Professor Elizabeth Aitken
Professor

Elizabeth Aitken

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54775

Background

Professor Elizabeth Aitken (Liz) obtained her BSc Hons in Agricultural Science (Crop Science) from Edinburgh University where she specialised in Plant Pathology. She then went on to undertake her PhD studies at Aberdeen University in conjunction with the UK Forestry Commission on a study of dieback on Scots pine trees. This was followed with postdoctoral studies at Birmingham University and the Sainsbury Lab, aiming to identify a rust resistance gene by transposon tagging. In 1993 she moved to Australia and joined UQ as an academic staff member.

Much of Liz’s research at UQ has focused on diseases of tropical crops in particular banana, ginger, cotton and sunflower. Research topics have included the genetics of plant-pathogen interactions, molecular aspects of pathogenicity and disease diagnostics. This research has been undertaken with strong collaborations with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and with CSIRO. Research topics have included the genetics of plant-pathogen interactions, molecular aspects of pathogenicity and disease diagnostics. This work has assisted in the identification of disease incursions in particular in banana and of cryptic plant pathogen species of Pythium in ginger and Phomopsis in sunflower. One current research focus includes identification of resistance to Fusarium wilt in diploid banana lines for potential deployment against TR4 in commercial banana cultivars; this has received funding from BMGF in collaboration with the International Institute of Topical Agriculture in Africa as well as from Hort Innovation Australia. Other studies include analysis of putative pathogenicity genes including Six genes in Fusarium oxysporum affecting banana, strawberry and ginger and in collaboration with colleagues at CSIRO studies on Fusarium spp on wheat particularly with regard to influence of environmental factors related to climate change.

Since commencing at UQ in 1993, Liz has supervised numerous postgraduate and honours students and participated in undergraduate teaching at all levels in plant science and in particular in plant pathology and fungal biology. She has also taken on various roles and committee membership in postgraduate student mentoring, research integrity and biosafety.

Availability

Professor Elizabeth Aitken is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Biological Sciences Horticultural crop protection (incl. pests, diseases and weeds) Horticultural production Plant biology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Edinburgh
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Aberdeen
  • Fellow, Australasian Plant Pathology Society, Australasian Plant Pathology Society

Research interests

  • Fusarium oxysporum

    Analysis of the role of endophytic Fusarium oxysporum among members of the Zingeberales

  • Putative effector genes in Fusarium oxysporum

    Analysis of putative pathogenicity genes including "Six" genes in Fusarium oxysporum that affect a range of crop species including strawberry and ginger

  • Resistance to Fusarium wilt in banana

    Identification and characterization of resistance to Fusarium wilt in seeded diploid banana lines for potential deployment against TR4

  • Verticillium dahliae on cotton

    Histological and molecular interaction of Verticillium dahliae on cotton

  • Diversity of macrofungi

    I am very keen to help in expanding our knowledge of Australian macrofungi and lichens

Research impacts

Much of Prof. Aitken’s research at UQ has focused on diseases of tropical crops in particular banana, ginger and sunflower. Research topics have included the genetics of plant-pathogen interactions, molecular aspects of pathogenicity and disease diagnostics. This work has assissted in the identification of disease incursions in particular in banana and of cryptic plant pathoegn species in ginger and sunflower. Current research focus includes identification of resistance to Fusraium wilt in diploid banana lines for potential deployment against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 4 in commercial banana cultivars.

Search Professor Elizabeth Aitken’s works on UQ eSpace

155 works between 1989 and 2024
All (155) Journal Article (100) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (50) Book (2) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 155 works

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Sequence variation in the putative effector gene SIX8 facilitates molecular differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Fraser-Smith, S., Czislowski, E., Meldrum, R. A., Zander, M., O'Neill, W., Balali, G. R. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2014). Sequence variation in the putative effector gene SIX8 facilitates molecular differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. Plant Pathology, 63 (5), 1044-1052. doi: 10.1111/ppa.12184

Sequence variation in the putative effector gene SIX8 facilitates molecular differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Featured

2012

Journal Article

Presence of putative pathogenicity genes in isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense from Australia

Meldrum, R. A., Fraser-Smith, S., Tran-Nguyen, L. T. T., Daly, A. M. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2012). Presence of putative pathogenicity genes in isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense from Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 41 (5), 551-557. doi: 10.1007/s13313-012-0122-x

Presence of putative pathogenicity genes in isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense from Australia

