André Laroche Ph.D.

Research Scientist in Functional Genomics of Cereals

I am a plant molecular biologist with activities in identification of novel stripe rust resistance genes, in modification of a known defeated stripe rust resistance genes to engineer its functionality against novel isolates of stripe rust, in measuring wheat transcripts when modifying circadian clock genes in wheat toward improving its response to abiotic stresses under a climate change reality and in pyramiding a collection of different disease resistance genes in elite winter wheat germplasm using marker assisted selection.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Lethbridge, Alberta

Current research and/or projects

I use molecular genetic techniques to study plant response to fungal pathogens and to to environment, plant development and organization of plant fungal pathogens toward protecting yield of cereal crops.

Upcycling a defeated R gene of wheat, 2019-22

Circadian clock editing in wheat-ccWheat, 2019-23

Stomata signalling for wheat yield, 2019-23

A3GP disease forecasting, 2019-22

Nanocarrier technology for cereal seed treat, 2019-22

Improved Winter Wheat for Western Canada, 2018-23

Crop and Environment Interactions, 2018-21

Fungal and Bacterial Biosystematics, 2019-24

Research and/or project statements

Modification of known genes to improve cereal resistance against pests and abiotic stress
Identification of novel genes to improve cereal resistance to pathogens
Identification and quantification of crop pathogens using highly sensitive and specific techniques
Pyramiding many different disease resistance genes in elite winter wheat germplasm
Participating in mutlidisciplinary teams to improve diagnostic of pest impact on crops

Professional activities / interests

Cereal interaction with fungal pathogens
Cereal development and interaction with environment
Transcriptome analysis and gene identification of plant interactions with pathogens and environment
Training of undergraduate and graduate students in plant molecular genetics

Education and awards

Ph.D. 1987 Plant Sciences Western

M.Sc. 1983 Biology (Plant Physiology & Biochemistry) Sherbrooke

B.Sc. 1979 Biology (Physiology & Biochemistry) Sherbrooke

1989 - present: Wheat Molecular Geneticist, Lethbridge Research & Development Centre. Functional genomics of cereals.

1992 - present: Adjunct Professor, Department Of Biological Sciences (1992-1997 and 2005-present), Department Of Chemistry And Biochemistry (1997-2005), University of Lethbridge.

1987 - 1989: Visiting Fellow with Dr. J. Singh, Plant Research Centre, AAFC Ottawa. Molecular mechanisms of freezing tolerance in members of the Cruciferae

