Funded projects (past 5 years)  

2016   Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture. " Fungal   diseases of medical cannabis" (Co-PI, for 3 years).

2017    Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fruit Board. " Epidemiology of Panama disease" (Co-PI, for 3 years).

2018    U.S. Agency for International Development – Middle East Regional Cooperation (USAID-MERC) grant, "Selecting resistant melon and strawberry germplasm to the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina" (PI and Coordinator for 5 years).

2018    Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (Forestry Service of Israel). "Characterization of fungal pathogens involved in carob tree decline in forest stands and ornamental settings". (PI for 3 years).

2019   Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture. "Detection, quantification and characterization of molds and mycotoxins from commercial floral medical cannabis, and evaluation of disease reduction by non-chemical means" (PI for 3 years).

2021    U.S. Agency for International Development – Middle East Regional Cooperation (USAID-MERC) grant, "Use of fungal endophytes to increase cucurbit plant performance by c onferring drought, temperature, salt, and disease tolerance" (PI and Coordinator for 5 years).

2022   Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture.  "Evaluation of non-chemical treatments for pathogen control in medical cannabis inflorescences and effect on active compounds" (PI for 3 years, Budget $35,000/year).

Selected Publications

• Freeman, S., and Rodriguez, R. J. 1993. Genetic conversion of a fungal plant pathogen to an nonpathogenic, endophytic mutualist. Science 260:75-78.
• Freeman, S., Pham, M., and Rodriguez, R. J. 1993. Molecular genotyping of Colletotrichum species based on arbitrarily primed PCR, A+T-rich DNA and nuclear DNA analyses. Exp. Mycol. 17:309-322.
• Freeman, S., and Rodriguez, R. J. 1993. A rapid inoculation technique for assessing pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum and F. o. melonis on cucurbits. Plant Dis. 77:1198-1201.
• Freeman, S., and Rodriguez, R. J. 1995. Differentiation of Colletotrichum species responsible for anthracnose of strawberry by arbitrarily primed PCR. Mycol. Res. 99:501-504.
• Freeman, S., Katan, T., and Shabi, E. 1996. Differentiation between Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from avocado and almond using molecular and pathogenicity tests. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:1014-1020.
• Freeman, S. and Shabi, E. 1996. Cross-infection of subtropical and temperate fruits by Colletotrichum species from various hosts. Physiol. Mol. Plant Pathol. 49:395-404.
• Freeman, S. and Katan, T. 1997. Identification of Colletotrichum species responsible for anthracnose and root necrosis of strawberry in Israel. Phytopathology 87:516-521.
• Freeman, S., Nizani, Y., Dotan, S., Even, S., and Sando, T. 1997. Control of Colletotrichum acutatum in strawberry under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions. Plant Dis. 81:749-752.
• Freeman, S., Redman, R.S., Grantham, G., and Rodriguez, R.J. 1997. Characterization of a linear DNA plasmid from the filamentous fungal plant pathogen Glomerella musae [anamorph Colletotrichum musae (Berk. & Curt.) Arx.]. Curr. Genet. 32:152-156.
• Freeman, S., Katan, T., and Shabi, E. 1998. Characterization of Colletotrichum species responsible for anthracnose diseases of various fruits. Plant Disease 82: 596-605.
• Freeman, S., Maimon, M., and Pinkas, Y. 1999. Use of GUS transformants of Fusarium subglutinans for determining etiology of mango malformation disease. Phytopathology 89:456-461.
• Redman, R.S., Freeman, S., Clifton, D.R., Morrel, J., Brown, G., and Rodriguez, R.J. 1998. Biochemical analysis of plant protection afforded by a non-pathogenic endophytic mutant of Colletotrichum magna (teleomorph: Glomerella magna; Jenkins and Winstead, 1964). Plant Physiol. 119:709-840.
• Pinkas,Y., Maimon, M., Shabi, E., Elisha, S., Shmulewich, Y., and Freeman, S. 2000. Inoculation, isolation and identification of Tuber melanosporum from old and new oak hosts in Israel. Mycol. Res. 104:472-477.
• Freeman, S., Minz, D., Jurkevitch, E., Maymon, M., and Shabi, E. 2000. Molecular analyses of Colletotrichum species from almond and other fruits. Phytopathology 90:608-614.
• Freeman, S., and Maymon, M. 2000. Reliable Detection of the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis causal agent of bayoud disease of date palm using molecular techniques. Phytoparasitica 28:341-348.
