Seogchan Kang, Ph.D.

Research

Three main goals:

• Improve the efficacy and reliability of biocontrol via an enhanced understanding of soil chemical ecology underlying plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions
• Understand the molecular, cellular, and evolutionary mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis;
• Facilitate community research and problem-solving by developing experimental tools and online resources.

Current focus areas:

1. Development of robust biocontrol strategies by investigating how introduced biocontrol agents interact with various biotic and abiotic factors in the rhizosphere/surrounding soils;
2. Volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolite-mediated recognition and inhibition between plant pathogens and biocontrol agents;
3. Molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning root pathogenesis using the Arabidopsis thaliana/tomato-Fusarium oxysporum as a model;
4. Application of metal oxide-based VOC sensors to asses plant/soil health. 

Teaching

1. PPATH533 (Molecular Genetics of Plant-Pathogen Interactions): Co-taught (two instructors), 3 credits, every other fall
2. PPATH802/AGBIO802 (Plant Protection: Responding to Introductions of Threatening Pests and Pathogens): Online,3 credits, every spring
3. AGBIO594 (Agricultural Biosecurity and Food Defense Capstone Experience): Online,3 credits, every semester
4. PLBIO513 (Plant Communication and Growth Regulation): Team-taught, 4 credits, every spring

Awards

1. Fellowship from the National Research Foundation of Korea Brain Pool Program (2019)
2. President's International Fellowship from the Chinese Academy of Science (2019) 
3. American Phytopathological Society Fellow (2017)
4. American Phytopathological Society Ruth Allen Award (2013)
5. Penn State Institute for CyberScience Faculty Fellow (2012)
6. Innovation Award from the Penn State Environment and Natural Resources Institute (2009)
7. American Phytopathological Society Syngenta Award (2008)
8. Elected to Gamma Sigma Delta (2007)
9. Markey Fellowship from the Univ. of Wisconsin (1985-1988)

Professional Activities and Services

1. Panel member for the USDA-NRI and USDA-AFRI Competitive Grant Programs, the NSF/NIFA PBI Program, and USDA-ARS NP303 
2. Editorial Board Member of Plant Pathology Journal (1999-present) and Mycology (2009-present) and Senior Editor for
   Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (2013-2018) and PhytoFrontiers (2023-present)
3. Member (2006-2011) and Director (2011-2013) of the American Phytopathological Society (APS) Office of Electronic Communication, member of the APS Publication Board (2011-2013), and member of the APS Awards and Honors Committee (2022-present)
4. Manuscript reviewer for >60 journals
5. Grant reviewer for the following domestic and international granting agencies: Binational Agricultural Research & Development Fund (Israel/USA), California Department of Food & Agriculture, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (Germany), Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, University of Wyoming INBRE program, NSF, USDA, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK), Fonds zur Forderung der wisesenschaftlichen Forchung (Austria), Israel Science Foundation, National Science Centre (Poland), Swiss National Science Foundation, and United Arab Emirates University

