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. Crane, B., Peters, R.D., Kawchuk, L.M., MacPhail, A., Drake, K.A., Gregory, D., and Macdonald, K. (2015). "Survey of metalaxyl-m resistance in populations of the potato pink rot pathogen (Phytophthora erythroseptica) in Canada and alternative management strategies for resistant P. erythroseptica strains.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  2. Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). "Bronze Leaf Disease Update.", International Society of Arboriculture Prairie Chapter Conference, Lethbridge Lodge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, October 19, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  3. Wijekoon, C., Pageni, B.B., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). "Rapid molecular characterization of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans.", Botany 2015 Joint Conference: Science and plants for people, Shaw Convention Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, July 25-30, 2015, # 825. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  4. Kalischuk, M.L., Peters, R.D., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Daayf, F., Harding, M.W., Howard, R.J., Sabaratnam, S., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). "Chronic late blight produced by Phytophthora infestans US-23 limits conventional disease management strategies.", Botany 2015 Joint Conference: Science and plants for people, Shaw Convention Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, July 25-30, 2015, # 1251. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  5. Kalischuk, M.L. and Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). "Virus suppression with the Polerovirus 5’ sequence-specific RNA-binding protein encoded by the 3’ subgenomic RNA. P VIRUS 47.", XVIII International Plant Protection Congress (IPPC), Free University Berlin, Henry Ford Building, Berlin, Germany, August 24-27, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  6. Crane, B., Peters, R.D., Kawchuk, L.M., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Macdonald, K., MacPhail, A., Drake, K.A., and Gregory, D. (2015 in press). "Resistance to metalaxyl-m in populations of the potato pink rot pathogen (Phytophthora erythroseptica) in Canada.", American Journal of Potato Research. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  7. Lévesque, C.A., Chen, W., Hambleton, S., Seifert, K.A., Adam, Z., Bilodeau, G.J., Cullis, J., Demeke, T., Dumonceaux, T.J., Gagnon, M., Graefenhan, T., Kawchuk, L.M., Khan, I.U.H., Lewis, C.T., Li, X., Links, M.G., Mimee, B., Rott, M., Tambong, J.T., Yu, Q., and Yuan, K. (2015). Project CRTI 09-462RD - Next generation sequencing, direct detection and genotyping of fungi, bacteria and nematodes in the agri-food system. Final Report. 54. http://cradpdf.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/PDFS/unc195/p802330_A1b.pdf. (Report)

    2015 - View publication details

  8. Carisse, O., Kawchuk, L.M., Peters, R.D., Bilodeau, G.J., Lévesque, C.A., Vincent, C., and Laforest, M. (2015). "Biovigilance: a framework for effective pest management.", National Science Day on Biovigilance and Precision Agriculture, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, Canada, July 9, 2015. (Presentation)

    2015 - View publication details

  9. Lévesque, C.A., Chen, W., Hambleton, S., Seifert, K.A., Adam, Z., Bilodeau, G.J., Cullis, J., Demeke, T., Dumonceaux, T.J., Gagnon, M., Graefenhan, T., Kawchuk, L.M., Khan, I.U.H., Lewis, C.T., Li, X., Links, M.G., Mimee, B., Rott, M., Tambong, J.T., Topp, E., Yu, Q., and Yuan, K. (2015). Project CRTI 09-462RD - Next generation sequencing, direct detection and genotyping of fungi, bacteria and nematodes in the agri-food system. DRDC-RDDC-2015-C148. Final Close-Out Report. (Report)

    2015 - View publication details

  10. Forge, T.A., Larney, F.J., Kawchuk, L.M., Pearson, D.C., Koch, C., Blackshaw, R.E. (2015). Crop rotation effects on Pratylenchus neglectus populations in the root zone of irrigated potatoes in southern Alberta. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 37(3), 363-368. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2015.1066864

    2015 - View publication details

  11. Lange, F.D., Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). Growth strategies for a declining market- the German fresh potato market. American Journal of Potato Research, [online] 91(5), 440-446. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12230-014-9367-y

    2015 - View publication details

  12. Kalischuk, M.L., Johnson, D., Kawchuk, L.M. (2015). Priming with a double-stranded DNA virus alters Brassica rapa seed architecture and facilitates a defense response, 557(2), 130-137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2014.12.016

