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)

41 - 60 of 155 works

2018

Conference Publication

Increased aggressiveness of Fusarium pseudograminearum isolates causing crown rot disease on wheat in Western Australia

Khudhair, M., Obanor, F., Thatcher, L. F., Gardiner, D., Kazan, K. and Aitken, E. (2018). Increased aggressiveness of Fusarium pseudograminearum isolates causing crown rot disease on wheat in Western Australia. International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP), Boston, MA United States, 29 July - 3 August 2018. St Paul, MN United States: American Phytopathological Society.

Increased aggressiveness of Fusarium pseudograminearum isolates causing crown rot disease on wheat in Western Australia

2017

Journal Article

Investigation of the diversity of effector genes in the banana pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, reveals evidence of horizontal gene transfer

Czislowski, Elizabeth, Fraser-Smith, Sam, Zander, Manuel, O'Neill, Wayne T, Meldrum, Rachel A, Tran-Nguyen, Lucy T T, Batley, Jacqueline and Aitken, Elizabeth A B (2017). Investigation of the diversity of effector genes in the banana pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, reveals evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Molecular plant pathology, 19 (5), 1155-1171. doi: 10.1111/mpp.12594

Investigation of the diversity of effector genes in the banana pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, reveals evidence of horizontal gene transfer

2017

Journal Article

Unlocking new alleles for leaf rust resistance in the Vavilov wheat collection

Riaz, Adnan, Athiyannan, Naveenkumar, Periyannan, Sambasivam K., Afanasenko, Olga, Mitrofanova, Olga P., Platz, Gregory J., Aitken, Elizabeth A. B., Snowdon, Rod J., Lagudah, Evans S., Hickey, Lee T. and Voss-Fels, Kai P. (2017). Unlocking new alleles for leaf rust resistance in the Vavilov wheat collection. TAG. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 131 (1), 127-144. doi: 10.1007/s00122-017-2990-5

Unlocking new alleles for leaf rust resistance in the Vavilov wheat collection

2017

Journal Article

Genetic variation in Pythium myriotylum based on SNP typing and development of a PCR-RFLP detection of isolates recovered from Pythium soft rot ginger

Le, D. P., Smith, M. K. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2017). Genetic variation in Pythium myriotylum based on SNP typing and development of a PCR-RFLP detection of isolates recovered from Pythium soft rot ginger. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 65 (4), 319-326. doi: 10.1111/lam.12779

Genetic variation in Pythium myriotylum based on SNP typing and development of a PCR-RFLP detection of isolates recovered from Pythium soft rot ginger

2017

Journal Article

Fusarium species associated with stalk rot and head blight of grain sorghum in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia

Kelly, L. A., Tan, Y. P., Ryley, M. J. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2017). Fusarium species associated with stalk rot and head blight of grain sorghum in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Plant Pathology, 66 (9), 1413-1423. doi: 10.1111/ppa.12697

Fusarium species associated with stalk rot and head blight of grain sorghum in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia

2017

Journal Article

Species delimitation in Pythium species complexes: the case of Pythium myriotylum Drechsler and Pythium zingiberis Takahashi

Le, Duy Phu, Smith, Mike K. and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2017). Species delimitation in Pythium species complexes: the case of Pythium myriotylum Drechsler and Pythium zingiberis Takahashi. Mycological Progress, 16 (3), 257-267. doi: 10.1007/s11557-017-1272-6

Species delimitation in Pythium species complexes: the case of Pythium myriotylum Drechsler and Pythium zingiberis Takahashi

2017

Journal Article

Mining Vavilov’s treasure chest of wheat diversity for adult plant resistance to Puccinia triticina

Riaz, Adnan, Athiyannan, Naveenkumar, Periyannan, Sambasivam, Afanasenko, Olga, Mitrofanova, Olga, Aitken, Elizabeth A. B., Lagudah, Evans and Hickey, Lee T. (2017). Mining Vavilov’s treasure chest of wheat diversity for adult plant resistance to Puccinia triticina. Plant Disease, 101 (2), 317-323. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-05-16-0614-RE

Mining Vavilov’s treasure chest of wheat diversity for adult plant resistance to Puccinia triticina

2016

Journal Article

Differences in pathogenicity, genetic variability and cultivar responses among isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from strawberry in Australia

Paynter, Michelle L., Czislowski, Elizabeth, Herrington, Mark E. and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2016). Differences in pathogenicity, genetic variability and cultivar responses among isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from strawberry in Australia. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 141 (6), 645-652. doi: 10.21273/JASHS03888-16

Differences in pathogenicity, genetic variability and cultivar responses among isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from strawberry in Australia

2016

Journal Article

An assessment of Pythium spp. associated with soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Queensland, Australia

Le, Duy Phu, Smith, Mike K. and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2016). An assessment of Pythium spp. associated with soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Queensland, Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 45 (4), 377-387. doi: 10.1007/s13313-016-0424-5

An assessment of Pythium spp. associated with soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Queensland, Australia

2016

Journal Article

Effects of silicon treatment and inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum on cellular defences in root tissues of two cotton cultivars

Whan, Jennifer A., Dann, Elizabeth K. and Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. (2016). Effects of silicon treatment and inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum on cellular defences in root tissues of two cotton cultivars. Annals of Botany, 118 (2), 219-226. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcw095

