Dr Alexandra Schlenzig

Senior Plant Pathologist,
Team Leader Horticultural Pathology

Telephone Number
+44(0)131 244 8937

Email Address
alexandra.schlenzig@sasa.gsi.gov.uk

  

 

Research interests/Areas of expertise

  • Diagnosis of horticultural plant diseases using molecular, serological and classical techniques
  • Risk assessments, surveillance planning and outbreak management for quarantine and regulated non-quarantine diseases
  • Developing and evaluating disease testing methods
  • Identification, management and epidemiology of Phytophthora diseases
  • Susceptibility testing for Potato Wart Disease
  • Soft fruit diseases

Biography

  • Joined SASA in 2002.
  • 2000-2002: Postdoctoral research scientist, Syngenta Crop Protection, Switzerland. Genotyping of Phytophthora infestans (Potato Late Blight), molecular studies into fungicide resistance of Septoria tritici (Leaf blotch disease on wheat).
  • 1998-2000: Postdoctoral research scientist in Forest Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. Development of PCR based detection and identification methods for Phytophthora diseases on forest trees.
  • 1994-1997: PhD project on Phytophthora infestans, Technical University of Munich
Publications
van de Vossenberg B, Westenberg M, Adams I, Afanasenko O, Besheva A, Boerma M, Choiseul J, Dekker T, Flath K, van Gent-Pelzer M et al..  In Press.  Euphresco Sendo: An international laboratory comparison study of molecular tests for Synchytrium endobioticum detection and identification. European Journal of Plant Pathology.
Schlenzig A, Roberts AMI, Clark SS, Campbell RB.  2017.  The susceptibility of selected conifer foliage against infection with Phytophthora lateralis. Forest Pathology. 47(3):e12333.
Schlenzig A, Purser E, Perez-Sierra A.  2016.  First finding of Phytophthora foliorum in the United Kingdom. New Disease Reports. 34(2):2.
Chard J, Monger W, Highet F, Schlenzig A, Kenyon DM, Pickup J.  2016.  Update on Plant Health. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2016. :191-196.
Jung T, al et, Schlenzig A.  2016.  Widespread Phytophthora infestations in European nurseries put forest, semi-natural and horticultural ecosystems at high risk of Phytophthora diseases. Forest Pathology. 46(2):134–163.
Elliot M, Schlenzig A, Harris CM, Meagher R, Green S.  2015.  An improved method for qPCR detection of three Phytophthora spp. in forest and woodland soils in northern Britain. Forest Pathology. 45(6):537–539.
Sambles C, Schlenzig A, O'Neill P, Grant M, Studholme DJ.  2015.  Draft genome sequences of Phytophthora kernoviae and Phytophthora ramorum lineage EU2 from Scotland. Genomics Data. 6:193–194.
Schlenzig A, Campbell R, Chard J.  2015.  Phytophthora species infecting hardy ornamentals in nurseries and the managed environment in Scotland. Journal of Phytopathology. 163(7-8):686-689.
Schlenzig A, Campbell R, Eden R.  2014.  First report of Phytophthora lateralis on Chamaecyparis pisifera. New Disease Reports. 29:15.
Mulholland V, Schlenzig A, MacAskill GA, Green S.  2013.  Development of a quantitative real-time PCR assay for the detection of Phytophthora austrocedrae, an emerging pathogen in Britain. Forest Pathology. 43(6):513–517.
Schlenzig A, Cooke D.  2013.  Genetic diversity of Phytophthora ramorum in nursery trade and managed environment in Scotland. Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Fifth Science Symposium. :33-39.
Cooke D, Purse BV, Searle K, Schlenzig A, Elliot M, Jennings P, Squires J, Randall E.  2013.  Phytophthora: understanding the threat to horticulture, forestry and natural ecosystems in Scotland.
Green S, Brasier CM, Schlenzig A, McCracken A, MacAskill GA, Wilson M, Webber JF.  2013.  The destructive invasive pathogen Phytophthora lateralis found on Chamaecyparis lawsoniana across the UK. Forest Pathology. 43(1):19–28.
Elliot M, Meagher TR, Harris C, Searle K, Purse BV, Schlenzig A.  2013.  The epidemiology of Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae at two historic gardens in Scotland. Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Fifth Science Symposium. :23-32.
Chard J, Nisbet C, Fraser K, Goodfellow S, James C, Monger W, Schlenzig A, Pickup J, Jeffries CJ.  2012.  Safeguarding the health of potatoes in Scotland. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2012. :207-214.PDF icon Chard-Safeguarding-the-health-of-potatoes-in-Scotland-CPNB-2012.pdf (77.15 KB)
Schlenzig A.  2011.  A duplex PCR method for the simultaneous identification of Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae. EPPO Bulletin. 41(1):27-29.
