Lawrence Kawchuk, Ph.D.

Image Lawrence Kawchuk
Research Scientist

Plant Microbiology

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB

Current research and/or projects

Current research projects focus on advances in sustainable crop production involving disease diagnostics and resistance; microbial characterization for plant health and the safety of the food system; and innovation enhancing economic performance and benefits for all stakeholders.

 

 

Research and/or project statements

  • Development of disease prevention strategies for horticultural crops, such as potato, that improve food safety and quality.
  • Characterize endemic food-borne pathogens and produce diagnostics that help protect health and the environment. 
  • Introduce new plant germplasm and varieties with disease resistance for sustainable increase in production and market expansion.

Professional activities / interests

Scientific Advisory Board, Fraunhofer Institute, Santiago, Chile.

Review Editor, frontiers in Plant Science, Plant Biotechnology.

Gates Foundation, Review Committee, Washington DC, USA.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Biotechnology Congress.

Education and awards

B.Sc. (Hons.) Botany, University of Manitoba, 1985

M.Sc. Botany, University of Manitoba, 1987

Ph.D. Plant Science, University of British Columbia, 1990

NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship 1985-1990

OECD Research Fellow 1998

Gordon J. Green Award, Canadian Phytopathological Society, 2000

Endeavour Research Fellow 2009

 

International experience and/or work

Visiting Scientist, Max Planck Institute, DPMI, Cologne, Germany, 1998

Visiting Scientist, The University of Sydney, Department of Biological Sciences, Sydney, Australia, 2009

 

Key publications

  1. De Koeyer, D., V. Dickison, K. Gardner, B. Bizimungu, D. Chen, C. Goyer, L. Kawchuk, D. Main, J. Neilson, X. Nie, A. Smith, and H. Tai. 2019. Modernization of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Potato Breeding Program. p. 34. In: Northeast Potato Technology Forum 2019 Conspectus. March 20-21, Charlottetown, PE.

    2019 - View publication details

  2. Chen, X.D., Johnson, D.L., Kawchuk, L., Jaronski, S., Byrne, J., Mclean, H. (2019). Experimental formulations to mitigate effects of sunlight on germination and growth of the Canadian isolate of the entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae - A candidate biological control agent. Biopesticides International (Jalandhar), [online] 15(1), 23-31. http://dx.doi.org/null

    2019 - View publication details

  3. Fusaro, A.F., Barton, D.A., Nakasugi, K., Jackson, C., Kalischuk, M.L., Kawchuk, L.M., Vaslin, M.F.S., Correa, R.L., Waterhouse, P.M. (2017). The luteovirus p4 movement protein is a suppressor of systemic rna silencing. Viruses, [online] 9(10), http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v9100294

    2017 - View publication details

  4. Wijekoon, C.P., Pageni, B.B., Kalischuk, M.L., Lupwayi, N.Z., Kawchuk, L.M. (2017). Amplification of the Phytophthora infestans RG57 loci Facilitates in planta T-RFLP Identification of Late Blight Genotypes. American Journal of Potato Research, [online] 94(3), 251-257. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12230-016-9560-2

    2017 - View publication details

  5. Kalischuk, M., Lynn, J., Kawchuk, L. (2016). First report of Potato mop-top virus infecting potatoes in Alberta, 100(12), 2544. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-16-0902-PDN

    2016 - View publication details

  6. Larry Kawchuk and Rick Peters. 2016. Best management practices required for new Phytophthora infestans strains. Potato Growers of Alberta 50th Annual Meeting, November. Banff Springs, Banff, AB. Poster

    2016 - View publication details

  7. Kawchuk, L, Jonson, D, and Meers, S. 2016. Low potato psyllid vector levels and absence of the zebra chip disease in Canada. PROCINORTE: Pests & Diseases of Solanceans Workshop - Oct. 26-28, 2016. Ottawa, ON. Presentation

    2016 - View publication details

  8. Bizimungu, B., B Fofana, D. Main, J. McCallum, L. Kawchuk, and H. Tai. (2016) Development and characterization of diploid potato lines with agronomic and processing traits. “Breeding”, 100th Annual Meeting of The Potato Association of America, July 31- August 4, 2016, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. (Presentation) http://potatoassociation.org/

