PPCP NEWS - Louisiana State University · Teaching PPCP NEWS. 2 Department of Plant Pathology &...

1 Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology News

February 2014

From the Department Head

Lawrence E. Datnoff

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Goss’s Wilt: A New Corn Disease in LouisianaClayton A. Hollier

On Tuesday, June 18, 2013 symptoms of Goss’s wilt were observed in the corn hybrid DK 6694 in Madison Parish, Louisiana. The affected plants revealed both classical leaf symptoms and the expected disease spread pattern of Goss’s Wilt. This is the first report of Goss’s Wilt in Louisiana. Goss’s wilt being historically a mid-west and northern Corn Belt disease, why is it in Louisiana and why now?

During the 2011 corn growing season, there were reports of Goss’s Wilt in NE Louisiana;

Happy 2014!2013 was both a good year and a sad one for

our department. Bad news first; we lost two former faculty members – Drs. Don Ferrin and Chuck Rush. Both contributed so much professionally and personally to our department over the years, and they will be sorely missed.

The good news is great; we were very productive. Faculty and students published a number of refereed manuscripts and extension articles; gave a lot of presentations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally; and competed for grants to support their research and outreach. Our master’s and doctoral graduate students were highly engaged, and their efforts and outstanding contributions continue to infuse the department with vitality and enthusiasm, while answering basic scientific questions along with solving plant disease and environmental problems of importance to the clientele of Louisiana. A number of students graduated with their master’s and doctoral degrees, and some went on to pursue doctorates at other universities

PPCP NEWSDepartment of Plant Pathology & Crop PhysiologyResearch . Extension . Teaching


HELP US TO ENSURE EXCELLENCE IN PLANT PATHOLOGY & CROP PHYSIOLOGY

While the Department receives monetary support for core research/extension programs (LSU AgCenter) and its teaching program (LSU College of Agriculture), these funds are not sufficient to provide the resources to move our programs to the next level of performance. Private financial support is becoming a vital resource to enhance existing programs and begin new initiatives. Please consider contributing to help support our programs.

I want to support the Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology Department by donating $__________ to be used for:

__ Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology Graduate Student Invited Lecturer Fund

__ Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology Excellence Fund

__ Dr. C. W. Edgerton Memorial Fund

__ Dr. Weston J. Martin Fellowship Fund

__ M.C. “Chuck” Rush Plant Pathology Teaching Laboratory Fund

__ Don Ferrin Teaching Student Fund

Checks can be made to the LSU Foundation and indicate the Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology on the memo line.

For credit card contributions:

Type of credit card __Visa __MC __AmEx __Discover

Expiration Date______________ Card#________________________

Mail to: LSU AgCenter Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology 302 Life Sciences Bldg. LSU Campus Baton Rouge, LA 70803

For more information contact:

Lawrence E. Datnoff

Department Head

[email protected]

or 225-578-1366

(Arkansas, Cornell, Georgia), postdocs (Purdue, University of Minnesota Medical Center) or tenured track research/extension positions (LSU AgCenter). We hired two new faculty members – Drs. Melanie Ivey and Paul ‘Trey’ Price. Although Dr. Price is located at Macon Ridge, he has a 20 percent appointment in the PPCP Department.

In this current newsletter, you’ll see for yourself these wonderful activities and achievements, which are having a profound effect on Louisiana agriculture and beyond.

Happy Reading!!!!


Table of Contents

From the Department Head ............................................................................ 1Goss’s Wilt: A New Corn Disease in Louisiana ................................................. 1REMEMBRANCE of CHUCK RUSH .................................................................... 5REMEMBRANCE of DON FERRIN ..................................................................... 6Awards and Honors ......................................................................................... 8Ruoxi Chen Wins Prestigious C.W. Edgerton Award ........................................ 8Significant Accomplishments ........................................................................... 8Melanson Wins AAUW Eleanor Earle Memorial Scholorship and the Sarah Bradley Tyson Memorial Fellowship ................................................................ 9Melanson Receives Young Endowed Assistantship ......................................... 9Grants and Contracts ..................................................................................... 10Publications - Refereed ............................................................................11-12Publications - Non-Refereed ....................................................................12-14New Faculty Announced ................................................................................ 15Presentations, Webinars and Posters .......................................................16-18Visiting Scientists/Students ........................................................................... 18Meetings Attended ........................................................................................ 19The 90th Meeting of the APS Southern Division ........................................... 192013 APS-MSA Joint Meeting ........................................................................ 20PPCP 2013 Graduates .................................................................................... 21Southern Soybean Disease Workers Gather .................................................. 21Staskawicz Speaks at Graduate Student Association Seminar Series ............ 21Two Former PPCP Students Speak at 2013 Spring Seminar Series ................ 22


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but upon further investigation found that these were fertilizer burn, herbicide burn and drought symptoms widespread that year.

