Carolee T. Bull, Ph.D.

Carolee T. Bull, Ph.D.

  • Department Head, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology
  • Professor of Plant Pathology and Systematic Bacteriology
  • Director, Penn State Microbiome Center
212B Buckhout Lab (office)
111 Buckhout Lab (lab)
University Park, PA 16802

Areas of Expertise

  • Phytobacteriology
  • Translational Taxonomy
  • Systematic Bacteriology
  • Biological Control
  • Sustainable and Organic Agriculture

Websites

Education

  • B.S., Botany, Ohio University
  • M.S., Plant Pathology, Washington State University
  • Ph.D., Plant Pathology, Oregon State University

Other Affiliations

  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Systems Science and Policy, California State University Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA.
  • Member, International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP, 2005-present).
  • Secretary, Judicial Commission ICSP (2014 -2020), Member (2014-2023).
  • Convener, International Society of Plant Pathology Committee on Taxonomy of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria (2006-present; Member 2000-present).

Feature Stories

Bull elected fellow of American Phytopathological Society, August 24, 2020

Plant Pathologist Aid Investigation of Lettuce Disease, May 28, 2020

Mighty Microbiome, Ag Science Magazine. March 2020

Trailblazers: Carolee Bull Investigates the Microbiome, September 18, 2019

College of Agricultural Sciences Department Head Honored by Alma Mater by Amy Duke, November 1, 2017.

Bull Gives Doidge Memorial Lecture at SASPP Congress and Collaborates at FABI, January 17, 2017.

Current Research in the Bull Lab by Carolee Bull, December 19, 2016.

Recap of “How to Be Your Own Best Mentor" Workshop with Dr. Carolee Bull by Kelly Marie Ness, March 9, 2016.

Other Stories

Penn State Microbiome Center and GALT Enter Collaboration, August 4, 2020.

Awards

  • Fellow, American Phytopathological Society, (August 2020). Bull was recognized for contributions in translational taxonomy, including the use or development of taxonomic frameworks and methods for identification, classification and description of novel bacterial plant and mushroom pathogens; improved detection methods; descriptions of natural and artificial host ranges; and development of integrated disease management systems in conventional and organic systems.
  • USDA Secretary's Honor Award for Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity (2013). The USDA Secretary's Honor Award is the highest award in agriculture for service to the nation.
  • Administrator's Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity Award, USDA/ARS (2012).
  • Mentor of the Year Award, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center at California State University Monterey Bay (inaugural; 2012).
  • Science and Technology Hall of Fame Inductee, Sewickley Academy (inaugural; 2015).
  • Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity Award, USDA/ARS/PWA (2012).
  • Research Fellow, Office for Economic Cooperation and Development (2004).
  • Special Service Award, USDA/ARS, HCRL Fresno, CA (1997).
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (1991).
  • Savoury Outstanding Graduate Student, College of Agricultural Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis (1992): for outstanding scholarship and university service.
  • Nellie Townley Heald Scholarship, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman (1987): for outstanding contributions to the department.
  • Young Botanist Award, Botanical Society of America, St. Louis, MO (1985).
  • Elizabeth Lash Brague Memorial Scholarship, Ohio University, Athens (1982).
  • James Cavalier Scholarship, Sewickley Academy, Sewickley, PA (1980).

Current External Funding

  • Project Director: USDA NIFA SCRI - Integrated Management of Emerging Seedborne Bacterial Diseases of Cucurbits and Chenopods, $3,760,000 + equivalent matching (2019 - 2024).
  • Co-PI (German Sandoya, PI), USDA AMS Specialty Crop Multi-State Program, Improving Lettuce Cultivars against Bacterial Leaf Spot (BLS) Through Breeding,Genetics, and Study of the BLS-Lettuce Interaction. $850,816 (2020 - 2023).
  • Co-PI (Kevin Hockett, PI), USDA NIFA Equipment Grants Program, Prospecting Microbial Diversity and FunctionsAssociated with Agricultural, Environmental, and Food Systems via the Prospector Instrument. $130,875 (2020 - 2021).
  • Co-PI (David Beyer, PI), USDA NIFA OREI, Collaborative Research and Extension Network Addressing Challenges for Sustainable Organic Mushroom Production, $959,991 (2017 - 2021)