• Yakoby, N., Freeman, S., Dinoor, A., Keen, N.T., and Prusky, D. 2000. Expression of pectate lyase from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in C. magna promotes pathogenicity. Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 13:887-891.
• Freeman, S., Shabi, E., and Katan, T. 2000. Characterization of Colletotrichum acutatum causing anthracnose disease of anemone ( Anemone coronaria L.). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:5267-5272.
• Freeman, S., Minz, D., Maymon, M., and Zveibil, A. 2001. Genetic diversity within Colletotrichum acutatum sensu Simmonds. Phytopathology 91:586-592.
• Freeman, S., Horowitz, S., and Sharon, A. 2001. Pathogenic and non-pathogenic lifestyles in Colletotrichum acutatum from strawberry and other plants. Phytopathology 91:986-992.
• Freeman, S., Zveibil, A., Vintal, H., and Maymon, M. 2001. Isolation of nonpathogenic mutants of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis for biocontrol of Fusarium wilt in cucurbits. Phytopathology 92:164-168.
• Freeman, S., Maymon, M., Kirshner, B., Rav-David, D., and Elad, Y. 2002. Use of GUS transformants of Trichoderma harzianum isolate T39 (TRICHODEX) for studying interactions on leaf surfaces. Biocont. Sci. Technol. 12:401-407.
• Horowitz, S., Freeman, S., and Sharon, A. 2002. Use of GFP-Transgenic strains to study pathogenic and non-pathogenic lifestyles in Colletotrichum acutatum. Phytopathology 92:743-749.
• Freeman, S., Shalev, Z., and Katan, J. 2002. Survival in soil of Colletotrichum acutatum and C. gloeosporioides pathogenic on strawberry. Plant Dis. 92:965-970.
• Denoyes-Rothan, B., Guérin, G., Délye, C., Smith, B., Minz, D., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. 2003.Genetic diversity and pathogenic variability among isolates of Colletotrichum from strawberry. Phytopathology 93:219-228.
• Afanador-Kafuri, L., Minz, D., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. 2003. Characterization of Colletotrichum isolates from tamarillo, passiflora and mango in Colombia and identification of a unique species from the genus. Phytopathology 93:579-587
• Freeman, S., Minz, D., Kolesnik, I., Barbul, O., Zveibil, A., Maymon, M., Nitzani, Y., Kirshner, B., Rav-David, D., Bilu, A., and Elad, Y. 2004. Trichoderma biocontrol of Colletotrichum acutatum and Botrytis cinerea and survival in strawberry. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:361-370.
• Horowitz, S., Yarden, O., Zveibil, A., and Freeman, S. 2004. Development of a robust screening method for pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species on strawberry seedlings enabling forward genetic studies. Plant Dis. 88:845-851.
• Maymon, M., Minz, D., Barbul, O., Zveibil, A., Elad, Y., and Freeman, S. 2004. Identification to species of Trichoderma biocontrol isolates according to ap-PCR and ITS sequence analyses. Phytoparasitica 32:370-375.
• Freeman, S., and Gnayem, N. 2004. Effect of plasticulture on strawberry plant production. Small Fruits Res. 4:21-32.
• Denisov, Y., Yarden, O., and Freeman, S. 2005. Impaired purine biosynthesis affects pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 112:293-297. 
• Zveibil, A., and Freeman, S. 2005. First report of crown and root rot in strawberry caused by Macrophomina phaseolina in Israel. Plant Dis. 89:1014.  
• Maymon, M., Zveibil, A., Pivonia, S., Minz, D., and Freeman, S. 2006. Identification and characterization of benomyl-resistant and -sensitive field isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from statice (Limonium spp.). Phytopathology 96:542-548.
• Amsalem, L., Freeman, S., Rav-David, D., Nitzani, Y., Sztejnberg, A., and Elad, Y. 2006. Biology and epidemiology of powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca macularis on strawberry in Israel. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 114:283-292. 
• Horowitz, S., Freeman, S., Zveibil, A., and Yarden, O. 2006. A defect in nir1, a nirA-like transcription factor, confers morphological abnormalities and loss of pathogenicity in Colletotrichum acutatum. Mol. Plant Pathol. 7:341-354. 
• Youssef, S.A., Maymon, M., Zveibil, A., Klein-Gueta, D., Sztejnberg, A., Shalaby, A.A., and, Freeman, S. 2007. Epidemiological aspects of mango malformation disease caused by Fusarium mangiferae and source of infection in seedlings cultivated in orchards in Egypt. Plant Pathol.56:257-263. 
• Basaran, P., Ozcan, M., Denisov, Y., and Freeman, S. 2007. Elucidation of pectinolytic enzyme activities of a non pathogenic watermelon pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum mutant M87. Austral. Plant Pathol. 36:1-7.
• Sharon, M., Freeman, S., Kuninaga, S., and Sneh, B. 2007. Genetic diversity, anastomosis groups and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia spp. from strawberry. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 117:247-265.
