Oenes C. Huisman
Associate Professor and Associate Plant Pathologist
251A Hilgard Hall
Phone #: (510) 642-3959
FAX #: (510) 642-7428
Research Interests
A principal focus of my research program is the study of the colonization
of plant roots by soilborne fungi. Most of the work has concentrated on
V. dahliae (the causal agent of Verticillium Wilt on many crops)
and cotton and potato roots. However, we have extended the work to other
fungi and other plants. The principal aim has been to understand competitive
microbial interactions on the root system with an aim to developing an ability
to control this important plant pathogen through biological means.
One approach to biological control of pathogens is to manipulate the biological
composition or activity in the soil through various cultural practices.
In cooperative work with J.R.Davis in Idaho, we have identified a number
of cultural practices that suppress Verticillium Wilt on a consistent basis.
Our current findings indicate that suppression is mediated through biological
activity of other microbes. We are currently engaged in a program directed
at identifying the biological mechanism of this wilt suppression and at
using this suppression as a disease management tool.
Current Projects
We have developed the methodology for obtaining reliable, quantitative data
on colonization of roots by fungi, including a bioassay (plating of roots
on selective media) and highly specific immunohistochemical staining of
fungal colonies in the root. These tools have allowed us to develop quantitative
data on the dynamics of fungal-root interactions. We are currently developing
monoclonal bodies to three other fungi, one of which has been implicated
in the suppression of Verticillium Wilt. We are now in a position to directly
examine interactions between fungi in roots and between fungi and roots
under natural or field conditions. I plan to extend our work to study the
influence of the community structure of soil microbes on root-microbe interactions.
Selected Publications
Davis, J.R., O.C.Huisman, D.T.Westermann, S.L.Hafez, D.O.Everson, L.H.Sorensen
and A.T.Schneider. 1996. Effects of Green Manures on Verticillium Wilt of
Potato. Phytopathology 86:444-453.
Mol, L., O.C.Huisman K.Scholte, and P.C.Struik. 1996. Theoretical approach
to the dynamics of the inoculum density of Verticillium dahiae in
the soil: first test of a simple model. Plant Pathology 46:192-204.
Davis, J.R., O.C.Huisman, D.T.Westermann, L.H.Sorensen, A.T.Schneider and
J.C.Stark. 1994. The influence of cover crops on the suppression of Verticillium
wilt in potato. pp.332-341. In: Advances in Potato Pest Biology and Management,
ed. G.W.Zehnder, et al. APS Press, 655 pp.
Davis, J.R., J.J.Pavek, D.L.Corsini, L.H.Sorensen, A.T.Schneider and O.C.Huisman.
1994. Influence of continuous cropping of several potato clones on the epidemiology
of Verticillium wilt of potato. Phytopathology 84:207-214.
Huisman, O.C. and D.W.Grimes. 1989. Cultural practices: The effect of plant
density and irrigation regimes on Verticillium wilt of cotton. pp.537-542.
In: Vascular Wilt Diseases of Plants (NATO ASI series H, Cell Biology
Vol.28) , Eds Tjamos and C.H.Beckman, Springer Verlag, 590 pp.
Huisman, O.C. and J.S.Gerik. 1989. Dynamics of colonization of plant roots
by Verticillium dahliae and other fungi. pp 1-28. In: Vascular
Wilt Diseases of Plants (NATO ASI series H, Cell Biology Vol 28), Eds
Tjamos and C.H.Beckman, Springer Verlag, 590 pp.
Huisman, O.C. 1988. Seasonal colonization of roots of field-grown cotton
by Verticillium dahliae and Verticillium tricorpus. Phytopathology
78:708-716.