Featured

2010

Journal Article

Production and fitness of Fusarium pseudograminearum inoculum at elevated carbon dioxide in FACE

Melloy, Paul, Hollaway, Grant, Luck, Jo, Norton, Rob, Aitken, Elizabeth and Chakraborty, Sukumar (2010). Production and fitness of Fusarium pseudograminearum inoculum at elevated carbon dioxide in FACE. Global Change Biology, 16 (12), 3363-3373. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02178.x

Production and fitness of Fusarium pseudograminearum inoculum at elevated carbon dioxide in FACE

2024

Journal Article

The genomes of two Australian isolates of Verticillium dahliae recovered from cotton fields

Gardiner, Donald M., Smith, Linda J., Rusu, Anca and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2024). The genomes of two Australian isolates of Verticillium dahliae recovered from cotton fields. Australasian Plant Pathology, 53 (5), 435-441. doi: 10.1007/s13313-024-00993-5

The genomes of two Australian isolates of Verticillium dahliae recovered from cotton fields

2024

Journal Article

Fluorescently Tagged Verticillium dahliae to Understand the Infection Process on Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and Weed Plant Species

Chen, Andrew, Morrison, Sabrina, Gregson, Aphrika, Le, Duy P., Urquhart, Andrew S., Smith, Linda J., Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. and Gardiner, Donald M. (2024). Fluorescently Tagged Verticillium dahliae to Understand the Infection Process on Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and Weed Plant Species. Pathogens, 13 (6) 442, 442. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13060442

Fluorescently Tagged Verticillium dahliae to Understand the Infection Process on Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and Weed Plant Species

2024

Journal Article

The pathogenic diversity and host range of <i>Colletotrichum</i> spp. causing pepper spot and anthracnose of lychee (<i>Litchi chinensis</i>) in Australia

Anderson, Jay M., Coates, Lindy M., Aitken, Elizabeth A. B., Mitchell, Roger W., McTaggart, Alistair R. and Dann, Elizabeth K. (2024). The pathogenic diversity and host range of Colletotrichum spp. causing pepper spot and anthracnose of lychee (Litchi chinensis) in Australia. Plant Pathology, 73 (6), 1334-1348. doi: 10.1111/ppa.13901

The pathogenic diversity and host range of <i>Colletotrichum</i> spp. causing pepper spot and anthracnose of lychee (<i>Litchi chinensis</i>) in Australia

2023

Journal Article

Impact of inoculum density of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi on symptomatic appearances and yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Matthews, Andrea, Muthukumar, Sharan P. T., Hamill, Sharon, Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. and Chen, Andrew (2023). Impact of inoculum density of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi on symptomatic appearances and yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Access Microbiology, 5 (9), 1-16. doi: 10.1099/acmi.0.000605.v3

Impact of inoculum density of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi on symptomatic appearances and yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

2023

Journal Article

Diaporthe gulyae colonizes seeds of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) systematically through leaf, petiole and stem infection

Thompson, Susan M., Neate, Stephen M., Gulya, Thomas J. and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2023). Diaporthe gulyae colonizes seeds of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) systematically through leaf, petiole and stem infection. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 167 (1), 41-58. doi: 10.1007/s10658-023-02683-2

Diaporthe gulyae colonizes seeds of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) systematically through leaf, petiole and stem infection

2023

Journal Article

Genetic mapping, candidate gene identification and marker validation for host plant resistance to the race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense using Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis

Chen, Andrew, Sun, Jiaman, Viljoen, Altus, Mostert, Diane, Xie, Yucong, Mangila, Leroy, Bothma, Sheryl, Lyons, Rebecca, Hřibová, Eva, Christelová, Pavla, Uwimana, Brigitte, Amah, Delphine, Pearce, Stephen, Chen, Ning, Batley, Jacqueline, Edwards, David, Doležel, Jaroslav, Crisp, Peter, Brown, Allan F., Martin, Guillaume, Yahiaoui, Nabila, D’Hont, Angelique, Coin, Lachlan, Swennen, Rony and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2023). Genetic mapping, candidate gene identification and marker validation for host plant resistance to the race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense using Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis. Pathogens, 12 (6) 820, 820. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12060820

Genetic mapping, candidate gene identification and marker validation for host plant resistance to the race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense using Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis

2023

Other Outputs

Data associated with publication "Impacts of myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) induced tree mortality on species and functional richness within seedling communities of a wet sclerophyll forest in Eastern Australia"