International experience and/or work

Co-supervisor of International Graduate Students

Key publications

M. Frick, G.T. Araujo, K. Fujita, D. Van Essen, C. Harvey, J.D. Laurie, R.J. Graf and A. Laroche. 2021. Remodeling the functionality of the stripe rust resistance gene Yr10 against current virulent fungal isolates. UBC-STEM Appreciation Night, January 21, 2021.
2021 - View publication details
Araujo, G.T., Amundsen, E., Frick, M., Gaudet, D.A., Aboukhaddour, R., Selinger, B., Thomas, J., Laroche, A. (2021). Detection and quantification of airborne spores from six important wheat fungal pathogens in southern Alberta. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 43(3), 439-454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2020.1817795
2021 - View publication details
Wei, C., Fan, R., Meng, Y., Yang, Y., Wang, X., Laroche, A., Liu, D., Zhao, W., Yu, X. (2020). Molecular identification and acquisition of interacting partners of a novel wheat F-box/Kelch gene TaFBK. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, [online] 112 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2020.101564
2020 - View publication details
Smith MB, Ryabova D, Roy S, Tricker P, Lawson T, Laurie J, Laroche A,*Foroud NA. Cloning a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase YODA from Triticum aestivum for transgenic expression in wheat. 41st Annual Meeting of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta. On-line meeting, November 4-5, 2020. (Poster Presentation)
2020 - View publication details
Cradduck MHJ, Frick M, Graf RJ, Laroche A. 2020. Building Ug99 resistance in Canadian winter wheat germplasm by stacking up stem rust resistance genes Sr22 and Sr24. Proceedings of the 41st Annual Meeting (Virtual) of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Lethbridge, AB 2020/11/04 - 2020/11/05.
2020 - View publication details
Gaudet DA, Hutter S-T, Redhead S, Laroche A. 2020. A history of the LTB snow mold fungus in Alberta: When will we identify this species? Proceedings of the 41st Annual Meeting (Virtual) of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Lethbridge, AB 2020/11/04 - 2020/11/05.
2020 - View publication details
Frick M, Araujo GT, Fujita K, Van Essen D, Harvey C, Laurie JD. Graf RJ, Laroche A. 2020. Redesigning the effectiveness of the stripe rust resistance gene Yr10 against current virulent fungal isolates. Proceedings of the 41st Annual Meeting (Virtual) of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Lethbridge, AB 2020/11/04 - 2020/11/05.
2020 - View publication details
Frick M, Masic T, Cradduck M, Harvey C, Jiang F, Foroud N, Graf RJ, Laurie JD, Laroche A. 2020. The circadian clock and plant immunity in wheat. Proceedings of the 41st Annual Meeting (Virtual) of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Lethbridge, AB 2020/11/04 - 2020/11/05.
2020 - View publication details
Li, H., Wei, C., Meng, Y., Fan, R., Zhao, W., Wang, X., Yu, X., Laroche, A., Kang, Z., Liu, D. (2020). Identification and expression analysis of some wheat F-box subfamilies during plant development and infection by Puccinia triticina. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, [online] 155 535-548. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.06.040
2020 - View publication details
Zaidi, M.A., O’Leary, S.J.B., Gagnon, C., Chabot, D., Wu, S., Hubbard, K., Tran, F., Sprott, D., Hassan, D., Vucurevich, T., Sheedy, C., Laroche, A., Gleddie, S., Robert, L.S. (2020). A triticale tapetal non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP) is translocated to the pollen cell wall. Plant Cell Reports, [online] 39(9), 1185-1197. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00299-020-02556-6
2020 - View publication details
Laroche A, Peacock J, Aboukhaddour R, Laurie JD. 2020. Developing a nanotechnology solution for treatment of smuts and bunts. Plant Biology 2020 Worldwide Summit!
2020 - View publication details
Laroche A, Frick M, Masic T, Brown C, Cradduck M, Jimenez A, Lehmann M, Lawal O, Harvey C, Lam T, Jiang F, Foroud N, Graf RJ, Laurie JD. 2020. Identification of transcripts regulated by wheat circadian clock genes. Plant Biology 2020 Worldwide Summit! Poster.
2020 - View publication details
Geddes G. 2020. Research, Review, Repeat: When farmers have questions about how to improve crop quality and yields, researchers can usually help to find the answers. Better Farming May/June Issue p.12-18.
2020 - View publication details
Laroche A, Singer S, Foroud N, Laurie J, Pittman A. 2020. Modern studies in Crop Sciences / Études Contemporaines chez les Grandes Cultures. Lethbridge AgExpo 2020, Lethbridge, AB, February 26-28, 2020.
2020 - View publication details
Ragupathy R, Larsen JR, Frick M, Cattani DJ, Miller J, Elwood J, Zezula A, OrtegaPolo R, Soto-Cerda BJ, Laroche A. 2020. Genomic prediction of heading date in intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). PAG XXVIII Conference PE0510
2020 - View publication details
Graf, R.J., Larsen, R.J., Beres, B.L., Aboukhaddour, R., Laroche, A., Randhawa, H.S., Foroud, N.A. (2020). AAC network hard red winter wheat. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 100(6), 737-746. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2020-0102
2020 - View publication details
Laroche, A., Frick, M., Graf, R.J., Larsen, J., Laurie, J.D. (2019). Pyramiding disease resistance genes in elite winter wheat germplasm for Western Canada, 7(6), 739-749. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2019.08.005
2019 - View publication details
Laroche, André, Michele Frick. 2019. Gene expression regulation in grass, wheat and a fungal pathogen. AAFC Bioinformatics conference and workshop, September 19-20, 2019 - Lethbridge Research Development Centre, AB, Canada.
2019 - View publication details
Bahrani, H., Thoms, K., Båga, M., Larsen, J., Graf, R., Laroche, A., Sammynaiken, R., Chibbar, R.N. (2019). Preferential accumulation of glycosylated cyanidins in winter-hardy rye (Secale cereale L.) genotypes during cold acclimation. Environmental and Experimental Botany, [online] 164 203-212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2019.05.006
2019 - View publication details
Mohler-Penna, D., Brown, C., Bourassa, M., Smith, L., Lehmann, M., Lowen, C., Frick, M., Larsen, J. and Laroche, A. 2019. Molecular characterization of a lignin rye mutant. Proceeding of the 10th International Triticale Symposium, Lethbridge, AB, CANADA. July 15-July 18, 2019.
2019 - View publication details