The approximately 50-75 ft. diameter circles of symptomatic plants were found by a local aerial applicator flew over the field in question. Upon investigation by the grower, several people from industry and the LSU AgCenter were called to

investigate. Observations and surveys revealed that several “circles” of symptomatic plants were radiating from a central source that is reminiscent of seed transmission, although industry reports that introduction might have been in previous years by wind-blown bacteria that survived until the 2013 corn planting. Nevertheless, debate continues on the method of introduction of the bacterium, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis. Leaf blighting symptoms were elongated, water soaked lesions with “freckles” (See photos). Eventually, the disease was found in three hybrids, DK 6469, DK 6694, and DK 6496 in four parishes: East Carroll, Madison, Tensas and West Carroll.

The identification of the bacterium was performed in the Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic by Dr. Raj Singh. The bacterium was isolated from symptomatic tissue on CNS selective agar media and the colony morphology matched as previously described. Furthermore, C. m. subsp. nebraskensis specific primers PSA-7 and PSA-R were used to amplify and sequence the PCR product. The blast n analysis of amplified PCR product (393 bp) resulted in 100% homology with C. m. subsp. nebraskensis strain KACC20788 (GenBank Accession No. JN613835). Pathogenicity was performed and the inoculated plants produced similar symptoms as originally described the control plants remained symptomless.

Incidence of Goss’s wilt in the affected parishes has been estimated at less than one percent while the severity within the affected circles ranged from 45 to 100 percent. Yield losses in the affected areas ranged from 50 to 100 percent.

Through educational efforts, growers responded to the new disease by burning and burying crop residues. Their plans for the 2014 growing season include rotating with a non-host (soybeans) in affected fields.

Goss’s Wilt: A New Corn Disease in Louisiana


Charles Milton “Chuck” Rush passed away on August 10, 2013. Chuck was born in Goodyear, Arizona. He grew up on a dairy and cotton farm. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in plant pathology from the University of Arizona and his doctorate degree in the Department of Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University.

He then came to Louisiana in 1970 as assistant professor with responsibility for rice pathology in the Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University and the LSUAgCenter, Baton Rouge.

Chuck dedicated over 39 years to education, research and

service to the Louisiana and U.S. rice industry. As a professor at Louisiana State University, he taught and mentored 13 master’s and 14 doctoral students from many different countries. His program pioneered the development of quantitative rating scales for rice diseases in the southern United States, and his work in this area enabled breeders to develop and improve varieties with partial and complete disease resistance. He reported eight new diseases in Louisiana rice. His extensive fungicide testing programs were critical for labeling new fungicides for the severe foliar diseases that affected rice in the Gulf South and throughout the world. He was involved in the labeling of Benlate 50WP, the first foliar fungicide labeled for rice in the United States. He and his students elucidated the importance of leaf surface interactions between the host and pathogen in resistance of rice to Rhizoctonia solani, the cause of sheath blight. They demonstrated the importance of epicuticular wax thickness on sheath blight resistance and the effects of cultural practices on wax formation.

They conducted the first studies to show that the effect of flooding in controlling leaf blast was related to a change in the plant’s resistance rather than to the effects of leaf-wetness period. They also developed information on variation within rice pathogens including classifying the races of Cercospora oryzae, the cause of narrow brown leaf spot. Chuck, his students and colleagues successfully identified Burkholderia glumae and B. gladioli as the causal agents of the perennial rice panicle blight disease in the United States. Chuck was the first scientist to succeed in regenerating rice plants from anthers using a U.S. rice cultivar (Labelle). He was instrumental in the establishment of the anther culture laboratory at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines during his sabbatical leave from 1979 to 1980. He also developed a highly efficient somaculture technique with which thousands of somaclones were regenerated from U.S. cultivars, including two sheath blight resistant Labelle somaclones, LSBR-5 and LSBR-33. By crossing elite long-grain cultivars with newly identified resistance sources, over 300 lines showing sheath blight resistance and high yield potential were developed and turned over to various breeding programs. One of the lines, MCR00661, has been adopted by the USDA-CSREES Rice Cap project as a sheath blight-resistant parent for the development of molecular markers. Later and at the time he developed the Blanca Isabel purple rice variety, which is being commercialized; he became a registered rice breeder.

