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Expertise

Plant Pathology, Biological Control, Microbial Ecology, Host Plant Resistance.

Education

• Ph.D. 1997 (University of Minnesota); M.Sc.
• 1993 (University of Minnesota)
• Ing.Agr. 1983 (Universidad de la República, Uruguay)

Experience Summary

Plant pathologist/microbiologist with >25 yrs experience with Plant Protection development programs. Bioproduction program leader at INIA. Research is focused on developing management strategies for minimizing the impact of diseases and pests on forages, field and horticultural crops, and forest ecosystems. Works in collaboration with the breeding programs in the development of new varieties with improved disease resistance. International project experience. Represents INIA at PROCISUR-IICA Platform for Genetic Resources. Current leader of collaborative biological control program with AgResearch, NZ and the University of Minnesota, USA. Faculty appointment at the Graduate School, College of Agriculture, University of the Republic.

Research has been published in numerous refereed scientific papers and books; invited conference presentations. Student advisory on development and implementation of beneficial microbes in plant protection and growth enhancement. Membership on Government Public Advisory Committees.

Positions and Honors

Academic and Research Positions/Employment

• 1983-1990: Research Associate, Plant Protection, Est. Exp. La Estanzuela, CIAAB, MGAP.
• 1991-1993: M.Sc. and Ph.D. Dept. Plant Pathology, Univ. of Minnesota, EE.UU.
• 1993-1997: Assistant Researcher, Plant Protection, INIA La Estanzuela.
• 1997-2000: Associate Researcher, Plant Protection, INIA La Estanzuela.
• 2001-2003: Associate Researcher, Plant Protection, INIA Las Brujas.
• 2003-present: Senior Researcher, Plant Protection, INIA Las Brujas.
• 2006-present: Professor, Graduate School, College of Agriculture, University of the Republic, Uruguay.

Awards

• National Agency for Research and Innovation, Advisory Committee of the National Research System, www.sni.org.uy
• National Research Award (Fondo Nacional de Investigadores) 2002-2004, Nivel II. Ministry of Education and Culture (Law 16.736, Art. 388; Decreto 329 / 998)
• National Research Award (Fondo Nacional de Investigadores) 1999-2001, Nivel II. Ministry of Education and Culture (Law 16.736, Art. 388; Decreto 329 / 998)
• AOFG-Foreign Student Tuition Scholarship for Doctoral Dissertation. Institute of International Studies and Programs, Univ. of Minnesota. 1994-1997

Memberships on Government Public Advisory Committees and Scientific Societies

• National Representative at PROCISUR-IICA, Interamerican Institute for Agricultural Sciences
• Agreement INIA-CFANS/UMN (College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Univ. of Minnesota). Nov 1997-present. Coordinator.
• National Committee of Genetic Resources.
• National Committee for Coordination on Forest Protection.
• Coordination Committee INIA/University of the Republic.
• ANII-National Agency for Research and Development, Uruguay. Advisory Committee.
• SENACYT-National Secretary of Science & Technology, Republic of Panamá. Peer Reviewer Forum.
• CONACYT-National Council of Science & Technology, Republic of Paraguay. PRONII Consultant.
• SUFIT (Uruguayan Society of Phytopathology)
• ALF (Latinamerican Association of Phytopathology)
• APS (American Phytopathological Society)
• OIP (Office of International Programs): Research Advisory Board, APS appointed officer 2004
• Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society

Publications (selected peer-reviewed)

