Recent Publications
Refereed journal publications (2009 - present).
1.Punja, Z.K., Chandani, R., Chen, S., and Rodriguez, G. 2016. Phoma leaf spot of wasabi (Wasabia japonica) caused by Leptosphaeria biglobosa. Plant Path. (in press). (NSERC Discovery grant funded).
2.Punja, Z.K., Rodriguez, G., Tirajoh, and Formby, S. 2016. Role of fruit surface microflora, wounding, and storage conditions on post-harvest disease development on fresh market tomatoes. Can. J. Plant Path. (in press). (NSERC Engage funded).
3.Punja, Z.K., Rodriguez, G. and Tirajoh, A. 2016. Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 and post-harvest storage temperatures on disease development of greenhouse tomatoes. Crop Prot. 84: 98-104. (NSERC Engage funded).
4.Punja, Z.K. and Rahman, M. 2015. Morphological and biochemical changes in ginseng seedling roots affected with stripe symptoms. Amer. J. Plant Sci. 6: 2550-2560. (NSERC Discovery Grant).
5.DiCarlo, A. and Punja, Z.K. 2015. Characterization of Pseudomonas populations recovered from blueberry plants affected with bacterial blight and monitoring survival by molecular detection and colony plating. Can. J. Microbiol. (acceptance pending changes).
6.Chen, X. and Punja, Z.K. 2014. A novel endornavirus in the plant pathogenic fungus Chalara elegans (Thielaviopsis basicola). Mycology 5: 10-15. (NSERC Discovery Grant funded).
7.Punja, Z.K., Wally, O. and Jayaraj, J. 2013. Transgenic approaches to enhance disease resistance in carrot plants to fungal pathogens. Act. Hortic. 974. pg. 56-61. (funded by NSERC Discovery Grant)
8.Punja, Z.K., Wan, A., Lieppi, L., Goswami, R.S., and Jayaraj, J. 2013. Growth, pathogenicity, infection behaviour, and genetic diversity of Rhexocercosporidium originating from ginseng fields in British Columbia. Can. J. Plant Path. 35:503-515 (funded by NSERC Discovery Grant ).
9.Chatterton, S. and Punja, Z.K. 2012. Colonization of geranium foliage by Clonostachys rosea f. catenulata, a biological control agent of Botrytis grey mould. Botany 90: 1-10 (NSERC Discovery).
10.Chatterton, S., Wylie, A., and Punja, Z.K. 2012. Fruit infection and postharvest decay of greenhouse tomatoes caused by Penicillium species in British Columbia. Can. J. Plant Path. 34:524-535 (funded by NSERC Discovery Grant).
11.Schwarz, J.J., Punja, Z., Goettel, M., and Gries, G. 2012. Do western boxelder bugs sunbath for sanitation ? Inferences from in vitro experiments. Entomol. Experim. Applicat. 145: 38-49.
12.Elmhirst, J.E., Haselhan, C., and Punja, Z.K. 2011. Evaluation of biological control agents for Botrytis blight on geranium and powdery mildew on rose. Can. J. Plant Path. 33: 499-505 (funded by NSERC Discovery Grant).
13.Bradley, G. and Punja, Z.K. 2010. Composts containing flourescent pseudomonads suppress fusarium root and stem development on greenhouse cucumber. Can. J. Microbiol. 56: 896-905 (MSc thesis research, funded by NSERC Discovery).
14.Wally, O. and Punja, Z.K. 2010. Enhanced disease resistance in transgenic carrots ( Daucus carota L.) expressing a rice cationic peroxidase gene. Planta 232 : 1229-1239. (PhD thesis research, NSERC Discovery Grant ).
15.Chatterton, S. and Punja, Z.K. 2010. Factors influencing colonization of cucumber roots by Clonostachys rosea f. catenulata, a biological control agent. Biocontrol Sci. Tech. 20: 37-55. (PhD thesis research, NSERC Biocontrol Network and Discovery Grant funds).
16.Chatterton, C. and Punja, Z.K. 2009. Chitinase and B-1,3-glucanase enzyme production by the mycoparasite Clonostachys rosea f. catenulata against fungal pathogens. Can. J. Microbiol. 55: 356-367. (PhD thesis research, NSERC Biocontrol Network and Discovery Grant funds).
17.Wally, O., Jayaraj, J., and Punja, Z.K. 2009. Broad spectrum disease resistance to necrotrophic and biotrophic pathogens in transgenic carrots (Daucus carota L.) expressing an Arabidopsis NPR1 gene. Planta 231:131-141.( PhD thesis research, NSERC Discovery Grant funds).
