Yitzhak Spiegel Ph.D.

Yitzhak Spiegel
Division of Nematology (Retired 2016)
ARO, Volcani Center
Rishon LeZion
Israel
Mobile: +972-(0)506220280
E-mail: spiegely@volcani.agri.gov.il; itziksp1234@gmail.com
Personal
Born 1949; Holon, Israel
Married; three children and five grandchildren
Citizenship: Israeli.

University Education and Additional Training
1973: B.Sc, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
1975: Teacher’s Diploma, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
1975: M.Sc, Organic Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
1981: Ph.D, in Plant Protection & Nematology, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Title:
“Influence of Plant Nutrition on the Parasitism of Some Phytophagous Nematodes”.
Supervision by Prof. Eli Cohn and Prof. Uzi Kafkafi.
1988-9: Sabbatical leave at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, with Professor M. A.
McClure. Research topic: “Corynebacterium – Anguina interaction and surface coat of
Anguina and Meloidogyne.
2005-6: Sabbatical leave at Scientia Terrae Research Institute, St. Katalijne-Waver, Belgium.
Research topic: “Biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes with Trichoderma”.
2012-14: Sabbatical leave at Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA, with Prof. Shai
Shaham. Research topic: “The amphid-sheath glia matrix in C. elegans”
Main Research topics
— Biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes (currently, the main topic).
— Control of plant-parasitic nematodes by intervention with the host finding and host-
recognition processes.
Professional and Administrative positions & special National Assignments (selected)
1981 – 2019: Senior Research Scientist in Nematology, Agricultural Research Organization
(ARO), Volcani Center. (Scientists’ Grade A+, since 1997)
1990-1994: Head, Division of Nematology, Volcani Center, ARO.
1994 – 1998: Director, Plant Protection Institute, Volcani Center, ARO.
1996 – Present: Associate professor, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
1999 – 2004: Deputy Director for R & D and Academy, Volcani Center, ARO.
2007 – 2011: Head (General Director), Volcani Center, ARO.
____________
1999 – Member of the Minister of Education’ steering committee for nomination of the “1999
Israeli Prize in Life Science and Agriculture”.
2002 – Member of the Minister of Education’ steering committee for nomination of the “2002
Israeli Prize in Agriculture”.
2010 – Member of the Minister of Education’ steering committee for nomination of the “2010
Israeli Prize in Agriculture”.
Teaching experience
1991 – Present: Teaching the course “Host-parasite relations of plant- parasitic nematodes” (2
credits, for graduate students; since 2002 for undergraduate & graduate students), Faculty
of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot.
Graduate Students:
Since 1990 – eight Ph.D; nine M.Sc; two Post-docs.

Selected List of Publications (reviewed journals & books)
A. Publications in reviewed journals
1. Roffman, E., Y. Spiegel, and M. Wilcheck. (1980). Ferritin hydrazide, a novel covalent electron
dense reagent for the ultrastructural location of glycoconjugates. Biochem. Biophys. Res.
Commun. 97:1192-98.
2. Wilcheck, M., S. Spiegel and Y. Spiegel. (1980). Fluorescent reagents for the labelling of
glycoconjugates in solution and on cell surface. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 94:1215-
22.
3. Spiegel, Y. and E. Cohn. (1982). Lectin binding to Meloidogyne javanica eggs. J. Nematol.
14:406-7.
4. Spiegel, Y., E. Cohn and U. Kafkafi. (1982). The influence of ammonium and nitrate nutrition
of tomato plants on parasitism by the root-knot nematode. Phytoparasitica 10: 33-40.
5. Spiegel, Y., E. Cohn and Sarah Spiegel. (1982). Characterization of sialyl and galactosyl
residues on the body wall of different plant parasitic nematodes. J. Nematol. 14: 33-49.
6. Spiegel, Y., E. Cohn, U. Kafkafi and Meira Sulami. (1982). The influence of potassium and
nitrogen fertilization on parasitism by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. J.
Nematol. 14: 530-35.
7. Spiegel, Y., W. M. Robertson, S. Himmelhoch and B. M. Zuckerman. (1983). Electron
microscope characterization of carbohydrate residues on the body wall of Xiphinema index. J.
Nematol. 15: 528-534.
8. Spiegel, Y. and D. Netzer. (1984). Effect of nitrogen form at various levels of potassium, on the
Meloidogyne – Fusarium wilt complex in muskmelon. Pl. Soil 81: 85-92.