Publications since 2014

1. Shao, D., Schlagnhaufer, C., Bandara, A., Esker, P., Kim, S., Kellogg, J., Jang, J., and Kang, S. (2024) Plant-associated volatile organic compound (VOC) database (PVD): A resource supporting research on VOCs produced by plants and plant-associated microbes. PhytoFrontiers in press.
2. Xhang, W., Fan, Y., Deng, W., Chen, Y., Wang, S., Kang, S., Steenwyk, J., Xiang, M., and Liu, X. (2024) Characterization of genome-wide phylogenetic conflict uncovers evolutionary modes of carnivorous fungi. mBio in press.
3. Hussain, M., Xuan, P., Xin, Y., Ma, H., Zhou, Y., Wen, S., Hamid, I., Wan, T., Hu, J., Li, Y., Kang, S., Liu, X., and Xiang, M. (2024) Redundancy in microbiota-mediated suppression of the soybean cyst nematode. Microbiome 12: 125.
4. Voloshchuk, N., Irakoze,, Kang, S., Kellogg, J., and Wee, J. (2024) Three ecological models to study the interaction between Trichodermaspp. with aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Toxins 16: 314.
5. Triantafyllopoulou, A., Tzima, A., Chronopoulou, E., Labrou, N., Kang, S., and Paplomatas, E. (2024) Overexpression of an NLP protein family member increases virulence of Verticillium dahliae. Plant Pathology 73: 1264-1275.
6. Bandara, A. and Kang, S. (2024) Trichoderma application methods differentially affect the tomato growth, rhizomicrobiome, and rhizosphere soil suppressiveness against Fusarium oxysporum. Frontiers in Microbiology 15:1366690.
7. Li, N., Kim, K.-T., Schlagnhaufer, C., and Kang, S. (2024) Multifaceted effects of volatile organic compounds released by Fusarium oxysporum on Trichoderma biocontrol agents. Biological Control 191: 105473.
8. Chen, Y., Liu, J., Kang, S., Wei, D., Fan, Y., Xiang, M., and Liu, X. (2023) Palisade-shaped membrane reservoir formed via multi-vesicle fusion is required for rapid ring cell inflation in a carnivorous fungus. Nature Communications 14: 7376.
9. Zhao, X., Fan, Y., Zhang, W., Xiang, M., Kang, S., Wang, S., and Liu, X. (2023) DhFIG_2, a gene of nematode-trapping fungus Dactylellina haptotyla that encodes a component of the low-affinity calcium uptake system, is required for conidiation and knob-trap formation. Fungal Genetics & Biology 166: 103782.
10. Zhao, X., Fan, Y., Zhang, L., Zhang, W., Xiang, M., Kang, S., Wang, S., Liu, X. (2023) Multiple roles of the low-affinity calcium uptake system in Drechslerella dactyloides, a nematode-trapping fungus that forms constricting rings. Journal of Fungi 9: 975.
11. Geiser, D.M., Martin, F., Espíndola, A., Brown, J., Bell, T., Yang, Y., and Kang, S. (2023) Knowledge gaps, research needs, and opportunities in plant disease diagnostics assay development and validation. PhytoFrontiers 3: 51-63.
12. Tiwari, P., Kang, S. and Bae, H. (2023) Plant-endophyte associations: Rich yet under-explored sources of novel bioactive molecules and applications. Microbiological Research 266: 127241.
13. Chen, Y., Fan, Y., Xiang, M., Kang, S., Wei, D., and Liu, X. (2022) SNARE protein DdVam7 of nematode-trapping fungus Drechslerella dactyloides participates in vegetative growth, conidiation and predatory process via vacuole assembly. Microbiology Spectrum 10: e01872-22.
14. Zhao, X., Fan, Y., Xiang, M., Kang, S., Wang, S., and Liu, X. (2022) DdaCrz1, a C₂H₂-type transcription factor, regulates growth, conidiation, and stress resistance in the nematode-trapping fungus Drechslerella dactyloides. Journal of Fungi 8: 750.
