Research interests

• Surveys and diagnosis of plant virus diseases
• Ecology of plant viruses and arthropod vectors
• Disease resistance and control in cool season crops and pastures
• Phytophthora and other root diseases of legume crops

Background

Dr Schwinghamer joined NSW Department of Agriculture* in Sydney in 1980 after doing postgraduate work on plant virus replication.  From 1980 to 1985 he conducted diagnosis and surveys of viroid diseases of citrus and potato and he served twice as FAO consultant on coconut viroids in the Philippines.

For the past 25 years Dr. Schwinghamer has worked at Tamworth Agricultural Institute and had research, diagnostic, and advisory responsibilities for diseases of grain, oilseed, and pasture crops.  His focus is food legumes including chickpea, faba bean, and pea and virus and phytophthora diseases in particular. He has worked extensively with the chickpea breeding program at Tamworth in selecting disease resistance. He has provided control recommendations for NSW growers annually and interstate growers periodically. He collaborates with researchers in Tasmania, Queensland, USA, Syria, United Kingdom, and Germany and has had major funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation. Recently, he initiated work on luteoviruses that cause barley yellow dwarf disease of cereals grown for grain and fodder in New South Wales.

*NSW Department of Primary Industries was formed on July 1, 2004 through an amalgamation of NSW Agriculture (formerly Department of Agriculture), NSW Fisheries, State Forests of NSW and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. (Hons) Australian National University (Biochemistry Department) 1972
• Ph.D. University of Adelaide (Biochemistry Department) 1977
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Davis (Plant Pathology Department) 1977-1980

Current projects

• Identification and ecology of major viruses, vectors, and reservoir hosts
• Resistance to viruses in chickpea
• Assessment of losses from viruses in food and forage legumes and brassicas
• Strains, biotypes, and pathotype distinctions in Beet western yellows virus, Soybean dwarf virus, Turnip mosaic virus and barley yellow dwarf viruses
• Review and extension of research on food legume diseases

Recent publications

Schwinghamer MW, Larsen RC (2011) Viruses reported to infect chickpea and/or lentil naturally (and ten other sections authored or co-authored by MW Schwinghamer).  In 'Compendium of chickpea and lentil diseases and pests'. (Eds W Chen, HC Sharma and FJ Muehlbauer) pp. 73-76. (APS Press: St. Paul, MN, USA)

Schwinghamer MW, Thomas JE, Schilg MA, Parry JN, Dann EK, Moore KJ, Kumari SG (2010) Mastreviruses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and other dicotyledonous crops and weeds in Queensland and northern New South Wales, Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology 39, 551-561.

Thomas JE, Parry JN, Schwinghamer MW, Dann EK (2010) Two novel mastrevirus species from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Australia. Archives of Virology 155, 1777-1788.

Schwinghamer M, Knights T, Moore K (2009) Virus control in chickpea--special considerations. Australian Pulse Bulletin PA 2009 #10, http://www.pulseaus.com.au/pdf/Virus%20Contol%20in%20Chickpea.pdf?zoom_highlight=Virus+control+in+chickpea [PDF].

Schwinghamer MW, Nicholas AH, Schilg MA (2009) Three aphid vectors of faba bean (Vicia faba) viruses in northern New South Wales and occurrence of Acyrthosiphon pisum-transmitted isolates of Soybean dwarf virus. Australasian Plant Pathology 38:262-269.

Knights, EJ, Southwell RJ, Schwinghamer MW, and Harden S. (2008) Resistance to Phytophthora medicaginis Hansen and Maxwell in wild Cicer species and its use in breeding root rot resistant chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59:383-387.

Schwinghamer MW, Thomas JE, Parry JN, Schilg MA, and Dann EK (2007) First record of natural infection of chickpea by Turnip mosaic virus. Australasian Plant Disease Notes 2:41-43.

