Dr Beccy Ganley

Dr Beccy Ganley

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Beccy Ganley

About

Dr Rebecca Ganley (Beccy) is a forest pathologist with experience in foliar diseases of commercial tree species. Her research includes identifying ways to manage diseases and increase tree resilience using biological agents such as fungal endophytes and viruses.

Qualifications

PhD (Natural Resources), University of Idaho, USA - 2004
MSc (Genetics), Massey University, New Zealand - 2000
BSc (Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry), Massey University, New Zealand -1997

Research capabilities

  • Understanding the relationship between fungal endophytes and pathogens on host plants in forest ecosystems
  • Forest pathology, specifically foliar disease research
  • Biological control using microorganisms
  • Diagnostics of fungal pathogens of forest trees
  • Using DNA-based methods for identification of fungal species, phylogenetic analyses and assessments of population genetics

Career highlights

  • Research Leader, pathology, Scion 2011- present
  • Forest Research, Forest Biosecurity Research Council and National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies Post-doctoral fellowship, 2004-2006
  • Member of Xi Sigma Pi Forestry Honor Society
  • Radio interview on endophytic fungi for Pulse of the Planet (www.pulseplanet.com) and corresponding article in National Geographic news (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pulse.html.), 2005.

Selected papers

Ganley R.J., M. S. Watt, D.J. Kriticos, A.J.M. Hopkins and L.K. Manning. 2011. Increased risk of pitch canker to Australasia under climate change. Australasian Plant Pathology DOI:10.1007/s13313-011-0033-2

Iturritxa E., Ganley, R.J., Wright, J., Heppe, E., Steenkamp, E.T., Gordon, T.R. and M.J. Wingfield. 2011. A genetically homogenous population of Fusarium circinatum causes pitch canker of Pinus radiata in the Basque Country, Spain. Fungal Biology. cleardoi:10.1016/j.funbio.2010.12.014. 

Watt M.S., R.J. Ganley, D.J. Kriticos, and L.K. Manning. 2011. Dothistroma needle blight and pitch canker: the current and future potential distribution of two important diseases of Pinus species. Canadian journal of Forest Research 41: 412-424.

Ganley, R. 2010. Science fights Dutch elm disease.  Biosecurity.  99: 10-12. (http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/publications/biosecurity-magazine/index.htm). 

Ganley, R. 2010. Controlling plant disease without pesticides.  Biosecurity.  99: 12-14. (http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/publications/biosecurity-magazine/index.htm).

Eyles, A., Bonello P., Ganley, R. and C. Mohammed. 2010. Induced resistance to pests and pathogens in trees. New Phytologist, Tansley Review. 185: 893–908. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03127.x 

Ganley, R. J., M. S. Watt, L. Manning, and E. Iturritxa. 2009. A global climatic risk assessment of pitch canker disease. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 39: 2246–2256.

Wingfield, M.J., Hammerbacher, A., Ganley, R.J., Steenkamp, E.T., Gordon, T.R., Wingfield, B.D., and T.A. Coutinho. 2008.  Pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum: A growing threat to plantations and forests worldwide. Australasian Plant Pathology 37: 319-334. 

Ganley, R. J., Sniezko, R. A. and Newcombe, G.  2008. Endophyte-mediated resistance against white pine blister rust in Pinus monticola.  Forest Ecology and Management 225: 2751-2760.

Ganley, R. G., Brunsfeld, S. J., and Newcombe, G.  2004.  A community of unknown, endophytic fungi in western white pine.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 101: 10107-10112.