15. Kang, S., Kim, K.-T., Choi, J., Kim, H., Cheong, K., Bandara, A., and Lee, Y.-H. (2022) Genomics and informatics, conjoined tools vital for understanding and protecting plant health. Phytopathology 112: 981-995.
16. Torres-Cruz, T.J., Whitaker, B.K., Proctor, R.H., Broders, K., Laraba, I., Kim, H.-S., Brown, D.W., O’Donnell, K., Estrada-Rodríguez, T.L., Lee, Y.-H., Cheong, C., Wallace, E.C., McGee, C.T., Kang, S., and Geiser, D.M. (2022) FUSARIUM-ID v.3.0: An updated, downloadable resource for Fusarium species identification. Plant Disease 106: 1610-1616.
17. Li, N. and Kang, S. (2022) Multi-pronged investigation of volatile compound-mediated interactions of Fusarium oxysporum with plants, fungi, and bacteria. pp. 109-127 In: J. Coleman (ed.) Methods in Molecular Biology: Fusarium Wilt. Springer, Berlin.
18. Kim, H.-S., Kang, S., and Czymmek, K. (2022) Time-lapse imaging of root pathogenesis and fungal proliferation without physically disrupting roots. 153-170 In: J. Coleman (ed.) Methods in Molecular Biology: Fusarium Wilt. Springer, Berlin.
19. Bily, D., Nikolaeva, E., Olson, T., and Kang, S. (2022) Phytophthora associated with Appalachian oak forests and waterways in Pennsylvania, with P. abietivora as a pathogen on five native woody plant species. Plant Disease 106: 1143-1156.
20. Jeon, J., Kim, K.-T., Choi, J., Cheong, K., Ko, J., Choi, G., Lee, H., Lee, G.-W., Park, S.-Y., Kim, S., Kim, S., Min, C., Kang, S., and Lee, Y.-H. (2022) Alternative splicing diversifies the transcriptome and proteome of the rice blast fungus during host infection. RNA Biology 19: 373-385.
21. Kim, C.-Y., Park, J.-Y., Choi, G., Kim, S., Vo, X. K. T., Jeon, J.-S., Kang, S., and Lee, Y.-H. (2022) A rice gene encoding glycosyl hydrolase plays contrasting roles in immunity depending on the type of pathogens. MolecularPlant Pathology 23: 400-416.
22. Bily, D., Nikolaeva, E., Olson, T., Robert, S., Kang, S., and Molnar, C. (2021) First Report of Aloe vera Rust Caused by Uromyces aloes in an Ornamental Nursery in the United States. Plant Disease (Note) 105: 3739.
23. Kang, S., Lumactud, R., Li, N., Bell, T.H., Park, S.-Y., Kim, H.-S., and Lee, Y.-H. (2021) Harnessing chemical ecology for environment-friendly crop protection. Phytopathology 111: 1697-1710.
24. Jeong, M.-H., Kim, J., Kang, S., Choi, E.-D., Kim Y., Lee, Y., Jeon, M.-J., Yu, N.-H., Park, A.-R., Kim, J.-C., Kim, S., and Park, S. (2021) Optimization of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Xylaria grammica EL000614, an endolichenic fungus producing grammicin. Mycobiology 49: 491-497.
25. Geiser, D. M., Al-Hatmi, A., Aoki, T., Arie, T., Balmas, V., Barnes, I., Bergstrom, G. C., Bhattacharyya, M. K. K., Blomquist, C. L., Bowden, R., Brankovics, B., Brown, D. W., Burgess, L. W., Bushley, K., Busman, M., Cano-Lira, J. F., Carrillo, J. D., Chang, H.-X., Chen, C.-Y., Chen, W., Chilvers, M. I., Chulze, S. N., Coleman, J. J., Cuomo, C. A., de Beer, Z. W., de Hoog, G. S., Del Castillo-Múnera, J., Del Ponte, E., Diéguez-Uribeondo, J., Di Pietro, A., Edel-Hermann, V., Elmer, W. H., Epstein, L., Eskalen, A., Esposto, M. C., Everts, K. L., Fernández-Pavía, S. P., da Silva, G. F., Foroud, N. A., Fourie, G., Frandsen, R. J. N., Freeman, S., Freitag, M., Frenkel, O., Fuller, K. K., Gagkaeva, T., Gardiner, D. M., Glenn, A. E., Gold, S., Gordon, T., Gregory, N. F., Gryzenhout, M., Guarro, J., Gugino, B., Gutiérrez, S., Hammond-Kosack, K., Harris, L. J., Homa, M., Hong, C.