9 Spiegel, Y. and E. Cohn. (1985). Chitin is present on gelatinous matrix of Meloidogyne. Revue
Nematol. 8:184-186.
10. Spiegel, Y. and I. Chet. (1985). Chitin synthetase inhibitors and their potential to control the
root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica. Nematologica 31: 480-482.
11. Spiegel, Y., E. Cohn and I. Chet. (1986). Use of chitin for controlling plant parasitic
nematodes. I. Direct effects on nematode reproduction and plant performance. Pl. Soil 95:
87-95.
12. Spiegel, Y., D. Netzer and U. Kafkafi. (1987). The role of calcium nutrition on Fusarium-wilt
syndrome in muskmelon. Phytopathol. Zeitschrift 118: 220-226.
13. Spiegel, Y., I. Chet and E. Cohn. (1987). Use of chitin for controlling plant parasitic
nematodes. II. Mode of action. Pl. Soil 98: 337-345.
14. Spiegel, Y., I. Chet, E. Cohn, S. Galper and E. Sharon. (1988). Use of chitin for controlling
plant – parasitic nematodes. III. Influence of temperature on nematicidal effect, mineralization
and microbial population buildup. Pl. Soil 109: 251-256.
15. Spiegel, Y., U. Kafkafi and E. Pressman. (1988). Evaluation of a protein-chitin derivative of
crustacean shells as a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer on Chinese cabbage. J. Horticul. Sci. 63:
621-627.
16. Spiegel, Y. and W. M. Robertson. (1988). Wheat germ agglutinin binding to the outer cuticle
of the plant – parasitic nematode Anguina tritici. J. Nematol. 20: 499-501.
17. Forrest, J. M. S., Y. Spiegel and W. M. Robertson. (1988). A possible role for the amphids of
potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis in host finding. Nematologica 34: 173-181.
18. Spiegel, Y., E. Cohn and I. Chet. (1989). Use of chitin for controlling Heterodera avenae and
Tylenchulus semipenetrans. J. Nematol. 21: 419-22.
19. Robertson, W. M., Y. Spiegel, H.-B. Jansson, N. Marban- Mendosa and B. M. Zuckerman.
(1989). Surface carbohydrates of plant parasitic nematodes. Nematologica 35: 180-86.
20. Galper S, E. Cohn, Y. Spiegel and I. Chet. (1989). Nematicidal effect of collagen-amended soil
and the influence of protease and collagenase. Revue Nematol. 13: 67-71.
21. Spiegel, Y., and M. A. McClure. (1991). Stage-specific differences in lectin binding to the
surface of Agnuina tritici and Meloidogyne incognita. J. Nematol. 23: 259-263.
22. Galper, S, E. Cohn, Y. Spiegel and I. Chet. (1991). A collagenolytic fungus, Cunninghamella
elegans, for biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes. J. Nematol. 23: 269-274.
23. Spiegel, Y., E. Cohn, S. Galper, E. Sharon and I. Chet. (1991). Evaluation of a newly isolated
bacterium, Pseudomonas chitinolytica sp. nov. for controlling the root-knot nematode,
Meloidogyne javanica. Biocon. Sci. Technol. 1: 115-125.
24. Spiegel, Y., M. A. McClure, I. Kahane, W.M. Robertson, and R. Salomon. (1991). Wheat germ
agglutinin associated with the outer cuticle of the seed-gall nematodes, Anguina agrostis and
A. tritici. J. Nematol. 23: 451-456.
25. McClure, M. A. and Y. Spiegel. (1991). Role of the nematode surface coat in the adhesion of
Clavibacter sp. to Anguina funesta and Anguina tritici. Parasitology 103: 421-427.
26. Sharon, E, D. Orion and Y. Spiegel. (1993). Binding of soil microorganisms and red blood cells
by the gelatinous matrix and eggs of Meloidogyne javanica and Rotylenchulus reniformis.
Fundamen. Appl. Nematol. 16: 5-9.
27. Bowman, J. P., L. I. Sly, Hayward, A. C., Y. Spiegel, and E. Stackebrandt. (1993). Telluria
mixta (Pseudomonas mixta Bowman, Sly, and Hayward 1988) gen. nov., comb. nov., and
Telluria chitinolytica sp. nov., soil-dwelling organisms which actively degrade polysaccharides.
Inter. J. Sys. Bacteriol. 43: 120-124.
