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., 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.", Northeast Potato Technology Forum 2014, Fredericton, NB, Canada, March 12-13, 2014, Proceedings published by McCain Foods Ltd., pp. 7-8.

    2014 - View publication details

  2. Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). "Potato pathology and microbiology.", Delegation from the Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, March 17, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  3. Vucurevich, T., Sheedy, C., Duke, G., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). "Immunofluorescent detection of clubroot resting spores.", Annual Meeting of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Pocaterra Inn, Canmore, AB, Canada, November 3-5, 2014, pp. 3.

    2014 - View publication details

  4. Kalischuk, M.L. and Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). "Mapping of the Small RNA from Potato leafroll virus infected plants reveals a 3’ subgenomic RNA encoding a 5’ sequence-specific RNA-binding protein.", RiboWest 2014 10th Annual Meeting, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB., Canada, June 18-21, 2014. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  5. Peters, R.D., Kawchuk, L.M., Daayf, F., and Al-Mughrabi, K.I. (2014). "The changing dynamic of tomato and potato late blight in Canada.", 29th Annual Tomato Disease Workshop, Windsor, ON, Canada, November 4-6, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  6. Crane, B., Peters, R.D., Kawchuk, L.M., MacPhail, A., Drake, K.A., Gregory, D., and Macdonald, K. (2014). "Resistance to metalaxyl-m in populations of Phytophthora erythroseptica causing pink rot of potato in Canada.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  7. Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). "Next generation potato innovation in Canada.", USDA Agriculture Attaché and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Specialist, US Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, September 25, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  8. Johnson, D.L., Kawchuk, L.M., and Meers, S. (2014). "Potato psyllid and zebra chip monitoring network.", Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA) Annual Meeting, Sheraton, Red Deer, AB, Canada, November 18-20, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  9. Crane, B., Peters, R.D., Kawchuk, L.M., Harding, M.W., 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.", Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA) Annual Meeting, Sheraton, Red Deer, AB, Canada, November 18-20, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  10. Wijekoon, C. and Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). "Molecular characterization of Late blight pathogen (Phytophthora infestans) using microsatellite and TRFLP analysis.", Annual Meeting of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Pocaterra Inn, Canmore, AB, Canada, November 3-5, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  11. Kawchuk, L.M., Kalischuk, M.L., Peters, R.D., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Daayf, F., Harding, M.W., and Howard, R.J. (2014). "Prevalence and prevention of Phytophthora infestans US-23.", 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

  12. Gossen, B.D., Carisse, O., Kawchuk, L.M., Van der Heyden, H., and McDonald, M.R. (2014). "Recent changes in fungicide use and the fungicide insensitivity of plant pathogens in Canada.", Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 36(3), pp. 327-340. doi : 10.1080/07060661.2014.925506

    2014 - View publication details

  13. Hwang, Y.T., Wijekoon, C., Kalischuk, M.L., Johnson, D.L., Howard, R.J., Prüfer, D., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). "Evolution and Management of the Irish Potato Famine Pathogen îPhytophthora Infestans in Canada and the United States.", American Journal of Potato Research. doi : 10.1007/s12230-014-9401-0

    2014 - View publication details

  14. Wijekoon, C.P., Wijekoon, C.P., Peters, R.D., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). "First Report of Late Blight Caused by Phytophthora infestans Clonal Lineage US-23 on Tomato and Potato in Atlantic Canada.", Plant Disease, 98(3), pp. 426. doi : 10.1094/PDIS-08-13-0807-PDN

    2014 - View publication details

  15. Peters, R.D., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Kalischuk, M.L., Dobinson, K.F., Conn, K.L., Alkher, H., Islam, M.R., Daayf, F., Lynn, J., Bizimungu, B., De Koeyer, D., Lévesque, C.A., Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). Characterization of Phytophthora infestans population diversity in Canada reveals increased migration and genotype recombination, 36(1), 73-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2014.892900

    2014 - View publication details

  16. Pageni, B.B., Lupwayi, N.Z., Akter, Z., Larney, F.J., Kawchuk, L.M., Gan, Y.T. (2014). Plant growth-promoting and phytopathogen-antagonistic properties of bacterial endophytes from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping systems. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, [online] 94(5), 835-844. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/CJPS2013-356

    2014 - View publication details

  17. Kawchuk, L.M., Kalischuk, M.L., Harding, M.W., Spencer, R.C.J., and Howard, R.J. (2013). "Population dynamics of the Irish potato famine pathogen in Alberta.", Annual Meeting of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Brooks, AB, Canada, November 4-6, 2013.

    2013 - View publication details

  18. Wijekoon, C.P., Wijekoon, C.P., Kalischuk, M.L., Spencer, R.C.J., Howard, R.J., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2013). "Characterization of Apioplagiostoma populi causing bronze leaf disease in poplar.", Annual Meeting of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Brooks, AB, Canada, November 4-6, 2013.

    2013 - View publication details

  19. Bizimungu, B., Kawchuk, L.M., Wahab, J., Waterer, D.R., Konschuh, M.N., and Lynch, D.R. (2013). "AAC Alta Strong potato variety- A new option for French fry processing and fresh market uses.", 97th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America (PAA), Québec City, QC, Canada, July 28-August 2, 2013.

    2013 - View publication details

  20. Johnson, D.L., Meers, S., and Kawchuk, L.M. (2013). "New network to monitor potato psyllid and zebra chip disease in Canada.", Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA) Annual Meeting, Calgary, AB, Canada, November 19-21, 2013.

    2013 - 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