-F., Hornok, L., Huang, J.-W., Ilkit, M., Jacobs, A., Jacobs, K., Jiang, C., Jimenez-Gasco, M. D. M., Kang, S., Kasson, M. T., Kazan, K., Kennell, J. C., Kim, H.-S., Kistler, H. C., Kuldau, G. A., Kulik, T., Kurzai, O., Laraba, I., Laurence, M. H., Lee, T., Lee, Y.-W., Lee, Y.-H., Leslie, J. F., Liew, E. C. Y., Lofton, L. W., Logrieco, A., López-Berges, M. S., Luque, A. G., Lysøe, E., Ma, L.-J., Marra, R. E., Martin, F. N., May, S. R., McCormick, S., McGee, C. T., Meis, J. F., Migheli, Q., Mohamed Nor, N. M. I., Monod, M., Moretti, A., Mostert, D., Mulé, G., Munaut, F., Munkvold, G. P., Nicholson, P., Nucci, M., O'Donnell, K., Pasquali, M., Pfenning, L. H., Prigitano, A., Proctor, R., Ranque, S., Rehner, S., Rep, M., Rodríguez-Alvarado, G., Rose, L. J., Roth, M. G., Ruiz-Roldán, C., Saleh, A. A., Salleh, B., Sang, H., Scandiani, M., Scauflaire, J., Schmale, D. III, Short, D. P., Šišić, A., Smith, J., Smyth, C. W., Son, H., Spahr, E., Stajich, J. E., Steenkamp, E., Steinberg, C., Subramaniam, R., Suga, H., Summerell, B. A., Susca, A., Swett, C. L., Toomajian, C., Torres-Cruz, T. J., Tortorano, A. M., Urban, M., Vaillancourt, L. J., Vallad, G. E., van der Lee, T., Vanderpool, D., van Diepeningen, A. D., Vaughan, M., Venter, E., Vermeulen, M., Verweij, P. E., Viljoen, A., Waalwijk, C., Wallace, E. C., Walther, G., Wang, J., Ward, T. J., Wickes, B., Wiederhold, N. P., Wingfield, M. J., Wood, A. K. M., Xu, J.-R., Yang, X.-B., Yli-Matilla, T., Yun, S.-H., Zakaria, L., Zhang, H., Zhang, N., Zhang, S., and Zhang, X. (2021) Phylogenomic analysis of a 55.1 kb 19-gene dataset resolves a monophyletic Fusarium that includes the Fusarium solani Species Complex. Phytopathology 111: 1064-1079.
26. Kim, H., Kim, J., Hwangbo, A., Akerboom, J., Looger, L., Duncan, R., Son, H., Czymmek, K., and Kang, S. (2021) Evaluation of multi-color genetically encoded Ca²⁺ indicators in filamentous fungi. Fungal Genetics & Biology 149: 103540.
27. Kim, S., Kim, C.-Y., Park, S.-Y., Kim, K.-T., Jeon, J., Chung, J., Choi, G., Kwon, K., Choi, J., Jeon, J., Jeon, J.-S., Khang, C.H., Kang, S., and Lee, Y.-H. (2020) Two nuclear effectors of the rice blast fungus modulate host immunity via transcriptional reprogramming. Nature Communications 11: 5845.
28. Lee, Y., Kim, Y.S., Balaraju, K., Seo, Y.-S., Park, J., Ryu, C.-M., Park, S.-H., Kim, J.F., Kang, S. and Jeon, Y.-H. (2020) Molecular changes associated with spontaneous phenotypic variation of Paenibacillus polymyxa, a commonly used biocontrol agent, and temperature-dependent control of variation. Scientific Reports 10: 16586.
29. Kellogg, J. and Kang, S. (2020) Metabolomics, an essential tool in exploring and harnessing microbial chemical ecology. Phytobiomes J. 4: 195-210.
30. Molnar, C., Nikolaeva, E., Kim, S., Olson, T., Bily, D., Kim, J., and Kang, S. (2020) Phytophthora diversity in Pennsylvania nurseries and greenhouses inferred from clinical samples collected over four decades. Microorganisms 8: 1056.
31. Sun, Y., Gao, M., Kang, S., Yang, C., Meng, H., Yang, Zhao, X., Gao, Z., Xu, Y., Jin, Y., Zhao, X., Zhang, Z., and Han, Z. (2020) Molecular mechanism for mechanical wounding-induction of flavonoid accumulation in Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen. Gene 11: 487.
