
Dr. Ofir Degani’s Research Group
Dr. Ofir Degani completed his Ph.D., specializing in genetic engineering approaches in phytopathology, at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (Haifa, Israel). Dr. Degani carried out post-doctoral studies at the Migal – Galilee Research Institute (Israel) and is currently a research group leader of the phytopathology laboratory at this institute and a senior staff member at Tel-Hai College (Israel). His research is based on molecular, biochemical, and phytopathological approaches and focuses on the understanding and prevention of plant fungal diseases. His group has been leading the research in Israel on M. maydis, the agent of late wilt of corn. Additional soil fungal diseases that are currently the focus of Dr. Degani’s lab research are Fusarium verticillioides, the causal agent of maize stalk rot, Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal agent of charcoal rot, and Fusarium spp., the causal agents of onion (Allium cepa) basal rot.
Current ongoing research topics:
- Study the “plant disease triangle” - the combined influence of the host plant, the fungal pathogen, and the environment on plant diseases and crop protection.
- Chemical protection (using seed treatments, spraying, and dripline irrigation) of maize and other crops against fungal pathogens.
- Develop biological approaches to protect crops from soil diseases. This includes the use of biocontrol agents (fungi and bacteria), strengthening soil mycorrhizal networks (the soil microbiome), manipulating the plants’ natural endophytes (the plant microbiome), and enhancing the plants’ natural defense system.
- Investigate the interactions between phytopathogenic fungi and their combined influence on crop disease burst and severity.

Research plan and challenges
The growing trend of reducing pesticides’ use raises the need for alternative ways of coping with severe fungal diseases such as the late wilt of maize. Hence, we propose developing two environmentally friendly strategies to control maize late wilt disease, for which we have gained positive preliminary results. First, maintaining the continuity of soil mycorrhizal fungi between seasons has proven to be an essential factor in various field crops. Still, it has not yet been tested against the late wilt pathogen in Israel. The potential of strengthening soil mycorrhizal networks against the soil fungal pathogen has only now started to be revealed. The unique case of late wilt disease and the encouraging preliminary results provide an excellent opening stage and opportunity to investigate this control method. In order to do this, we will be required to:
- Repeat and establish the results using a greenhouse pot experiment over a full growth period
- Identify the mycorrhizal fungi involved
- Examine ways of strengthening the desired soil mycorrhizal networks
- Extend the research to field experiments
Similarly, in recent years we have conducted research with a new Trichoderma spp. isolates and achieved promising results. Consequently, we propose using the effective Trichoderma spp. or their extract in order to prevent the penetration and establishment of the M. maydis pathogen at the early growth period of maize. Thus we suggest using the late wilt controlling agents – Trichoderma isolates – and developing application methods to implement them. This goal will require several steps:
- Identifying the active compound/s in the Trichoderma spp. extract
- Examining ways of enhancing the secretion of these ingredients
- Applying the Trichoderma spp. hyphae or the extract and examining it in sprouts (up to the age of 40 days) under controlled conditions in a growth chamber
- Examining the Trichoderma spp. (extract and hyphae) seed coating against direct application of the fungi or their section to the soil under field conditions over a full growth period
We are now specializing in two important and severe corp diseases: cotton charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, and onion (Allium cepa) basal rot caused by Fusarium sp. The challenges of developing efficient and cost-effective strategies to reduce the diseases’ damages include:
- Study these pathogens and their interactions with the host, under different environmental conditions.
- Undersending the involvement of other fungal phytopathogens in the diseases’ outburst and damages.
- Develop a new research tool-kit to study those diseases.
- Search for new ways (chemical, biological, and agro-mechanical) to restrict those diseases’ harmful effects and prevent their spreading.

Education
Ph.D. 2005, Biology, Technion Institute of Technology, Israel
M.Sc. 2001, Biology, Technion Institute of Technology, Israel
Academic and research experience
- 2007 – Present – Principal Investigator and Research group leader, Plant Sciences, Molecular Phytopathology lab, MIGAL - Galilee Research Institute, Israel
- 2005 – 2007 – Postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Doron Goldberg, MIGAL - Galilee Research Institute, Israel
- 2006 – Senior lecturer and staff member, Tel-Hai Academic College, Israel
- 2001 – Senior lecturer and staff member, Ohalo academic College, Israel
Other activity and service
- 2008 – 2021– Headmaster of the Tel-Hai Science and Knowledge Center for the Gifted and Talented Pupils, the Israel Ministry of Education, the Pedagogical Administration, the Division for the Gifted and Talented Pupils, Israel
- 2014 – 2017 – Head of the North Israel Group of Centers for Gifted and Talented Children, the Israel Ministry of Education, the Pedagogical Administration, the Division for the Gifted and Talented Pupils, Israel