During his professional and academic career, he published over 300 refereed journal articles, book chapters and research reports. He served the Rice Technical Working Group (RTWG) as a member of the awards committee, germplasm advisory committee, and local arrangements committee, and as a panel moderator. His numerous outstanding honors include: the Distinguished Academy Scientist Award by the Louisiana Academy of Sciences in 1989; the RTWG Distinguished Rice Research and Education Award in 1994; the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station Doyle Chambers Award for Outstanding Research Contributions in 1995; the Outstanding Plant

REMEMBRANCE of CHUCK RUSH



Pathologist in the Southern Division of the American Phytopathological Society in 1997; the Rice Technical Working Group (RTWG) Distinguished Rice Research and Education Team Award in 2002 and the RTWG’s Distinguished Service Award in 2008.

Chuck was a man of great determination. He was very passionate about plant pathology and mentoring students, and he loved to share his science opinion and more with his colleagues and friends. He was a devoted husband and father who will be terribly missed. He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Blanca Isabel Rush;

Dr. Donald M. Ferrin, 61, passed away on December 25, 2012 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Don was born in Rochester, Minnesota in 1951. He obtained his bachelor’s (1974) and master’s (1976) degrees in botany and plant pathology at Michigan State University. From 1976-1980, he worked as a plant pathologist for Yoder Brothers, Inc., in Alva, Florida. He then obtained his doctorate (1985) from the University of Florida. Don’s doctoral studies focused on the epidemiology of soilborne pathogens with emphasis on Phytophthora species. After a one-year post-doc at the University of Florida, he served as an assistant professor of plant pathology (1986-1994) with the University of California-Riverside. From 1994 to 2005, Don served as a diagnostician and researcher for a private laboratory and as a research staff associate for University of

California-Riverside. In 2005, he joined the Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology (PPCP), LSU AgCenter, as a 100 percent extension plant pathologist with commodity responsibilities for all horticultural crops in Louisiana.

While at University of California-Riverside, Don’s primary duties included conducting research on the etiology, ecology, epidemiology

and management of fungal diseases of ornamental crops, and the epidemiology of plant diseases. He was also involved in graduate student education and taught two courses, Introduction to Plant Pathology

and Epidemiology of Plant Diseases. Don’s research activities covered a broad range of diseases and host plants, including Phytophthora root rots on an array of host plants, rust on carnations and Botryosphaeria branch dieback on native plant species. His most significant research contributions were the identification and characterization of the relative fitness of metalaxyl-resistant isolates of P. parasitica and P. citricola from ornamental hosts in southern California, and the assessment of population dynamics of P. parasitica in relation to fungicide use patterns. Later, working with Dr. Mike Stanghellini, he characterized the ecology, epidemiology and control of root rot and vine decline of melons caused by Monosporascus cannonballus, as well as the factors that trigger ascospore germination.

While with the LSU AgCenter, Don was a major contributor to extension programming that assisted thousands of agricultural industry personnel and homeowners in the state. He was well regarded for consistently delivering outstanding extension and research materials to this diverse clientele. Don’s program accomplishments included hundreds of presentations at conferences, trade shows, society functions, and Master Gardener and home garden training events. He was also prolific in his development of written materials to assist in the diagnosis and management of plant disease. Within this body of work, Don produced the first-ever series of Louisiana plant pathology disease identification and management fact sheets. This series was applauded by faculty members working in the field for their excellent photos on

mother, Charlotte Tamillo; three daughters, Carrie Rush, Ana M. Boone and Claudia I. Rush; three sons, Michael C. Rush, Tomás A. Rush and Jesus “Chucho” Retana; sister, Cheri Echard; brother, Robert Rush and wife Irene; uncle, Ted Wootten; and one grandchild, Jacob Rush.