Undergraduate Research Leading to Publications

Former undergraduate researchers supervised by C.T. Bull are listed in bold)

  • Bull, C. T., Gebben, S. J., Goldman, P. H., Trent, M. A., Hayes, R. J. 2015. Host genotype and hypersensitive reaction influence population levels of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians in lettuce. Phytopathology, 105:316-324.
  • Bull, C. T., Ortiz-Lytle, M. C., Ibarra, A. G., du Toit, L. J., and Reynolds G. J. 2015. First report of bacterial blight of crucifers caused by Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis in Minnesota on arugula (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa). Plant Disease, 99:415. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-14-1020-PDN.
  • Hayes, R. J., Trent, M., Mou, B. Simko, I., Gebben, S. J. and Bull, C. T. 2014. Baby leaf lettuce germplasm enhancement: developing diverse populations with resistance to bacterial leaf spot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians. HortScience, 49:679-687.
  • Rubio, I., Hiddink, G., Asma, M. and Bull, C. T. 2012. First report of the crucifer pathogen Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis causing bacterial blight on radish (Raphanus sativus) in Germany. Plant Disease, 96:904.
  • Schofield, D. A., Bull, C. T., Rubio, I., Wechter, W. P., Westwater, C., Molineux, I. J. 2012. Development of an engineered bioluminescent reporter phage for the detection of bacterial blight of crucifers. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 78:3592–3598.
  • Jardini, T. M., Koike, S.T., and Bull, C.T. 2011. First report of bacterial streak of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in California caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. apii. Plant Disease, 96:285.
  • Bull, C. T. and Rubio, I. 2011. First report of bacterial blight of crucifers caused by Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis in Australia. Plant Disease, DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-11-10-0804.
  • Bull, C. T., Clarke, C. R., Cai, R., Vinatzer, B. A., Jardini, T. M., Koike, S. T. 2011. Multilocus sequence typing of Pseudomonas syringae sensu lato confirms previously described genomospecies and permits rapid identification of P. syringae pv. coriandricola and P. syringae pv. apii causing bacterial leaf spot on parsley. Phytopathology, 101:847-858.
  • Mauzey, S. J., Koike, S. T. and Bull, C. T. 2010. First report of bacterial blight of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) caused by Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis in California. Plant Disease, 95:71 doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-10-0642.
  • Bull, C. T., Mauzey, S. J. and Koike, S. T. 2010. First report of bacterial blight of Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea L. var. gemmifera) caused by Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis in California. Plant Disease, 94:1375 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-07-10-0538.
  • Bull, C. T., Huerta A. I., Koike, S. T. 2009. First report of blossom blight of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) caused by Pseudomonas marginalis in California. Plant Disease, 12: 1350. DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-93-12-1350B.

Publications

Clarifying the taxonomy of the causal agent of bacterial leaf spot of lettuce through a polyphasic approach reveals that Xanthomonas cynarae Trébaol et al. 2000 emend. Timilsina et al. 2019 is a later heterotypic synonym of Xanthomonas hortorum Vauterin et al. 1995
Systematic and Applied Microbiology, Morinière, Lucas, Burlet, Alexandre, Rosenthal, Emma R., Nesme, Xavier, Portier, Perrine, Bull, Carolee T., Lavire, Céline, Fischer-Le Saux, Marion, Bertolla, Franck, 2020

