Agricultural Research Organization,
The Volcani Center,
P.O.Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Research Interests
Understanding the basic processes underlying the interactions between fruits and pathogenic fungi.
Studying biochemical and molecular mechanisms that are controlled by fungal virulence and fruit resistance factors.
Using transformation-mediated gene disruption to create strains of pathogenic fungi that are specifically mutated in their ability to make cell-wall degrading enzymes. These mutants are tested for their ability to cause disease and to elicit defense responses.
Studying the biochemical basis for transcription expression in several postharvest pathogens and the involvement of modulation of local pH.
Recent Publications
Prusky, D. and Lichter, A. 2006. Activation of quiescent infections by postharvest pathogens during transition from the biotrophic to the necrotrophic stage. FEMS Microbiological letters: In press
Reuveni, M., D., Shegolov, D., Shegolov, N., Ben Arie-R. and Prusky D., 2006. Sensitivity of various phenological stages of Red Delicious apple fruit to infection by Alternaria alternata and control of Moldy-Core. Journal of Phytopathology: In press.
Prusky, D. and Kolattukudy, P. 2006. Cross-talk between host and fungus in postharvest situations and its effect on symptom development. New Challenges In: Food Mycology Jan Dijksterhuis and R.A. Samson, Ed. Marcel Dekker. In Press
Hadas Y., Goldberg. I, Pines, O., and Prusky, D. 2006. Involvement of gluconic acid and glucose oxidase in the pathogenicity of Penicillium expansum in apples. Phytopathology: In Press.
Prusky, D., Kobiler, I., Akerman, M., and Miyara, I. 2006. Effect of acidic solutions and acidic prochloraz on the control of postharvest decay caused by Alternaria alternata in mango and persimmon fruits. Postharvest Biology and Technology 42: 134-141
Wang, X., Kobiler, I., Lichter, A., Leikin-Frenkel,. A, Pesis, A., and Prusky, D. 2006. 1-MCP prevents ethylene-induced accumulation of antifungal diene in avocado fruit. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology: 67:211-267
Kramer-Haimovich, H., Servi, E., Katan, T., Rollins, J., Okon, Y., and Prusky, D., 2006. Effect of ammonia production by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on pelB activation, pectate lyase secretion, and fruit pathogenicity. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72:1034-1039
Guetsky, R., Kobiler, I., Wang, X., Perlman,N., Gollop,N., Avila-Quezada, G., Hadar, I., and Prusky, D. 2005. Metabolism of the flavonoid epicatechin by laccase of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and its effect on pathogenicity on avocado fruits Phytopathology 95:1341-1348
Prusky, D. 2004. An integrated approach to post-harvest disease control in fruits and vegetables. Aspects of Applied Biology 72:17-23
Wang.X., Kobiler, I., D., Lichter, A., and Prusky, D. 2004. Enhanced expression of avfae1 encoding a long-chain fatty acid elongase during the induction of the antifungal diene in avocado fruits. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 65:171-180
Wang, X., Beno-Moulaem, D., Kobiler, I., Leikin-Frenkel, A.,. Lichter, A., and Prusky, D. 2004. Expression of Δ12 Fatty Acid Desaturase during the Induced accumulation of the antifungal diene in avocado fruits. Molecular Plant Pathology 5: 575-585
Akimitsu, K.,. Isshiki, A., Ohtani, K., Yamamoto, H., Eshel, D. and. Prusky D, 2004. Sugars and pH: A Clue to the Regulation of Fungal Cell Wall- Degrading Enzymes in Plants. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology: 65:271-275
Prusky, D., McEvoy, J.L., Saftner, R., Conway, W.S., Jones, R. 2004. The relationship between host acidification and virulence of Penicillium spp. on apple and citrus fruit. Phytopathology 94:44-5 1
Prusk y, D., Shalom, Y., Kobiler, I. Akerman, M. and Fuchs, Y. 2003. Postharvest fungicide treatments in mango fruits according to the level of quiescent infection of pathogens at harvest . Acta Horticulture 645: 605-615