• Jelev, Z.J., Bobev, S.G., Minz, D., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. 2008. First report of anthracnose fruit rot caused by Colletotrichum acutatum on pepper and tomato in Bulgaria. Plant Dis. 92:172.
• Freeman, S. 2008. Management, survival strategies and host range of Colletotrichum acutatum on strawberry. HortScience 43:66-68.
• Horowitz Brown, S., Yarden, O., Gollop, N., Chen, S., Zveibil, A., Belausov, E., and Freeman, S. 2008. Differential protein expression in Colletotrichum acutatum: changes associated with reactive oxygen species and nitrogen starvation implicated in pathogenicity on strawberry. Mol. Plant Pathol. 9:171-190. 
• Jelev, Z.J.,  Bobev, S.G., Minz, D., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. 2008. Characterisation of Colletotrichum species causing strawberry anthracnose in Bulgaria. J. Phytopathology 156:668-672.
• Gamliel-Atinsky, E., Freeman, S., Sztejnberg, A., Maymon, M., Ochoa, R., Belausov, E., and Palevsky, E. 2009. Interaction of Aceria mangiferae with Fusarium mangiferae, the causal agent of mango malformation disease. Phytopathology 99:152-159.
• Gamliel-Atinsky, E., Sztejnberg, A., Maymon, M., Shtienberg, D. and Freeman, S. 2009. Inoculum availability and conidial dispersal patterns of Fusarium mangiferae, the causal agent of mango malformation disease. Phytopathology 99:160-166 (cover page issue).
• Gamliel-Atinsky, E., Sztejnberg, A., Maymon, M., Vintal, H., Shtienberg, D. and Freeman, S. 2009. Infection dynamics of Fusarium mangiferae, causal agent of mango malformation disease. Phytopathology 99:775-781.
• McKay, S.F., Freeman, S., Minz, D., Maymon, M., Sedgley, M., Collins, G. C. and Scott, E.S. 2009. Morphological, genetic and pathogenic characterization of Colletotrichum acutatum, the cause of anthracnose of almond in Australia. Phytopathology 99:985-995.
• Gamliel-Atinsky, E., Freeman, S., Maymon, M., Belausov, E., Ochoa, R., Skoracka, A., Peña, J. and Palevsky, E. 2009. The role of eriophyoids in fungal pathogen epidemiology, mere association or true interaction? Experimental and Applied Acarology. 51:191-204.  
• Embaby, E.M., Ragab, M.E., Doug Doug, Kh. A. Al., Ahmed, R., Zveibil, A., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. 2010. First report of Colletotrichum acutatum and C. gloeosporioides causing anthracnose diseases on strawberry in Egypt. Plant Pathology 59:808.
• Zvirin, T., Herman, R., Brotman, Y., Denisov, Y., Belaausov, E., Freeman, S., and Perl-Treves, R. 2010. Differential colonization and defence responses of resistant and susceptible melon lines infected by Fusarium oxysporium race 1.2. Plant Pathology 59:576-585.
• Cohen, Y., Freeman, S., Zveibil, A., Ben Zvi, R., Nakash, Y., Biton, S., and Soroker, V. 2010. Reevaluation of factors affecting bunch drop in date palm. Hortscience 45:887-893.
• Otero-Colina, G., Rodríguez-Alvarado, G., Fernández-Pavía, S., Maymon, M., Ploetz, R. C., Aoki, T., O'Donnell, K., and Freeman, S. 2010. Identification and characterization of a novel etiological agent of mango malformation disease in México, Fusarium mexicanum sp. nov. Phytopathology 100:1176-1184 (cover page issue).
• Denisov, Y., Freeman, S., and Yarden, O. 2011. Inactivation of Snt2, a BAH/PHD-containing transcription factor, impairs pathogenicity  and increases autophagosome abundance in Fusarium oxysporum. Mol. Plant Pathol. 12:449-461 (cover page issue).        
• Sharon, M., Freeman, S. and Sneh, B. 2011. Assessment of resistance pathways induced in Arabidopsis thaliana by hypovirulent Rhizoctonia spp. isolates. Phytopathology 101:828-838. 
• Denisov, Y., Yarden, Y., and Freeman, S. 2011. The transcription factor SNT2 is involved in fungal respiration and reactive oxidative stress in Fusarium oxysporum and Neurospora crassa. Physiol. Mol. Plant Pathol. 76:137-143. 
• Zveibil, A., Mor, N., Gnayem, N., and Freeman, S. 2012. Survival, host-pathogen interaction, and management of Macrophomina phaseolina on strawberry in Israel. Plant Dis. 96:265-272. 
• Crespo, M., Cazorla, F.M., Hermoso, J.M., Guirado, E., Maymon, M., Torés,J. A., Freeman, S., and de Vicent, A. 2012. First report of mango malformation disease caused by Fusarium mangiferae in Spain. Plant Dis.96:286.
• Mendel, Z., Protasov, A., Sharon, M., Zveibil, A., Ben Yehuda, S., O'Donnell, K., Rabaglia, R., Wysoki, M. and Freeman, S. 2012. An Asian ambrosia beetle Euwallacea fornicatus and its novel symbiotic fungus Fusarium sp. pose a serious threat to the Israeli avocado industry. Phytoparasitica 40:235-238. 
