Funded Research Projects (2005-2014)

1. Management of diseases caused by whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses

• 1.1. Development of tomatoes with combined resistance to Tomato yellow leaf curl virus(TYLCV) using both virus-derived resistance and molecular-assisted breeding.
  • With Vidavski S (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel), Lapidot M (Volcani Center, Israel), Maxwell D and Nakhla M (University of Wisconsin at Madison, USA), Mazyad H and Shalaby M (Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt), Iraqi N (Bethlehem University, Palestinian Authority), Anfoka G (Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan), Sedegui M (National Agronomic Research Institute, Rabat, Morocco).
  • Funded by the US AID-CDR Middle East Research and Cooperation Program (2003-2009).
• 1.2. Development of tomato breeding lines with resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum and begomoviruses for Guatemala and Central America
  • With Mejia L (University of San Carlos, Guatemala City, Guatemala), Vidavski F (Tomatech Co, Israel), Lavi U and Tsror L (ARO, Israel), Scott JW (University of Florida, USA), Hanson P, Green S, Graham D and Wang JF (AVRDC, Taiwan), and Maxwell D (University of Wisconsin at Madison, USA).
  • Funded by the US AID CDR (2006-2010).
• 1.3. Identification of the whitefly-transmitted geminivirus complexes affecting cassava production in the southern regions of Africa and development of cassava resistant lines.
  • With Rey C and Gray M (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa), N. Cossa (Agriculture Research Institute, Maputo, Mozambique) and Brown J (University of Arizona, Tucson, USA).
  • Funded by the US AID-CDR (2004-2011).
• 1.4. Classical and molecular-assisted breeding of tomatoes resistant to Tomato curly stunt virus(ToCSV) and related viruses for small-scale farmers in South Africa and Mozambique
  • With Rey C (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa), Pietersen G (Agricultural Research center, Pretoria, South Africa), Mondjana A (Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique).
  • Funded by the US AID-CDR (2007-2012).
• 1.5. Development of tomato with multi-resistances to Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, salinity, drought and heat.
  • With Lapidot M and Levine I (Israel), Mazyad M (Egypt), Anfoka G (Jordan), Iraqi N (Palestinian Authority), Fakhfakh H (Tunisia).
  • Funded by the US AID-CDR Middle East Research and Cooperation Program (2010-2015).
• 1.6. The molecular basis of resistance to Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in tomato
  • With Schaller A (Germany), Anfoka G (Jordan) and Iraqi N (Palestinian Authority).
  • Funded by the DFG Tri-lateral Program (2012-2014).
• 1.7. Deciphering the gene network sustaining tomato resistance to Tomato yellow leaf curl virus
  • Funded by the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture (2013-2015).
• 1.8. A role for heat shock protein 70 in localization, transport and expression of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in tomato plants and in the virus insect vector
  • Funded by the Israeli Science Foundation (2013-2015).
  • With Gorovits R (Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem).

2. Management of other plant viruses

• 2.1. Microarray-based detection of plant viral and viral-like pathogens
  • With Barba M (Plant Pathology Research Institute, Rome, Italy), Hadidi A (USDA, MD, USA), Caglayan K (Mustafa Kemal University, Antakya, Turkey), Mazyad H (Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt), Anfoka G (Al-Balqa' Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan).
  • Funded by NATO Science for Peace Program (2006-2009).
• 2.2. Monitoring of cereal virus and virus-like diseases for prevention through regional detection and quarantine systems
  • With Zeidan M (QRC-Al- Qasemi College, and Israeli Ministry of Agriculture), AboulAta EA (Plant Pathology Research Institute, ARC, Giza, Egypt), Anfoka G (Al-Balqa' Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan).
  • Funded by the US AID-CDR Middle East Research and Cooperation Program (2008-2013).

3. Functional genomics of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

• 3.1. Functional genomics characterization of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci begomovirus interaction: an EST and array-based transcript profiling approach.
  • With R. Shatters and C. McKenzie (USDA, ARS, USHRL, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA), and J. Brown (The University of Arizona, Tucson, USA)
  • Funded by the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD) (2003-2007).
• 3.2. Identification of genes involved in circular transmission of begomoviruses in whiteflies
  • With H, Ghanim M (Israel), and Winter S (Germany)
  • Funded by The German Israeli Foundation for Research and Development (GIF) (2008- 2011)
• 3.3. Dissection of whitefly-geminivirus interactions at the transcriptomic, proteomic and cellular levels
  • With Ghanim M (Israel), Cicero J, Brown J (USA)
  • Funded by The United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD) (2008-2011)
• 3.4. Comparative genomics of virus circulative transmission by two Homopteran insect pests to agriculture, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae
  • With Ghanim M
  • Funded by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) (2008-2010)
• 3.5. Blocking begomovirus transmission to plants by silencing genes of their whitefly vector
  • With Liu S-S (Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)
  • Funded by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) (2013-2016)

4. Environmental concerns

4.1. Alleviation of deleterious effects of extreme heat on tomato cultures by inoculation with virus: biochemical and genetic basis.

• With Gorovits R (HUJI Israel), Anfoka G (Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan). 

• Funded by the US AID-CDR Middle East Research and Cooperation Program (2017-2020).

4.2. Irrigation of agricultural crops with reclaimed wastewater: effects on soil, plant environment, yield and quality.

• With Chefetz B (HUJI, Israel), Khedr A (ARC, Giza, Egypt), Anfoka G (Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan). 
• Funded by the US AID-CDR Middle East Research and Cooperation Program (2018-2021).

4.3. Laying the basis for a joint national policy to promote safe and productive use of irrigation with treated wastewater: Appraisal of risks to agricultural crops and to the environment in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

• With Chefetz B (HUJI, Israel), Ziad A (Al-Quds Public Health Society, PNA).
• Funded by Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, via The Hebrew University Netherlands Association (HUNA) (2018- 2020)

4.3. An electronic shield to protect tomato and other crops from whitefly infestation.

• With Bitton N (BTA, Israel).
• Funded by Yissum (Agri-innovation) (2012-2020).