Dr Nga Tran
Research Fellow in Horticulture Science
Centre for Horticultural Science
Researcher biography
Nga is a plant pathologist wanting to make an impact for agriculture through research to improve our understanding of the pathogen biology and disease epidemiology. Her areas of expertise span fungal, bacterial and viral diseases of plants, with core skills and interests in etiology and epidemiology, diagnostics, population genetics, pathogen – vector interactions, and host resistance. New knowledge generated from Nga's research will facilitate effective and sustainable management of diseases, which in turn will increase food security and crop productivity, and improve the lives of subsistence farmers.
Publications
Journal Articles
Tran, Nga T., Campbell, Paul R., Crew, Kathleen S. and Geering, Andrew D. W. (2024). Molecular characterisation of a novel sadwavirus infecting cattleya orchids in Australia. Archives of Virology, 169 (3) 68, 68. doi: 10.1007/s00705-024-05980-1
Tran, Nga T., Teo, Ai Chin, Crew, Kathleen S., Thomas, John E., Campbell, Paul R. and Geering, Andrew D. W. (2022). Bermuda grass latent virus in Australia: genome sequence, sequence variation, and new hosts. Archives of Virology, 167 (5), 1317-1323. doi: 10.1007/s00705-022-05434-6
Crous, P. W., Osieck, E. R., Jurjevi, Z., Boers, J., Van Iperen, A. L., Starink-Willemse, M., Dima, B., Balashov, S., Bulgakov, T. S., Johnston, P. R., Morozova, O., Pinruan, U., Sommai, S., Alvarado, P., Decock, C. A., Lebel, T., McMullan-Fisher, S., Moreno, G., Shivas, R. G., Zhao, L., Abdollahzadeh, J., Abrinbana, M., Ageev, D., Akhmetova, G., Alexandrova, A., Altes, A., Amaral, A. G. G., Angelini, C., Antonin, ... Groenewald, J. Z. (2021). Fungal Planet description sheets: 1284-1382. Persoonia, 47, 178-374. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2021.47.06
Tran, Nga T., Teo, Ai Chin, Crew, Kathleen S., Campbell, Paul R., Thomas, John E. and Geering, Andrew D.W. (2021). Genome sequence and geographic distribution of a new nepovirus infecting Stenotaphrum secundatum in Australia. Virus Research, 305 198554, 198554. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198554
Thomas, John E., Raymond, Myriam, Tran, Nga T., Crew, Kathleen S., Teo, Ai Chin and Geering, Andrew D. W. (2021). Complete genome sequences and properties of Spartina mottle virus isolates from hybrid Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis). Plant Pathology, 70 (5), 1062-1071. doi: 10.1111/ppa.13357
Tran, Nga T., Teo, Ai Chin, Thomas, John E., Crew, Kathleen S. and Geering, Andrew D. W. (2020). Sugarcane mosaic virus infects Stenotaphrum secundatum in Australia. Australasian Plant Disease Notes, 15 (1) 41, 1-4. doi: 10.1007/s13314-020-00410-y
Tran, Nga T., Miles, Andrew K., Dietzgen, Ralf G., Shuey, Timothy A., Mudge, Stephen R., Papacek, Dan, Chandra, Kerri A. and Drenth, André (2020). Inoculum dynamics and infection of citrus fruit by Phyllosticta citricarpa. Phytopathology, 110 (10), PHYTO-02. doi: 10.1094/phyto-02-20-0047-r
Tran, N. T., McTaggart, A. R., Drenth, A., Shivas, R. G., Loch, D. S., Kruse, J. and Geering, A. D. W. (2020). Couch smut, an economically important disease of Cynodon dactylon in Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 49 (2), 87-94. doi: 10.1007/s13313-020-00680-1
Miles, Andrew K., Smith, Malcolm W., Tran, Nga T., Shuey, Timothy A., Dewdney, Megan M. and Drenth, Andre (2019). Identification of resistance to citrus black spot using a novel in-field inoculation assay. Hortscience, 54 (10), 1673-1681. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI14200-19
Tran, Nga T., Miles, Andrew K., Dietzgen, Ralf G. and Drenth, André (2019). Phyllosticta capitalensis and P. paracapitalensis are endophytic fungi that show potential to inhibit pathogenic P. citricarpa on citrus. Australasian Plant Pathology, 48 (3), 281-296. doi: 10.1007/s13313-019-00628-0
Tran, Nga T., Miles, Andrew K., Smith, Malcolm W., Dietzgen, Ralf G. and Drenth, Andre (2018). Pathogenicity of Phyllosticta citricarpa ascospores on citrus spp.. Plant Disease, 102 (7), 1386-1393. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-08-17-1331-RE
Tran, Nga T., Miles, Andrew K., Dietzgen, Ralf G. , Dewdney, Megan M. , Zhang, Ke, Rollins, Jeffrey A. and Drenth, Andre (2017). Sexual reproduction in the citrus black spot pathogen, Phyllosticta citricarpa. Phytopathology, 107 (6), 732-739. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-11-16-0419-R
Miles, Andrew Keith, Wright, Carole, Tran, Nga Thi, Shuey, Timothy Andrew, Drénth, Andre and Dewdney, Megan M. (2017). Does fungicide run-off from citrus delay leaf litter decomposition?. Citrus Research and Technology, 38 (1). doi: 10.4322/crt.icc044
Conference Papers
Tran, Nga T. , McTaggart, Alistair , Teo, Ai Chin , Persley, Denis , Thomas, John and Geering, Andrew (2022). Distribution and genetic diversity of sugarcane mosaic virus in turf grasses in Australia. Australasian Plant Virology Workshop, Melbourne, Australia, 5-7 December 2022.
