NIFA awards grant for microbial stress tolerance research

May 31, 2019

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently awarded Kevin Hockett $453,000 to assist in research focusing on how microbes tolerate distinct stresses.

Faculty Awarded General Education Microgrant

May 28, 2019

The Office for General Education recently awarded a General Education Microgrant to Timothy McNellis, an associate professor of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, in the amount of $500.

Happy 99th Birthday to the Mushroom Master, Leon Kneebone

May 28, 2019

A World War II veteran who nearly died in battle, a world-renowned mushroom researcher and a volunteer who has has had a huge impact on the Centre County community — today Leon Kneebone turns 99 years old.

Workshop series provides foundation for writing

May 24, 2019

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently concluded a seven-session writing productivity workshop on April 28, 2019.

Pecchia Promoted to Associate Research Professor

May 20, 2019

John Pecchia has been promoted to the rank of associate research professor, effective July 1, 2019.

Peter Promoted to Associate Research Professor

May 20, 2019

Kari Peter has been promoted to the rank of associate research professor, effective July 1, 2019.

Collins Promoted to Associate Research Professor

May 20, 2019

Alyssa Collins has been promoted to the rank of associate research professor, effective July 1, 2019.

Klee receives Alumni Association Dissertation Award

May 14, 2019

Sara Klee, a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology and USDA NIFA Predoctoral Fellow, has been selected as a recipient of the 2019 Alumni Association Dissertation Award.

Plant pathology, environmental microbiology doctoral student receives NSF award

May 13, 2019

Laura Kaminsky, a doctoral student in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, will be able to advance her research interests in plant pathology after receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Ge successfully defends thesis

May 13, 2019

Siyi Ge successfully defended her thesis on May 10, 2019.

Gugino Promoted to Full Professor

May 10, 2019

Beth Gugino has been promoted to the rank of full professor, effective July 1, 2019.

Student entrepreneur takes blood tests from the waiting room to the living room

May 9, 2019

Using Penn State’s entrepreneurial resources, biology student Sherveen “Shevy” Karbasi is bringing complete blood count testing out of the clinic and onto a smartphone.

Penn State graduate students visit Capitol Hill, discuss science-based policy

May 6, 2019

Members of the Penn State Science Policy Society recently visited Washington, D.C., where they met with officials from several congressional offices and nongovernmental organizations to discuss the promotion of science and evidence-based policy.

Penn State Extension marks milestone in outreach to Spanish-speaking growers

May 6, 2019

Penn State Extension recently celebrated 10 years of providing bilingual agricultural education at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention, held annually in Hershey.

Wallace Passes Oral Qualifying Exam

April 29, 2019

Congratulations to Emma Wallace for passing her oral qualifying exam on April 26.

Ehau-Taumaunu awarded newly established Phytobiomes Fellowship

April 24, 2019

Hanareia Ehau-Taumaunu, doctoral candidate in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been selected as the recipient of the Phytobiomes Fellowship for the 2019-20 academic year.

Professor's genome editing technology leads to Research Innovators Award

April 17, 2019

Yinong Yang, professor of plant pathology, is the 2019 recipient of the Research Innovators Award, given by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to recognize faculty and staff who have commercialized intellectual property generated by their Penn State research.

Klee Successfully Defends Dissertation

April 12, 2019

Sara Klee successfully defended her dissertation on April 12.

Something is rapidly killing young apple trees in North American orchards. Scientists are stumped

April 1, 2019

Six years ago, an unpleasant surprise greeted plant pathologist Kari Peter as she inspected a research orchard in Pennsylvania. Young apple trees were dying—and rapidly. At first, she suspected a common pathogen, but chemical treatments didn't help. The next year, she began to hear reports of sudden deaths from across the United States and Canada. In North Carolina, up to 80% of orchards have shown suspicious symptoms. "Rows of trees collapse for what seems like no reason," says Peter, who works at the Pennsylvania State University Fruit Research and Extension Center in Biglerville.

Remembering Professor Emeritus John M. Skelly

March 25, 2019

John M. Skelly, 78 Sr., Ph.D., 78, passed away Friday, March 22, 2019.

Klee receives College of Agricultural Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award

March 18, 2019

Sara Klee, doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology and USDA NIFA Predoctoral Fellow, has been selected as a recipient of the 2019 College of Agricultural Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award.

PA farm show provides opportunity to network

February 28, 2019

The 103 PA Farm Show took place on January 5 – 12 and was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg. Members from the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, along with other members of the College of Agricultural Sciences and members of the Mushrooms Framers of Pennsylvania (MFPA) volunteered at the event.

Assessment details impact of pests and pathogens on world’s major food crops

February 26, 2019

Pests and diseases are taking a substantial bite out of the world’s five major food crops — in some cases, up to 40 percent — according to a recently released publication, one of the first to inventory the impact on a global scale.

Plant pathology students embrace science and diversity at national conference

February 6, 2019

Students and faculty members from the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences recently attended the National Diversity in STEM Conference.

'A fungus among us': Penn State Mushroom Spawn Lab aids industry

January 29, 2019

Commercial mushroom farms, academic researchers and mushroom hobbyists from near and far rely on the Penn State Mushroom Spawn Lab in the College of Agricultural Sciences to advance their operations.

Gugino and Isard receive funding to monitor and forecast cucurbit downy mildew

January 23, 2019

Cucurbit vegetables grown in the U.S., namely watermelon, cucumber, squash, pumpkin and muskmelon, are worth $1.35 billion. Faculty at Penn State in collaboration with 16 other universities will utilize funding awarded by the 2018 USDA Specialty Crop Multi-State Program to monitor and forecast cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) over the next three years.

May Passes Doctoral Comprehensive Exam

January 18, 2019

Congratulations to doctoral candidate Sara May for passing her comprehensive examination.

Unraveling of 58-year-old corn gene mystery may have plant-breeding implications

January 17, 2019

In discovering a mutant gene that "turns on" another gene responsible for the red pigments sometimes seen in corn, researchers solved an almost six-decades-old mystery with a finding that may have implications for plant breeding in the future.

College of Agricultural Sciences student selected for Land O'Lakes internship

January 16, 2019

This past summer, Izaiah Bokunewicz, a plant sciences major in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, had a unique opportunity to advance his knowledge of food security and global hunger by participating in a prestigious program sponsored by Land O'Lakes.

Faculty receive USDA grant to develop reliable biocontrol for Fusarium wilt of tomato

December 21, 2018

Biocontrol has long been touted as a safer alternative to synthetic pesticides for both, farmworker safety and the environment. However, inconsistent efficacy has hampered its wide adoption for disease management. To address this issue, faculty at Penn State are leading a project, funded by the USDA Specialty Crop Multi-State Program. Their focus is on generating critical knowledge and resources needed to develop and deploy reliable biocontrol strategies that can help protect tomato production from Fusarium wilt, an increasingly problematic soilborne disease.