32. Rauf, C. A., Rafique, K., Naz, F., and Kang, S. (2020) First report of Vascular Wilt on Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) Caused by Fusarium redolens in Pakistan. Plant Disease (Note). 104: 2524
33. Chung, H., Kang, S., Lee, Y.-H., and Park, S.Y. (2020) Expression Patterns of Transposable Elements in Magnaporthe oryzae under Diverse Developmental and Environmental Conditions. Plant Dis. 26: 38-43.
34. Rafique, K., Rauf, C. A., and Kang, S. (2020) First report of Fusarium equiseti causing vascular wilt on Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) in Pakistan. Plant Pathology (Note) 102: 571.
35. Li, N., Islam, M., and Kang, S. (2019) Secreted metabolite-mediated interactions between rhizosphere bacteria and Trichoderma biocontrol agents. PLoS One 14: e0227228.
36. Wang, W., Li, N., Liu, X., and Kang, S. (2019) I Plate-based Assay for Studying How Fungal Volatile Compounds (VCs) Affect Plant Growth and Development and the Identification of VCs via SPME-GC-MS. Bio-Protocol 9: e3166.
37. Kim, K.-T., Ko, J., Song, H., Choi, G., Kim, H., Jeon, J., Cheong, K., Kang, S., and Y.-H. Lee (2019) Evolution of the Genes Encoding Effector Candidates Within Multiple Pathotypes of Magnaporthe oryzae. Frontiers in Microbiology 10: 2575.
38. Tsolakidou, M., Pantelides, I. Tzima, Kang, S., Paplomatas, E., and Tsaltas, D. (2019) Disruption and overexpression of the gene encoding ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase in soil-borne fungal pathogenVerticillium dahliae revealed the role of ACC as a potential regulator of virulence and plant defense. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 32: 639-653. 
39. Li, N., Alfiky, A. Wang, W., Islam, M., Nourollahi, K., Liu, X., and Kang, S. (2018) Volatile compound-mediated recognition and inhibition between Trichoderma biocontrol agents and Fusarium oxysporum. Frontiers in Microbiology 9: 2614.
40. Li, N., Wang, W., Bitas, V., Subbarao, K., Liu, X., and Kang, S. (2018) Volatile compounds emitted by diverse Verticillium species enhance plant growth by manipulating auxin signaling. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 30: 1021-1031.
41. Li, N. and Kang, S. (2018) Do volatile compounds produced by Fusarium oxysporum and Verticillium dahliae affect stress tolerance in plants? Mycology 6: 166-175.
42. Kim, H-S., Kim, J-E., Son, H., Frailey, D., Cirino, R., Lee, Y-W., Duncan, R., Czymmek, K.J., Kang, S. (2018) Roles of three Fusarium graminearum membrane Ca2+ channels in the formation of Ca2+ signatures, growth, development, pathogenicity, and mycotoxin production. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 111: 30-46
43. McCluskey, K., Barker, K.B., Barton, H.A., Boundy-Mills, K., Brown, D.R., Coddington, J.A., Cook, K., Desmeth, P., Geiser, D., Glaeser, J.A., Greene, S., Kang, S., Lomas, M.W., Melcher, U., Miller, S.E., Nobles, D.R., Jr., Owens, K.J., Reichman, J.H., da Silva, M., Wertz, J., Whitworth, C., Smith, D. (2017) The U.S. Culture Collection Network Responding to the Requirements of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. MBio 8. doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00982-17
44. Rauf, C. A., Rafique, K., Naz, F., Kang, S. (2016) First report of lentil wilt caused by Fusarium nygamai in Pakistan. J. Plant Pathology 98: 696 (Disease Note).