• Newman, Z., Freeman, S., Biton, I., Sa'ada, D., Paz, T., Maymon, M., and Lavi, U. 2012. Molecular diagnosis of mango malformation disease and phylogeny of Fusarium mangiferae. Phytoparasitica 40:287-297.
• Pertot, I., Kuflik, T., Gordon, I., Freeman, S. and Elad, Y. 2012. Identificator: A web-based tool for visual plant disease identification, a case study on strawberry. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 84:144-154.
• Freeman S, Protasov A, Sharon M, Mohotti, K., Okon Levy N, Maymon, M., and Mendel Z 2012. Obligate feed requirement of Fusarium sp. nov., an avocado wilting agent, by the ambrosia beetle Euwallacea aff. fornicata. Symbiosis 58:245-251.
• Sinniah, G.D., Adikaram, N.K.B., Vithanage, I.S.K., Abayasekara, C.L,, Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. 2013. First report of mango malformation disease caused by Fusarium mangiferae in Sri Lanka. Plant Dis. 97: 427-427.
• Wiemann P., Sieber, C.M.K., von Bargen, K.W., Studt, L., Niehaus, E.M., Huß, K., Michielse, C., Albermann, S., Wagner, D., Espino, J.J., Bergner, S.V., Connolly, L.R., Fischer, A., Reuter, G., Kleigrewe, K., Bald, T., Wingfield B., Ophir R., Freeman S., Hippler, M., Smith, K.M., Brown, D.W., Proctor, R.H., Münsterkötter, M., Freitag, M., Humpf, H.U., Güldener, U., and Tudzynski, B. 2013. Deciphering the cryptic genome: Genome-wide analyses of the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi reveal complex regulation of secondary metabolism and novel metabolites. PLOS Pathogens 9(6):e1003475.doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003475.
• Freeman, S., Sharon, M., Maymon, M., Mendel, Z., Protasov, A., Aoki, T., Eskalen, A., and O'Donnell, K. 2013. Fusarium euwallaceae sp. nov - a symbiotic fungus of Euwallacea sp., an invasive ambrosia beetle in Israel and California. Mycologia 105:1595-1606.  
• Freeman, S., Maymon, M., Biton, A., Levin, A.G., and Shtienberg, D. 2014. Management of mango malformation disease based on a novel strategy of timing of fungicide applications combined with sanitation. Crop Protection 61:84-91.
• Freeman, S., Otero-Colina, G., Rodríguez-Alvarado, G., Fernández-Pavía, S., Maymon, M., Ploetz, R. C., Aoki, T., O'Donnell, K., and 2014. First report of mango malformation disease caused by Fusarium pseudocircinatum in Mexico. Plant Disease 98:1583. 
• Freeman, S., Shtienberg, D., Maymon, M., Levin, A.G., and Ploetz, R.C. 2014. New insights into mango malformation disease epidemiology lead to a new integrated management strategy for subtropical environments. Plant Disease 98:1456-1466.
• Dori-Bachash, M., Avrahami-Moyal, L., Protasov, A., Mendel, Z., and Freeman, S. 2015. The occurrence and pathogenicity of Geosmithia spp. and common blue-stain fungi associated with pine bark beetles in planted forests in Israel. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. (143:627-639). DOI 10.1007/s10658-015-0713-9.
• Freeman, S., Sharon, M., Dori-Bachash, M., Maymon, M., Belausov, E., Maoz, Y., Margalit, O., Protasov, A., and Mendel, Z. 2015. Symbiotic association of three fungal species throughout the life cycle of the ambrosia beetle Euwallacea nr. fornicatus. Symbiosis 68:115-128. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13199-015-0356-9
• Ploetz, R., Freeman, S., Konkol, J., Al-Abed, A., Naser, Z., Shalan, K., Barakat, R., and Israeli, Y. 2015. Tropical race 4 of Panama disease in the Middle East. Phytoparasitica 43:283–293.
• Crespo, M., Cazorla, F.M., de Vicente, A., Arrebola, E., Torés, J.A., Maymon, M., Freeman, S., Aoki, T., and O´Donnell, K. 2016. Genetic diversity of Fusarium tupiense, the main causal agent of mango malformation disease in orchards in the south of Spain. Plant Dis. 100:276-286.
• Sharma, G., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. 2016. First detailed report of  Trichothecium roseum causing post-harvest pink rot of avocado in Israel. Plant Dis. 100:856.
• Sharma, G., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. 2016. First report of Colletotrichum theobromicola causing leaf spot of Cyclamen persicum in Israel. Plant Dis. 100:1790.
• Cohen, Y., Belausov, E., Maymon, M., Elazar, M., Shulman, I., Saada, D., Shtienberg, D., Freeman, S. (2017). Fusarium mangiferae localisation in planta during initiation and development of mango malformation disease. Plant Pathology 66:926-933. 
• Niehaus, E.M., Münsterkötter, M., Proctor, R., Brown, D., Sharon, A., Idan, L., Oren-Young, L., Sieber, C.M., Novak, O., Pencik, A., Tarkowska, D., Hromadova, K., Freeman, S.,  Maymon, M., Elazar, Youssef, S.A, El-Shabrawy, E.S.M., Shalaby, A.B.A., Houterman, P., Brock, N.L., Burkhardt, I., Tsavkelova, E.A., Dickschat, J.S., Galuszka, P., Güldener, U., and Tudzynski, B. (2017). Comparative ‘omics’ of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex highlights differences in genetic potential and metabolite synthesis. Genome Biology and Evolution 8(11):3574–3599.