Schwinghamer MW, Schilg MA, Thomas JE, Parry JN, Dann EK, Bambach RW, McCorkell BE, Holland JF, and Hind-Lanoiselet T (2006) Turnip mosaic virus in cool season field crops in northern New South Wales. In 7th Australasian Plant Virology Workshop, 8-11 November, 2006, Rottnest Island, Perth, Western Australia, p. 51.

Thomas JE, Schwinghamer MW, Parry JN, Sharman M, Schilg MA, and Dann EK (2004) First report of Tomato spotted wilt virus in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology 33: 597-599.

Schwinghamer MW, Thomas JE, Parry JN, Schilg MA, Sharman M, and Dann EK (2004) Etiology of virus-like tip wilting in chickpeas. In 6th Australasian Plant Virology Workshop, 30th August - 2nd September, Sea World Nara Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, p.32.

Parry JN, Thomas JE, Dann EK, Schwinghamer MW, Kumari S, and Schilg MA (2004) Three novel mastreviruses from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Australia. In 6th Australasian Plant Virology Workshop, 30th August - 2nd September, Sea World Nara Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, p.33.

Hertel K, Schwinghamer M, and Bambach R (2004) Virus diseases in canola and mustard. Agnote DPI 495, Agdex 144/10.: NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange 2800.

Schwinghamer M, Schilg M, Moore K, Kumari S, Srivastava M, Wratten K, Knights E, Bambach R, and Southwell R (2003) The virus situation in chickpea, faba bean, and canola. In Update of research in progress at the Tamworth Agricultural Institute 2002. Agdex 100/005, edited by R. Martin, pp. 44-47: NSW Agriculture. 222 pp.

Wurst M, Hawthorne W, Nikandrow A, Ramsey M, Bretag T, Davidson J, Gilbert R, MacLeod W, Murray G, Panagiotopoulos K, and Schwinghamer M (2002) Winter pulse disorders: the ute guide. Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA).

Schwinghamer MW, and Schilg MA (2002) Investigations on virus disease of winter pulse crops in northern NSW. In Update of research in progress at the Tamworth Centre for Crop Improvement 2001 Agdex 100/005, edited by R. Martin, p. 44: NSW Agriculture.

Holland J, Schwinghamer M, and Nicholas A (2002) Canola and mustard in northern NSW. In National Disease and Insect Pests of Canola Workshop, Charles Sturt University, Wagga, NSW. 27 August 2002: The Canola Association of Australia.

Schwinghamer MW, Johnstone GR, and Johnston-Lord CF (1999) First records of bean leafroll luteovirus in Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology 28:260.

Schwinghamer MW, Southwell RJ, Marcellos H, Moore KJ, and Alston CL (1999) Viruses and resistance in pulses in northern New South Wales. In 15th Meeting of the International Working Group on Legume Viruses, Fremantle, Western Australia, August 15-17 1999, edited by R. A. C. Jones, p. 21: CLIMA c/- The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6907.

Carter J, Schwinghamer M, Bretag T, Henry F, and Ramsey M (1997) Field Guide to Chickpea Disorders in Australia. Available from VIDA, Private Bag 260, Horsham VIC 3401, Australia.

Schwinghamer MW, Moore KJ, Southwell RJ, Marcellos H, Bambach RW, and Knights EJ (1997) Field inoculation with bean leafroll luteovirus to identify resistant faba beans and chickpeas. In International Food Legume Research Conference III.  Adelaide, Australia,  22-26 September, 1997.

Schwinghamer MW (1996) Contributions on virus disease in pulses. In Grain Legume Handbook Update 1996, edited by Grain Legume Handbook Committee: PO Box 90, Riverton SA 5412, Australia.

Schwinghamer MW (1995) Phytophthora root rot on chickpeas. In Paper presented to National Pulses Workshop, Plant Research Centre?Waite Research Precinct, Adelaide, South Australia, 29-30 March 1995: South Australian Research and Development Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Schwinghamer MW (1995) Luteoviruses?a threat to pulses in New South Wales. In Paper presented to National Pulses Workshop, Plant Research Centre?Waite Research Precinct, Adelaide, South Australia, 29-30 March 1995.

