Achour Amiri Postdoctoral Scientist , Fruit Pathology OFFICE: B03 Long Hall ADDRESS: Dept. of Entomology, Soils, & Plant Sciences, 120 Long Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-0315 TELEPHONE: 864-656-5742 FAX: 864-656-0274 E-MAIL: aamiri@clemson.edu

Qualifications

Ph.D. 2004. University of Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris - France

M.S. 2000. Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Gembloux - Belgium

B.S. National Institut of Agronomy (INFSA), Mostaganem- Algeria

Current Research

I am on a research project investigating the management of fungicide resistance in Monilinia fructicola, causal agent of brown rot on peach. The goal of the project is to develop an inexpensive, reliable, and simple method to monitor sensitivity levels of M. fructicola populations to benzimidazole (BZIs), demethylation inhibitor (DMIs) and respiration inhibitor (RIs) fungicides in the field. This technique will be used in a further step to conduct local and regional fungicide resistance monitoring in Georgia and South Carolina. We look forward that this technology will help growers to avoid control failure and will ultimately lead to reduced fungicide input and enable growers to make smart, science-based decisions when choosing products for brown rot control. The lipbalm method was recently developed and validated (Amiri et al., 2008) to monitor resistance in M. fructicola and as tool to distinguish this particular fungus from several other contaminants of peach fruit (Distinction of fungi on lipbalm disks).

I am also completing a second project dealing with the development of control strategy against Armillaria sp., a peach trees devastating pathogen in the southeast region inducing a premature orchard decline and peach tree mortality. Propiconazole (DMIs) was found to control Armillaria sp. in vitro. The goal of this study is to evaluate intravascular chemical application as a possible management practice for Armillaria root rot. The distribution of propiconazole following infusion treatments will be monitored in tissue samples using gas-chromatography mass spectrometry and propiconazole infusion application will be tested for its non-phytotoxic effect to peach trees.

Selected Publications

Amiri A., Bompeix G. 2005. Wound detection on apple and pear fruit surfaces using sulphur dioxide. Postharvest Biology and Technology 36: 51-59

Amiri A., Bompeix G. 2005. Diversity and population dynamics of Penicillium spp. on apple in pre and postharvest environments: consequences for decay development. Plant Pathology 54:74-81.

Amiri A., Cholodowski D, Bompeix G. 2005. Adhesion and germination of waterborne and airborne conidia of Penicillium expansum to apple and inert surfaces. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology. 67: 40-48.

Amiri A., Bompeix. G. 2005. La pourriture bleue (Penicillium spp.) des pommes en pré et post-récolte. Phytoma la Défense des végétaux 579 : 27-31.

Amiri A, Cholodowski D, Bompeix G. Détecter les blessures grâce au dioxyde de soufre pour prévenir contre les infections. L’Arboriculture Fruitière 596, 25-30.

Brannen, P.M., Hotchkiss, M., Reilly, C., Amiri. A. 2007. Evaluation of fungicide programs to manage DMI-resistant Monilinia fructicola in a late-ripening peach, 2006.Plant Disease Management Reports 1:STF002

Amiri, A., Scherm, H., Brannen, P.M., Schnabel, G. 2008. Laboratory evaluation of three rapid, agar-based assays to assess fungicide sensitivity in Monilinia fructicola. Plant Disease. 9, 415-420.

Luo, C. X., Cox, K. D., Amiri, A., and Schnabel, G. 2008. Occurrence and Rapid Detection of Resistance to Sterol Demethylation Inhibitor Fungicides in Monilinia fructicola Populations. Plant Disease. In Press

Amiri, A., Dugas, R., Pichot, A. L., Bompeix, G. 2008. Control of postharvest decays of apple fruit with different formulations of eugenol. International Journal of Food  Microbiology. In Press http://dx.doi.org./10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2008.04.022