18.Wally, O., Jayaraj, J., and Punja, Z.K. 2009. Comparative resistance to foliar fungal pathogens in transgenic carrot plants expressing genes encoding for chitinase, B-1,3-glucanase, and peroxidase. Eur. J. Plant Path. 123:331-342. (PhD thesis research, NSERC Discovery Grant funds).
19.Rodriguez, G. and Punja, Z.K. 2009. Vascular blackening of wasabi rhizomes caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Eur. J. Plant Path. 124: 483-493. (MSc thesis research, NSERC Strategic Grant funds).
20.Jayaraj, J., Wan, A., Rahman, M. and Punja, Z.K. 2009. Enhanced resistance to foliar fungal pathogens in carrots by application of elicitors. Ann. Appl. Biol. 155: 71-80. (post-doctoral research, NSERC Discovery Grant funds).
Book chapters, conference proceedings and review papers
1.Punja, Z.K., Rodriguez, R., and Chen, S. 2016. Assessing genetic diversity in Cannabis sativa using molecular markers. In Cannabis sativa L.- Botany and Biotechnology. Edited by Suman Chandra, Hemant Lata and Mahmoud A. ElSohly. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg (submitted).
2. Feeney, M., and Punja, Z.K. 2016. The role of Agrobacterium-mediated and other gene-transfer technologies in cannabis research and product development. In Cannabis sativa L.- Botany and Biotechnology. Edited by Suman Chandra, Hemant Lata and Mahmoud A. ElSohly. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg (submitted).
3.Wally, O., Jayaraj, J., Punja, Z. K. 2014. Carrot (Daucus carota L.) transformation. Pages 59-66. In : Wang, K. (ed.). Methods in Molecular Biology vol. 344. Second edition. Agrobacterium protocols. Humana Press.
4.Feeney, M. and Punja, Z. K. 2014. Transformation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Pages 319-329. In : Wang, K. (ed.). Methods in Molecular Biology vol. 344. Second edition. Agrobacterium protocols. Humana Press.
5.Punja, Z.K., Rodriguez, G. Tirajoh, A., and Formby, S. 2014. The surface mycoflora of tomato fruits and their relationship to post-harvest disease development – can applications of Rhapsody (Bacillus subtilis) reduce disease ? Proceedings of the International Society for Plant Pathology Congress, Beijing, China. Edited by Dov Prusky and M. Lodovica Gullino.
6.Punja, Z.K., Wally, O., and Jayaraj, J. 2013. Transgenic approaches to enhance disease resistance in carrot plants to fungal pathogens. Proceedings of the International Society for Horticultural Science, Antalya, Turkey. Pg. 89-95.
7.Punja, Z.K., Formby, S., Tirajoh, A., and Rodriguez, G. 2013. Post-harvest fungal pathogens of greenhouse tomatoes – what effect does Rhapsody (Bacillus subtilis) have on disease ? Proceedings Pacific Agriculture Institute, Horticultural Grower’s Short Course. Pg. 67-70.
8.Punja, Z.K., Rodriguez, G., Tirajoh, A. and Formby, S. 2013. The microbiome of tomato fruits and impact on post-harvest disease development. Proceedings of the International Society for Horticultural Science, Izmir, Turkey. Pg. 61-68.
9.Punja, Z.K. Wally, O., and Jayaraj, J. 2013. Transgenic plants and fungal disease resistance. Proceedings of the International Society for Plant Pathology Congress, Beijing, China. Pg. 211-219.
10.Punja, Z.K. 2011. American ginseng : Research developments, opportunities, and challenges. J. Ginseng Res. 35: 368-374.
11.Wally, O. and Punja, Z.K. 2010. Transgenic plants with enhanced disease resistance. GM Crops 1: 199-206.
12.Chatterton, C. and Punja, Z. K. 2010. Interactions between Clonostachys rosea f. catenulata, Fusarium oxysporum, and cucumber leads to biological control of Fusarium root rot. In : Gisi, U., Chet, I., and Gullino, M. Recent Developments in Disease Management, Vol.1 pg. 78-90. CRC Press.
13.Wally, O., Jayaraj, J., and Punja, Z. K. 2010. Transgenic vegetable crops. In : Mou, B. and Scorza, R. Transgenic Horticultural Crops : Challenges and Opportunities. Vol. 1 pg. 31-54. Taylor & Francis.