45. Li, N., Alfiky, A., Vaughan, M. M., Kang, S. (2016) Stop and smell the fungi: Fungal volatile metabolites are overlooked signals involved in fungal interaction with plants. Fungal Biology Reviews 30: 134-144.
46. Kim, K., Jeon, J., Choi, J., Cheong, K., Song, H., Choi, G., Kang, S. and Lee, Y.-H. (2016) Kingdom-wide analysis of fungal secretomes, with the focus on small secreted proteins, to evaluate their role in different lifestyles. Frontiers in Plant Science 7: 186.
47. Kang, S., Mansfield, M., Park, B., and Martin, F. (2016) Molecular identification of Phytophthora isolates using a DNA sequence-based approach and the Phytophthora Database. In: K. Ivors (ed.) Laboratory Protocols for Phytophthora APS Press, St. Paul, MN
48. O'Donnell, K., Ward, T., Robert, V. A. R. G., Crous, P. W., Geiser, D. M., and Kang, S. (2015) DNA sequence-based identification of Fusarium: Current status and future directions. Phytoparasitica 43:583-595.
49. Beattie, G., Desveaux, D., and Kang, S. (2015) Focus on The Good, the Bad and the Unknown: Genomics-Enabled Discovery of Plant-Associated Microbial Processes and Diversity. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 28: 211.
50. Bitas, V., McCartney, N., Li, N., Demers, J., Kim, J.-E., Kim, H., Brown, K. M., and Kang, S. (2015) Fusarium oxysporum volatiles enhance plant growth by affecting auxin transport and signaling. Frontiers in Microbiology 6: 1248.
51. Inderbitzin, P., Putman, A. I., Subbarao, K. Kang, S. and Park, B. (2015) VertShield – an online resource for Verticilliumspecies research. Phytopathology News (December) 49:160.
    Kim, H., Kim, J., Frailey, D., Nohe, A., Duncan, R., Czymmek, K., and Kang, S. (2015) Roles of three Fusarium oxysporum calcium ion (Ca²⁺) channels in generating Ca²⁺ signatures and controlling growth. Fungal Genetics & Biology 82: 145-157.
52. Boundy-Mills, K., Hess, M., Bennett, A. R., Ryan, M., Kang, S., Nobles, D., Eisen, J. A., Inderbitzin, P., Sitepu, I. R., Torok, T., Brown, D. R., Cho, J., Wertz, J. E., Mukherjee, S., Cady, S. L., and McCluskey, K. (2015) The United States Culture Collection Network (USCCN): Enhancing Microbial Genomics Research through Living Microbe Culture Collections. Applied & Environmental Microbiology 81: 5671-5674.
53. Sun, J., Park, S.-Y., Kang, S., Liu, X., Qiu, J. and Xiang, M. (2015) Development of a transformation system for Hirsutella spp. and visualization of the mode of nematode infection by GFP-labeled H. minnesotensis. Scientific Reports 5: 10477.
54. Tzima, A., Paplomatas, E. J., Schoina, C., Domazakis, E., Kang, S., and Goodwin, P. H. (2014) Successful Agrobacterium mediated transformation of Thielaviopsis basicola by optimizing multiple conditions. Fungal Biology 118: 675-682.
55. Kang, S., Demers, J., Jamenez-Gasco, M., and Rep, M. (2014) Fusarium oxysporum. pp. 99-119. In: R. Dean, A. Lichens-Park and K. Chittaranjan (eds.) Genomics of Plant-Associated Fungi and Oomycetes: Dicot Pathogens. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg.
56. Park, J., Kong, S., Kim, S., Kang, S., and Lee, Y.-H. (2014) Roles of Forkhead-box Transcription Factors in Controlling Development, Pathogenicity, and Stress Response in Magnaporthe oryzae. Plant Pathology Journal 30: 136-150.
57. Kang, S. (2014) Plant Pathology 2.0. Molecular Plant Pathology 15: 315–318.