Dr Toni Petronaitis

Lecturer of Plant Pathology and Crop Protection - School of Environmental and Rural Science

Toni Petronaitis

Phone: +61 0424 209 816

Email: tpetrona@une.edu.au

Twitter: @ToniPetronaitis

Biography

Toni is a Lecturer in Plant Pathology and Crop Protection at the University of New England, Armidale. Prior to joining the University, Toni was a researcher at the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries in Tamworth for 7 years. Toni has a PhD in plant pathology and a Bachelor of Science with Honours in microbiology, both from the University of New England. Her research focus is on improving the understanding and management of diseases such as crown rot that affect winter cereals. In 2022 Toni received the GRDC Emerging Leader award (Northern Region) for outstanding contribution to grains industry research.

Qualifications

BSc Hons Microbiology (University of New England, Australia)
PhD Plant Pathology (University of New England, Australia)

Awards

GRDC Emerging Leader Award, Northern Region (2022)

Teaching Areas

AGRO311

RUSC490

Primary Research Area/s

Stubble-borne (residue-borne) disease epidemiology and management; Cereal grains pathology; Integrated crop disease management; Alternative (non-chemical) control methods for plant pathogens e.g., microwave radiation

Research Supervision Experience

Toni supervises Honours students (e.g., RUSC490) and has the capacity to co-supervise master’s and PhD that have a plant pathology and/or crop protection focus.

Publications

Selected Peer-reviewed Journal Publications:

Petronaitis, T., Forknall, C., Brodie, G., Simpfendorfer, S. & Backhouse D. (2022). “Killer Joules”: spores of Bipolaris sorokiniana and Fusarium species are susceptible to microwave radiation. Australasian Plant Pathol. 51, 433–440 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-022-00872-x

Petronaitis, T., Forknall, C., Simpfendorfer, S., Backhouse D. & Flavel R (2022). Stubble trouble! Moisture, pathogen fitness and cereal type drive colonisation of cereal stubble by three fungal pathogens. Australasian Plant Pathol. 51, 363–368 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-022-00860-1

Petronaitis, T., Simpfendorfer, S. & Hüberli, D. (2021). Importance of Fusarium spp. in Wheat to Food Security: A Global Perspective. In: Scott, P., Strange, R., Korsten, L., Gullino, M.L. (eds) Plant Diseases and Food Security in the 21st Century. Plant Pathology in the 21st Century, vol 10. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57899-2_7

Petronaitis, T., Forknall, C. & Simpfendorfer, S. (2018). Microwave radiation reduces survival of Fusarium pseudograminearum in durum wheat stubble. Australasian Plant Pathol. 47, 375–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-018-0568-6

Link to Toni’s Doctoral Thesis

Full publication list, including industry articles, can be found at Google Scholar

Memberships

Australasian Plant Pathology Society
Australian Mycological Society
Australian Soilborne Disease Symposium (2024 Conference Committee Member)