    2016 - View publication details

  9. Johnson, D., L. Kawchuk, and S. Meers. Field sampling and DNA analysis of potato psyllids (Bactericera cockerelli) in Alberta, Canada, 2013-2015. 2016. 100th Annual Meeting of The Potato Association of America, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. (Presentation)

    2016 - View publication details

  10. Kalischuk, Melanie and Lawrence Kawchuk (2016) Polerovirus suppression by a 5’ sequence-specific RNA-binding protein encoded by a late infection 3’ subgenomic RNA. Proceedings of RNA 2016, The 21st Annual Meeting of the RNA Society. Abstract 868. June 28 - July 2, 2016, Kyoto, Japan. (Poster) http://www2.convention.co.jp/rna2016/index.html

    2016 - View publication details

  11. M. Kalischuk, M. Harding, R. Howard, R. Peters, C. Wijekoon, J. LeBoeuf, S. Sabaratnam, D. Waterer, B. Bizimungu, K. Al-Mughrabi and L. Kawchuk. (2016) Characterization of Phytophthora infestans strains causing late blight provides new disease prevention strategies. ”Pathology”, 100th Annual Meeting of The Potato Association of America, July 31- August 4, 2016, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. (Presentation) http://potatoassociation.org/

    2016 - View publication details

  12. Marie-Claude Gagnon, Lawrence Kawchuk, D. Mathieu Tremblay, Odile Carisse, Giovanna Danies, William E. Fry, C. André Lévesque, and Guillaume J. Bilodeau. (2016). Identification of the Dominant Genotypes of Phytophthora infestans in Canada Using Real-Time PCR with ASO-PCR Assays. Plant Disease 100 (7): 1482-1491. http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-07-15-0763-RE

    2016 - View publication details

  13. Gagnon, M.C., Kawchuk, L., Mathieu Tremblay, D., Carisse, O., Danies, G., Fry, W.E., Lévesque, C.A., Bilodeau, G.J. (2016). Identification of the dominant genotypes of phytophthora infestans in Canada using real-time PCR with ASO-PCR Assays, 100(7), 1482-1491. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-15-0763-RE

    2016 - View publication details

  14. Kalischuk, M.L., Johnson, D.L., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). "Characterization of the transcriptome and pathogen small RNA associated with stress memory in a commercial crop.", American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, CA, USA, August 1-5, 2015. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  15. Johnson, D.L., Kawchuk, L.M., Meers, S., Xia, Q., and Walgama, R.S. (2015). "Potato psyllid, an invasive species in Canada: abundance, population characteristics, and vector status.", Alberta Potato Conference and Trade Show. Potato Growers of Alberta, The Sheraton, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, November 17- 19, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  16. Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). "Late blight evolution and prevention strategies.", Alberta Potato Conference and Trade Show. Potato Growers of Alberta, The Sheraton, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, November 17- 19, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  17. Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). "Evolution and Lifestyle of RNA Viruses.", Invited Presentation at ARRTI Speaker Series Lecture, University of Lethbridge, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, January 21, 2015. (Presentation)

    2015 - View publication details

  18. Kalischuk, M.L., Harding, M.W., Howard, R.J., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). "Late blight pathogen monitoring.", Alberta Potato Conference and Trade Show. Potato Growers of Alberta, The Sheraton, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, November 17- 19, 2015, Presentation.

    2015 - View publication details

  19. Crane, B., Peters, R.D., Kawchuk, L.M., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Macdonald, K., MacPhail, A., Drake, K.A., Gregory, D., and Clark, M.M. (2015). "Fungicide resistance in populations of Phytophthora erythroseptica in Canada and alternative management strategies for potato pink rot.", Alberta Potato Conference and Trade Show. Potato Growers of Alberta, The Sheraton, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, November 17- 19, 2015, Presentation.

    2015 - View publication details

  20. Johnson, D.L., Kawchuk, L.M., Meers, S., Xia, Q., and others (2015). "Canadian Zebra Chip and Potato Psyllid Monitoring Network.", American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, CA, USA, August 1-5, 2015. (Poster)

    2015 - View publication details

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