Research Plant Pathologist,
USDA-ARS/ Adjunct Professor

Lab: 324 Vogel PBS
Tel.: (509)335-7077
Fax: (509)335-9581
E-mail: paulitz@wsu.edu
Research Specialty and Interests
My program focuses on the ecology, epidemiology, and management of root diseases in cereal-based cropping systems, including wheat, barley and Brassica
Current projects:
- Disease dynamics in the transition from conventional tillage to direct-seeding
- Survey and biogeography of Pythium and Rhizoctonia in eastern Washington
- Molecular detection and quantification of Pythium and Rhizoctonia from soil using real time PCR and ITS sequences
- Population biology and structure of Rhizoctonia in eastern Washington, using AFLP markers.
- Spatial analysis of Rhizoctonia oryzae in direct-seed systems, at scales of 0.3 m to 100 m, using GPS referenced locations.
- Cultural techniques for management of root diseases, including seed opener disturbance, residue management, fallow, variable N application, and greenbridge management.
- Population dynamics of Rhizoctonia in chemical and mechanical fallow
- Testing of chemical seed treatments for Rhizoctonia control.
- Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 on Brassica crops
- Dynamics of Rhizoctonia bare patches in direct-seed rotations
- Development of methods to screen germplasm for tolerance and resistance to Rhizoctonia and Pythium
Professional Experience
- Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS Root Disease and Biological Control Research Unit, Pullman, WA. June 2000-present.
- Associate Professor, Dept. Plant Science, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, June 1994-June 2000.
- Assistant Professor, Dept. Plant Science, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, Dec. 1989-April 1994.
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, USDA-ARS Horticultural Research Laboratory, Sept. 1987- Nov. 1989.
- Visiting assistant professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Science, Sept. 1984-Sept. 1987.
Awards/Honors/Memberships
American Phytopathological Society (APS)
Canadian Phytopathological Society
Mycological Society of America
Selected Publications
- Paulitz, T. C., Smiley, R. and Cook, R. J. 2002. Insights into the prevalence and management of soilborne cereal pathogens under direct seeding in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 24: 416-428.
- Smiley, R., Cook, R. J. and Paulitz, T. 2002. Seed treatments for small grain cereals. Oregon State University Extension Publication EM 8797.
- Smiley, R., Cook, R. J. and Paulitz, T. 2002. Controlling root and crown diseases of small grain cereals. Oregon State University Extension Publication EM 8799.
- Paulitz, T. C. 2002. First report of Rhizoctonia oryzae on pea. Plant Disease 86: 442.
- Paulitz, T. C., Adams, K., and Mazzola, M. 2003. Pythium abappressorium- a new species from eastern Washington. Mycologia 95: 80-86.
- Paulitz, T. C. and Adams, K. 2003 Composition and distribution of Pythium communities from wheat fields in eastern Washington State. Phytopathology. 93: 867-873.
- Paulitz, T. C., Smith, J. D. and Kidwell, K. K. 2003. Virulence of Rhizoctonia oryzae on wheat and barley cultivars from the Pacific Northwest. Plant Disease 87:51-55.
- Paulitz, T. C., Zhang, H. and Cook, R. J. 2003. Spatial distribution of Rhizoctonia oryzae and Rhizoctonia root rot in direct-seeded cereals. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology. 29: 295-303.
- Paulitz, T. C., Dugan, F., Chen, W., and Grünwald, N. J. 2004. First report of Pythium irregulare on lentils in the United States. Plant Disease 88: 310.
- Higginbotham, R. W., Paulitz, T. C., Campbell, K. G. and Kidwell, K. K. 2004. Evaluation of adapted wheat cultivars for tolerance to Pythium root rot. Plant Disease 88:1027-1032.
- Higginbotham, R. W., Paulitz, T. C., and Kidwell, K. K. 2004. Virulence of Pythium species isolated from wheat fields in eastern Washington. Plant Disease 88:1021-1026.
- Paulitz, T. C. and Schroeder, K. L. 2005. A new method for quantification of Rhizoctonia solani and R. oryzae from soil. Plant Disease 89: 767-772.
- Okubara, P. A., Schroeder, K. L., and Paulitz, T. C. 2005. Real-time polymerase chain reaction: Applications to studies on soilborne pathogens. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 27: 1-14.
- Okubara, P. A. and Paulitz, T. C. 2005. Molecular bases of root defense responses. Plant and Soil 274: 221-232.
- Schillinger, W. C. and Paulitz, T. C. 2006. Reduction of Rhizoctonia bare patch of wheat with barley rotation. Plant Disease 90:302-306
- Schroeder, K. L. and Paulitz, T. C. 2006. Assessment of root diseases on wheat and barley in the transition from conventional tillage to direct seeding. Plant Disease: in press
- Feng, P. C., Baley, G. J., Clinton, W. P, Bunkers, G. J., Alabhai, M F., Paulitz, T. C. and Kidwell, K. K. 2005. Glyphosate inhibits rust diseases in glyphosate-resistant wheat and soybean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 102: 17290-17295.
- Paulitz, T. C., Okubara, P. A. and Schillinger, W. F. 2006. First report of damping-off of canola caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 in Washington State. Plant Disease 90:829.
- Schroeder, K. L., Okubara, P. A., Tambong, J. T., Lévesque, C. A. and Paulitz, T. C. 2006. Identification and quantification of pathogenic Pythium spp. from soils in eastern Washington using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Phytopathology 96:637-647.
Professional Activities
2004-present; Senior Editor, American Phytopathogical Society Press
2003-present; Patent Committee, USDA-ARS Pacific Region
2002-present; Member, W-147 Biological Control of Soilborne Pathogens
1999-2002; Member of U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative Review Panel
2001-present; Section Editor, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology
1998-2002; Section Editor, Plant and Soil
1994-1997; Senior Editor, Phytopathology
1991-1994; Associate Editor, Phytopathology
1998-2000; Junior and Senior Director, Board of the Canadian Phytopathological Society.