Professor Giles Hardy
Director, Manager of Program 1

Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management
School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Murdoch University
Western Australia 6150

I find my role as an undergraduate teacher, a postgraduate supervisor and research scientist all extremely rewarding. I am deeply concerned about the maintenance of ecosystem function and health and seek to address my concerns by directing my research efforts towards plant diseases and how they impact on managed and natural ecosystems. I enjoy applying my research expertise and knowledge to my undergraduate teaching. This is an effective way to stimulate and encourage students to engage and explore areas of science they have not necessarily been exposed to previously.

My extensive interactions with industry in a range of research activities enables me to clearly indicate in my undergraduate teaching how what I teach is valuable and has applied outcomes. Using examples of relevance to every day issues in undergraduate teaching is an effective way of engaging students and ensuring enthusiasm for scholarship.

Research Synopsis

My main research interests are associated with the impact of diseases on ecosystem function and health. This is in managed (mining rehabilitation, horticultural, plantation forestry, agricultural) and natural ecosystems. My emphasis has been in four areas:

• The biology, ecology, pathology, genetics and control of Phytophthora cinnamomi in managed and natural ecosystems. More recently I have extended this interest to examine how the pathogen impacts indirectly on other ecosystem components, particularly the fauna.
• Plantation eucalypt health and possible threats to Australia' s eucalypts from the movement of new pathogens into Australia.  Plantation Paulownia health, identifying pathogens, determining factors influencing disease, and to establish appropriate methods of disease control.
• Native rural tree decline.
• Impacts of biotic & abiotic diseases on ecosystem function & health

My research funding, and postgraduate research students' activities reflect these four major research thrusts.

With respect to our Phytophthora research we have both national and international recognition. For example, I am now on the committee of the International Union of Forestry Organisations for ‘Phytophthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems’.  I have also been a Keynote speaker at numerous national & international conferences with regard Phytophthora research. We have established the Murdoch Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management and recently completed the contract for developing the Protocols for National Best Practice Management of Phytophthora and reviewing the National Threat Abatement Plan for Phytophthora in Australia.   
The project outputs are presented in a four-part document entitled Management of Phytophthora cinnamomi for Biodiversity Conservation in Australia (click the links below to view and download files - pdf format):

• Download Part 1 - A review of current management (part1.pdf - 2741 KB)
• Download Part 2 - National best practice guidelines (part2.pdf - 1351 KB)
• Download Appendix 1 (appendix1.pdf - 690 KB)
• Download Appendix 2 (appendix2.pdf - 1681 KB)
• Download Appendix 3 (appendix3.pdf - 1133 KB)
• Download Appendix 4 (appendix4.pdf - 856 KB)
• Download Part 3 - Risk assessment for threats to ecosystems, species and communities: A review (part3.pdf - 1893 KB)
• Download Part 4 - Risk assessment models for species, ecological communities and areas (part4.pdf - 948 KB)
  • Download Part 4 data spreadsheet (part4-spreadsheet.pdf - 58 KB)

We are key members of the CRC for Plant Biosecurity with three PhD students working on projects.

Impacts of plant disease on ecosystem function and health. Together with Dr Mike Craig, Dr Trish Fleming, Dr Barbara Wilson, Assoc Prof Bernie Dell, Assoc Prof Mike Calver, Dr Barbara Bowen, and a number of students we are looking at the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi and other pathogens on vertebrate and invertebrate fauna and on how the pathogen might be impacting on mycorrhizal fungi and mycophagy.

In mid 2005, I was one of a number of key researchers that were involved in the successful bid for a tender from Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage, for funding of four research projects over three years. The successful tender is for Research into natural and induced resistance in Australian native vegetation of Phytophthora cinnamomi and innovative methods to contain and/to eradicate within localised incursions in areas of high biodiversity in Australia. See links below to documents on DEH website.

1. Enhancing the efficacy of phosphite with the addition/supplementation of other chemicals such as those known to be involved in resistance - 2008
2. Does the physiological status of the plant at the time of spraying affect the efficacy of phosphite? - 2008
3. Eradication of Phytophthora cinnamomi from spot infections in native plant communities in Western Australia and Tasmania - 2008

Since, 1997 I have attracted 11 ARC grants working on different aspects of Phytophthora. Since 1993 I have trained 19 Honours and 18 PhD students in this research area, respectively.

In plantation health, together with Professor Bernie Dell and Dr. Treena Burgess we are establishing a unique research team with research interests that cover all aspects of tree health. These include nutrition, water use, pests and diseases. Our combination of skills is now placing us in a unique position in terms of providing research advice and skills in this rapidly growing global plantation tree crop. We are now core members of the CRC Forestry.

I have attracted together with my collaborators 4 ARC Grants on eucalyptus diseases and health and 1 ARC pending and I have  trained 9 and 12 PhD and Honours students in this area, respectively.

With regard to Rural Tree Declines we are working on Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephela) decline, marri (Corymbia calophylla) decline and rudis (E. rudis) decline. Together with a number of industries, the Department of Environment and Conservation and local government agencies we have an ARC Linkage to work on Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephela) decline. This project is multi-disciplinary and we have postdoctoral fellows (Dr. Paul Barber & Dr Katinka Ruthrof) and a number of PhD and Honours) students working on fire, plant pathogens, nutrition, mycorrhizas, insects, water relations and competition.

In 2008 we received funding for 5 years for the State funded Centre of Excellence for Climate Change and Woodland and Forest Health.  The 4 research programs in the Centre are being coordinated and run by over 40 Chief & partner investigators from  3 research partner organisations, 7collaborating national & international institutions as well as over 27 local collaborating industries.  The four programs are looking at -Climate change with regards to tree, woodland and forest declines; Decline ecology; Restoring Biodiversity Values and Policies and action for Woodland and Forest Restoration.

Our group interacts with Professor Mike Wingfield at the Pretoria University in South Africa. Professor Wingfield is the international expert on eucalypt pathology and an internationally recognised authority on fungal taxonomy. He runs the largest forest pathology programme in the world. Professor Wingfield has hosted five Murdoch students and Dr. Treena Burgess spends approximately 3 months a year in his laboratory.

Education and Qualifications:

• PhD Plant Pathology (UWA) 1989
• Honours (1st Class) Agricultural Science (UWA) 198

Membership of Professional Societies:

• British Mycological Society
• British Plant Pathology Society
• American Phytopathological Society
• Australian Mycological Society
• Australian Plant Pathology Society
• Plant Physiology Society (until 2000)

Click here for a comprehensive list of publications (pdf format)

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