habitat.  The main objectives of my thesis are: 1) to evaluate a collection of Ae. sharonensis for resistance to seven  wheat fungal pathogens; 2) to determine the genetic basis of wheat leaf rust,  stem rust, and powdery mildew resistance in Ae.  sharonensis; 3) to generate the first genetic linkage map on the species  and to map the resistance genes to wheat leaf rust and stem rust; and 4) to  assess the phenotypic and genotypic diversity in Ae. sharonensis using SSR markers. My project is done in  cooperation with the Institute for Cereal Crops Improvement at the Tel Aviv  University, Israel.

Professional Experience

Olivera, P. D., Millet, E.,  Anikster, Y., and Steffenson, B. J. 2007. Genetic control of resistance to  wheat leaf rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew in Sharon goatgrass (Aegilops sharonensis). Phytopathology. (Submitted)

Olivera, P. D., Anikster, Y.,  Kolmer, J. A., and Steffenson, B. J. 2007. Resistance of Sharon goat grass (Aegilops sharonensis) to  fungal diseases of wheat. Plant Disease 91:942-950

Steffenson, B. J., Olivera, P.  D., Roy, J. K, and Y. Jin. 2007. A walk on the wild side: Mining wild wheat and  barley collections for rust resistance genes. Australian Journal of  Agricultural Research 58(6): 532-544.

Olivera, P. B., Steffenson, and  Y. Anikster. 2005. Resistance to wheat leaf rust and stem rust in Sharon goat grass (Aegilops sharonensis). Phytopathology  95:S165

Olivera, P., E. Millet, J.  Manisterski, Y. Anikster, and B. Steffenson. 2005. Sharon goat grass – A rich source of disease  resistance genes for wheat improvement. Page 343 in: Buck,  H. T., Nisi, J. E. and Salomón, N. (Eds.). Wheat production in stressed  environments. Proc. 7th International Wheat Conference.

Olivera, P., B. Steffenson, and  Y. Anikster. 2003. Reaction of Aegilops  sharonensis to Fusarium head blight. Page 226 in: S. C. Canty, J. Lewis,  and R. W. Ward, eds. 2003 National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proc. US Wheat  and Barley Scab Initiative

Presentations

Olivera  P. D., Millet, E., Anikster, Y., and Steffenson B. J. Genetic control of  resistance to wheat leaf rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew in Sharon goatgrass (Aegilops sharonensis). Aaronsohn and  International Triticeae Mapping Initiative (ITMI) Conference. Tiberias, Israel  April 16-20, 2007. (Poster)

Olivera  P. D., Millet, E., Anikster, Y., and Steffenson B. J. Genetics of  resistance to wheat leaf rust and stem rust in Sharon goatgrass (Aegilops sharonensis). 2007 North American Cereal Rust Workshop. St. Paul, Minnesota.  April 2-4, 2007. (Oral)   

Olivera, P., Sharon goat grass – A rich source of disease  resistance genes for wheat improvement. 7th International Wheat  Conference. Mar del Plata, Argentina. November 27 – December  2, 2005. (Poster)

Olivera, P., 2005. Resistance to  wheat leaf rust and stem rust in Sharon  goat grass (Aegilops sharonensis).  APS North Central Division meeting. June 23-24, 2004. University  of Minnesota, St Paul, MN.  (Oral)

Olivera, P., 2003. Reaction of Aegilops sharonensis to Fusarium head  blight. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proc. US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative  2003 Fusarium Head Blight Forum. Bloomington,   MN. December 2003. (Poster)
   

Professional Organizations