Schwinghamer MW, Southwell RJ, Bambach RW, Heap EW, and Welsby SM (1993) Baiting with chickpea to quantify Phytophthora medicaginis in fallowed soil. (Abstr.). In Australasian Plant Pathology Society 9th Biennial Conference, Hobart, Tas., 4-8 July, 1993.

Schwinghamer MW (1993) Grower guide to identification of chickpea diseases in northern NSW. NSW Agriculture, Orange 2800.

Ferris IG, Pederson RN, Schwinghamer MW, and Haigh BM (1992) Sulfonylurea herbicides in cereal farming systems- detection, persistence, and impact. In Proceedings of national workshop on subsoil constraints to root growth and high soil water and nutrient use by plants. Tanunda, South Australia, Aug 30-Sept 2 1992, edited by D. Reuter, pp. 57-67.

Moore KJ, Southwell RJ, Schwinghamer MW, and Murison RD (1992) A rapid shake-elution procedure for quantifying root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus thornei) in chickpea and wheat. Australasian Plant Pathology 21:70-78.

Fahy PC, Schwinghamer MW, Moore KJ, Bradley JK, and Southwell RJ (1990) Bacterial leaf scorch, a new disease of mung bean and cowpea. In NSW Agriculture & Fisheries, Plant Pathology Branch, Plant Disease Survey (1986-87), pp. 11-12.

Schwinghamer MW, Moore KJ, and Southwell RJ (1990) Diseases of chickpea in northern New South Wales. In NSW Agriculture & Fisheries, Plant Pathology Branch, Plant Disease Survey (1986-87), pp. 7-10.

Schwinghamer MW, and Broadbent P (1987) Association of viroids with a graft-transmissible dwarfing symptom in Australian orange trees. Phytopathology 77:205-209.

Schwinghamer MW, and Broadbent P (1987) Detection of viroids in dwarfed orange trees by transmission to chrysanthemum. Phytopathology 77:210-215.

Schwinghamer MW, and Scott GR (1986) Survey of New South Wales potato crops for potato spindle tuber viroid with use of a 32P-DNA probe. Plant Disease 70:774-776.

Schwinghamer MW, and Scott GR (1984) Incidence of potato spindle tuber viroid in New South Wales. Australasian Plant Pathology 13:18-19.

Schwinghamer MW, and Conroy RJ (1983) A viroid similar to potato spindle tuber viroid in the New South Wales potato breeder's collection. Australasian Plant Pathology 12:4-6.

Schwinghamer MW, and Shepherd RJ (1980) Formaldehyde-containing slab gels for analysis of denatured, tritium-labeled RNA. Anal. Biochem 103:426-434.

Schwinghamer MW, and Symons RH (1977) Translation of the four major RNA species of cucumber mosaic virus in plant and animal cell-free systems and in toad oocytes. Virology 79:88-108.

Schwinghamer MW (1977) Separation and in vitro translation of the four major species of virion RNA of cucumber mosaic virus.  Ph. D. Thesis. In Department of Biochemistry, p. 115 pages. Adelaide, Australia: University of Adelaide.

Schwinghamer MW, and Symons RH (1975) Fractionation of cucumber mosaic virus RNA and its translation in a wheat embryo cell-free system. Virology 63:252-262.

Kemp DJ, Schwinghamer MW, and Rogers GE (1974) Translation of pure feather keratin mRNA in a wheat embryo cell-free system. Mol. Biol. Reports 1:441-446.

Professional associations and activities

• Member, Australasian Plant Pathology Society (since 1980)
• Member, American Phytopathological Society (since 1985)
• Member, International working Group on Legume and Vegetable Viruses (since 1994)

Fields of Research

• 070308 Crop and Pasture Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds)
• 060506 Virology
• 060704 Plant Pathology

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Food legumes, chickpea, faba bean, pulses
• Plant virus, plant virology, vectors
• Phytophthora
• Root disease, soil-borne disease
• Brassica, canola, mustard
• Resistance, control