28. Oka, Y, I. Chet and Y. Spiegel. (1993). Control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne
javanica by Bacillus cereus. Biocon. Sci. Technol. 3: 115-126.
29. Sharon, E and Y. Spiegel. (1993). Glycoprotein characterization of the gelatinous matrix in the
root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. J. Nematol. 25: 584-588.
30. Clemens, C. D., J. Aumann, Y. Spiegel and U. Wyss. (1994). Attracted-mediated behavior of
mobile stages of Heterodera schachtii. Fundamen. Appl. Nematol. 17: 569-574.
31. Spiegel, Y., J. Inbar, I. Kahane and E. Sharon. (1995). Carbohydrate-recognition domains on
the surface of phytophagous nematodes. Exp. Parasitol. 80: 220-227.
32. Sharon, E and Y. Spiegel. (1996). Gold-conjugated reagents for the labelling of carbohydrate-
recognition domains and glycoconjugates on nematode surfaces. J. Nematol. 28: 124-127.
33. Blaxter, M. L., Y. Spiegel and H. Koltai. (1997). Regulated use of a spliced leader exon in
the plant- parasitic nematode Meloidogyne javanica. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 86: 107-110.
34. Koltai, H. N. Chejanovski, B. Raccha and Y. Spiegel. (1997). The first isolated collagen
gene of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica is developmentally regulated. Gene
196: 191-199.
35. Oka, Y, I. Chet and Y. Spiegel. (1997). Are Pathogenesis- Related proteins induced by
Meloidogyne javanica or Heterodera avenae invasion? J. Nematol. 29: 501-508.
36. Spiegel, Y., I. Kahane, L. Cohen and E. Sharon. (1997). Meloidogyne javanica surface
proteins: Characterization and lability. Parasitology 115: 513-519.
37. Oka, Y, I. Chet, M, Mor and Y. Spiegel. (1997). A fungal parasite of Meloidogyne javanica
eggs: valuation of its use to control the root-knot nematode. Biocon. Sci. Technol. 7: 489-
497.
38. Oka, Y., I. Chet and Y. Spiegel. (1997). An immunoreactive protein to wheat-germ
agglutinin antibody is induced in oat roots following invasion of the cereal cyst nematode
Heterodera avenae and by jasmonate. Mol. Pl.-Microbe Inter. 10: 961-969.
39. Oka, Y, I. Chet and Y. Spiegel (1997). Accumulation of lectins in cereal roots invaded by the
cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae. Physiol. Mol. Pl. Pathol. 51: 333-345.
40. Sela, S., H. Schickler, I. Chet and Y. Spiegel (1998). Purification and characterization of a
Bacillus cereus collagenolytic/proteolytic enzyme and its effect on Meloidogyne javanica
cuticular proteins. Eur. J. Pl. Pathol. 104: 59-67.
41. Oka, Y., Y. Cohen and Y. Spiegel (1999). Local and systemic induced resistance to the root-
knot nematode in tomato by DL-ß- Amino-n-butyric acid. Phytopathology 89:1138-1143.
42. Ferris, V. R., S. A. Subbotin, A. Ireholm, Y. Spiegel, J. Faghihi and J. M. Ferris (1999).
Ribosomal DNA sequence analysis of Heterodera filipjevi and H. latipons isolates from
Russia and comparisons with other nematode isolates. Russian J. Nematol 7:121-125.
43. Oka, Y., S. Nacar, E. Putievsky, U. Ravid, Z. Yaniv and Y. Spiegel (2000). Nematicidal
activity of essential oils and their components against the root-knot nematode.
Phytopathology 90:710-715.
44. Sharon, E., M. Bar-Eyal , I. Chet, A. Herrera-Estrella, O. Kleifeld and Y. Spiegel. (2001).
Biocontrol of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica by Trichoderma harzianum.
Phytopathology, 91: 687-693.
45. Liu, J., H. Koltai, N. Chejanovski and Y. Spiegel. (2001). Isolation of a novel collagen gene
in Meloidogyne javanica and studies on its expression pattern. J. Parasitol., 87: 801-807.
46. Sharon, E., Y. Spiegel, R. Solomon and R. H. C. Curtis. (2002). Characterization of
Meloidogyne javanica surface coat using antibodies and their effect on nematode behavior.
Parasitology 125:177-186.
47. Spiegel, Y., P. M. Burrows and M. Bar-Eyal. (2003). A chemo attractant in onion root
exudates recognized by Ditylenchus dipsaci in laboratory bioassay. Phytopathology 93:
127-132.
