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

Betz E.C.L, Burlakoti R. R., Novinscak A., and Sabaratnam, S. 2021. Characterization of cryptic species of Botrytis associated with fruit rot of highbush blueberry and raspberry in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. BC Regional Annual Meeting of Canadian Phytopathological Society (Virtual), November 9-10, 2021.
2022 - View publication details
Burlakoti R. R. 2021. Update on Development of Decision Support Tools in Berry Crops. BC Berries Research Review Meeting October 21- 22, 2021
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. 2022. Metalaxyl sensitivity of Phytophthora spp. associated with red raspberry in British Columbia. Tri-Society Virtual Conference: Canadian Phytopathological Society, Canadian Society for Horticultural Science, Canadian Society of Agronomy, 2021. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology (Abstr.) Page 29, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2021.2009254.
2022 - View publication details
Latchman S. R. and Burlakoti R. R. 2022. Characterization and developing effective screening methods of bacterial blight of highbush blueberry in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Tri-Society Virtual Conference: Canadian Phytopathological Society, Canadian Society for Horticultural Science, Canadian Society of Agronomy, 2021. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology (Abstr.) Page 18, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2021.2009254.
2022 - View publication details
Burlakoti R. R. and Peters R. 2021. Late Blight: Always an Issue for Potatoes – Implications for Home Gardeners. In: Kabaluk, T. and Frey, L (Eds.) 2021 Proceedings of the Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association 63rd Annual Growers’ Short Course, January 28 to 30. Pages 22-24. ISSN 2560-7561.
2021 - View publication details
Sapkota S. and Burlakoti R. R. 2021. Root rot and wilting complex of red raspberry in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. British Columbia regional meeting, 2020/, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology (Abstr.), 43:2, 337, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2021.1889804.
2021 - View publication details
Burlakoti, R. R., Chen, J.-R. 2018. Virulence spectrum of Ralstonia solanacearum strains isolated from grafted and non-grafted tomato plants. British Columbia Regional Meeting, 2017/Réunion régionale de la Colombie-Britannique, 2017, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 40:1, 153-160, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2017.1416041.
2021 - View publication details
Burlakoti RR. 2021. Developing Decision Support Tools for Blueberry and Raspberry Diseases and Overview of Berry Pathology Research. BC Berries Research Review Meeting February 26, 2021.
2021 - View publication details
Burlakoti RR, Latchman SR, Sapkota S. 2021. Characterizing Pathogens and Improving Disease Screening Methods to Support Raspberry and Blueberry Breeding. BC Berries Research Review Meeting February 26, 2021.
2021 - View publication details
Sapkota S and Burlakoti RR. 2021. Investigating Management Options of the Raspberry Root Rot Complex. BC Berries Research Review Meeting February 26, 2021.
2021 - View publication details
Burlakoti, RR. 2021. Study on pathogen population dynamics: Insight into biology and management of crop diseases. The Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia 2021 Symposium, February 18-19, Virtual.
2021 - View publication details
Sapkota S and Burlakoti, RR.2021. Metalaxyl sensitivity of Phytophthora spp. obtained from red raspberry fields in British Columbia. The Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia 2021 Symposium, February 18-19, Virtual.
2021 - View publication details
Peters R and Burlakoti RR 2021. Late Blight: Always an Issue for Potatoes – Implications for Home Gardeners. Growers Short Course Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association together with Pacific Agricultural Show, Virtual. January 28 to 30, 2021.
2021 - View publication details
Latchman SR and Burlakoti RR. 2020. Survey and characterization of bacterial blight of highbush blueberry in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Canadian Phytopathological Society BC regional meeting. December 10, 2020.
2020 - View publication details
Burlakoti, RR. 2020. Update on Berry Pathology (Activity #6)- CAP AgriScience Project. LMHIA Project Steering Committee Meeting, Dec 10, 2020.
2020 - View publication details
Sapkota S. and Burlakoti R. R. 2020. Root rot and wilting complex of red raspberry in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. 2020 Canadian Phytopathological Society BC regional meeting. December 10, 2020.
2020 - View publication details
Burlakoti, R.R. 2020. Decision Support Tools for Managing Diseases of Berry Crops. Climate Adaptation Research for BC Agriculture - 2020 Provincial Workshop (Virtual). December 7-10, 2020.
2020 - View publication details
Burlakoti, RR and Sapkota S (2020). Root Rot Complex in Red Raspberry. Washington Small Fruit Conference & Lynden Ag Show, December 1 to 4, 2020. Washington, USA
2020 - View publication details
Burlakoti R. and Griffiths J. 2020. Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus research project. BC Greenhouse Growers Association Town Hall Minor Use Meeting, Virtual. November 5, 2020.
2020 - View publication details