The University of Western Australia
Assoc/Prof Emilio Ghisalberti
Associate Professor
Contact details
| Address | Chemistry The University of Western Australia (M313) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Phone | 6488 3174 |
| Fax | 6488 1005 |
| emilio.ghisalberti@uwa.edu.au |
Location
Room 108, Molecular and Chemical Sciences Building, Crawley campus
Major research interests
- Plant chemistry—synthesis
- Structure and biosynthesis of metabolites
- Studies of fungal metabolites
Qualifications
BSc PhD W.Aust.
Publications
Recent Publications
Marcello Pennacchio, Yana M. Syah, Emilio L. Ghisalberti and Elizabeth Alexander. (1997) Cardioactive Iridoid Glycosides from Eremophila species. Phytomedicine, 4, 325-330
M. Syah, E. L. Ghisalberti, B. W. Skelton and A. H. White. (1997) A New Class of Tricyclic Diterpenes from Eremophila georgei (Myoporaceae). Australian Journal of Chemistry, 50, 705-709
E. L. Ghisalberti. (1998) Biological and pharmacological activity of naturally occurring iridoids and secoiridoids. Phytomedicine, 157-173
S. Wang, E. L. Ghisalberti and T. J. Ridsdill-Smith. (1998) Bioactive Isoflavonols and Other Components from Trifolium subterraneum. J. Nat. Prod.,61, 508-510.
E. L. Ghisalberti. (1998) Ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of Dodonaea species. Fitoterapia, 69, 99-113.
K. Sivasithamparam and E. L. Ghisalberti. In Trichoderma and Gliocladium, Vol. 1, Basic Biology, Taxonomy and Genetics, Kubicek, C. P. and Harman, G, E. (Eds), Taylor and Francis, Chapter 7. (1998) Secondary Metabolism in Trichoderma and Gliocladium. Fitoterapia., pp 139-191.
S. Wang, T. J. Ridsdill-Smith and E. L. Ghisalberti. (1997) Role of isoflavonoids in resistance of subterranean clover trifoliates to the redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor Tucker (Acarina: Penthalidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 1998, 24, 2089-2100.
G. R. Flematti, E. L. Ghisalberti, K. W. Dixon, R. D. Trengove. (2004) A Compound from Smoke That Promotes Seed Germination. Science, 305, 977.
Marcello Pennacchio, Yana M. Syah, Emilio L. Ghisalberti and Elizabeth Alexander. (1997) Cardioactive Iridoid Glycosides from Eremophila species. Phytomedicine, 4, 325-330
M. Syah, E. L. Ghisalberti, B. W. Skelton and A. H. White. (1997) A New Class of Tricyclic Diterpenes from Eremophila georgei (Myoporaceae). Australian Journal of Chemistry, 50, 705-709
E. L. Ghisalberti. (1998) Biological and pharmacological activity of naturally occurring iridoids and secoiridoids. Phytomedicine, 157-173
S. Wang, E. L. Ghisalberti and T. J. Ridsdill-Smith. (1998) Bioactive Isoflavonols and Other Components from Trifolium subterraneum. J. Nat. Prod.,61, 508-510.
E. L. Ghisalberti. (1998) Ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of Dodonaea species. Fitoterapia, 69, 99-113.
K. Sivasithamparam and E. L. Ghisalberti. In Trichoderma and Gliocladium, Vol. 1, Basic Biology, Taxonomy and Genetics, Kubicek, C. P. and Harman, G, E. (Eds), Taylor and Francis, Chapter 7. (1998) Secondary Metabolism in Trichoderma and Gliocladium. Fitoterapia., pp 139-191.
S. Wang, T. J. Ridsdill-Smith and E. L. Ghisalberti. (1997) Role of isoflavonoids in resistance of subterranean clover trifoliates to the redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor Tucker (Acarina: Penthalidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 1998, 24, 2089-2100.
G. R. Flematti, E. L. Ghisalberti, K. W. Dixon, R. D. Trengove. (2004) A Compound from Smoke That Promotes Seed Germination. Science, 305, 977.
Current projects
Bioactive Metabolites from Eremophila species
The Eremophila genus contains over 300 species and subspecies some of which were regarded as important medicinal plants by the Australian Aboriginal people. The interest in Eremophila species arises from the fact that they produce a number of unique diterpenes, eg. eremolactone and serrulatane diterpenes. More recently, the cardioactive compounds verbascoside and geniposidic acid have been found in some Eremophila species. Other compounds present in these species, lignans and phenylethanoid metabolites have also been shown to have cardiotonic properties. This is a continuing research programme in which the phytochemical studies are carried out at UWA and the biological assays in collaboration with Curtin University.