Stevenson, Kristy and Aitken, Elizabeth (2023). Data associated with publication "Impacts of myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) induced tree mortality on species and functional richness within seedling communities of a wet sclerophyll forest in Eastern Australia". The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/1e3afb5

Data associated with publication "Impacts of myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) induced tree mortality on species and functional richness within seedling communities of a wet sclerophyll forest in Eastern Australia"

2023

Journal Article

Identification of a major QTL-controlling resistance to the Subtropical Race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis

Chen, Andrew, Sun, Jiaman, Martin, Guillaume, Gray, Lesley-Ann, Hřibová, Eva, Christelová, Pavla, Yahiaoui, Nabila, Rounsley, Steve, Lyons, Rebecca, Batley, Jacqueline, Chen, Ning, Hamill, Sharon, Rai, Subash K., Coin, Lachlan, Uwimana, Brigitte, D’Hont, Angelique, Doležel, Jaroslav, Edwards, David, Swennen, Rony and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2023). Identification of a major QTL-controlling resistance to the Subtropical Race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis. Pathogens, 12 (2) 289, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12020289

Identification of a major QTL-controlling resistance to the Subtropical Race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis

2023

Journal Article

Fusarium yellows of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi is associated with cultivar-specific expression of defense-responsive genes

Prasath, Duraisamy, Matthews, Andrea, O’Neill, Wayne T., Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. and Chen, Andrew (2023). Fusarium yellows of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi is associated with cultivar-specific expression of defense-responsive genes. Pathogens, 12 (1) 141, 141. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12010141

Fusarium yellows of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi is associated with cultivar-specific expression of defense-responsive genes

2022

Conference Publication

Topical application of RNAi to improve crop health against fungal pathogens

Ravichander, Pratyush, Czislowski, Elizabeth, Aitken, Elizabeth, Gardiner, Donald and Mitter, Neena (2022). Topical application of RNAi to improve crop health against fungal pathogens. TropAg Internation Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.

Topical application of RNAi to improve crop health against fungal pathogens

2022

Journal Article

Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust

Jambuthenne, Dilani T., Riaz, Adnan, Athiyannan, Naveenkumar, Alahmad, Samir, Ng, Wei Ling, Ziems, Laura, Afanasenko, Olga, Periyannan, Sambasivam K., Aitken, Elizabeth, Platz, Greg, Godwin, Ian, Voss-Fels, Kai P., Dinglasan, Eric and Hickey, Lee T. (2022). Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 135 (4), 1355-1373. doi: 10.1007/s00122-022-04037-8

Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust

2021

Journal Article

A method for high-throughput image-based antifungal screening

Sabburg, Rosalie, Gregson, Aphrika, Urquhart, Andrew S., Aitken, Elizabeth A.B., Smith, Linda, Thatcher, Louise F. and Gardiner, Donald M. (2021). A method for high-throughput image-based antifungal screening. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 190 106342, 106342. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106342

A method for high-throughput image-based antifungal screening

2021

Journal Article

Genetic diversity of Australian Fusarium pseudograminearum populations causing crown rot in wheat

Khudhair, Mohammed, Obanor, F., Kazan, K., Gardiner, D. M., Aitken, E., McKay, A., Giblot-Ducray, D., Simpfendorfer, S. and Thatcher, L. F. (2021). Genetic diversity of Australian Fusarium pseudograminearum populations causing crown rot in wheat. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 159 (4), 741-753. doi: 10.1007/s10658-020-02198-0

Genetic diversity of Australian Fusarium pseudograminearum populations causing crown rot in wheat

2021

Journal Article

Effect of in Planta Treatment of ‘Cavendish’ Banana with Herbicides and Fungicides on the Colonisation and Sporulation by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Subtropical Race 4

Anderson, Jay and Aitken, Elizabeth (2021). Effect of in Planta Treatment of ‘Cavendish’ Banana with Herbicides and Fungicides on the Colonisation and Sporulation by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Subtropical Race 4. Journal of Fungi, 7 (3) 184, 184-11. doi: 10.3390/jof7030184

Effect of in Planta Treatment of ‘Cavendish’ Banana with Herbicides and Fungicides on the Colonisation and Sporulation by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Subtropical Race 4

2021

Journal Article

Effector profiles of endophytic Fusarium associated with asymptomatic banana (Musa sp.) hosts

