Catching cereal killers: a multi-omics approach to disentangle yeast-Fusarium interactions in the phyllosphere

Gouka, L. (2025)

Doctoral Thesis

The overarching goal of this PhD thesis is to investigate the taxonomic and functional diversity of yeasts in the wheat phyllosphere and their interactions with the mycotoxigenic fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. This work combines in vitro, in vivo, and in planta bioassays with genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic approaches to explore the functional potential of phyllosphere yeasts for disease control and food safety.

• Phyllosphere
• Wheat
• Yeast
• Fusarium graminearum
• Volatiles
• 2-phenylethanol
• Deoxynivalenol

• All authors: Gouka, L.
• Supervisor: Raaijmakers, J.M.; Hestbjerg Hansen, L.
• Co-supervisor: Cordovez, V.
• Committee: Meijer, A.H.; Kovács, A.T.; Ram, A.; Turchetti, B.; Berendsen, R.L.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute of Biology (IBL), Faculty of Science, Leiden University
• Date: 2025-10-15
• Title of host publication: NIOO-thesis
• ISBN (print): 9789464739138
• Name: 230
• Sponsorship: Novo Nordisk Foundation