Transfer of Xanthomonas campestris pv. arecae and X. campestris pv. musacearum to X. vasicola (Vauterin) as X. vasicola pv. arecae comb. nov. And X. vasicola pv. musacearum comb. nov. And description of X. vasicola pv. vasculorum pv. nov.
PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Studholme, David J., Wicker, Emmanuel, Abrare, Sadik Muzemil, Aspin, Andrew, Bogdanove, Adam, Broders, Kirk, Dubrow, Zoe, Grant, Murray, Jones, Jeffrey B., Karamura, Georgina, Lang, Jillian, Leach, Jan, Mahuku, George, Nakato, Gloria Valentine, Coutinho, Teresa, Smith, Julian, Bull, Carolee T., 2020

Bacterial brown pit, a new disease of edible mushrooms caused by mycetocola sp.
Plant disease, Hamidizade, Mozhde, Taghavi, S. Mohsen, Martins, Samuel J., Herschlag, Rachel A., Hockett, Kevin, Bull, Carolee T., Osdaghi, Ebrahim, 2020

Comparing approaches for capturing bacterial assemblages associated with symptomatic (Bacterial Blotch) and asymptomatic mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) caps
Phytobiomes Journal, Martins, Samuel J., Trexler, Ryan V., Vieira, Fabricio R., Pecchia, John A., Kandel, Prem P., Hockett, Kevin L., Bell, Terrence H., Bull, Carolee T., 2020

Comparing approaches for capturing bacterial assemblages associated with symptomatic (bacterial blotch) and asymptomatic mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) caps
Phytobiomes Journal, Martins, Samuel, Trexler, Ryan, Vieira, Fabricio, Pecchia, John, Kandel, Prem, Hockett, Kevin, Bell, Terrence, Bull, Carolee, 2020

The emergence of microbiome centres.
Nature microbiology, Martiny JBH, None, Whiteson, K, Bohannan BJM, None, David, L, Hynson, N, McFall-Ngai, M, Rawls, J, Schmidt, T, Abdo, Z, Blaser, M, Bordenstein, S, Bréchot, C, Bull, Carolee, Dorrestein, P, Eisen, J, Garcia-Pichel, F, Gilbert, J, Hofmockel, K, Holtz, M, Knight, R, Mark Welch, D, McDonald, D, Methé, B, Mouncey, N, Mueller, N, Pfister, C, Proctor, L, Sachs, J, 2020

Genetic analysis of resistance to bacterial leaf spot in the heirloom lettuce cultivar Reine des Glaces
Molecular Breeding, Sandoya, Germán V., Maisonneuve, Brigitte, Truco, Maria Jose, Bull, Carolee T., Simko, Ivan, Trent, Mark, Hayes, Ryan J., Michelmore, Richard W., 2019

100 Years Since Tolaas: Bacterial Blotch of Mushrooms in the 21st Century
PLANT DISEASE, Osdaghi, Ebrahim, Martins, Samuel, Ramos-Sepulveda, Laura, Vieira, Fabricio, Pecchia, John, Beyer, David, Bell, Terrence, Yang, Yinong, Hockett, Kevin, Bull, Carolee, 2019

Request for revision of the statutes of the international committee on systematics of prokaryotes
International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology, Whitman, William B., Bull, Carolee Theresa, Busse, Hans Jürgen, Fournier, Pierre Edouard, Oren, Aharon, Ventura, Stefano, 2019

Inference of convergent gene acquisition among Pseudomonas syringae strains isolated from watermelon, cantaloupe, and squash
Frontiers in Microbiology, Newberry, Eric A., Ebrahim, Mohamed, Timilsina, Sujan, Zlatković, Nevena, Obradović, Aleksa, Bull, Carolee T., Goss, Erica M., Huguet-Tapia, Jose C., Paret, Mathews L., Jones, Jeffrey B., Potnis, Neha, 2019

Genome-based evolutionary history of Pseudomonas spp
Environmental microbiology, Hesse, Cedar, Schulz, Frederik, Bull, Carolee Theresa, Shaffer, Brenda T., Yan, Qing, Shapiro, Nicole, Hassan, Karl A., Varghese, Neha, Elbourne, Liam D.H., Paulsen, Ian T., Kyrpides, Nikos, Woyke, Tanja, Loper, Joyce E., 2018

