Plant Pathology Program

Mohamad Chikh-Ali, Ph.D                                                    

Research Professor/Extension Specialist – Plant Pathology
San Luis Valley Research Center
Colorado State University
mohamad.chikh-ali@colostate.edu
Office phone: 719-754-3594 ext.16
Mobile phone: 719-480-4811

Education

PhD: Tokyo University of Agriculture – Plant Pathology
MS: Tokyo University of Agriculture – Plant Pathology
BS: University of Aleppo – Horticultural Sciences

Research Interests

The pathology research and extension programs aim to help growers of the San Luis Valley to make educated decisions on the management of plant diseases of major crops, in particular potato. To achieve the objectives of the pathology program, we conduct laboratory and field research projects to address issues facing growers and translate the outcomes to management practices that can be adapted by the growers of the San Luis Valley. Our research interests include the characterization of plant pathogens, diagnosis, epidemiology, and management of plant diseases. Our extension program focuses on the identification of research priorities, and the dissemination of knowledge generated through research projects to the growers in a diverse, grower-friendly tools.

Selected Publications

• Daniel, J., and Chikh-Ali, M, 2024. Dynamics of Potato Virus Y Infection Pressure and Strain Composition in The San Luis Valley, Colorado. Plant Dis. In Press.
• Tran, L. T., Green, K. J., Rodriguez-Rodriguez, M., Orellana, G. E., Funke, C. N., Nikolaeva, O. V., Quintero-Ferrer, A., Chikh-Ali, M., Woodell, L., Olsen, N., and A. V. Karasev (2022) Prevalence of recombinant strains of potato virus Y in seed potato planted in Idaho and Washington states between 2011 and 2021. Plant Dis. 106:810-817.
• Rodrigues-Rodrigues M., Chikh-Ali M., Johnson S. B., Gray S., Malseed N., Crump N. S., and A. V. Karasev (2020) The recombinant potato virus Y (PVY) strain, PVY^NTN, identified in potato fields in Victoria, southeastern Australia. Plant Disease 104, 3110-3114
• Green K. J., Quintero-Ferrer A., Chikh-Ali M., Jones R. A. C., and A. V. Karasev (2020) Genetic diversity of nine non-recombinant potato virus Y isolates from three biological strain groups: historical and geographical insights. Plant Disease 104, 2317-2323
• Chikh-Ali M., Tran, L., Price, W., and A. V. Karasev (2020) Effects of the age-related resistance to potato virus Y in potato on the systemic spread of the virus, incidence of the potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease, tuber yield, and translocation rates into progeny tubers. Plant Disease 104:269-275 (Editor’s Pick)
• Chikh-Ali M., Rowley J.S., Kuhl J., Gray S.M., and A.V. Karasev (2014) Evidence of a monogenic nature of the Nz gene conferring resistance against potato virus Y strain Z (PVY^Z) in potato. American Journal of Potato Research 91, 649-654.
• Chikh-Ali M., Gray S. and A.V. Karasev (2013) An improved multiplex IC-RT-PCR assay distinguishes nine strains of Potato virus Y. Plant Disease 97, 1370–1374.
• Chikh-Ali M., Karasev A.V., Furutani N., Taniguchi M., Kano Y., Sato M., Natsuaki T., and T. Maoka (2013) Occurrence of Potato virus Y strain PVY^NTN in foundation seed potatoes in Japan, and screening for symptoms caused by PVY^NTN in 62 Japanese potato cultivars. Plant Pathology 62, 1157–1165.
• Chikh-Ali M. Said Omar A.M., and T. Natsuaki (2011) An infectious full-length cDNA clone of potato virus Y^NTN-NW, a recently reported strain of PVY causes potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease. Archives of Virology 156, 2039–2043.
• Chikh-Ali M., Maoka T., Natsuaki K.T., and T. Natsuaki (2010) The simultaneous differentiation of Potato virus Y strains including the newly described strain PVY^NTN–^NW by multiplex PCR assay. Journal of Virological Methods 165, 15-20.
• Chikh-Ali M., Maoka T., Natsuaki T., and K.T. Natsuaki (2010) PVY^NTN-NW, a novel recombinant strain of Potato virus Y predominating in potato fields in Syria. Plant Pathology 59, 31–41.

Book Chapters:

• Chikh-Ali, M. and Karasev, A.V., 2023. Virus diseases of potato and their control. In Potato Production Worldwide (pp. 199-212). Academic Press.
• Glais L., Chikh-Ali M., Karasev A.V. Kutnjak D. and C. Lecomme (2017) Detection and Diagnosis of Potato virus Y. In Lecomme C., et al (eds.) Potato virus Y: biodiversity, pathogenicity, epidemiology and management. Springer International Publishing
• Chikh-Ali M. and A.V. Karasev (2015) Potato Mosaic and Tuber Necrosis. In Tennant P. and Fermin G. (eds.) Virus Diseases of Tropical and Subtropical Crops. CAB International. pp 94-107.
• Chikh-Ali M., and Karasev A.V. (2015) Immunocapture-Multiplex RT-PCR for the Simultaneous Detection and Identification of Plant Viruses and Their Strains: Study Case, Potato Virus Y (PVY). In Lacomme C (ed.) Plant Pathology, Techniques and Protocols. Springer New York. pp 177-186.

Awards and Honors

• Postdoctoral Fellowship Award of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), April 2009-March 2011
• Full Scholarship for Graduate Studies by the Government of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT or Monbukagakusho), Japan, April 2003-2009
• Graduate Student Travel Award, Inoue Foundation for Science, Japan, August 2008