Schlenzig A, Campbell R, Mulholland V.  2011.  Thuja occidentalis: a new host for Phytophthora lateralis. New Disease Reports. 24:8.
Schlenzig A, Chard J.  2010.  Examination of latent infection in raspberry canes with Phytophthora rubi and P. idaei and transmission in micropropagation. EPPO Bulletin. 40(2):213-218.
Schlenzig A.  2009.  Identification of Phytophthora fragariae var. rubi by PCR. Plant Pathology : Techniques and Protocols. 508:161-169.
Schlenzig A.  2008.  An update on Potato Wart disease. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2008. :211-215.
Schlenzig A.  2008.  Phytophthora ramorum in Scotland - is it all over? Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Third Science Symposium. :443-446.
Schlenzig A.  2008.  Raspberry root rot control in the Scottish raspberry certification scheme. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 39. 39:165-167.
Schlenzig A.  2006.  Phytophthora ramorum: The situation in Scotland. EPPO Bulletin. 36(2):380-382.
Schlenzig A, Chard J.  2005.  Comparison of baiting method and PCR for the detection of Phytophthora fragariae var. rubi in certified raspberry stocks. EPPO Bulletin. 35(1):87-91.
Schlenzig A.  2005.  First report of Phytophthora inflata on nursery plants of Rhododendron spp., Gaultheria shalon and Vaccinium vitis-idaea in Scotland. Plant Pathology. 54(4):582.
Schlenzig A, Chard J.  2005.  Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death). Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Scientific Review 2000-2003. :49.
Schlenzig A.  2005.  Root Rot Survey in certified Raspberry stocks. Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Scientific Review 2000-2003. :50-51.
Schlenzig A.  2005.  Working with the Sudden Oak Death Pathogen. Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Scientific Review 2000-2003. :53.
Beales PA, Schlenzig A, Inman AJ.  2004.  First report of Ramorum bud and leaf blight (Phytophthora ramorum) on Syringa vulgaris in the UK. Plant Pathology. 53(4):525.
Jung T, Blaschke M, Schlenzig A, Osswald W, Gulder H-J.  2003.  Phytophthora disease of alders in Bavaria: Extent of damage, mode of spread and management strategies. Phytophthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems : 2nd International IUFRO Working Party 7.02.09 Meeting, Albany, W. Australia 30th Sept.-5th Oct 2001. :226-234.
Knapova G, Schlenzig A, Gisi U.  2002.  Crosses between isolates of Phytophthora infestans from potato and tomato and characterisation of F1 and F2 progeny for phenotypic and molecular markers. Plant Pathology. 51(6):698-709.
Brummer M, Arend M, Fromm J, Schlenzig A, Osswald WF.  2002.  Ultrastructural changes and immuno-cytochemical localization of the elicitin Quercinin in Quercus robur L. roots infected with Phytophthora quercina. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology. 61(2):109-120.
Nechwatal J, Schlenzig A, Jung T, Cooke DEL, Duncan JM, Osswald WF.  2001.  A combination of baiting and PCR techniques for the detection of Phytophthora quercina and P.citricola in soil samples from oak stands. Forest Pathology. 31(2):85-97.
Sierotzki H, Schlenzig A, Wullschleger J, Windass J, Stanger C, Burbridge J, Cleere S, Gisi U.  2001.  Cytochrome b genes in fungi: Phylogenetic relationships and a mutation for QoI resistance. 13th International Reinhardsbrunn Symposium on Modern Fungicides and Antifungal Compounds .
Osswald WF, Jung T, Nechwatal J, Schlenzig A, Fleischmann F.  2001.  Significance of Phytophthora and Pythium for oak, alder, and spruce decline. Journal of Forest Science. 47:96-103.
Schlenzig A, Nechwatal J, Jung T, Cooke DEL, Duncan JM, Osswald WF.  2000.  Detection of Phytophthora quercina and Phytophthora citricola in field soil samples and in infected baiting leaves with PCR and specific primers. Proceedings of the international meeting on Phytophthoras in forest and wildland ecosystems, Grand Pass (USA), Sept 1999.
Poster 137 (Eds.: Hansen EM, Sutton W)
Schlenzig A, Habermeyer J, Zinkernagel V.  1999.  Serological detection of latent infection with Phytophthora infestans in potato stems. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection. 106(3):221-230.
Schlenzig A, Habermeyer J.  1998.  Is information on latent infection and sporangial movement of Phytophthora infestans in potato crops useful in support of forecasting systems? Proceedings of the workshop on the European network for development of an integrated control strategy of potato late blight . :40-48.