Bacterial gall of Loropetalum chinense caused by Pseudomonas amygdali pv. loropetali pv. nov.
Plant disease, Harmon, Carrie Lapaire, Timilsina, Sujan, Bonkowski, John, Jones, Debra D., Sun, Xiaoan, Vallad, Gary E., Sepulveda, Laura Ramos, Bull, Carolee Theresa, Jones, Jeffrey B., 2018

Genetic diversity and virulence of wheat and barley strains of xanthomonas translucens from the upper midwestern United States
PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Curland, Rebecca D., Gao, Liangliang, Bull, Carolee Theresa, Vinatzer, Boris A., Dill-Macky, Ruth, Van Eck, Leon, Ishimaru, Carol A., 2018

Genetic diversity and virulence of wheat and barley strains of Xanthomonas translucens from the Upper Midwestern United States.
Phytopathology, Currland, Rebecca, Gao, Liangliang, Bull, Carolee, Von Eck, Leon, Vinatzer, Boris, Dill-Macky, Ruth, Ishimaru, Carol, 2017

First report of bacterial leaf spot caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato on kale in california
Plant disease, Koike, S. T., Alger, E. I., Ramos Sepulveda, L., Bull, C. T., 2017

Angular leaf spot of cucurbits is associated with genetically diverse pseudomonas syringae strains
Plant disease, Newberry, E. A., Jardini, T. M., Rubio, I., Roberts, P. D., Babu, B., Koike, S. T., Bouzar, H., Goss, E. M., Jones, J. B., Bull, Carolee Theresa, Paret, M. L., 2016

The US Culture Collection Network Lays the Foundation for Progress in Preservation of Valuable Microbial Resources
PHYTOPATHOLOGY, McCluskey, Kevin, Alvarez, Anne, Bennett, Rick, Bokati, Deepak, Boundy-Mills, Kyria, Brown, Daniel, Bull, Carolee, Coffey, Michael, Dreaden, Tyler, Duke, Clifford, Dye, Greg, Ehmke, Erin, Eversole, Kellye, Fenstermacher, Kristi, Geiser, David, Glaeser, Jessie, Greene, Stephanie, Gribble, Lisa, Griffith, M., Hanser, Kathryn, Humber, Richard, Johnson, Barbara, Kermode, Anthony, Krichevsky, Micah, Laudon, Matt, Leach, Jan, Leslie, John, May, Meghan, Melcher, Ulrich, Nobles, David, Fonseca, Natalia, Robinson, Sara, Ryan, Matthew, Scott, James, Silflow, Carolyn, Vidaver, Anne, Webb, Kimberly, Wertz, John, Yentsch, Sara, Zehr, Sarah, 2016

Multilocus sequence typing of strains of bacterial spot of lettuce collected in the United States
Phytopathology, Fayette, Joubert, Raid, Richard, Roberts, Pamela D., Jones, Jeffrey B., Pernezny, Ken, Bull, Carolee Theresa, Goss, Erica M., 2016

Practical Benefits of Knowing the Enemy
Annual Review of Phytopathology, Bull, Carolee Theresa, Koike, Steven T., 2015

Host genotype and hypersensitive reaction influence population levels of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians in lettuce
PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Bull, Carolee Theresa, Gebben, Samantha J., Goldman, Polly H., Trent, Mark, Hayes, Ryan J., 2015

First report of bacterial blight of crucifers caused by Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis in Minnesota on Arugula (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa)
Plant disease, Bull, Carolee Theresa, Ortiz-Lytle, M. C., Ibarra, A. G., du Toit, L. J., Reynolds, G., 2015

Novel primers and PCR protocols for the specific detection and quantification of Sphingobium suberifaciens in situ
Molecular and Cellular Probes, Bull, Carolee Theresa, Goldman, Polly H., Martin, Kendall J., 2014

In memoriam--John M. Young (1942-2013).
International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology, Bull, Carolee, Coutinho, T, Denny, T, Firrao, G, Fischer-Le Saux, M, Li, X, Saddler, G, Scortichini, M, Stead, D, Takikawa, Y, 2014