48. Tadmor, Z., S. Sachs, I. Chet, Y. Spiegel, I. Ravina, G. Manor and S. Yannai . (2005). An
innovative approach: The use of di-nitrogen tetroxide for soil fumigation. Biosystems
Engineering 91: 413-419.
49. Bar-Eyal, M, E. Sharon and Y. Spiegel. (2006). Nematicidal activity of Chrysanthemum
coronarium L. Eur. J. Pl. Pathol. 114: 427-433.
50. Sharon, E. I. Chet, A. Viterbo, M. Bar-Eyal , H. Nagan, G. J. Samuels and Y. Spiegel.
(2007). Parasitism of Trichoderma on Meloidogyne javanica and role of the gelatinous
matrix. Eur. J. Pl. Pathol. 118:247-258.
51. Mor, M., Y. Spiegel and Y. Oka. (2008). Histological study of syncytia induced in cereals
by the Mediterranean cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera latipons. Nematology 10:279-
287.
52. Mahgodia, A. K. , Y. Spiegel and S. Sela. (2008). Interactions between Escherichia coli and
the plant- parasitic nematode, Meloidogyne javanica. J. Appl. Microbiol. 105:1810-1816.
53 Bar-Eyal, M., E. Sharon, Y. Spiegel and Y. Oka. (2008). Laboratory studies on the
biocontrol potential of the predatory nematode Koerneria sudhausi (Nematoda:
Diplogastridae). Nematology 10: 633-637.
54. Sharon, E., I. Chet and Y. Spiegel (2009). Improved attachment and parasitism of
Trichoderma on Meloidogyne javanica in vitro. Eur. J. Pl. Pathol. 123:291-299.
55. Iberkleid, I., P. Vieira, J. de Almeida Engler, K. Firester, Y. Spiegel and S. Horowitz-Brown
(2013). Fatty acid-and retinol-binding protein, Mj-FAR-1, induces tomato host
susceptibility to root-knot Nematodes. PlosOne 8: e64586
56. Kroupitski, Y., R. Pinto, P. Bucki, E. Belausov, L. Ruess, Y. Spiegel and S. Sela
(Saldinger). (2015). Acrobeloides buetschlii as a potential vector for enteric pathogens.
Nematology, 17:447- 457.
57. Aroch, I., I. Arogeti, A. Marcovics, Y. Spiegel, and E. Lavy. (2017).In vitro lectin binding
to the outer surface of Spirocerca lupi at different life-stages. Veterinary Parasitology 235:
94–99.
B: Invited reviews and book chapters

58. Spiegel, Y., E. Cohn and I. Chet. (1990). Recent advances in biological control of plant
parasitic nematodes. Agricultural Research in Israel, vol. 3, No. 1. (in Hebrew with summery
in English).
59. Spiegel, Y. and E. Cohn. (1990). Evaluation of chitin and various protein sources to control
root-knot nematode. Exercise 35, In: “Plant Nematology Laboratory Manual” pp. 234-237.
Revised Edition. B.M. Zuckerman, W.F. Mai and L.R. Krusberg, eds. Published by
Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA,
U.S.A.
60. Cohn, E. and Y. Spiegel. (1991). Root-nematode interactions. In: “Plant Roots: The Hidden
Half” (Waisel et al., eds.), pp. 789-805. Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, N.Y.
61. Spiegel, Y. and M. A. McClure. (1995). The surface coat of plant-parasitic nematodes:
chemical composition, origin and biological role – a review. J. Nematol. 27: 127-134.
62. Cohn, E., H. Koltai, E. Sharon, and Y. Spiegel. (1996). Root- nematode interactions:
recognition and pathogenicity. In: “Plant Roots: The Hidden Half” (Waisel et al., eds.), 2nd
Edition. Chapter 39, pp. 783-796. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, N. Y.
63. Spiegel, Y. and E. Sharon. (1997). Control of plant parasitic nematodes in organic farms.
Israel Agresearch, Vol. 7, No. 1 (in Hebrew with summery in English).
64. Spiegel, Y. and I. Chet. (1998). Evaluation of Trichoderma spp. as a biocontrol agent against
soil borne fungi and plant-parasitic nematodes in Israel. Integ. Pest Manag. Rev. 3: 1-7.
65. Oka, Y., H. Koltai, M. Bar-Eyal, M. Mor,, E. Sharon,, I. Chet and Y. Spiegel.
(2000). New strategies for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes. Pest Management
Science. 56:983- 988.
