Rishi R. Burlakoti, PhD

Research Scientist-Plant Pathology

I am a Research Scientist- Plant Pathology at Agassiz Research and Development Center, AAFC. My research programs focus on pathogen characterization, disease epidemiology and sustainable management of major diseases of berry crops, field and greenhouse vegetables crops of British Columbia. I have research interests in integrated disease management, plant disease epidemiology, host-pathogen interaction, and pathogen genetics and genomics.

I am also an Adjunct Professor in Faculty of Land and Food System, University of British Columbia (UBC) and in Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph. I am serving in editorial boards of ‘Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology’, ‘Plants’, and 'PeerJ'.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

6947 Highway 7 PO Box 1000 Agassiz, BC V0M 1A2 Canada

Current research and/or projects

Population genetic study of Phytophthora infestans strains causing late blight of potato and tomatoes in Canada
Pathogen characterization and sustainable management of root rot complex and bacterial blight of berry crops
Survey, epidemiology and forecasting of diseases of small fruits and vegetable crops
Disease monitoring and characterization of indigenous food plants
Identifying sources of resistance to viral diseases

Research and/or project statements

Étude génétique de populations de souches de Phytophthora infestans qui causent le mildiou de la pomme de terre et de la tomate au Canada
Caractérisation des pathogènes et gestion durable du complexe de pourritures racinaires et de la brûlure bactérienne qui touchent les cultures de petits fruits
Inventaire, épidémiologie et prévisions des maladies des petits fruits et des légumes
Surveillance des maladies et caractérisation des plantes indigènes alimentaires
Identification de sources de résistance aux viroses

Professional activities / interests

Vice President, The Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia
Board Member, Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association (LMHIA)
Board Member, Research and Development Council, BC Greenhouse Growers Association
Member, Education Committee and International Cooperation Committee of Canadian Phytopathological Society
Associate Editor, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, July 2019 to present
Editor, Plants, MDPI AG, Dec 2014 to present
Editor, PeerJ, October 2020 to present
Section Editor, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, July 2017 to July 2019
Associate Editor, Canadian Journal of Plant Science, Feb 2018 to Dec 2020
Editor, Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, Nov 2014 to July 2020

Education and awards

EDUCATION:

PhD in Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
M Sc. Ag. in Plant Pathology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
B Sc. in Agriculture, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Honours and Awards

The Best Graduate School Research Award 2008, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, North Dakota State University.
The North Dakota State University Graduate School Fellowship 2005-2008
The Honorable Membership Awards 2008: Phi Kappa Phi and Gamma Sigma Delta

International experience and/or work

Before joining AAFC, Dr. Burlakoti worked as a Plant Pathologist in World Vegetable Center and led the Mycology and Bacteriology units at Center’s headquarters in Taiwan. During that time, he worked in IPM projects in collaboration with national programs of Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), South Asia (India and Nepal) and Africa (Mali). Past collaboration also includes delivering IPM projects (disease epidemiology and forecasting) in several European countries including UK, Portugal, and Hungary.

In addition, Dr. Burlakoti worked as a Member of Canadian Coordiantion Committee of International Twinning Partnership Program (ITPP) of Agriculture Institute of Canada in 2010 to 2012, the project focused on organic agriculture in Nepal. Currently, Dr. Burlakoti is serving as a member of International Cooperation Committee of Canadian Phytopathological Society.