To honor Chuck’s memory, his family is establishing the M.C. “Chuck” Rush Plant Pathology Teaching Laboratory Fund. Contact Lawrence E. Datnoff at [email protected] or 352-578-1366 to learn how you can make a donation.

REMEMBRANCE of DON FERRIN



symptoms and signs of plant diseases. This series was supplemented by numerous additional print and webpage articles, mass media materials and a blog on disease management. Don’s extension expertise was supported by his many years of field research experience.

Don’s outstanding publications and presentations catapulted him into being recognized as one of the leading authorities on disease management in the state as well as the Southeastern region. For example, extension plant pathologists from other regional universities often contacted Don with questions regarding diseases of fruits, vegetables and horticultural crops. This recognition of expertise led to his involvement in a number of cooperative projects in the region, including management of horticultural crops for commercial greenhouses and homeowners, and disease management of sweet potato and cucurbits.

These important regional collaborations are just one of many testaments to Don’s extension abilities and skills and his impacts on a remarkably large number of crops. Many scientists and specialists from other universities commented that they have five or six different extension specialists to cover these crops in their states, but Don was effective in reaching a large number of stakeholders through his programs and information materials.

Don greatly enjoyed teaching and working with students. He enjoyed participating as a guest lecturer in a number of courses in the PPCP Department and in horticulture located in the School of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences. He had also just become the faculty member of record for the course, Plant Disease Management and Control. Don served on a number of graduate student committees. As a committee member, students enjoyed Don’s demeanor and his approach to science and research. He was a patient listener and provided encouragement and research advice, while also striving to push them to reach their individual potentials. Don’s rapport with students was reflected in his being invited to serve as an advisor for the Graduate Student’s Association in the PPCP Department.

Don’s service and governance within APS was outstanding. He was an active member of numerous society committees, including diseases of ornamental plants (Chair), extension, regulatory

plant pathology, and Browning plant medicine and health travel award. In addition, he served as the APS Southern Division secretary/treasurer, and as associate and senior editor of Plant Health Progress. Don also provided service consistently to LSU through membership on a variety of governance and advisory committees. He carried out all these activities with great interest, determination and enthusiasm.

Most importantly, Don was intelligent, kind, patient and always curious about plant diseases. He was innovative, creative, had a splendid subtle wit and was an absolute pleasure to be around both academically and socially. Don was not just an intellectual; he was also always interested in the well-being of others. He was one of the great ‘nice guys’ who worked hard, supported his co-workers, and contributed greatly to the science of plant pathology. His depth of knowledge and clear thoughts about how things worked will be truly missed. Since Don came from a family of teachers, he, too, truly enjoyed all aspects of teaching. As a reflection of his interests and commitments to teaching and research, Don’s wife, Pam, has helped to create the Don Ferrin Teaching Student Fund in the PPCP Department.



Edward C. McGawley Outstanding Teaching Award, 2013, Society of

Nematologists

Raghuwinder “Raj”SinghEducation Excellence Award presented by the New

Orleans Spring Garden Show Committee on April 6, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Maria Caldera, graduate student, received the Graduate School Travel Award for American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas from the LSU Graduate School, August 2013.

Awards and Honors Significant Accomplishments

Marc CohnC-4 Division Chair Elect (Seed Science), Crop Science

Society of America, 2013

Lawrence E. DatnoffAppointed LSU AgCenter Interim Director of

International ProgramsElected to APS Council, 2013-2016

Jong Hyun HamCommittee member for the LSU-COA Distinguished

Dissertation Award (2013)

Ruoxi Chen Wins Prestigious C.W. Edgerton AwardRuoxi Chen, doctoral

candidate in the Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology at Louisiana State University and the LSU AgCenter, recently won the prestigious C.W. Edgerton Award. She was nominated by her advisor, Dr. Jong Hyun Ham, associate professor. She won this award for her outstanding academic and professional achievements, especially her significant contributions toward our understanding of bacterial cell-to-cell communication (quorum-sensing) system. She identified tofM, a new regulatory gene of quorum-sensing, from the plant pathogenic bacterium Burkho lderia glumae and characterized its function in bacterial signaling and pathogenesis.