• Pérez, C.; Wingfield, M.J.; Altier, N.; Simeto, S.; Blanchette, R.A. 2011. Puccinia psidii infecting cultivated Eucalyptus and native Myrtaceae in Uruguay. Mycological Progress 10: 273-282.
• Lindström, K.; Murwira, M.; Willems, A.; Altier, N. 2010. The biodiversity of beneficial microbe-host mutualism: the case of rhizobia. Research in Microbiology 161: 453-463. INVITED REVIEW.
• Höfte, M.; Altier, N. 2010. Fluorescent pseudomonads as biocontrol agents for sustainable agricultural systems. Research in Microbiology 161: 464-471. INVITED REVIEW
• Pérez, C.; Wingfield, M.J.; Slippers, B.; Altier, N.; Blanchette, R.A. 2010. Endophytic and canker-associated Botryosphaeriaceae occurring on non-native Eucalyptus and native Myrtaceae trees in Uruguay. Fungal Diversity 41: 53-69.
• Pérez, C.; Wingfield, M.J.; Altier, N.; Blanchette, R.A. 2009. Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae associated with Eucalyptus leaf diseases and stem cankers in Uruguay. Forest Pathology 39: 349-360.
• Quagliotto, L.; Azziz, G.; Bajsa, N.; Vaz, P.; Pérez, C.; Ducamp, F.; Cadenazzi, M.; Altier, N.; Arias, A. 2009. Three native Pseudomonas fluorescens strains tested under growth chamber and field conditions as biocontrol agents against damping-off in alfalfa. Biological Control 51: 42-50.
• Pérez, C.; Wingfield, M.J.; Slippers, B.; Altier, N.; Blanchette, R.A. 2009. Neofusicoccum eucalyptorum, a Eucalyptus pathogen, on native Myrtaceae in Uruguay. Plant Pathology 58: 964-970.
• Pérez, C.; De Beer, Z.W.; Altier, N.; Wingfield, M.J.; Blanchette, R.A. 2008. Discovery of the eucalypt pathogen Quambalaria eucalypti infecting a non-eucalyptus host in Uruguay. Australasian Plant Pathology 37: 600-604.
• Pérez, C.; Altier, N.; Simeto, S.; Wingfield, M.J.; Slippers, B.; Blanchette, R.A. 2008. Botryosphaeriaceae from Eucalyptus and Native Myrtaceae in Uruguay. Agrociencia (Uruguay), Vol XII No.2: 19-30.
• Zerbino, S.; Altier, N.; Morón, A.; Rodríguez, C. 2008. Evaluación de la macrofauna del suelo en sistemas de producción en siembra directa y con pastoreo. Agrociencia (Uruguay), Vol XII No.1: 44-55.
• Zerbino, M.S.; Rodríguez, C.; Altier, N. 2006. Earthworms in Agro-Ecosystems of Uruguay. Caribbean Journal of Science Vol 42 No.3: 315-324.
• Real, D.; Altier, N. 2005. Breeding for disease resistance, forage and seed production in Lotononis bainesii Baker. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 48:1-8.
• Bajsa, N.; Quagliotto, L.; Yanes, M.L.; Vaz, P.; Azziz, G.; De La Fuente, L.; Bagnasco, P.; Davyt, D.; Pérez, C.; Ducamp, F.; Altier, N.; Arias, A. 2005. Selección de Pseudomonas fluorescentes nativas para controlar enfermedades de implantación en praderas. Agrociencia (Uruguay) Vol IX No.1 y No.2: 321-325.
• Yanes, M.L.; Fernández, A.; Arias, A.; Altier, N. 2004. Método para evaluar protección contra Pythium debaryanum y promoción del crecimiento de alfalfa por Pseudomonas fluorescentes. Agrociencia (Uruguay) Vol VIII No.2: 23-32.
• Altier, N.A.; Groth, J.V. 2005. Characterization of aggressiveness and vegetative compatibility diversity of Fusarium oxysporum associated with crown and root rot of birdsfoot trefoil. Lotus Newsletter 35: 57-72.
• Altier, N.A.; Kinkel, L.L. 2005. Epidemiological studies on crown and root rot of birdsfoot trefoil in Uruguay. Lotus Newsletter 35: 40-56.
• De La Fuente, L.; Quagliotto, L.; Bajsa, N.; Fabiano, E.; Altier, N.; Arias, A. 2002. Inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens biocontrol strains does not affect the symbiosis between rhizobia and forage legumes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 34: 545-548.
• Pérez, C.; De La Fuente, L.; Arias, A.; Altier, N. 2001. Uso de Pseudomonas fluorescentes nativas para el control de enfermedades de implantación en Lotus corniculatus L. Agrociencia (Uruguay) Vol.V No.1: 41-47.
• Altier, N.; Ehlke, N.J.; Rebuffo, M. 2000. Divergent selection for resistance to Fusarium root rot in birdsfoot trefoil. Crop Science. 40:670-675.
• Altier, N.A.; Thies, J.A. 1995. Identification of resistance to Pythium seedling diseases in alfalfa using a culture plate method. Plant Dis. 79:341-346.

Consultancies

• Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries – Uruguay, contribution to 11st Ordinary Meeting of Comisión de Recursos Genéticos para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (CGRFA-FAO), Junio 11-15, 2007, Roma, Italia. Altier et al., 2007. CGRFA-11/07/Circ.2. Recursos Genéticos Microbianos en el Simposio de Recursos Genéticos para America Latina y el Caribe, Contribución de Uruguay, cited in CGRFA-11/07/15.3 - La Biodiversidad de los Microorganismos e Insectos para la Alimentación y la Agricultura: Situación y Necesidades
Ministry of Environment – Uruguay. Agreement of Cooperation INIA/Proyecto SNAP, “Implementation of the National System of Protected Areas of Uruguay” (DINAMA/MVOTMA-PNUD/GEF, URU/05/001). Altier and Azzíz, 2007. Microbial Genetic Resources. State of knowledge, valorization and conservation within the National System of Protected Areas of Uruguay. 32p.