• Mendel, Z., Protasov, Z., Maoz, Y., Maymon, M., Miller, G., Elazar, M., and Freeman, S. (2017). The role of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) in the wilt syndrome of avocado trees in Israel. Phytoparasitica 45:341-359
• Sharma, G., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S.(2018). Epidemiology, pathology and identification of Colletotrichum including a novel species associated with avocado (Persea americana) anthracnose in Israel. Scientific Reports 7: 15839 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-15946-w.
• Maymon, M., Shpatz, U., Meller Harel, Y., Levy, E., Elkind, G., Teverovsky, E., Gofman, R., Haberman, A., Zemorski, R., Ezra, N., Levi, Y., Or, G., Galpaz, N., Israeli, Y., and Freeman, S. (2018). First report of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 causing Fusarium wilt of Cavendish bananas in Israel.Plant Dis. 02:2655.  https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1094/PDIS-05-18-0822-PDN
• Freeman, S., Miller, G., Protasov, A., Maymon, M., Elazar, M., David-Schwartz, R., Zhou,J., and Mendel, Z. (2019). Aposymbiotic interactions of three ambrosia beetle fungi with avocado trees. Fungal Ecology 39:117-130.
• Maymon, M., Sela, N., Shpatz, U., Galpaz, N., and Freeman, S. (2020). The origin and current situation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 in Israel and the Middle East. Scientific Reports 10:1590.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-58378-9. 
• Jerushalmi, S., Maymon, M., Dombrovsky, A., and Freeman, S. (2020). Effects of cold plasma, gamma and e-beam irradiations on reduction of fungal colony forming unit levels in medical cannabis inflorescences. Journal of Cannabis Research 2:12. https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-020-00020-6
• Pickel, B., Dai, N., Maymon, M., Elazar, M., Tanami, Z., A. Toamy, M., Mor, N.,Frenkel, O., and Freeman, S. (2020). Development of a reliable screening technique for determining tolerance to Macrophomina phaseolina in strawberry. European Journal of Plant Pathology 157:707-718. http://www.springer.com/home?SGWID=0-0-1003-0-0&aqId=4062218&download=1&checkval=ab549ced69b202e8de8f0f2f0b8008ed
• Jerushalmi, S., Maymon, M., Dombrovsky, A., and Freeman, S. (2020). Fungal pathogens affecting the production and quality of medical cannabis in Israel. MDPI Plants 9:882. https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/882.
•  Maymon M, Jerushalmi S, Freeman S. (2020). First report of Golovinomyces cichoracearum sensu lato on Cannabis sativa in Israel. New Disease Reports 42:11. https://www.ndrs.org.uk/article.php?id=042011
• Mendel, Z., Lynch, S.C., Eskalen, A., Protasov, A., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. (2021). What determines host range and reproductive performance of an invasive ambrosia beetle Euwallacea fornicatus; lessons from Israel and California. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4:654702. doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2021.654702
• Jerushalmi, S., Maymon, M., Dombrovsky, A., Regev, R., Schmilovitch, Z., Namdar, D., Shalev, N., Koltai, H., and Freeman, S. (2021). Effects of steam sterilization on reduction of fungal colony forming unit levels, cannabinoids and terpene levels in medical cannabis inflorescences. Scientific Reports 11:13973.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93264-y.pdf
• Sharma, G., Maymon, M., and Freeman, S. (2022). First report of Colletotrichum aenigma and C. perseae causing anthracnose disease on Capsicum annuum in Israel. Crop Protection (in press).  link
• Cohen, R., Elkabetz, M., Paris, H. S., Gur, A., Dai, N., and Freeman, S. (2022). Occurrence of Macrophomina phaseolina in Israel: challenges for disease management and crop germplasm enhancement. Plant Disease (in press). link
• Sharma, G., Maymon, M., Meshram, V., and Freeman, S. (2022). Characterization of Colletotrichum isolates from strawberry and other hosts with reference to cross-inoculation potential. MDPI Plants 11:2373. IF 4.658. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182373. 
• Meshram, V., Elazar, M., Maymon, M., Sharma, G., Shawahna, R., Charuvi, D., and   Freeman, S. (2023). Endophytic Fusarium clavum confers growth and salt tolerance in Cucumis melo. Environmental and Experimental Botany 206:105153.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2022.105153 
• 
  