66. Oka, Y., I. Chet, H. Koltai, M. Bar-Eyal, M. Mor, E. Sharon and Y. Spiegel. (2000).
Chemical and non-chemical control of phytophagous nematodes: new perspectives. Acta
Horticulturae 532: 177-182.
67. Koltai, H., E. Sharon and Y. Spiegel (2002). Root- nematode interactions: recognition and
pathogenicity. In: “Plant Roots: The Hidden Half” (Waisel et al., eds.), 3rd Edition. Chapter
51, pp. 933-948. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, N. Y.
68. Spiegel, Y. (2005). A Book Review: Nematology: Advances and Perspectives. Volume II:
Nematode Management and Utilization. Edited by Z.X. Chen, S.Y. Chen, and D.W.
Dickson. 2004. 608 pp. CABI Publishing, U.K. Eur. J. Pl. Pathol. 113: 221-222.
69. Spiegel, Y. (2005). A Book Review: Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Subtropical and Tropical
Agriculture. Second Edition. Edited by M. Luc, R.A. Sikora and J. Bridge. 2005. 871 pp.
CABI Publishing, UK. Eur. J. Pl. Pathol. 113: 439-439.
70. Curtis R., Davies K., Jones J., Sharon E. and Spiegel Y. (2011). Plant nematode surfaces.
In: K. Davies and Y. Spiegel, (eds). Biological Control of Plant Parasitic Nematodes:
Building Coherence between Microbial Ecology and Molecular Mechanisms, Chapter 5,
Springer, The Netherlands
71. Sharon, E., I Chet and Y Spiegel (2011). Trichoderma as a biological control agent. In: K.
Davies and Y. Spiegel, (eds). Biological Control of Plant Parasitic Nematodes: Building
Coherence between Microbial Ecology and Molecular Mechanisms, Chapter 8, Springer,
The Netherlands
72. Davies, K. and Y. Spiegel (2011). Root Patho-Systems Nematology and Biological Control.
In: K. Davies and Y. Spiegel, (eds). Biological Control of Plant Parasitic Nematodes:
Building Coherence between Microbial Ecology and Molecular Mechanisms, Chapter 12,
Springer, The Netherlands
73. Davies, K. and Y. Spiegel (eds) (2011). Biological Control of Plant Parasitic Nematodes:
Building Coherence between Microbial Ecology and Molecular Mechanisms. Springer,
ISBN 978-1-4020-9647-1, The Netherlands.
74. Davies K.G., and Y. Spiegel. (2011). Biological control of pant- parasitic nematodes:
towards understanding field variation through molecular mechanisms. In: Jones J, Gheysen
G, Fenoll C (eds). Exploiting Genomics to Understand Plant-Nematode Interactions.
Springer
75. Spiegel, Y., O. Oren and R–U. Ehlers. (2021). Critical terms during development and
commercialization of microbial agents for the control of plant parasitic nematodes. In:
Integrated Nematode Management: State-of-the-art and visions. Chapter 62. (eds. R.A.
Sikora et al) DOI: 10.1079/9781789247541.0062. CAB International. Pp. 446-453.
.76 “נמטודות בחקלאות” )2025(. י. שפיגל, י. אוקה, פ. בוקי, ס. בראון-מיארה. א. גלזר, ע. כהן. עורך: יצחק
שפיגל. 200 עמודים. פרסום מקוון באתרי האינטרנט של מנהל המחקר החקלאי.
C. Patents

Spiegel, I., I. Chet and E. Cohn. (1988). Method and composition for combating soil nematodes
comprising chitinolytic bacteria and novel pure cultures of certain such bacteria. Israel Patent
Pending 087388.090260
Spiegel, I., I. Chet, E. Cohn and S. Galper. (1989). Nematicidal microorganisms, their isolation
and their use as bionematicides. European Patent Pending 89114460.2
Spiegel, I., I. Chet, E. Cohn and S. Galper. (1992). Nematicidal strain of Pseudomonas and its
use as a biocontrol agent. U.S. Patent Pending 5,089,263
Oka, Y. , Spiegel Y. and Cohen Y. (2001). Methods and compositions to protect crops against
plant-parasitic nematodes. Patent number: 6201023
Brown S., Oren O., Spiegel Y., Mazar Y., Glanz E. and Ehlers R.-U. (2024). Composition of
predatory nematodes and methods of using them. Publication number: 20240008494