Ruoxi Chen and Dr. Jong Hyun Ham


Rebecca Melanson, doctoral candidate under the direction of Jong Hyun Ham in the Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology, was the recipient of one of two 2013 Eleanor Earle Memorial American Association of University Women (AAUW) scholarships from the Baton Rouge Chapter of the AAUW awarded to female doctoral students pursuing degrees at either Louisiana State University or Southern University. She received the award at a campus study luncheon of the AAUW Baton Rouge Chapter on April 18, 2013.

Melanson Wins AAUW Eleanor Earle Memorial Scholorship and the Sarah Bradley Tyson Memorial Fellowship

Melanson also received one of four 2013 Sarah Bradley Tyson Memorial Fellowships awarded to graduate students by the Women’s National Farm and Garden Association, Inc. Melanson is currently working to complete her doctoral research on the “Characterization of a novel negative LysR-type transcriptional regulatory factor of toxoflavin production in Burkholderia glumae, the causal agent of bacterial panicle blight of rice” for which she received a USDA AFRI-NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship Grant in 2012. She plans to graduate in 2014.

Rebecca A. Melanson was honored at the 2013 College of Agriculture Alumni Awards Reception, held at the Lod Cook Alumni Center on March 20, 2013, as the first recipient of the Ray and Dorothy Young Endowed Assistantship in Crop Integrated Pest Management. Melanson is a graduate student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology under the direction of Associate Professor Dr. Jong Hyun Ham. She is currently working to complete her dissertation research on the “Characterization of a novel negative LysR-type transcriptional regulatory factor of toxoflavin production in Burkholderia glumae, the causal agent of bacterial panicle blight of rice.” The knowledge gained from this research will give scientists a better understanding of how the bacterial pathogen Burkholderia glumae causes disease in

Melanson Receives Young Endowed Assistantshiprice and will ultimately lead to the development of disease management methods that rice producers can utilize to prevent yield losses attributed to bacterial panicle blight.

The Ray and Dorothy Young Endowed Assistantship in Crop Integrated Pest Management was established to honor Mr. Young for his professional contributions and service to agricultural industries for more than 40 years as an agricultural consultant. The establishment of the award was announced at the annual Louisiana Agricultural Technology and Management Conference in 2011 and was formalized by a donation from the Louisiana Agricultural Consultant’s Association.

Ray Young was in attendance at the alumni awards reception to present the award.


Zhi-Yuan ChenChen, Z. –Y. and Blum, B. 2013.

The AMCOE Aflatoxin Program grant for “Transgenic Control of Aflatoxin Contamination in Corn through Host Induced Gene Silencing”. $70,000 (06/2013 – 05/2014)

Chen, Z. -Y. 2013. The 2013 Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board grant for “Cercospora leaf blight disease of soybean-variety differences, environmental effects, and source of inoculum.” $32,000 (04/2013-03/2014)

Chen, Z. -Y. 2013. The 2013 Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board grant for “Using molecular biology to control soybean diseases: Cercospora Leaf Blight and Rust.” $54,500 (04/2013-03/2014)

Chen, Z. -Y. 2013. The USDA-ARS cooperative agreement award (58-6435-1-576, #5 and #6) for “Identification and evaluation of proteins/genes associated with aflatoxin-resistance in soybean and maize.” $3,146 and $15,000. (01/2013-04/2016)

Marc CohnCohn MA, Chen ZY (2013).

Identification of protein targets that maintain weed seed dormancy of red rice. LSU Graduate School Economic Development Assistantship ($100,000)

Kenneth DamannResearch support is primarily

through the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research & Promotion Board and we were awarded an AMCOE grant ($65,000) administered by the National Corn Grower’s Association. A cooperative agreement with the USDA-ARS-SRRC in New Orleans provided $15,000. Syngenta Crop Protection provides funds for testing of aflatoxin control approaches ($15,000).

Grants and Contracts

Jong Hyun Ham 2013 USDA Borlaug Fellowship Program (PI: Susan

Karimiha, co-PI: Jong Hyun Ham) Funded amount: $29,009

Louisiana Rice Research Board Grant: Characterization and Utilization of Genetic Traits for Resistance to Multiple Diseases of Rice (PI: Jong Hyun Ham. Co-PIs: Donald Groth, Xueyan Sha, Prasanta Subudhi, Herry Utomo) Funded amount: $37,530 (1/ 2013 – 12/2013)

Ray and Dorothy Young Endowed Assistantship in Crop Integrated Pest Management (2013) (Awardee: Rebecca Melanson, Mentor PI: Jong Hyun Ham) Funded amount: $20,000

Raghuwinder “Raj” SinghSingh, R. 2013. Plant Diagnostic

Center sample diagnoses revenue, $38,000.

