Researchers in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology working in the area of Plant-Microbe Interactions.

  • Professor of Bacterial Systematics and Plant Pathology, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology

Areas of Expertise

  • Phytobacteriology
  • Translational Taxonomy
  • Systematic Bacteriology
  • Biological Control
  • Sustainable and Organic Agriculture
  • Professor Emeritus
  • Department Head 2005-2008

Areas of Expertise

  • Plant Pathology
  • Fungal Genetics
  • Plant Breeding
  • Assistant Professor of Soilborne Disease Dynamics and Management

Areas of Expertise

  • Fungal ecology and evolution
  • Soil & plant microbiome response to stress
  • Biological management of fungal & oomycete pathogens
  • Soil health and disease modeling
  • Professor of Mycology
  • Director, Fusarium Research Center

Areas of Expertise

  • Fusarium and Aspergillus
  • Fungal genetics
  • Fungal systematics and evolution
  • Fungal plant and animal pathogens
  • Interim Department Head, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology;
  • Professor of Plant Pathology;
  • Coordinator and Adviser of the Undergraduate Minor in Plant Pathology

Areas of Expertise

  • Population biology
  • Ecology of plant-associated microorganisms
  • Fusarium and Verticillium wilts
  • Professor

Areas of Expertise

  • Biocontrol
  • Fungal genetics and genomics
  • Microbial chemical ecology
  • Molecular diagnosis of plant pathogens
  • Associate Professor

Areas of Expertise

  • Mycotoxins
  • Endophytes
  • Fusarium
  • Fungal genetics
  • Fungal secondary metabolites
  • Agricultural biosecurity
  • Associate Professor

Areas of Expertise

  • Fire blight resistance in apple trees
  • Biologically-based approaches to fire blight disease control
  • Development of citrus greening-resistant citrus varieties
  • Molecular genetics of Erwinia amylovora pathogenicity
  • Development of tomatoes resistant to bacterial canker disease
  • Understanding rootstock-scion interactions in grafted apple trees
  • Associate Research Professor, Tree Fruit Pathology

Areas of Expertise

  • Apple and pear diseases
  • Peach, cherry, other stone fruit diseases
  • Integrated tree fruit disease management
  • Associate Professor, Plant Virology

Areas of Expertise

  • plant virology
  • microbe plant interaction
  • vectors of plant viruses and of other plant pathogenic microbes
  • plant disease prediction and management models
  • Professor

Areas of Expertise

  • Molecular plant-microbe interactions
  • Disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance
  • Functional genomics and biotechnology
  • Genome editing and engineering
  • Precision breeding and crop improvement
  • Gene-edited and genetically modified organisms