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

158 works between 1989 and 2024
All (158) Journal Article (103) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (50) Book (2) Other Outputs (1)

81 - 100 of 158 works

2011

Journal Article

Auxin signaling and transport promote susceptibility to the root infecting fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum in Arabidopsis

Kidd, Brendan N., Kadoo, Narendra Y., Dombrecht, Bruno, Tekeoglu, Mücella, Gardiner, Donald M., Thatcher, Louise F., Aitken, Elizabeth A. B., Schenk, Peer M., Manners, John M. and Kazan, Kemal (2011). Auxin signaling and transport promote susceptibility to the root infecting fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions, 24 (6), 733-748. doi: 10.1094/MPMI-08-10-0194

Auxin signaling and transport promote susceptibility to the root infecting fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum in Arabidopsis

2011

Journal Article

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Australian basidiomycetous macrofungi using a high-throughput 96-well plate assay

Neeraj, Bala, Aitken, Elizabeth A. B., Fechner, Nigel, Cusack, Andrew and Steadman, Kathryn (2011). Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Australian basidiomycetous macrofungi using a high-throughput 96-well plate assay. Pharmaceutical Biology, 49 (5), 492-500. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2010.526616

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Australian basidiomycetous macrofungi using a high-throughput 96-well plate assay

2011

Journal Article

Population structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on sunflower in Australia

Ekins, M. G., Hayden, H. L., Aitken, E. A. B. and Goulter, K. C. (2011). Population structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on sunflower in Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 40 (2), 99-108. doi: 10.1007/s13313-010-0018-6

Population structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on sunflower in Australia

2011

Conference Publication

Fusarium thapsinum is the dominant species associated with sorghum stalk rot in Queensland and northern NSW

Kelly, L., Tan, Y. P., Ryley, M. and Aitken, E. (2011). Fusarium thapsinum is the dominant species associated with sorghum stalk rot in Queensland and northern NSW. 4th Asian Conference for Plant Pathology (ACPP) concurrent with the 18th Australasian Plant Pathology Conference, Darwin, NT, Australia, 26-29 April 2011. APPS.

Fusarium thapsinum is the dominant species associated with sorghum stalk rot in Queensland and northern NSW

2011

Conference Publication

Identification of antimicrobial compounds in the crude extracts of the Australian macrofungi, Hohenbuehelia sp. and Ramaria sp., through bioassay-guided fractionation

Bala, Neeraj, Aitken, Elizabeth A.B., Hewavitharana, Amitha, Ross, Benjamin and Steadman, Kathryn (2011). Identification of antimicrobial compounds in the crude extracts of the Australian macrofungi, Hohenbuehelia sp. and Ramaria sp., through bioassay-guided fractionation. Australian Pharmaceutical Science Association Conference, Adelaide, Australia, 11-14 December 2011.

Identification of antimicrobial compounds in the crude extracts of the Australian macrofungi, Hohenbuehelia sp. and Ramaria sp., through bioassay-guided fractionation

2011

Conference Publication

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

Meldrum, R., Tran-Nguyen, L. T. T., Daly, A. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2011). Presence of putative pathogenicity genes in Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense. 4th Asian Conference on Plant Pathology concurrent with 18th Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference, Darwin, Australia, 26-29 April 2011. APPS.

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

2011

Conference Publication

Silicon enhances tolerance of banana to Fusarium wilt

Jones, K. W., Aitken, E. and Cribb, B. (2011). Silicon enhances tolerance of banana to Fusarium wilt. 4th Asian Conference for Plant Pathology (ACPP) concurrent with the 18th Australasian Plant Pathology Conference, Darwin, NT, Australia, 26-29 April 2011. APPS.

Silicon enhances tolerance of banana to Fusarium wilt

2011

Conference Publication

Genetic diversity of Guignardia musae on banana based on internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA

Wong, M.H., Henderson. J., Cook, L., Van Brunschot., S., Aitken, E.A.B. and Drenth, A. (2011). Genetic diversity of Guignardia musae on banana based on internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. 4th Asian Conference for Plant Pathology (ACPP) concurrent with the 18th Australasian Plant Pathology Conference, Darwin, NT, Australia, 26-29 April 2011. APPS.

Genetic diversity of Guignardia musae on banana based on internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA

2011

Conference Publication

Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 4 in Musa acuminata subsp. Malaccensis

Fraser Smith, S. and Aitken, E.A.B. (2011). Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 4 in Musa acuminata subsp. Malaccensis. 4th Asian Conference for Plant Pathology (ACPP) concurrent with the 18th Australasian Plant Pathology Conference, Darwin, NT, Australia, 26-29 April 2011. APPS.

Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 4 in Musa acuminata subsp. Malaccensis

2010

Journal Article

Source of Pseudocercospora macadamiae inoculum in macadamia trees and its use for characterising husk spot susceptibility in the field

Miles A. K., Akinsanmi, Olufemi A., Aitken, E. A. B. and Drenth, A. (2010). Source of Pseudocercospora macadamiae inoculum in macadamia trees and its use for characterising husk spot susceptibility in the field. Crop Protection, 29 (11), 1347-1353. doi: 10.1016/j.cropro.2010.06.021

Source of Pseudocercospora macadamiae inoculum in macadamia trees and its use for characterising husk spot susceptibility in the field

2010

Journal Article

Support for the 'out-of-Southeast Asia' hypothesis for the origin of Australian populations of Radopholus similis (Cobb, 1893) (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae)

Tan, Matthew, Cobon, Jennifer, Aitken, Elizabeth and Cook, Lyn G. (2010). Support for the 'out-of-Southeast Asia' hypothesis for the origin of Australian populations of Radopholus similis (Cobb, 1893) (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae). Systematic Parasitology, 77 (3), 175-183. doi: 10.1007/s11230-010-9265-8

Support for the 'out-of-Southeast Asia' hypothesis for the origin of Australian populations of Radopholus similis (Cobb, 1893) (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae)

2010

Journal Article

Timing of infection of macadamia fruit by Pseudocercospora macadamiae and climatic effects on growth and spore germination

Miles, A. K., Akinsanmi, O. A., Aitken, E. A. B. and Drenth, A. (2010). Timing of infection of macadamia fruit by Pseudocercospora macadamiae and climatic effects on growth and spore germination. Australasian Plant Pathology, 39 (5), 453-462. doi: 10.1071/AP10001

Timing of infection of macadamia fruit by Pseudocercospora macadamiae and climatic effects on growth and spore germination

2010

Journal Article

Plant mediator: Mediating the jasmonate response

Kidd, Brendan N., Aitken, Elizabeth A., Schenk, Peer M., Manners, John M. and Kazan, Kemal (2010). Plant mediator: Mediating the jasmonate response. Plant Signaling and Behavior, 5 (6), 718-720.

Plant mediator: Mediating the jasmonate response

2010

Conference Publication

Pythium spp. on ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in Australia

Le P. D., Smith, M. K. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2010). Pythium spp. on ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in Australia. 6th Australian Soilborne Disease Symposium, Twin Waters, Qld., Australia, 9-11 August 2010. ASDS.

Pythium spp. on ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in Australia

2010

Conference Publication

Infection of mungbean seed by the charcoal rot pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina

Fuhlbohm, Michael, Ryley, Malcolm and Aitken, Elizabeth (2010). Infection of mungbean seed by the charcoal rot pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina. 1st Australian Summer Grains Conference 2010, Gold Coast, Australia, 21-24 June 2010.

Infection of mungbean seed by the charcoal rot pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina

2010

Conference Publication

Does the addition of the element silicon affect the infection process of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense on banana?

Jones, K. W., Cribb, B. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2010). Does the addition of the element silicon affect the infection process of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense on banana?. The Sixth Australasian Soilborne Diseases Symposium, Twin Waters, Qld., Australia, 9-11 August 2010. ASDS.

Does the addition of the element silicon affect the infection process of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense on banana?

2010

Book

Analyses of the effect of silicon on Fusarium wilt on banana

Aitken, Elizabeth (2010). Analyses of the effect of silicon on Fusarium wilt on banana. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Horticulture Australia.

Analyses of the effect of silicon on Fusarium wilt on banana

2010

Conference Publication

Fusarium species associated with sorghum stalk rot and lodging: A preliminary study

Keller, Lisa, Ryley, Malcolm, Aitken, Elizabeth and Tan, Yu Pei (2010). Fusarium species associated with sorghum stalk rot and lodging: A preliminary study. 1st Australian Summer Grains Conference 2010, Gold Coast, Australia, 21-24 June 2010.

Fusarium species associated with sorghum stalk rot and lodging: A preliminary study

2010

Conference Publication

The potential of sesame oil extracts for Meloidogyne javanica control

McCarthy, J. W., Aitken, E. A. B., Furlong, M. J. and Cobon, J. A. (2010). The potential of sesame oil extracts for Meloidogyne javanica control. 6th Australian Soilborne Disease Symposium, Twin Waters, Qld., Australia, 9-11 August 2010. Toowoomba, Qld, Australia: Australasian Plant Pathology Society.

The potential of sesame oil extracts for Meloidogyne javanica control

2010

Conference Publication

Can silicon improve defense responses of cucumber seedlings to pythium-induced damping off disease?

Al-Sadi, A. M., Al-Said, F. A., Deadman, M. L., Drenth, A. and Aitken, E. A. B. (2010). Can silicon improve defense responses of cucumber seedlings to pythium-induced damping off disease?. The 4th International Cucurbit Symposium, Changsha, China, 21-26 September 2009. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.871.61

Can silicon improve defense responses of cucumber seedlings to pythium-induced damping off disease?

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

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