Effects of silicon treatment and inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum on cellular defences in root tissues of two cotton cultivars

2016

Journal Article

A rapid phenotyping method for adult plant resistance to leaf rust in wheat

Riaz, Adnan, Periyannan, Sambasivam, Aitken, Elizabeth and Hickey, Lee (2016). A rapid phenotyping method for adult plant resistance to leaf rust in wheat. Plant Methods, 12 (17) 17, 1-10. doi: 10.1186/s13007-016-0117-7

A rapid phenotyping method for adult plant resistance to leaf rust in wheat

2016

Journal Article

Into the vault of the Vavilov wheats: old diversity for new alleles

Riaz, Adnan, Hathorn, Adrian, Dinglasan, Eric, Ziems, Laura, Richard, Cecile, Singh, Dharmendra, Mitrofanova, Olga, Afanasenko, Olga, Aitken, Elizabeth, Godwin, Ian and Hickey, Lee (2016). Into the vault of the Vavilov wheats: old diversity for new alleles. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 64 (3), 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10722-016-0380-5

Into the vault of the Vavilov wheats: old diversity for new alleles

2016

Conference Publication

Single gene resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense Race 4 in the wild banana Musa acuminata subsp malaccensis

Fraser-Smith, S., Czislowski, E., Daly, A., Meldrum, R., Hamill, S., Smith, M. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2016). Single gene resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense Race 4 in the wild banana Musa acuminata subsp malaccensis. 29th International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC) / 9th International Symposium on Banana / ISHS-ProMusa Symposium on Unravelling the Banana's Genomic Potential, Brisbane, Australia, 17-22 August 2014. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1114.13

Single gene resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense Race 4 in the wild banana Musa acuminata subsp malaccensis

2016

Conference Publication

Improvement of embryogenic callus production from coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) plumule explant

Quang Thien Nguyen, Antonova, I., Naranjo, J. P. R., Aitken, E. A. B., Foale, M. and Adkins, S. W. (2016). Improvement of embryogenic callus production from coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) plumule explant. World Congress on in Vitro Biology, San Diego, United States, June 11-15, 2016. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/s11626-016-0034-0

Improvement of embryogenic callus production from coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) plumule explant

2016

Conference Publication

Identifying pathogenicity genes in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Czislowski, E., Fraser-Smith, S., Zander, M. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2016). Identifying pathogenicity genes in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. 29th International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture - Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC) / 9th International Symposium on Banana / ISHS-ProMusa Symposium on Unravelling the Banana's Genomic Potential, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17 - 22 August 2014. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1114.14

Identifying pathogenicity genes in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

2016

Conference Publication

Speeding up the discovery of novel sources of leaf rust resistance in wheat

Riaz, A., Athiyannan, N., Periyannan, S., Afanasenko, O., Mitrofanova, O., Aitken, E., Lagudah, E. and Hickey, L. (2016). Speeding up the discovery of novel sources of leaf rust resistance in wheat. Annual Meeting of the American-Phytopathological-Society (APS), Tampa, FL, United States, 30 July-August 03, 2016. St. Paul, MN United States: American Phytopathological Society.

Speeding up the discovery of novel sources of leaf rust resistance in wheat

2015

Journal Article

Green and brown bridges between weeds and crops reveal novel Diaporthe species in Australia

Thompson, S. M., Tan, Y. P., Shivas, R. G., Neate, S. M., Morin, L., Bissett, A. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2015). Green and brown bridges between weeds and crops reveal novel Diaporthe species in Australia. Persoonia, 35 (1), 39-49. doi: 10.3767/003158515X687506

Green and brown bridges between weeds and crops reveal novel Diaporthe species in Australia

2015

Journal Article

Pythiogeton ramosum, a new pathogen of soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) at high temperatures in Australia

Le, Duy P, Smith M.K. and Aitken, Elizabeth A.B (2015). Pythiogeton ramosum, a new pathogen of soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) at high temperatures in Australia. Crop Protection, 77, 9-17. doi: 10.1016/j.cropro.2015.07.012

Pythiogeton ramosum, a new pathogen of soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) at high temperatures in Australia

2015

Journal Article

Changing fitness of a necrotrophic plant pathogen under increasing temperature

Sabburg, Rosalie, Obanor, Friday, Aitken, Elizabeth and Chakraborty, Sukumar (2015). Changing fitness of a necrotrophic plant pathogen under increasing temperature. Global Change Biology, 21 (8), 3126-3137. doi: 10.1111/gcb.12927

Changing fitness of a necrotrophic plant pathogen under increasing temperature

2015

Conference Publication

Effect on increasing temperature on the pathogenic fitness of Fusarium Pseudograminearum

Sabburg, R., Obanor, F. and Aitken, E. (2015). Effect on increasing temperature on the pathogenic fitness of Fusarium Pseudograminearum. Agriculture and Climate Change - Adapting Crops to Increased Uncertainty (AGRI 2015), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 15-17 February 2015. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.proenv.2015.07.250

Effect on increasing temperature on the pathogenic fitness of Fusarium Pseudograminearum

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
  • 2022 - 2024
    Identifying new resistance genes for Panama Tropical Race 4
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    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
  • 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

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