Victor Galea

Biography

I lecture in the field of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which is the integration of a range of control measures (cultural, physical, biological, chemical) for the management of pests (pathogens, weeds, insects and vertebrates) in cropping and conservation areas. My specialty is plant pathology. I also lecture in first year biology courses and microbiology and ecology units. I have been a supervisor to twenty three postgraduate students (five Masters level, twenty PhD) with seven currently active and the remainder having submitted their theses. I also supervise honours and coursework masters research students. My research is specifically in the field of Plant Pathology (the study of plant disease processes, the organisms that cause them and the development of strategies for their management). My past research projects have included sorghum ergot disease, root diseases of Geraldton wax flower, net & spot blotches of barley, fusarium wilt of bananas and coffee berry diseases among others. I have also conducted research on the beneficial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi of horticultural crops. I have also collaborated with Dr Elizabeth Minchinton (DPI Victoria) on various projects to develop disease forecasting systems for downy mildew in spring onions and lettuce as well as celery late blight in Victoria. I collaborate with other researchers working for the Queensland Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (QDAFF), various regional bodies and organisations in Qld and the Northern Territory and CSIRO. My current research interest is the development of bioherbicides to control invasive woody weeds focusing on weeds such as parkinsonia, prickly acacia, mimosa pigra and athel pine.

Research Interest

Plant and soil sciences