• Selected Invited Chapters

• Freeman, S., and Sztejnberg, A. 1992. Rosellinia. In: Methods for Research on Soilborne Phytopathogenic Fungi, (eds. L. L. Singleton, J. D. Mihail, and C. M. Rush) pp. 71-73. American Phytopathological Society Press, MN, USA.
• Freeman, S. 1997. Pathogenicity and host specificity in the filamentous phytopathogen Colletotrichum. In: Recent Research Developments in Microbiology. Research Signpost, Trivandrum, India. 1: 47-54.
• Freeman, S., and Nicoli, G. 1999. Implementation of IPM: Strawberries. In: Integrated Pest and Disease Management in Greenhouse Crops, (eds. L. Gullino, J. van Lenteren and Y. Elad) pp. 454-472. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.
• Freeman, S., and Mwang'ombe, A.W. 2002. Crop protection through pest resistance genes. In: Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems, (ed. Karanya.) Eolss Publishers Co. Ltd., Oxford, UK, 2002.
• Elad, Y., and Freeman, S. 2002. Biological Control of Fungal Plant Pathogens. In: The Mycota, Vol. XI Agricultural Applications, (ed. F. Kempken). pp. 93-109. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg.
• Adaskaveg, J.A., Freeman, S., and Shabi. E. 2003. Anthracnose. In: Compendium of Nut Crop Diseases in Temperate Zones (eds. B. Teviotdale, T.J. Michailidis, and J.W. Pscheidt). pp. 20-21. American Phytopathological Society Press, MN, USA. 
• Freeman, S. 2005. Epidemics of Colletotrichum acutatum on strawberry. CD DISK. American Society for Horticultural Science: July 18-21 Austin, Texas. (ashs.org).
• Ploetz, R.C., and Freeman, S. 2009. Foliar, floral and soilborne diseases. pp. 231-302. In: The Mango, Botany, Production and Uses (ed. R.E. Litz). CABI Publishing, UK.

