May 2026 AMS virtual seminar: Ellie Fajer, on fungal endophytes vs kauri dieback!
- ausmycsoc
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
We invite you to attend our upcoming AMS virtual seminar. This month, we're delighted to feature Ellie Fajer, a Master’s student in Biosecurity and Conservation at the University of of Auckland.
Can fungal endophytes help to combat kauri dieback?
Ellie Fajer
Biosecurity and Conservation,
University of Auckland
Thursday, 28 May 2026
12 pm (AEST) / 2 pm (NZST)
Summary
Globally, plant pathogens present a critical threat to forests and natural ecosystems. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Phytophthora agathidicida is spreading across endemic kauri (Agathis australis) forests, causing widespread kauri dieback. To combat pervasive plant diseases, certain fungal endophytes have been investigated for their ability to bolster their host plant’s resistance to pathogens. However, little is known about naturally-occurring fungal communities that associate with kauri trees, and how they may interact with P. agathidicida. Further, questions remain on how kauri dieback control efforts, specifically the application of phosphite fungicide treatments, may impact kauri fungal communities.
For my MSc thesis, I combined culture-based and high throughput sequencing-based methods to evaluate how kauri root-associated fungal endophytes can inhibit Phytophthora pathogens and how phosphite treatments may affect the fungal communities associated with kauri. Ultimately, my work highlights the importance of incorporating microbial research in kauri dieback management to ensure effective and sustainable solutions.
About Ellie
Ellie recently completed a Fulbright Research Fellowship and master’s degree at the University of Auckland under the supervision of Maj Padamsee and Bruce Burns. For her master’s research, Ellie investigated how kauri fungal endophytes could help combat kauri dieback disease, and how phosphite applications could impact kauri microbial communities. Ellie is excited to continue her mycological journey through pursuing a PhD at Harvard University researching how multiple global change factors affect mycorrhizal ecosystem functions.
Check out Ellie's LinkedIn:
