Education, Training and Teaching:
1977-1980 | B.Sc. in Agricultural Sciences (Major: plant protection). The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot. |
1980-1982 | M.Sc. in Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot. |
1982-1985 | Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot. |
1986-1987 | Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Department of Plant Pathology, Riverside, California, USA |
1987 – to date | Senior Research Scientist at the Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences. |
2001- to date | Full Professor, ARO, The Volcani Center |
1997-1998 | Visiting Professor, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, USDA-ARS, and University of West Virginia, Kearneysville, WV, USA. |
2011 | Visiting Professor, The University of Greenwich, Chatham and East Malling Research, East Malling, UK. |
2008- to date | Professor , Institute of Biochemistry and Food Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences |
Publications in Peer Reviewed International Journals (Selected Since 2000):
1.Porat, R., Daus, A., Weiss, B., Cohen, L., Falik, E. and Droby, S. (2000).
Reduction of postharvest decay in organic citrus fruit by a short hot water brushing treatment. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 18: 151-157.
2. Porat, R., Pavoncello, D. Peretz, J., Weiss, B., Cohen, L., Ben-Yehoshua, S., Falik, E., Droby, S. , and Lurie, S. (2000). Induction of resistance against
Penicillium digitatum and chilling injury in star ruby grapefruit by a short hot water-brushing treatment. J. Hort. Sci. Biotechnol. 75:428-432.
3.Schena, L., Ippolito, A., Zahavi, T., Cohen, L., and Droby, S. (2000). Molecular approach to assist the screening and monitoring of postharvest biocontrol agents. European J. Plant Pathol. 106: 681-691.
4.Zahavi, T., Schena, L., Cohen, L., Ben-Arie, R., and Droby, S. (2000). Biological control of Botrytis, Aspergillus and Rhizopus rots of table and wine grapes in Israel. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 20: 115-124.
5. Pavoncello, D., Lurie, S., Droby, S. , Porat, R. (2001). A hot water treatment induces resistance to Penicillium digitatum and promotes the accumulation of heat shock and pathogenesis-related proteins in grapefruit flavedo. Physiologia Plantarum 111: 17-22.
6. Karabulut, O. A., Lurie, S. and Droby, S. (2001). Evaluation of the use of sodium bicarbonate, potassium sorbate and yeast antagonists for decreasing postharvest decay of sweet cherries. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 23:233-236.
7. Kutrzman, C.P and Droby, S.(2001). Metschnikowia fructicola, a new ascosporic yeast effective for biocontrol of postharvest fruit rots. System. Appl. Micriobiol. 24: 395-399.
8. Brown, J.E., Lu, T.Y., Stevens, C., Khan, V.A, Lu, J.Y., Wilson, C.L., Collins, D.J., Wilson, M.A., Igwegbe, E.C.K., Chalutz, E., and Droby, S. (2001). The effect of low dose ultraviolet ligh-C seed treatment on induces resistance in cabage to Black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Campestris). Crop Protection 20:873-883.
9. Yehuda, H., Droby, S., Wisniewski, M., and Goldway, M. (2001). A
transformation system for the biocontrol yeast, Candida oleophila, based on
hygromycin B resistance. Current Genetics 40: 282-287
10. Droby, S., Vinokur, V., Weiss, B., Cohen, L., Daus A., Goldschmid, E. and
Porat, R., (2002). Induction of Resistance to Penicillium digitatum in Grapefruit by the Yeast Biocontrol Agent Candida oleophila. Phytopathol. 92: 393-399.
11. Karabulut, O. A., Cohen, L., Wiess, B., Daus, A. , Lurie, S., and Droby, S.
(2002). Control of brown rot and blue mold of peach and nectarine by short hot water brushing and yeast antagonists. Postharvest Biol. Technol 24: 103-111.
12. Yehuda, H., Droby, S., Wisniewski, M.E. and Goldway, M. (2002). Cloning and analysis of CoEXG1: A secreted 1,3 - β - glucanase of the biocontrol agent, Candida oleophila. Yeast 19: 1171-1182.
13. Porat, R., Vinokur, V., McCollum, G. T., and Droby, S. (2002). Isolation of a citrus chitinase cDNA and its relation to induction of fruit pathogen resistance. J. Plant Physiol. 158: 1585-1590.
14. Porat, R., McCollum G., Vinokur, V., and Droby, S. (2002). Effects of various elicitors on the transcription of a ß-1,3-3ndoglucanase gene in citrus fruit. J. Phytopathol. 150: 70-75
15. Porat, R., Daus, A., Weiss, B., Cohen, L., and Droby, S. (2002). Effects of
combining hot water, sodium bicarbonate and biocontrol on postharvest decay of citrus fruit. J. Hort. Sci. Biotechnol 77:441-445
16. Zahavi, T., Droby, S., Cohen, L., Weiss, B., and Ben-Arie, R. (2002). Characterization of the yeast flora on the surface of grape berries in Israel. Vitis 41:203-208.
17. Droby S., Wisniewski, M. E., El-Ghaouth, A. and Wilson, C.L. (2003). Influence of Food additives on the control of postharvest rots of apple and peach and efficacy of the yeast-based biocontrol product Aspire. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 27:127-135.
18. Wisniewski, M.E., Basset, C.L., Artlip, T.S., Webb, R.P., Janisiewicz, W.,
Norelli, J.L., Golway, M., and Droby, S. (2003). Characterization of defensin in bark and fruit tissues of peach and antimicrobial activity of recombinant defensin in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Physiologia Plantarum 119:563-572.
19. Karabulut, O.A., Smilanick, J. L., Gabler, F. M., Mansour M., and Droby S. (2003). Near-harvest Aapplications of Metschnikowia fructicola, ethanol, and sodium bicarbonate to control postharvest diseases of grape in central california. Plant Dis. 87:1384-1389
20. Yehuda, H., Droby S., Bar-Shimon, M., Wisniewski, M.E. and Goldway, M. (2003). The effect of under and over-expressed CoEXG1encoded exoglucanase secreted by Candida oleophila on the biocontrol of Penicillium digitatum. Yeast 20:771-780
21. Porat, R., Vinokur, V., Weiss, B., Cohen, L., Daus, A., Goldschmidt, E. and Droby, S. (2003). Induction of resistance to Penicillium digitatum in grapefruit by β-aminobutyric acid. European J. of Plant Pathol. 109:901-907.
22. Karabulut, O.A., Tezcan, H., Daus, A., Cohen, L., Wiess, B., and Droby, S.
(2004). Biological control of preharvest and postharvest rots in strawberries by Metschnikowia fructicola. Biocontrol Sci. and Technol. 14(5): 513-521.
23. Stevens, C., liu, J., Khan, V.A., Lu, J.Y., Kabwe, M.K., Wilson, C.L., Igwegbe, E.C.K., Chalutz, E. and Droby, S. (2004). The effects of low dose ultraviolet light- C treatment on polygalacturonase activity, delay ripening and Rhizopus rot development of tomato. Crop Protection 23:551-554.
24. Bar-Shimon, M., Yehuda, H., Cohen, L., Weiss, B., Kobeshnikov, A., Daus, A., Goldway, M., Wisniewski, M.E. and Droby, S. (2004). Characterization of extracellular lytic enzymes produced by the yeast biocontrol agent Candida oleophila. Current Genetics 45: 140148.
25. Hadasi, M., Elmaci, G., Goldschmidt, E,. Droby, S. and Porat, R. (2005).
Isolation of a thioredoxin h cDNA from grapefruit peel tissue that is induced upon infection by Penicillium digitatum and elicitation of pathogen resistance. Physiological and Mol. Plant Pathol. 65:277-283.
26. Stevens, C., Khan, V.A., Wilson, C.L., Chalutz, E. and Droby, S. (2005). The effect of fruit orientation of postharvest commodities following low dose ultraviolet light-C treatment on host induced resistance to decay. Crop Protection 24:756-759.
27. Miller. A.J., Hileman, C.L. Droby, S. and Paster, N. (2005). Science and
technology based countermeasures to food-borne terrorism. J. Food Protection 68:1253-1255.
28. Macaricin, D., Cohen, L., Eick, A., Rafael, G., Belausov, E., Wisniewski, M. and Droby, S. (2007). Suppression of the defense-related oxidative burst by Penicillium digitatum during infection of citrus fruit. Phytopathol. 97:1491-1500.
29. Droby, S., Eick, A., Macarisin, D., Cohen, L., Rafael, G., Stange, R., McColum, G., Dudai, N., Wisniewski, M., and Shapira, R. (2008). The role of
citrus volatiles in germination and growth of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum. Postharvest Biol.Technol. 49: 386-396.
30. Eshel, D., Regevb, R., Orenstein J., Droby S., Gan-Mor S. (2009). Combining physical, chemical and biological methods for synergistic control of postharvest diseases: a case study of Black Root Rot of Carrot. Postharvest Biol.Technol. 54: 48–52.
31. Droby, S., Wisniewski, M., Macarisin, D. and Wilson, C. (2009). Twenty years of postharvest biocontrol research: Is it time for a new paradigm?. Postharvest Biol.Technol. 52: 137–145.
32. Friedman, H., Agami, O., Vinokur, Y., Droby, S., Cohen, L., Rafael G.,
Resnick, N., and Uniel U. (2010) Characterization of yield, antioxidant content and sensitivity to Botrytis cinerea of several rose species for edible flowers. Scientia Horticulturae 123:395–401.
33. Macarisin, D., Droby, S., Bauchan, G. and Wisniewski, M. (2010). Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in the yeast antagonist–fruit interaction: A new role for reactive oxygen species in postharvest biocontrol. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 58:194–202.
34. Liu, J., Wisniewski, M., Droby, S., Tian, S., and Hershkovitz, V. (2011).
Effect of heat shock treatment on stress tolerance and biocontrol efficacy of
Metschnikowia fructicola. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 76:145-155.
35. Liu, J., Wisniewski, M., Droby, S., Vero, S., Tian, S., and Hershkovitz, V.
(2011). Glycine betaine improves oxidative stress tolerance and biocontrol efficacy of antagonistic yeast Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 146:76-83.
36. Liu, L., Sui, Y., Wisniewski, M., Droby, S., Tian, S., Norell, J., and Hershkovit, V. (2012). Effect of heat treatment on inhibition of Monilinia fructicola and induction of disease resistance in peach fruit. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 65:61-68.
37. Hershkovitz, V., Ben-Dayan, C., Raphael, G., Pasmanik-Chor, M., Liu, J.,, Belausov, E., Aly, R., Wisniewski, M., and Droby, S. (2011). Global changes in gene expression of grapefruit peel tissue in response to the yeast biocontrol agent Metschnikowia fructicola. Mol. Plant Pathol. 13(4): 338-349.
38. Jia, L., Wisniewski, M., Droby, S., Norelli, J, Hershkovitz, V., Tian, S., and Farrell, R. (2012) Increase in antioxidant gene transcripts, stress tolerance and biocontrol efficacy of Candida oleophila following sublethal oxidative stress exposure. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 80: 578-570
Sum of times cited = 2567 times. Sum of times cited without self-citations = 2367. h value = 32 (February 2012). Average citation/year = 91.68. Average citation/item = 31.73.
Books, Book Chapters and Invited Reviews:
1. Wilson, C.L. and Droby, S. (2000). Food Microbial Contamination.CRC Pess. Boca Raton, FL. 290 pages.
2. Droby, S., Chalutz, E. and Wilson, C. L. (1991). Antagonistic microorganisms as biological control agents of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables. Postharvest News and Information 2: 168-173. (Invited).
3. Droby, S. and Chalutz, E. (1994). Mode of action of biocontrol agents of postharvest disesase In: Biological Control of Postharvest Diseases: Theory and Practice. (C.L.Wilson and M.E. Wisniewski, eds.). CRC Press, Inc. pp. 63-76
4. Hofstein, R., Droby, S. and Chalutz, E. (1994). Large scale production and pilot testing of biocontrol agent of postharvest diseases. In: Biological Control of Postharvest Diseases: Theory and Practice. (C.L. Wilson and M.E. Wisniewski, eds.). CRC Press, Inc. pp. 89-100.
5. Droby, S. and Chalutz, E. (1999). Biological control of postharvest diseases of citrus fruit. In: Recent Advances in Postharvest Diseases and Disorders of Citrus Fruit. ( M. Schirra, ed.). Research Signpost Publisher: Trivandrum, India. pp 107-122.
6. Droby, S., Chalutz, E., Wisniewski, M.E. and Wilson, C.L. (1996). Host response to introduction of antagonistic yeasts for control of postharvest decay. In: Microbiology of Aerial Plant Surfaces. (C.E. Morris, P. Nicot and C. Nguyen-The, eds). Plenum Pub. Co. pp 73-90,
7. Chalutz, E., and Droby, S. (1996). Biological control of postharvest diseases. In:
Plant-Microbe Interactions and Biological Control. (G. J. Boland and L.D. Kuykendakk, eds.). Marcel Dekker Inc. New York. pp 157-177.
8. Wisniewski, M. E., and Droby, S. (1996). How natural antagonists work to bring about
biological control. In: Technology Transfer in Biological Control: From Research to
Practice. (C. Silvy, ed.). International Organization for Biological Control, Montpellier, France. Vol.19, pp 125-135
9. Stevens, C., Khan, V.A., Lu, J.Y., Wilson, C.L., El-Ghaouth, A., Chalutz, E., and
Droby, S. (1997). Low dose UV-C as new approach to control decay of harvested
commodities. In: Recent Research Developments in Plant Pathology.( S.G. Pandalai ed.). Research Signpost, Scientific Information Guild. pp 155-196.
10. Droby, S., Wisniewski, M.E., Wilson, C.L. and El-Ghaouth, A. (2000). Biologically-based technology for the Control of Postharvest Diseases. In: Food Microbial Contamination. (C. Wilson and S. Droby, eds.). CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. pp 187-205.
11.Droby, S. (2001). Enhancing biocontrol activity of microbial antagonists of postharvest diseases., In: Enhancing Biocontrol Agents and Handling Risks. (M. Verro, J. Gressel, T. Butt, G. Harman, A. Pilgeram, R. Leger, D. Nuss,eds). IOS Press, NATO Science series. pp 77-85
12. El Ghaouth, A, Droby, S, Wilson, C., Wisniewski, M, Smilanick, J. and Korsten, L. (2002). Biological control of postharvest diseases of citrus fruit. In: Biological Control of Major Crop Plant Diseases. (Gnanamanickmam, S., ed). Marcell Dekkar, NY. pp 219-238
13. El Ghaouth, A., Wilson, C.L., Wisniewski, M.E., Droby, S., Smilanick, J.L. and Korsten, L. (2002). Biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables. n: Applied Mycology and Biotechnology Vol 2. (G.G. Khachatourians & D.K. Arora, eds.), Elsvier, Amesterdam, London, New York, Oxford, Paris, Tokyo. pp 219-238
14. Droby, S. and Lichter, A. (2004). Postharvest Botrytis infection: Etiology, Development and Management. In: Botrytis: Biology, Pathology and Control. (Y. Elad, B. Williamson, P. Tudzynski, and N. Delen, eds). Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp: 349-367
15. Stevens, C., Khan, V. A., Wilson, C. L., Lu, J. Y., Pusey, L., Bassett, C. L., Igwegbe, E. C. K., Wisniewski, M., Chalutz, E.; Droby, S. and El-Ghaouth, A. (2006). Photobiological Effects of radiation hormesis on the control of postharvest decay and delayed senescence and ripening of postharvest crops. In: Recent research developments in bioenergetics. (S. G. Pandalai, ed.). Transworld Research Network Kerala: Transworld Research Network. pp. 43–80.
16. Wisniewski, M, Wilson, C., Droby, S., Chalutz, E., El-Ghaouth, A. and Stevens, C. 2007). Postharvest biocontrol: the discovery of new concepts and applications. In: Biological Control: International case studies. (C. Vincent, M. Goettel and G. Lazarovits, eds). CABI Publishing, U.K. pp. 262-273.
17. Castoria, R., Wright, I.S.A. and Droby, S. (2008). Biological control of mycotoxigenic fungi in fruits. In: Mycotoxins in fruits and vegetables. (R. Barkai-Golan, and N. Paster, eds.). Elsevier, San Diego, CA, US. pp. 311-335.
18 .Palou, L., Smilanick, J.L.and Droby, S. (2008). Alternatives to conventional fungicides for the control of citrus postharvest green and blue Moulds. Stewart Postharvest Review 2 (2): 1-16 (invited).
19. Philosoph-Hadas, S., Meir, S., Droby, S., Rosenberger, I. and Perzelan, Y. (2008). Improving quality of decorative foliage and leaves during long distance sea shipment from Israel under controlled atmosphere (CA). Israel's Agriculture 2008 – The International Catalogue for Advanced Agricultural Technology: 6-8. (Invited).
20. Wisniewski, M. and Droby, S. (2009). Postharvest biocontrol: Introspection and paradigm shifts. Postharvest News and Information 30 (2): 28-29. (Invited).
21. Droby, S, Wisniewski, M. and N Benkeblia. N. (2011). Postharvest pathology and strategies for decay control in tropical and subtropical fruits. In: Postharvest Biology and Technology of Tropical and Sub-tropical Fruits. (E. M. Yahia, ed.). Woodhead Publishing Ltd. pp 194-223.
22. Wisniewski, M.E. and Droby. S. (2011). Biopreservation of food and feed by postharvest biocontrol with microorganisms. In: Microbes and the Law - Safety Assessment and Regulation of Beneficial Organisms. (I. Sundh, A. Wilcks, and M. S. Goettel, eds). CABI, Cambridge, England.
23. Ana-Rosa Ballester, Marina Marcet-Houben, Elena Levin, Noa Sela, Cristina Selma-Lázaro, Lourdes Carmona, Michael Wisniewski, Samir Droby, Luis González-Candelas and Toni Gabaldón. 2014. Genome, transcriptome, and functional analyses of Penicillium expansum provide new insights into secondary metabolism and pathogenicity. MPMI (in press). http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-09-14-0261-FI
24. Hershkovitz, V., Sela, N., Taha-Salaime, L., Liu, J., Rafael, G., Kessler, C., Aly, A., Levy, M., Wisniewski, M., Droby, S., 2013. De-novo assembly and characterization of the transcriptome of Metschnikowia fructicola reveals differences in gene expression following interaction with Penicillium digitatum and grapefruit peel. BMC Genomics 2013, 14:168-182