Bioactive Fungal Metabolites
The identification of fungi which can suppress the growth of plant pathogens is the first step in developing natural pesticide formulations. In collaboration with the Soil Science group at UWA we have been investigating the metabolites produced by these beneficial fungi and their biological activity as antifungal agents and plant growth promoters. The fungal species Trichoderma is particularly efficient as a biocontrol agent and has been shown to produce, inter alia, the potent antifungal pyrone (1) and more complex compounds, eg. (2) which also have activity.
A more recent line of research is the investigation of metabolites produced by a number of soil-borne fungi that can control plant-parasitic nematodes. Some fungi have the ability to form traps to snare nematodes, whereas others simply produce nematocidal compounds. The chemical basis of these interactions is the subject of this research. In this work, we expect to isolate and chemically characterise many new compounds that may have potential as natural pesticides.
The chemical basis for resistance of legumes to insect pests
Crop and pasture legumes such as lupins, chickpea and subclover can be attacked by a number of insect pest which can decrease yields and even kill the plants. Considerable effort has been invested by plant breeders to identify those varieties from each crop plant that appear to have a natural resistance to insect pests. Our interest is the identification of the secondary metabolites that are responsible for the resistance. For example, varieties of sub-clover t show increased resistance to insect pests have been identified. A study of the metabolites produced by cotyledons of these varieties shows that resistant plants produce oct-1-en-3-one when the insects begin feeding. This compound is a good antifeedant and acts to discourage the insects from feeding on the plant. On the other hand, susceptible varieties produce significant quantities of 2E-hexenal when attacked by insects and this compound has been shown to attract more insect to the plant. Moreover, as these seedling become adult plants, a number of isoflavonoids accumulate in the plant and act as feeding deterrents. Several crop legumes and insect pests are under investigation. This research is conducted with the collaboration of the Entomology section of CSIRO.
The Eremophila genus contains over 300 species and subspecies some of which were regarded as important medicinal plants by the Australian Aboriginal people. The interest in Eremophila species arises from the fact that they produce a number of unique diterpenes, eg. eremolactone and serrulatane diterpenes. More recently, the cardioactive compounds verbascoside and geniposidic acid have been found in some Eremophila species. Other compounds present in these species, lignans and phenylethanoid metabolites have also been shown to have cardiotonic properties. This is a continuing research programme in which the phytochemical studies are carried out at UWA and the biological assays in collaboration with Curtin University.
Bioactive Fungal Metabolites
The identification of fungi which can suppress the growth of plant pathogens is the first step in developing natural pesticide formulations. In collaboration with the Soil Science group at UWA we have been investigating the metabolites produced by these beneficial fungi and their biological activity as antifungal agents and plant growth promoters. The fungal species Trichoderma is particularly efficient as a biocontrol agent and has been shown to produce, inter alia, the potent antifungal pyrone (1) and more complex compounds, eg. (2) which also have activity.
A more recent line of research is the investigation of metabolites produced by a number of soil-borne fungi that can control plant-parasitic nematodes. Some fungi have the ability to form traps to snare nematodes, whereas others simply produce nematocidal compounds. The chemical basis of these interactions is the subject of this research. In this work, we expect to isolate and chemically characterise many new compounds that may have potential as natural pesticides.
The chemical basis for resistance of legumes to insect pests
Crop and pasture legumes such as lupins, chickpea and subclover can be attacked by a number of insect pest which can decrease yields and even kill the plants. Considerable effort has been invested by plant breeders to identify those varieties from each crop plant that appear to have a natural resistance to insect pests. Our interest is the identification of the secondary metabolites that are responsible for the resistance. For example, varieties of sub-clover t show increased resistance to insect pests have been identified. A study of the metabolites produced by cotyledons of these varieties shows that resistant plants produce oct-1-en-3-one when the insects begin feeding. This compound is a good antifeedant and acts to discourage the insects from feeding on the plant. On the other hand, susceptible varieties produce significant quantities of 2E-hexenal when attacked by insects and this compound has been shown to attract more insect to the plant. Moreover, as these seedling become adult plants, a number of isoflavonoids accumulate in the plant and act as feeding deterrents. Several crop legumes and insect pests are under investigation. This research is conducted with the collaboration of the Entomology section of CSIRO.
Research profile
