Plant Sciences and Entomology

Plant diseases

  • Development of effective disease management in deciduous trees in Israel, like: apples, peach and nectarine, grapevines
  • Epidemiology and development of disease managements for foliar diseases of apple such as: apple scab, powdery mildew, Alternaria fruit rot and moldy core
  • The use of disease support systems in disease management of apple scab and grape downy mildew in Israel
  • Population genetics of necator (causing grape powdery mildew) in Israel
  • Resistance of fungi to fungicides, and integration of bio-fungicides and macro/micronutrients in disease management in order to reduce fungicide usage and resistance risk
  • Integration of new technologies to control foliar diseases
  • Elicitors of induced-resistance against fungal plant pathogens

Entomology

  • Decipher the communication between the brood (the pupae and the larvae) and its tending workers in social bee colonies
  • Study the social influences on the sleep of brood tending bees
  • Develop new methods to increase bee pollination efficiency
  • Utilize chronobiological research to improve pest control and to reduce environmental damage, specifically to insect pollinators