Singh, R. 2013. Survey of citrus insect and diseases. Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, $25,000.

Singh, R. 2013. National Plant Diagnostic Network for the Food and Agriculture Initiative. USDA-NIFA, $22,000.

Singh, R. 2013. Plant health diagnostics professional internship sponsored by Dr. Grady Coburn, Pest Management Company, Cheneyville, Louisiana, $2,500.


Publications - Refereed

Zhi-Yuan ChenBrown, R. L., Menkir, A., Chen, Z. -Y., Bhatnagar,

D., Yu J., Yao, H., and Cleveland, T. E. 2013. Breeding aflatoxin-resistant maize lines using recent advances in technologies – a review. Food Additives and Contaminants: Part A. 30: 1382-1391.

Christopher A. ClarkWosula, E. N., Davis, J. A., Clark, C. A., Smith, T. P.,

Arancibia, R. A., Musser, F. R. and Reed, J. T. 2013. The role of aphid abundance, species diversity and virus titer in the spread of sweetpotato potyviruses in Louisiana and Mississippi. Plant Dis. 97:53-61.

Arancibia, R. A., Main, J. L., and Clark, C. A. 2013. Sweetpotato tip rot incidence is increased by preharvest applications of ethephon and reduced by curing. HortTechnology 23:288-293.

Wosula, E. N., Davis, J. A., and Clark, C. A. 2013. Population dynamics of three aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on four Ipomoea spp. infected or noninfected with sweetpotato potyviruses. J. Econ. Entomol. 106:1566-1573.

Marc CohnPublicationsSubudhi, P., Singh, P., DeLeon, T., Parco, A., Karan, R.,

Biradar, H., Cohn, M., Sasaki, T. 2013. Mapping of seed shattering loci provides insights into origin of weedy rice and rice domestication (JOH-2013-101.R1). Journal of Heredity (Advance Access published December 11, 2013) (doi:10.1093/jhered/est089).

Lawrence E. DatnoffEspinosa, A., Miller, G. L., and Datnoff, L. E. 2013.

Accumulation of silicon in Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis and Poa trivialis used as an overseed grass. J. Plant Nutr. 36:1719-1732.

Sidhu, J. K., Stout, M. J., Blouin, D. C. and Datnoff, L. E. 2013. Effect of silicon soil amendment on the performance of sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera:Crambidae) on rice. Bulletin Entomol. Res. 5:1-9

Huang, C. H., Roberts, P. D., Gale, L. R., Elmer, W. H., and Datnoff, L. E. 2013. Population structure of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radices-lycopersici in Florida inferred from vegetative compatibility groups and

microsatellites. European J. Phyto. Path. 136:509-521.Sebastian, D., Rodrigues, H., Kinsey, C., Korndorfer,

G., Pereira, H., Buck, G., Datnoff, L., Miranda, S., and Provance-Bowley, M. 2013. A 5-day method for determining soluble silicon concentrations in non-liquid fertilizer materials using a sodium carbonate-ammonium nitrate extractant followed by visible spectroscopy utilizing heteropoly blue analysis. J. AOAC International 96 (2):251-259.

Jong Hyun HamChoi, H. W., D. S. Kim, N. H. Kim, H. W. Jung, J. H. Ham,

and B. K. Hwang. 2013. Xanthomonas filamentous hemagglutinin-like protein Fha1 interacts with pepper hypersensitive induced reaction protein CaHIR1 and functions as a virulence factor in host plants. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. In press.

Jeff HoyBarrera, W.A., Hoy, J.W., and Li, B. 2013. Effects of

temperature and moisture variables on brown rust epidemics in sugarcane. J. Phytopathol. 161:98-106.

Garces, F. F., Gutierrez, A., and Hoy, J. W. 2013. Detection and quantification of Xanthomonas albilineans by qPCR and potential characterization of sugarcane resistance to leaf scald. Plant Dis. 97:Accepted for publication.

