معرفی
Soraya Bertioli is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia (UGA), affiliated with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She is also a member of the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics and part of the Graduate Program Faculty. Her research focuses on leveraging wild relatives of peanuts to enhance pest and disease resistance in cultivated varieties.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Plant Genetics, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom (1996)
- B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil (1990)
Research Interests:
Bertioli’s work centers on hybridizing wild diploid peanut species to generate resistant cultivars against diseases like late leaf spot, rust, and root-knot nematode. Her research spans three stages: creating allotetraploid hybrids, identifying genomic regions for resistance, and using marker-assisted backcrossing to develop improved cultivars. She also explores heat tolerance and photosynthetic resilience in wild and cultivated peanuts.
Recent Contributions:
Her recent publications address topics such as genome sequencing of fungal pathogens, QTL mapping for disease resistance, and the utilization of wild species like Arachis stenosperma for nematode resistance. She collaborates widely, contributing to projects funded by organizations like the Peanut Foundation and the USDA.
Awards and Recognition:
- 2024 UGA Non-tenure Track Faculty Research Excellence Award
- American Peanut Research and Education Award (2019)
Grants and Collaborations:
Bertioli leads projects funded by the Georgia Commodity Commission for Peanuts, the National Peanut Board, and Mars Incorporated, focusing on disease resistance, germplasm development, and sustainable peanut cultivation.
Labs and Teams:
She directs the Wild Peanut Lab, which integrates genetic, genomic, and agronomic approaches to improve peanut resilience. Her work supports global peanut industries through disease-resistant cultivar development.
