Overview
Background
I have a keen interest in the evolutionary relationships that underpin symbioses, particularly those involved in plant disease. There are countless examples of how diseases have impacted on different crops throughout history, and this is an ongoing issue that deleteriously impacts food security. My research involves developing a better understanding of the epidemiology of plant diseases and pests, and delivering improved diagnostics and field management. Working with collaborators and international experts, my work involves research on a broad range of plants that are affected by bacteria, fungi, oomycetes and viruses. I have a strong interest in the biotic factors that govern soil health and the methods by which we can promote the development of beneficial microbial communities.
Availability
- Dr Anthony Young is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, Macquarie University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Macquarie University
Research interests
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Discovering pathogens and other endosymbionts of sugarcane
Using molecular techniques to identify the presence of different organisms associated with sugarcane and its relatives. These include the organism responsible for chlorotic streak and bacterial strains closely related to those that cause ratoon stunting disease.
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Understanding nematode evolution and pathogen emergence
Nematodes are the most abundant and diverse of animal life-forms. They play a key role in nutrient cycling and soil health. However, some attack plants we like. Virtually nothing is known about how these relationships develop. That's one subject my team is examining.
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Improve mungbean performance against halo blight and tan spot
The bacterial diseases halo blight (Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola) and tan spot (Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens subsp. flaccumfaciens) are major production constraints to Australian and international mungbean crops. Working closely with collaborators at QUT and DAF, we are aiming to identify improved genetic traits against these diseases and develop enhanced diagnostic tests for these targets.
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Epidemiology of pasture dieback
Pasture dieback is an emerging threat to grazing industries in Queensland. We have a multidisciplinary team examining different aspects of the disorder with a view towards long term, environmentally sustainable management.
Research impacts
I have led the Australian sugar industry in the management of ratoon stunting disease and chlorotic streak disease, and have had a pivotal role in developing diagnostic tests for bacterial diseases of mungbean. I developed a project that has led to improved potato production in the southern Philippines, while my training and mentorship has delivered pathology and diagnostic expertise to numerous Australian and international scientists. My work on the Australian Sugar Industry Biosecurity Group and related committees has improved biosecurity outcomes in Australia and abroad. There are exciting opportunities to work on a broad range of different crop presentations and to deploy the latest in molecular technologies to address the many challenges facing agriculture in the 21st Century.
Works
Search Professor Anthony Young’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Turning a blind eye to ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane in Australia
Young, Anthony J. (2018). Turning a blind eye to ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane in Australia. Plant Disease, 102 (3), 473-482. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-06-17-0911-FE
2024
Journal Article
Mapping pasture dieback impact and recovery using an aerial imagery time series: a central Queensland case study
McKenna, Phillip B., Ufer, Natasha, Glenn, Vanessa, Dale, Neil, Carins, Tayla, Nguyen, Trung h., Thomson, Melody B., Young, Anthony J., Buck, Stuart, Jones, Paul and Erskine, Peter D. (2024). Mapping pasture dieback impact and recovery using an aerial imagery time series: a central Queensland case study. Crop and Pasture Science, 75 (9) ARTN CP23340. doi: 10.1071/cp23340
2024
Journal Article
Towards Pathogen-Free Coconut Germplasm Exchange
Yang, Chongxi, Nguyen, Van Anh, Nulu, Naga Prafulla Chandrika, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Beveridge, Fernanda Caro, Biddle, Julianne, Young, Anthony and Adkins, Steve W. (2024). Towards Pathogen-Free Coconut Germplasm Exchange. Plants, 13 (13) 1809, 1-21. doi: 10.3390/plants13131809
2024
Journal Article
Comparing RSD screening methods for sugarcane and the real costs of diagnosis
Di Bella, Lawrence, Holzberger, Graeme, Harragon, Rhiannan and Young, Anthony (2024). Comparing RSD screening methods for sugarcane and the real costs of diagnosis. Zuckerindustrie, 149 (1), 64-69. doi: 10.36961/si30825
2023
Conference Publication
Evolving technologies for the diagnosis of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane
Young, Anthony (2023). Evolving technologies for the diagnosis of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane. International Conference on Smart and Innovative Agriculture, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 10-11 October 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana): a comprehensive review of its weediness, ecological impacts and management approaches
O’Brien, Ciara J., Campbell, Shane, Young, Anthony, Vogler, Wayne and Galea, Victor J. (2023). Chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana): a comprehensive review of its weediness, ecological impacts and management approaches. Plants, 12 (18) 3213, 3213. doi: 10.3390/plants12183213
2023
Journal Article
A streak through history: Solving the riddle of chlorotic streak disease of sugarcane
Earsman, Ruby G. and Young, Anthony J. (2023). A streak through history: Solving the riddle of chlorotic streak disease of sugarcane. Plant Pathology, 73 (1), 3-11. doi: 10.1111/ppa.13797
2023
Conference Publication
Dual RNA sequencing of chili pepper cultivars and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria causing bacterial leaf spot (BLS)
Utami, Desi, Edson, Janette, Miftahussurur, Muhammad, Gao, Wei, Meale, Sarah and Young, Anthony (2023). Dual RNA sequencing of chili pepper cultivars and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria causing bacterial leaf spot (BLS). 12th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Lyon, France, 20-25 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Combatting sugarcane ratoon stunting disease (RSD) in Australia
Young, Anthony (2023). Combatting sugarcane ratoon stunting disease (RSD) in Australia. 12th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Lyon, France, 20-25 August 2024.
