UGM Inaugurates Professor Ani Widiastuti in Molecular Mycology
Professor Ani Widiastuti from the Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM) was officially inaugurated as a Professor in the field of Molecular Mycology. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Senate Hall, Central Building, on Tuesday (Apr. 29, 2025), where she delivered her inaugural speech titled “The Use of Molecular Technology in Studying Pathogenic Fungi and Plant Disease Management.”
In her address, Professor Widiastuti emphasized the fundamental role of plants in sustaining life and the serious consequences plant health problems pose for food systems, human life, and the global ecosystem.
Plants are the foundation of life on Earth. Any threat to their health is a threat to food systems, human well-being, and the planet we share,” she stated.
Born in Kayem, Pati, in 1976, Professor Widiastuti is the eldest daughter of two mathematics teachers. Her interest in plant science and pathology began during her undergraduate studies. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Plant Pathology at UGM in 1993. She completed her master’s in Phytopathology at UGM from 1999 to 2002.
She began her academic career as a lecturer at Faperta UGM in 2005. She obtained her doctoral degree from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in 2012, with a dissertation titled “Heat Shock-Induced Resistance Against Melon Gray Mold and Strawberry Crown Rot.”
Professor Widiastuti’s research and teaching focus on the interaction between pathogenic fungi and plants, using molecular approaches for disease identification and management.
Fungi and oomycetes are major plant pathogens that reduce crop yield and quality. We can’t rely solely on conventional methods—advanced molecular tools are essential,” she explained.
She noted that identifying fungi within complex species groups requires multigene analysis, as specific primers often fail to distinguish morphologically similar species.
“Microsatellites are key molecular markers for studying fungal pathogen diversity and population genetics, such as in Phytophthora palmivora, an important oomycete with a complex life cycle,” she said.
Professor Widiastuti also stressed the importance of monitoring inter-island seed distribution to prevent the spread of plant diseases across Indonesia’s archipelago.
“Strict supervision is needed to prevent disease outbreaks that could threaten national agricultural productivity,” she added.
In closing, she expressed hope that molecular technology would continue to advance and be used wisely to maintain ecosystem balance and benefit all living beings.
Author: Rahma Khoirunnisa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Donnie