Tran, N. T., Thomas, J. E. and Geering, A. D. W. (2021). Buffalo grass yellowing – an emerging threat to the Australian turf industry. Australasian Plant Pathology Conference , Online, 23-26 November 2021.
Crew, Kathy, Vance, Megan, Tran, Nga, Moradi, Mona and Thomas, John (2021). Better understanding of banana bunchy top disease. Australasian Plant Pathology Society, Online, 23-26 November 2021.
Tran, N. T., McTaggart, A. R., Drenth, A., Shivas, R. G., Loch, D. S. and Geering, A. D. W. (2019). Biology and epidemiology of smut (Ustilago cynodontis) in couch grass. Australasian Plant Pathology Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 25-28 November 2019.
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2019). Citrus black spot: Sex, lies and Milenex® tape. Citrus black spot: Sex, lies and Milenex® tape, Melbourne, Australia, 25-28 November 2019.
Tran, N. T., McTaggart, A. R., Drenth, A., Shivas, R. G., Loch, D. S. and Geering, A. D. W. (2019). Distribution of Ustilago cynodontis within couch grass plants. TropAg Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11-13 November 2019.
Tran, N. T. and Miles, A. K. (2019). Citrus black spot: Are ascospores more important than conidia?. Australasian Plant Pathology Society (APPS) Queensland Plant Pathology Seminar Series, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia, 21 October 2019.
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2017). Timing of infection of citrus fruit by the citrus black spot pathogen, Phyllosticta citricarpa. TropAg Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 20-22 November 2017.
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2017). Do ascospores play a role in the epidemiology of citrus black spot? . Science Protecting Plant Health Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 26-28 September 2017.
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2017). Citrus black spot: One hitchhiker you just might want to pick up. Citrus Technical Forum, Mildura, VIC, Australia, 1-2 March 2017.
Miles, A. K., Tran, N. T., Shuey, T. A. and Drenth, A. (2016). Does fungicide runoff from citrus delay leaf litter decomposition?. 13th International Citrus Congress, Foz do Iguacu, 18-23 September 2016. Brazil: International Society of Citriculture.
Miles, A. K., Smith, M. W., Tran, N. T., Shuey, T. A., Drenth, A. and Dewdney, M. (2016). Fruit inoculation studies with Phyllosticta citricarpa, the cause of citrus black spot. 13th International Citrus Congress, Foz Do Iguacu, Brazil, 18-23 September 2016. Brazil: Internation Society of Citriculture.
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2016). Citrus black spot: sexual reproduction provides new insights into an old problem. 13th International Citrus Congress, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, 18-23 September 2016. Brazil: International Society of Citriculture.
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2015). Citrus black spot: Can the good endophyte protect us from the bad pathogen?. TropAg Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 16-18 November 2015.
Miles, A. K., Shuey, T., Tran, N., Zhang, K., Jean, L., Drenth, A. and Dewdney, M. (2015). Seasonality of Phyllosticta spp. in citrus leaf litter. Australasian Plant Pathology Conference, Fremantle, WA, Australia, 14-16 September 2015.
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2015). Studies of sexual reproduction of Phyllosticta citricarpa, the causal agent of citrus black spot. Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference, Fremantle, WA, Australia, 14-16 September 2015.
Miles, A. K., Shuey, T. A., Tran, N. T., Zhang, K., Jean, L., Drenth, A. and Dewdney, M. (2015). Seasonality of Phyllosticta spp. in citrus leaf litter. 20th Australasian Plant Pathology Conference, Fremantle, Australia, 14-16 September 2015. Australia: Australasian Plant Pathology Society (APPS).
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2015). Citrus black spot: can the good endophyte protect us from the bad pathogen?. TropAg2015, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 16-18 November 2015. Australia: Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation.
Tran, N. T., Miles, A. K., Dietzgen, R. G. and Drenth, A. (2015). Studies of sexual reproduction of Phyllosticta citricarpa, the causal agent of citrus black spot. 20th Australasian Plant Pathology Conference, Fremantle, Australia, 14-16 September 2015. Australia: Australasian Plant Pathology Society.
Thesis
Tran, Nga (2018). Biology and epidemiology of citrus black spot (Phyllosticta citricarpa) in Australia. PhD Thesis, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.756
Generic Document
Miles, A. K., Tran, N. T. and Drenth, A. (2016). Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa on citrus. Australasian Plant Pathology Society (APPS).
Newspaper Articles
Tran, N. T. and Geering, A. D. W. (2020, 06 30). Project update: understanding buffalo yellowing Turf Industry Magazine 10-12.
Tran, N. T. and Geering, A. D. W. (2018, 08 09). Smut research: overcoming giggles to find an industry solution Turf Industry Magazine 12-13.
Miles, A. K., Tran, N. T., Shuey, T. A. and Drenth, A. (2015, 03 01). New international partnership takes on citrus black spot Australian Citrus News
Miles, A. K., Tran, N. T., Shuey, T. A. and Drenth, A. (2015, 03 01). New international partnership takes on citrus black spot Australian Citrus News 14-15.