Prusky, E. Ilag, L. Ackerman, M., Kobiler . I. Fuchs, I. 2003. New approaches for the control of postharvest diseases of mango fruits. Acta Horticulture 645: 129-135
Wang, X., Leikin-Frenkel, A., Madi, L., Lichter, A., and Prusky, D., 2003. Induce biosynthesis of antifungal lipids in avocado fruits in avocado fruits. Eds. L. Vendrel, H. Klee, J. C. Pech, F. Romojaro. Biology & Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene III. l: 175-180
Prusky, D. 2003. Mechanisms of Resistance of Vegetables to Postharvest Pathogens. Ed. Jeffrey K. Brecht and J.A. Bartz. Postharvest Physiology of Vegetables. 2nd Ed. Marcel Dekker, Inc. 581-599
Prusky, D. and Yakoby, N. 2003. Pathogenic fungi: leading or led by ambient pH? Molecular Plant Pathology 4:509-516
Prusky, D. 2003. pH stress effect on the regulation of virulence of postharvest pathogens. Phytoparasitica 31:415-416
Prusky, D., Shalom, Y., Kobiler, I., Akerman, M., Keinan, A. Fuchs, Y. 2003. The levels of quiescent infection on mango fruits at harvest and the postharvest treatment for the control of storage diseases. Alon Hanotea 57:312-317
Madi, L., Xuejun, W., Kobiler, I. Lichter, A., D. Prusky, 2003. Stresses regulate Δ9 -stearoyl ACP desaturase expression, fatty acid composition, antifungal diene level and resistance to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides attack. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 62:277-283
Prusky, D. 2003. Mechanisms of Resistance of Vegetables to Postharvest Pathogens. Ed. Jeffrey K. Brecht and J.A. Bartz. Postharvest Physiology of Vegetables. 2nd Ed. 581-599
Drori, N., Kramer-Haimovich, H., Rollins, J., Dinoor, A., Okon, Y., Pines, O., and Prusky D. 2003. A combination of external pH and nitrogen assimilation affect secretion of the virulence factor pectate lyase by C. gloeosporioides. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69:3258-3262
Prusky, D., McEvoy, J.L., Leverentz, B., and Conway, W.S. 2001. Local modulation of host pH by Colletotrichum species as a mechanism to increase virulence. Mol. Plant Microbe Inter. 14: 1105-1113.
Yakoby, N., Beno-Moualem, D., Keen, N.T., Dinoor, A., Pines, O. and Prusky, D. 2001. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides pelB is an important factor in avocado fruit infection. Mol. Plant Microbe Inter. 14: 988-995.
Yakoby, N., Zhou, R., Kobiler, I., Donoor, A. and Prusky, D. 2001. Development of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides REMI mutants as biocontrol agents against anthracnose disease in avocado fruits. Phytopathology 91: 143-148.
Eshel, D., Ben-Arie, R., Dinoor, A. and Prusky, D. 2000. Resistance of gibberellin treated persimmon fruit to Alternaria alternata arises from the reduced ability of the fungus to produce endo-1,4-glucanase. Phytopathology 90: 1256-1262.
Yakoby, N., Freeman, S., Dinoor, A., Keen, N.T. and Prusky, D. 2000. Expression of pectate lyase from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in C. magna promotes pathogenicity. Mol. Plant Microbe Inter. 13: 887-891.
Domergue, F., Helms, G.H., Prusky, D. and Browse, J. 2000. Antifungal compounds from idioblast cells isolated from avocado fruits. Phytochemistry 54: 183-189.
Yakoby, N., Kobiler, I., Dinoor, A. and Prusky, D. 2000. pH regulation of pectate lyase secretion modulates the attack of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on avocado fruits. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 66: 1026-1030.
Beno-Moualem, D. and Prusky, D. 2000. Early events in the development of quiescent infection of avocado fruits against C. Gloeosporioides. Phytopathology 90: 553-559.
Ardi, R., Kobiler, I., Keen, N.T. and Prusky, D. 1998. Involvement of epicatechin biosynthesis in the activation of the mechanism of resistance of avocado fruit to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Physiol. Mol. Plant Path. 53: 269-285.
Leikin, A. and Prusky, D. 1998. Ethylene enhances the antifungal lipid content in idioblast cells from avocado mesocarp. Phytochemistry 49: 2291-2298.
Dov Prusky Ph.D