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Cereal Cyst : Molecular ldentification and Quantification, and Screening for Resistance in

Fateh TOUMI

...... 1111111

GHENT ft;.~, FACULTY OF UNIVERSITY ~ BIOSCIENCE ENGINEERING

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Promoters: Prof. Em. dr. ir. Maurice Moens

Department of Crop Protection

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering

Ghent University, Belgium

Prof. dr. ir. Nicole Viaene

Department of Biology Faculty of Science Ghent University, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Merelbeke, Belgium

Prof. dr. ir. Luc Tirry

Department of Crop Protection Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Ghent University, Belgium

Dean: Prof. Dr. ir. Marc Van Meirvenne

Rector: Prof. Dr. Anne De Paepe

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Fateh TOUMI

Cereal cyst nematodes: molecular identification and quantification, and screening for resistance in wheat

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for

the degree of Doctor (PhD) in Applied Biological Sciences

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Dutch translation of the title:

Graancystenematoden: moleculaire identificatie en kwantificatie, en screening voor resistentie in tarwe.

Illustration on the front cover: from up left to right, enlarged white females of latipons attached to roots; field screening for resistance to H. avenae, symptoms of H. filipjevi damage in the field, and second-stage juvenile of H. filipjevi.

Illustration on the back cover: qPCR from dilution series of DNA extracted from 120 J2 to quantify H. avenae.

Citation:

Toumi, F. (2017). Cereal Cyst Nematodes: molecular identification and quantification, and screening for resistance in wheat. PhD thesis, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, 228 p.

ISBN 978-90-5989-963-6

The author and promoters give the authorisation to consult and to copy parts of this work for personal use only. Every other use is subject to the copyright laws. Permission to reproduce any material contained in this work should be obtained from the author.

The promoters:

Prof. dr. ir. Maurice Moens Prof. dr. ir. Nicole Viaene Prof. dr. ir. Luc Tirry

The author: ir. Fateh Toumi

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Sonia, I am

Very weak to write about your strength!!!

Very strong to be a friend of you!!!

Very calm to write about your patience!!!

Very jealous of your success!!!

Very classic to write about your beauty!!!

You are the light of our life, my guide, my love.

I am coming back very soon.

Soso, I love you!!!

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my promoter Prof. Maurice Moens, for the constant support of my Ph.D. study and research, for his motivation, and for sharing with me his immense wealth of knowledge. I had the unique privilege of being his master and Ph.D. student. The knowledge acquired is highly appreciated and valued, and now constitutes a strong foundation for my future achievements and success. Also, I would like to thank his wife Mrs. Monique for her kindness.

I am profoundly grateful to my co-promoter Prof. Nicole Viaene for her supervision (including strong support for my scientific writing skills), her kindness, great ideas, and patience. I thank her for all the valuable time and effort she generously offered to me. Warm regards for all your family members Patrick, Nuria, and Robin.

I also wish to thank Prof. Luc Tirry for his help, encouragement and support during my Ph.D. research and administration issues. Thanks so much for your smiley disposition which, combined with your care and concern, was always very reassuring!

My profound gratitude goes to Dr Julie Nicol who guided me during both the MSc and Ph.D. scholarships and has been a role model throughout my research career. She provided