    2015 - View publication details

  13. Kalischuk, M., Hachey, J., Kawchuk, L. (2015). Complete genome sequence of phytopathogenic Pectobacterium atrosepticum bacteriophage Peat1. Genome Announcements, [online] 3(4), http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/genomeA.00760-15

    2015 - View publication details

  14. Alkher, H.A., Islam, M.R., Wijekoon, C.P., Wijekoon, C.P., Kalischuk, M.L., Kawchuk, L.M., Peters, R.D., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Conn, K.L., Dobinson, K.F., Waterer, D.R., and Daayf, F. (2015). "Characterization of Phytophthora infestans populations in Canada during 2012.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 37(3), pp. 305-314. doi : 10.1080/07060661.2015.1053987

    2015 - View publication details

  15. Islam, M.R., Alkher, H.A., Bezzahou, M., Godee, C., Adam, L.R., Kawchuk, L.M., Dobinson, K.F., Conn, K.L., Peters, R.D., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Shinners-Carnelley, T., and Daayf, F. (2014). "Diversity in population structure of the late blight pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, in Manitoba.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 36, pp. 267. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  16. Harding, M.W., Howard, R.J., Daniels, G.C., Unruh, M.J., Lisowski, S.L.I., Pugh, C., Burke, D.A., Konschuh, M.N., Kawchuk, L.M., and Peters, R.D. (2014). "Beneficial practices for managing Fusarium diseases on potato.", Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA) Annual Meeting, Sheraton, Red Deer, AB, Canada, November 18-20, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  17. Kalischuk, M.L., Kawchuk, L.M., Peters, R.D., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Daayf, F., and Harding, M.W. (2014). "Evolution and prevention of late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans genotype US-23.", American Phytopathological Society (APS) and Canadian Phytopathological Society (CPS) Joint Meeting 2014, Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN, USA, August 9-13, 2014. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  18. Bilodeau, G.J., Gagnon, M., Lévesque, C.A., Kawchuk, L.M., Wijekoon, C.P., Wijekoon, C.P., Feau, N., Bergeron, M., Grünwald, N.J., Brasier, C.M., Webber, J.F., and Hamelin, R.C. (2014). "Tools for rapid characterization tools of Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora ramorum using real-time PCR and microsatellites from genomic resources.", Phytophthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems: 7th Meeting of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Working Party S07-02-09, http://www.iufrophytophthora2014.org/downloads/proceedings.pdf, pp. 58. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  19. Crane, B., Peters, R.D., Kawchuk, L.M., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Macdonald, K., MacPhail, A., Drake, K.A., and Gregory, D. (2014). "Resistance to metalaxyl-m in populations of the potato pink rot pathogen (Phytophthora erythroseptica) in Canada.", 98th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America (PAA), The Davenport Hotel, Spokane, WA, USA, July 27-31, 2014. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  20. Gagnon, M., Lévesque, C.A., Kawchuk, L.M., Wijekoon, C.P., Feau, N., Bergeron, M., Grünwald, N.J., Hamelin, R.C., and Bilodeau, G.J. (2014). "Development of rapid characterization tools for Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora ramorum using real-time PCR and microsatellites from a genomic resource.", Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Annual Meeting 2014, Norwich, UK, July 2-4, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Lethbridge Research and Development Centre
5403 1st Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Agriculture-environment interactions
Agriculture›Bacterial pathogens›Cellular interactions
Agriculture›Biocontrol›Agricultural pests
Agriculture›Crops›Production pathology
Agriculture›Microbiology›Applied
Agriculture›Microbiology›Molecular
Agriculture›Pest management›Biological control of agricultural pests
Agriculture›Plant viruses›Plant pathogen interactions
Agriculture›Potatoes
Agriculture›Virology›Food
Agriculture›Virology›Molecular plant
Plant›Pathology›Bacteria
Plant›Pathology›Fungus
Plant›Pathology›Virus

Affiliations

Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, 2019-2022

Honorary Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Universtity of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2009

Adjunct Professor, Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta,1997-2000

Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge,1992-2015

Language

English