Additional links

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wOyuhUsAAAAJ&hl=en

Key publications

Burlakoti R. R., Podile C., and Sharifi, M. 2023. Revitalization of key native berry Crops: disease monitoring and sustainable management. Poster presented at Seabird Island Band Quarterly Open House meeting on October 18, 2023, Seabird Island, BC.
2023 - View publication details
Burlakoti, R. R. Novinscak, A. and Griffiths J. 2023. Exploiting host resistance in managing tomato brown rugose fruit virus. Plant Health 2023, Annual Meeting of American Phytopathological Society. Denver, CO, USA. August 12-16, 2023
2023 - View publication details
Burlakoti, R. R. 2023. Population diversity of Botrytis spp. causing fruit rot of highbush blueberry and raspberry in British Columbia. 4th Annual CanFunNet Fungal Biology Conference. Virtual. May 31-June 2, 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Burlakoti, R. R. 2023. Key Diseases of Berry Crops: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management. NanoLytica Spring 2023 Symposium. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC. May 4, 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Slyadnev, M, Novinscak, A., Burlakoti, R. R., Gill S. 2023. Microchip based detection to identify emerging pathogens of crops grown in controlled environments and fields. The 2023 Symposium of Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia. February 21. Langley, BC, Canada.
2023 - View publication details
Burlakoti RR, Podile C, Novinscak A, and Sharifi M. 2023 Understanding and management of diseases of key native berry crops. Presented at AAFC and Seabird Island Band Project Review Meeting on January 30, 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Burlakoti RR, Podile C, Novinscak A, and Sharifi M. 2023. Understanding and management of diseases of key native berry crops. Presented at AAFC and Seabird Island Band Project Review Meeting on January 30, 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Franklin, M.T., Uriel, Y., Gibson, M., Mitchell, T., Telford, G., Burlakoti, R., Marshall, V., Ensing, D., Moffat, C., and M. Sharifi. 2023. Identification of insect pest threats and plant communities associated with culturally significant berries on the Seabird Island lands. Project Report 2021-2022.
2023 - View publication details
Podile C., Burlakoti, R. R. Novinscak, A. and Punja Z. 2023. Identification and characterization of Colletotrichum spp. causing foliar diseases of salmonberry, thimbleberry and elderberry plants Canadian Phytopathological Society B.C. Regional Meeting. Victoria BC. November 01-02, 2023
2023 - View publication details
Burlakoti, R. R., Novinscak, A., and Griffiths, J. 2022. Identifying resistance to tomato brown rugose fruit virus. British Columbia Greenhouse Growers’ Association Town Hall Minor Use Meeting. October 14, 2022. Abbotsford, BC, Canada.
2022 - View publication details
Burlakoti RR, Novinscak A, and Sharifi M. 2023. Understanding the diseases of key native berry crops-steps toward revitalization. Poster Presented at Seabird Island Band open house in Seabird on August 31, 2023.
2022 - View publication details
Burlakoti, R. R. Novinscak, A., and Griffiths, J. 2022. Identification of sources of resistance for tomato brown rugose fruits virus. Poster presented at 2022 Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus Research Symposium, August 17-18, 2022, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2022 - View publication details
Betz, E. C. L., Burlakoti, R. R., Novinscak, A., and Sabaratnam, S. 2022. Characterization of cryptic species of Botrytis associated with fruit rot of highbush blueberry and raspberry in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. British Columbia regional meeting, 2021/Réunion régionale de la Colombie-Britannique, 2021, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology (Abstr.) Page 2. DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2022.2102280.
2022 - View publication details
Novinscak, A., Burlakoti, R. R., Gill, S. and Slyadnev, M. N. 2022. Comparison of real-time PCR detection systems using naturally infected Botrytis cinerea berry samples. British Columbia regional meeting, 2021/Réunion régionale de la Colombie-Britannique, 2021, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology (Abstr.) Page 4. DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2022.2102280.
2022 - View publication details
Sapkota, S., Burlakoti, R. R., Dossett, M., and Punja Z. 2022. Development of effective method for pathogenicity and screening of Phytophthora spp. on red raspberry seedlings. British Columbia regional meeting, 2021/Réunion régionale de la Colombie-Britannique, 2021, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology (Abstr.) Page 4-5. DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2022.2102280.
2022 - View publication details
Burlakoti R. R., Novinscak A., vanBaar K., and Griifiths J. 2022. Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus-Global Threat to Greenhouse Tomato Production. Annual Symposium of Professional Pest Management Society of BC, February 24-25, 2022, Virtual.
2022 - View publication details
Sapkota S. and Burlakoti R. R., Lubbert, M., Lamour K., and Punja Z. 2022. Molecular characterization of Phytophthora species associated with raspberry. Annual Symposium of Professional Pest Management Society of BC (Virtual), February 24-25, 2022
2022 - View publication details
Burlakoti, R. R. and Percival D. 2021. Baseline sensitivity of Septoria species associated with lowbush blueberry foliar disease to chlorothalonil and propiconazole fungicides. 12th International Vaccinium Symposium (Virtual), August 30 to September 1, 2021.
2022 - View publication details
Sapkota S. and Burlakoti R. R., Dossett, M., and Punja Z. 2021. Development of effective methods for pathogenicity and screening of Phytophthora spp. on red raspberry seedlings. BC Regional Annual Meeting of Canadian Phytopathological Society (Virtual), November 9-10, 2021.
2022 - View publication details
Novinscak A., Burlakoti R. R., Gill S., Slyadnev M. N. 2021. Comparison of real time PCR detection systems using naturally infected Botrytis cinerea berry samples. BC Regional Annual Meeting of Canadian Phytopathological Society (Virtual), November 9-10, 2021.
2022 - View publication details