"Rpt5, Rpg1, and rpg4/5: Characterizing Broad Resistance against Important Necrotrophic and Biotrophic Fungal Pathogens of Barley" Dr. Robert Brueggeman Associate Professor, Barley Breeding/Molecular Genetics Robert A. Nilan Endowed Chair in Barley Research and Education Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, WSU Abstract Two pathogens that threaten barley production worldwide are the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora […]

Labor Day

"Retrospective and Prospective Look at Discoveries from Verticillium Comparative Genomics" Dr. Steve Klosterman, Research Molecular Biologist United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Salinas, California Fungal pathogens in the genus Verticillium cause Verticillium wilt of high value crops, ornamentals, and trees worldwide. Today we recognize 10 species of Verticillium; the most notorious among these […]

"Ecology and Management of Stemphylium Leaf Spot of Spinach" Kayla A. Spawton, PhD Candidate Defense Seminar Abstract Stemphylium leaf spot of spinach has re-emerged as a disease of economic concern for fresh market, processing, and seed production. The disease was first described in 2001 as being caused by Stemphylium botryosum, based on fungal morphology1. After […]

"Bacterial Ice Nucleation" Purnima Puri, M.S. Student, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University Abstract Did you know plant pathogens can facilitate ice formation? Pure water freezes at about -38°C, but in the presence of agents like dust particles or microorganisms, this process occurs at temperatures as high as -2°C (Lukas et al. 2022). Certain […]

"Disease-Suppressive Soils as a Tool for Disease Management" Roshani Baral, M.S. Student, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University Abstract As soilborne diseases continue to challenge crop production, suppressive soils offer a way to manage the disease condition even in the presence of a susceptible host and a virulent pathogen. To date, several microbial species […]

"Phytochemical Production and Applications to Plant Pathology" Jessica Schallon, M.S. Student, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University Abstract Plants have an incredible capacity to manufacture even very complex chemicals. For a long time, plants have served as organic chemistry factories, producing compounds that have been found to be helpful as human medicine (Houghton 2001). […]

"Novel Molecular Approaches to Identify and Control Plant Parasitic Nematodes" Scott Anderson, PhD Student, Exit Seminar, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University Abstract Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are responsible for 10-15% crop loss worldwide amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars of crop loss annually11; and in the U.S. alone, the annual crop loss […]

"Mycoremediation: The Potential Effect of Fungi on Remediating Heavy Metal Pollution" Kristen Bullough, PhD Candidate, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University Abstract Mycoremediation can be used as a bioremediation tool to remove heavy metals and other pollutants from contaminated sites, including soil and wastewater. Remediating heavy-metal pollution specifically is becoming critical to maintaining important […]

"Genome Evolution of Plant Pathogenic and Symbiotic Fungi" Megan Nickerson, PhD Candidate, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University Abstract Kingdom Fungi represents a highly diverse lineage of Eukaryota, with an estimated 2 - 11 million fungal species (Blackwell 2011; Hawksworth and Lücking 2017). Land plant associations have been central to the diversification of fungi […]

"Cal Poly Strawberry Center: a New Model for Applied Research and Grower Outreach" Dr. Gerald J. Holmes, Director Cal Poly Strawberry Center, San Luis Obispo, CA Abstract The Cal Poly Strawberry Center is a partnership between the California Strawberry Commission and Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo. The Center was established in 2014 […]

"Seed Transmission of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata, and Efficacy of Bactericides for Control of the Pathogen in Beet and Swiss Chard Seed Production" Stephanie Ann Crane, M.S. in Agriculture Mount Vernon Research and Extension Station, DuToit Laboratory, Exit Seminar Abstract Bacterial leaf spot (BLS), caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata (Psa), is an economically important […]