Book Editor

• "Colletotrichum: Host Specificity, Pathology and Host-Pathogen Interaction". 2000. Eds. D. Prusky, S. Freeman and M.B. Dickman. American Phytopathological Society Press, St. Paul, MN.
• Biocontrol agents: mode of action and interaction with other means of control. 2001. Eds. Y. Elad, S. Freeman and E. Monte. IOBC wprs Bulletin, Vol. 24 (3), INRA, Dijon, France

Lab Members

Research Assistants

• Marcel Maymon (BSc)
• Tanveer Ahmed (PhD)
• Sandy Suaza (PhD)

Current students

MSc Students

• 2021- Joshua Fooks, HU of Jerusalem, Alternatve measures for pathogen control in medical cannabis inflorescences. 

Ph.D. Students

• 2019- Shachar Yerushalmi, HU of Jerusalem, Identification and characterization of Alternaria alternata causal agent of inflorescence and leaf diseases in Cannabis sativa L. with an emphasis on the role of host specific toxins

Former students

MSc. Students

• 1997-2000: Zvi Shalev, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. J. Katan: Survival of Colletotrichum in soil.
• 1998-2001: Sigal Horowitz Brown, Tel Aviv University, guidance with Prof. A. Sharon: Host specificity of Colletotrichum of strawberry.
• 1999-2003: Yael Bar-Levan, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. J. Katan: Epidemiology of Colletotrichum of statice (Limonium).
• 2000-2003: Danit Klein-Gueta, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. A. Sztejnberg: Epidemiology of Fusarium subglutinans responsible for mango malformation.
• 2001-2004: Michal Sharon, Tel Aviv University, guidance with Prof. B. Sneh: Characterization of Rhizoctonia of strawberry.
• 2002-2005: Liat Amsallem, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Dr. Y. Elad: Studies of powdery mildew of strawberry.
• 2004-2007: Zvi Newman, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. U. Lavi: Diversity and control of Fusarium mangiferae, causal agent of mango malformation disease.
• 2005-2008: Ifat Abraham, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. E. Jurkevitch: Detection of Colletotrichum in statice (Limonium).
• 2009-2012: Adi Biton, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. D. Shtienberg: Epidemiology and control of mango malformation disease.
• 2013 -2016: Omer Margalit, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. Z. Mendel: Study the development and reproduction of the avocado ambrosia beetle Euwallacea nr. fornicatus and interactions with its symbiotic fungus Fusarium euwallaceae; comparison between artificial diet and host trees.
• 2016-2019: Bar Pickel, Tel Aviv University, guidance with Prof. A. Sharon: Inoculation and screening of strawberry germplasm for resistance to Macrophomina phaseolina.
• 2017-2019: Shachar Yerushalmi, HU of Jerusalem, Identification and management of fungal pathogens of medical cannabis. 
• 2018-2021  Uri Shpatz. HU of Jerusalem. Differential gene expression of different banana varieties to Panama disease
• 2018-2021 Mohamad Abo Toamy. HU of Jerusalem. Screening resistance of strawberry to Macrophomina phaseolina.

PhD Students

• 2001-2006: Sigal Horowitz Brown, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. O. Yarden: Characterization and function of pathogenicity genes in Colletotrichum.
• 2004-2009: Efrat Gamliel Atinsky, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. A Sztejnberg and Dr. E. Palevsky: Involvement of the mango bud mite in epidemiology of Fusarium mangiferae, causal agent of mango malformation disease.
• 2005-2010: Youlia Denisov. HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. O. Yarden. Identification and characterization of Fusarium oxysporum  involved in pathogenicity on muskmelon
• 2004-2011: Michal Sharon, Tel Aviv University, guidance with Prof. B. Sneh: Characterization of induced resistance using nonpathogenic Rhizoctonia.
• 2008 - 2014: Tomer Gershon, HU of Jerusalem, guidance with Prof. O. Yarden: Determination and function of ROS and pathogenicity genes in Colletotrichum acutatum.