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.