Czislowski, Elizabeth, Zeil-Rolfe, Isabel and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2021). Effector profiles of endophytic Fusarium associated with asymptomatic banana (Musa sp.) hosts. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (5) 2508, 2508-25. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052508

Effector profiles of endophytic Fusarium associated with asymptomatic banana (Musa sp.) hosts

2021

Journal Article

Southern sting nematode (Ibipora lolii): its occurrence and population dynamics in Western Australia and an assessment of resistance and tolerance to the nematode in turf grasses

Ruscoe, P. E., Aitken, E. A.B. and Stirling, G. R. (2021). Southern sting nematode (Ibipora lolii): its occurrence and population dynamics in Western Australia and an assessment of resistance and tolerance to the nematode in turf grasses. Australasian Plant Pathology, 50 (5), 559-569. doi: 10.1007/s13313-021-00805-0

Southern sting nematode (Ibipora lolii): its occurrence and population dynamics in Western Australia and an assessment of resistance and tolerance to the nematode in turf grasses

2020

Conference Publication

Unique secreted in xylem genes in banana-infecting endophytic Fusarium oxysporum

Lyons, Rebecca, Czislowski, Elizabeth, Zeil-Rolfe, Isabel, Kaur, Shubhdeep, Liu, Zhendong, Chen, Andy and Aitken, Elizabeth (2020). Unique secreted in xylem genes in banana-infecting endophytic Fusarium oxysporum. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036180

Unique secreted in xylem genes in banana-infecting endophytic Fusarium oxysporum

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Development of Molecular Diagnostic for Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi (Foz)
    Agrifutures Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Building an advanced genomics platform for Australian horticulture
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2027
    Technical assistance to enable acceleration of the identification of the resistance genes in banana and the generation of markers for the banana breeding program
    Bayer Cropscience Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    ARC Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection
    ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024
    Testing banana germplasm with molecular markers
    NQ Banana Research Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Identifying new resistance genes for Panama Tropical Race 4
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Impact of myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) infection on community composition and ecological function
    Australian Plant Biosecurity Science Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Accelerated breeding of better bananas (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant led by IITA)
    International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Development of molecular markers for Fusarium wilt resistance in banana
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Development of GFP transformants of Verticillium and assessment in plants
    New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    Strengthening the banana industry diagnostic capacity
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    BA14014 Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 Research Program
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    Improvement of banana for smallholder farmers in the Great Lakes Region of Africa
    International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    PRJ-008308 - Improved tissue culture production of ginger clean planting material
    Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Accelerated crop development and environmental compliance of agricultural and food systems
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Assessment of Pythium diversity in ginger
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Confocal Microscopy Infrastructure for Plant Sciences
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2016
    Rapid introgression of crown rot resistance into hexaploid wheat
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Analyses of the effect of silicon on Fusarium wilt on banana
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Assessing the potential of silicone in the control of Fusarium wilt in banana
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Controlled Environment Facilities for the Challenges of the 21st Century
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2011
    Strengthening disease detection, diagnosis and surveillance in the Australian banana industry
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Identification and analysis of banana defence genes confering resistance to soil borne pathogens
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    PCR primer verification and analysis of the black Sigatoka outbreak in Tully
    Horticulture Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2002
    CAPITAL ITEM GRANT: PCR MACHINE (THERMAL CYCLER)
    Cotton Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Travel grant for Ms Elizabeth Miric to attend the Australasian Plant Pathology Society 13th Biennial Conference - September 2001.
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Travel grant for Ms BC Engel to attend 7th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Edinburgh 1998
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2000
    Population and pathogenicity studies of the Black Sigatoka fungus
    Horticultural Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Study of genes involved in initiating trap production in nematode-trapping fungi
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1998
    Population and pathogenicity studies of Mycosphaerilla spp.
    Queensland Department Primary Industries
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Travel grant for Ms BC Engel to attend and present a paper at the Australasian Plant Pathology Society 11th Biennial Conference
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Analysis of constitutive and induced peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase levels in a Banana population segregating for reaction to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cubense
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    Molecular identification of strains of Sclerotinia spp.
    Horticultural Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    Population and pathogenicity studies of Mycosphaerella spp.
    Horticultural Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Genetic variation and sexual recombination in Australian field populations of the bean rust fungus
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Elizabeth Aitken is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Elizabeth Aitken directly for media enquiries about:

  • Banana
  • Mycology
  • Plant Pathology

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au