2023
Conference Publication
Harnessing the inner beast: development of biocontrol agents for sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana)
Limbongan, Amelia, Young, Anthony, Campbell, Shane and Galea, Victor (2023). Harnessing the inner beast: development of biocontrol agents for sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana). 12th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Lyon, France, 20-25 August 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Rubber leaf fall phenomenon linked to increased temperature
Azizan, F. A., Astuti, I. S., Young, A. and Abdul Aziz, A. (2023). Rubber leaf fall phenomenon linked to increased temperature. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 352 108531, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2023.108531
2023
Journal Article
First report of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria causing bacterial leaf spot in chilli pepper (Capsicum sp.) in Indonesia
Utami, D., Jayasanti, N. N. S., Meale, S. J. and Young, A. J. (2023). First report of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria causing bacterial leaf spot in chilli pepper (Capsicum sp.) in Indonesia. New Disease Reports, 48 (1) e12208, 1-3. doi: 10.1002/ndr2.12208
2023
Conference Publication
Comparing RSD screening methods for sugarcane and the real costs of diagnosis
di Bella, L., Holzberger, G., Harragon, R. and Young, A. (2023). Comparing RSD screening methods for sugarcane and the real costs of diagnosis. Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Cairns, QLD Australia, 18-21 April 2023. Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
2023
Journal Article
Bacterial leaf spot susceptibility screening of chili pepper cultivars using qPCR determination of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria Titers
Utami, Desi, Meale, Sarah Jade and Young, Anthony Joseph (2023). Bacterial leaf spot susceptibility screening of chili pepper cultivars using qPCR determination of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria Titers. Phytopathology, 114 (4), 681-689. doi: 10.1094/phyto-12-22-0479-r
2022
Journal Article
Determining the optimum climate preseason for plant phenology analysis using rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) as a model
Azizan, Fathin Ayuni, Young, Anthony and Aziz, Ammar Abdul (2022). Determining the optimum climate preseason for plant phenology analysis using rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) as a model. Remote Sensing Letters, 13 (11), 1121-1130. doi: 10.1080/2150704x.2022.2131477
2022
Journal Article
Draft genome sequences of Dickeya species associated with soft rot diseases in pineapple (Ananas comosus) and banana (Musa spp.)
Young, Anthony J., Birt, Henry W. G., Vaghefi, Niloofar, Hoelzle, Robert D. and Dennis, Paul G. (2022). Draft genome sequences of Dickeya species associated with soft rot diseases in pineapple (Ananas comosus) and banana (Musa spp.). Microbiology Resource Announcements, 11 (11), e0071622. doi: 10.1128/mra.00716-22
2022
Journal Article
Draft genome sequences of Robbsia andropogonis isolated from Sorghum bicolor exhibiting bacterial leaf stripe in Australia
Young, Anthony J., Birt, Henry W. G., Hoelzle, Robert D. and Dennis, Paul G. (2022). Draft genome sequences of Robbsia andropogonis isolated from Sorghum bicolor exhibiting bacterial leaf stripe in Australia. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 11 (10) e0024722, e0024722. doi: 10.1128/mra.00247-22
2022
Journal Article
A pan-global study of bacterial leaf spot of chilli caused by Xanthomonas spp
Utami, Desi, Meale, Sarah Jade and Young, Anthony Joseph (2022). A pan-global study of bacterial leaf spot of chilli caused by Xanthomonas spp. Plants, 11 (17) 2291, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/plants11172291
2022
Journal Article
Heart rot of Australian pineapples caused by Dickeya zeae
Young, Anthony J., Pathania, Nandita, Manners, Andrew and Pegg, Kenneth G. (2022). Heart rot of Australian pineapples caused by Dickeya zeae. Australasian Plant Pathology, 51 (5), 525-533. doi: 10.1007/s13313-022-00880-x
2022
Journal Article
Evaluating molecular diagnostic techniques for seed detection of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola, causal agent of halo blight disease in mungbean (Vigna radiata)
Noble, Thomas J., Williams, Brett, Douglas, Colin A., Giblot-Ducray, Daniele, Mundree, Sagadevan and Young, Anthony J. (2022). Evaluating molecular diagnostic techniques for seed detection of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola, causal agent of halo blight disease in mungbean (Vigna radiata). Australasian Plant Pathology, 51 (4), 453-459. doi: 10.1007/s13313-022-00876-7
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Anthony Young is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Various molecular and traditional plant pest and pathology projects.
To undertake a PhD project at UQ requires a funded project. These are generally funded by external partners and their availability varies. Traditional and molecular techniques can be applied to a range of pests and pathogens across any crop presentation. More than happy to discuss projects.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Determining the role of ground pearls in Pasture Dieback
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shane Campbell, Dr Alwyn Williams
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Doctor Philosophy
Utilizing Remote Sensing and Machine Learning to Detect Plantation Trees Infected by Fungal Diseases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman, Associate Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
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Doctor Philosophy
Optimising a Stem Injection Technology for the Chemical and Biological Control of Environmental Woody Weeds
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shane Campbell, Professor Victor Galea
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular insights of plant-microbe interactions in chili bacterial leaf spot caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sarah Meale
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2021
Master Philosophy
Development of a loop ¿ mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the detection of Sweetpotato virus G (SPVG) in Sweetpotato planting materials for commercial production in Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Victor Galea
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a management system for mimosa bush (Vachellia farnesiana): Evaluating chemical herbicide methods and investigating the potential for harnessing dieback as a management tool
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shane Campbell, Professor Victor Galea
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Climatic and epidemiological characterisation of new rubber leaf fall disease: A remote sensing approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman, Associate Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Anthony Young directly for media enquiries about:
- agriculture
- Bacteria
- biosecurity
- diagnostics
- integrated pest management
- molecular biology
- mungbean
- pineapple
- Plant Disease
- quarantine pest
- soybean
- sugarcane
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