Integrated Biological and Cultural Practices Can Reduce Crop Rotation Period of Organic Strawberries
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, Muramoto, Joji, Gliessman, Stephen R., Koike, Steven T., Shennan, Carol, Bull, Carolee T., Klonsky, Karen, Swezey, Sean, 2014

The inheritance of resistance to bacterial leaf spot of lettuce caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. Vitians in three lettuce cultivars
Horticulture Research, Hayes, Ryan J., Trent, Mark A., Truco, Maria Jose, Antonise, Rudie, Michelmore, Richard W., Bull, Carolee T., 2014

Baby leaf lettuce germplasm enhancement
HortScience, Hayes, Ryan J., Trent, Mark A., Mou, Beiquan, Simko, Ivan, Gebben, Samantha J., Bull, Carolee Theresa, 2014

Pseudomonas blight caused by Pseudomonas syringae on raspberry in California
Plant disease, Koike, S. T., Bolda, M. P., Bull, C. T., 2014

First report of bacterial leaf blight on mustard greens (Brassica juncea) caused by Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis in Mississippi
Plant disease, Wechter, W. P., Keinath, A. P., Smith, J. P., Farnham, M. W., Bull, C. T., Schofield, D. A., 2014

Characterization and performance of sixteen new inbred lines of lettuce developed by the USDA breeding program in Salinas, California
HortScience, Simko, I, Hayes, R, Bull, Carolee, Mou, B, Luo, Y, Trent, M, Atallah, A, Ryder, E, Sideman, R, 2014

Comparative Genomics of Multiple Strains of Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis, a Potential Model Pathogen of Both Monocots and Dicots
PLoS One, Sarris, Panagiotis F., Trantas, Emmanouil A., Baltrus, David A., Bull, Carolee T., Wechter, William Patrick, Yan, Shuangchun, Ververidis, Filippos, Almeida, Nalvo F., Jones, Corbin D., Dangl, Jeffery L., Panopoulos, Nickolas J., Vinatzer, Boris A., Goumas, Dimitrios E., 2013

"Light-tagged" bacteriophage as a diagnostic tool for the detection of phytopathogens
Bioengineered, Schofield, David A., Bull, Carolee T., Rubio, Isael, Patrick Wechter, W., Westwater, Caroline, Molineux, Ian J., 2013

The organic research network project on the central coast of California
Acta Horticulturae, Muramoto, J, Gliessman, S, Shennan, C, Pisani Gareau, T, Monsen, K, Leap, J, Nieto, D, Bryer, J, Pedersen, S, Koike, S, Smith, R, Bolda, M, Gaskell, M, Daugovish, O, Klonsky, K, Bull, Carolee, Salas, W, Li, C, Oomen, G J, 2013

Bacterial leaf spot of radicchio (Cichorium intybus) is caused by xanthomonas hortorum
Plant disease, Zacaroni, A. B., Koike, S. T., de Souza, R. M., Bull, C. T., 2012

Development of an engineered bioluminescent reporter phage for detection of bacterial blight of crucifers
Applied and environmental microbiology, Schofield, David A., Bull, Carolee T., Rubio, Isael, Wechter, W. Patrick, Westwater, Caroline, Molineux, Ian J., 2012

Multilocus sequence typing of Pseudomonas syringae sensu lato confirms previously described genomospecies and permits rapid identification of P. syringae pv. coriandricola and P. syringae pv. apii causing bacterial leaf spot on parsley
PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Bull, Carolee T., Clarke, Christopher R., Cai, Rongman, Vinatzer, Boris A., Jardini, Teresa M., Koike, Steven T., 2011

First report of bacterial blight of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) caused by Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis in California
Plant disease, Mauzey, S. J., Koike, S. T., Bull, C. T., 2011

First report of bacterial streak of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in California caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. apii
Plant Disease, Jardini, M, Koike, S, Bull, Carolee, 2011