The subject of research is the Late wilt disease of maize unless otherwise indicated. 2006 - 2012 - Ohalo academic college (27,000 INS). 2007 - Israel Northern R&D (25,000 INS). 2008 - The Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael) (50,000 INS). 2009 - Israel Plant Council, Ministry of Agriculture (35,000 INS). 2010 - Israel Plant Council, Ministry of Agriculture (35,000 INS). 2011 - The Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael) (15,000 INS). 2012 - Israel Plant Council, Ministry of Agriculture (25,000 INS). 2013 - Israel Northern R&D (40,000 INS). 2014 - Israel Northern R&D (20,000 INS). 2015 – 2017 - Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Scientist (420,000 INS, leading scientist). 2017 - Migal - Galilee Research Institute (45,000 INS). 2017 - Netafim Ltd. Israel (8,000 INS). 2018 - Israel Organization of extensive cultivation (25,000 INS). 2018 - Israel Organization of Cotton (17,000 INS). Interactions between Magnaporthiopsis maydis and Macrophomina phaseolina, the Causes of Wilt Diseases in Maize and Cotton. 2018 - Migal - Galilee Research Institute (140,000 INS). 2018 - Israel Plant Council, Ministry of Agriculture (41,000 INS). Isolation and Identification of Fusarium spp., the Causal Agents of Onion (Allium cepa) Basal Rot in Northeastern Israel. 2019 - Israel Organization of Cotton (15,000 INS). Interactions between Magnaporthiopsis maydis and Macrophomina phaseolina, the Causes of Wilt Diseases in Maize and Cotton. 2019 - Israel Organization of extensive cultivation (25,000 INS). 2019 - Israel Plant Council, Ministry of Agriculture (8,000 INS). Isolation and Identification of Fusarium spp., the Causal Agents of Onion (Allium cepa) Basal Rot in Northeastern Israel. 2019 – 2021 - Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Scientist (82,000 INS). 2020 – ICA – Migal accelerator, Israel (100,000 INS). 2020 - Israel Organization of Cotton (20,000 INS). Biological control of Macrophomina phaseolina, the cotton charcoal rot disease causal agent. 2020 - Tel-Hai College, Israel, Science Relations Foundation, (20,000 INS). 2020 - Israel Plant Council, Ministry of Agriculture (10,500 INS). Chemical control of Fusarium spp., the Causal Agents of Onion (Allium cepa) Basal Rot. 2021 - Migal - Galilee Research Institute (40,000 INS). 2021 - CTS Group (14,000 INS). 2021 - Israel Plant Council, Ministry of Agriculture (18,000 INS). Chemical control of Fusarium spp., the Causal Agents of Onion (Allium cepa) Basal Rot. 2022 - Israel Organization of extensive cultivation (20,000 INS). 2022 - Israel Plant Council, Ministry of Agriculture (15,000 INS). Isolation and Identification of Fusarium spp., the Causal Agents of Onion (Allium cepa) Basal Rot in Northeastern Israel. 2022 - Israel Plant Council, Fruit Branch, Ministry of Agriculture (10,000 INS). Isolation and Identification of apple fruits fungal pathogens.
Scientific Publications
Pathogenic Interactions between Macrophomina phaseolina and Magnaporthiopsis maydis in Mutually Infected Cotton Sprouts
https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020255
Remote evaluation of maize cultivars susceptibility to late wilt disease caused by Magnaporthiopsis maydis
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-022-01039-9
Control Strategies to Cope with Late Wilt of Maize
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11010013
A Review: Late Wilt of Maize—The Pathogen, the Disease, Current Status, and Future Perspective
Early detection of soil-borne diseases in field crops via remote sensing
Crop Cycle and Tillage Role in the Outbreak of Late Wilt Disease of Maize Caused by Magnaporthiopsis maydis
https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7090706
Trichoderma asperellum Secreted 6-Pentyl-α-Pyrone to Control Magnaporthiopsis maydis, the Maize Late Wilt Disease Agent
doi:10.3390/biology10090897