Argentina

Maria Virginia
Pedraza

phytopathology Agriculture Genetic improvement Pests y Diseases Rice

Biography

Agricultural Engineer (1994) Coordinator of the Rice Research Area.

Master of Science in Plant Production (1998), and Doctor in Agricultural Sciences with orientation in Phytopathology (2005), from the Faculty of Agrarian Sciences Balcarce, National University of Mar del Plata, Argentina.

She worked at the Balcarce Integrated Unit INTA-FCA UNMDP (UIB), from 1994 to 2003, as a researcher and university teacher within the framework of research grants from Conicet and UNMDP. Forming part of the Girasol Group of INTA and the Chair of Phytopathology of FCA-UNMDP, he has carried out epidemiological and integrated management studies Between 2000-2003, he was part of the Propapa-UIB Group, in charge of the Mycology and Bacteriology Laboratory, working on potato crop diseases, mainly in Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of “Late Blight” of potatoes. Through population studies of the pathogen and evaluation of potato genotypes, he attended INTA's Potato Genetic Improvement Program. In 2004, she competed for a position as Researcher at INTA's EEA Concepción del Uruguay, in which she continues. He has attended the Rice Genetic Improvement Program, between 2004 and 2011, characterizing the genotypes for their behavior against the Pyricularia oryzae fungus. In 2006, it started the line of work in biological control of stem and pod diseases in rice, with biocontroller bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas, and fungi Trichoderma spp.

Currently, she is the Coordinator of the Rice Research Area, and is part of the Research Commission of the EEA C. del Uruguay-INTA. He develops research work aimed at the integrated management of the main diseases of rice cultivation, using biological, chemical and cultural tools. Likewise, it carries out studies on the main pathogens that affect rice, both of current and quarantine importance for Argentina. In addition, it collaborates with studies on Pyricularia as a wheat pathogen, in collaboration with the INTA Wheat Genetic Improvement Program. He is the technical manager of the Phytopathology Laboratory of the EEA C. del Uruguay since 2004, which provides a phyto-disease diagnosis service.