Gravois, K.A., Parco, A., Waguespack, H.L., Pontif, M.J., Baisakh, N., Hoy, J.W., and Kimbeng, C.A. 2013. Effect of off-types on growth and sugar yield of L 01-283. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol. 28:1-11.

Grisham, M.P., Hoy, J.W., Haudenshield, J.S., and Hartman, G.L. 2013. First report of orange rust caused by Puccinia kuehnii in sugarcane in Louisiana. Plant Dis. 97:426.

Hoy, J.W., and Blackwelder, N. 2013. Effects of seed treatment chemicals on stand establishment and yield obtained from billet planting in Louisiana. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol. 28:1-7.

Maroon-Lango, C.J., Hoy, J.W., Comstock, J.C., Grisham, M.P., Mock, R., Hale, A., Afghan, S., Croft, B.J., De la Cueva, F., Hoffmann, H., Kennedy, A., Orozco, H., Saumtally, S., Victoria, J., and Viswanathan, R. 2013. Current knowledge and practices related to seed transmission of sugarcane pathogens and movement of seed. J. Amer. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol. 33:20-29.


Publications - Refereed (continued)

Norimoto MuraiMurai N 2013 Review: Plant Ti binary vectors

of Agrobacterum tumefaciens with wide-host-range replicons of RK2, pRi, pSA or pVS1. American Journal of Plant Sciences 4 (4) 932-939 doi: 10.4236/ajps.2013.44115

Lee S, Su G, Lasserre E, Murai N 2013 Tetracycline-based binary Ti vectors pLSU with efficient cloning by Gateway Technology for Agrobacterum tumefaciens-mediated transformation of higher plants. American Journal of Plant Sciences 4 (7) 1418-1426 doi: 10.4236/ajps.2013.47173

Raymond W. SchneiderElmer, W. H., Useman, S., Schneider, R. W., Marra, R.

E., LaMondia, J. A., Mendelssohn, I. A., Jimenez,-Gasco, M. M., and Caruso, F. L. 2013. Sudden vegetation dieback in Atlantic and Gulf Coast salt marshes. Plant Disease 97:436-445.

Chanda, A. K., Chen, Z.-Y., and Schneider, R. W. 2014. Identification and characterization of light-inducible proteins from Cercospora kikuchii. Molecular Plant Pathology 15: Submitted.

Chanda, A. K., Ward, N. A., Robertson, C. L., Chen, Z.-Y., and Schneider, R. W. 2014. Latent infection by Cercospora kikuchii, causal agent of Cercospora leaf blight in soybean. Phytopathology 104: Submitted.

Gauthier, N. W., Maruthachalam, K., Subbarao, K., Brown, M., Xiao, Y., Robertson, C. L., Giles, C. G., and Schneider, R. W. 2014. Mycoparasitism of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the soybean rust pathogen,

by Simplicillium lanosoniveum. Biological Control 68: Submitted.

Walker, D. R., Harris, D. K., King, Z. R., Li, Z., Boerma, H. R., Buckley, J. B., Weaver, D. B., Sikora, E. J., Shipe, E. R., Mueller, J. D., Buck, J. W., Schneider, R. W., Marois, J. J., Wright, D. L., and Nelson, R. L. 2014. Evaluation of soybean germplasm accessions for resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi populations in the southeastern United States, 2009-2012. Crop Science 54: Submitted.

Price, P. P., III, Purvis, M. A., Padgett, G. B., and Schneider, R. W. 2014. Cercospora leaf blight and purple seed stain in Louisiana soybean. Plant Health Progress: Submitted.

Raghuwinder “Raj” SinghGuan, W., Shao, J., Singh, R., Davis, R., and Huang, Q.

2013. A TaqMan-based real time PCR assay for specific detection and quantification of Xylella fastidiosa strains causing bacterial leaf scorch in oleander. Journal of Microbiological Methods 92: 108-112.

Rodrigo A. ValverdeKhankhum, S., Bollich, P., and Valverde. R. A. 2013.

First Report of Tobacco ringspot virus Infecting Kudzu (Pueraria montana) in Louisiana. Plant Disease 97:561.

Okada, R., Young, C. K., Valverde, R. A., Sabanadzovic, S., Aoki, N., Hotate, S., Kiyota, E., Moriyama,H., & Fukuhara, T. 2013. Molecular characterization of two evolutionally distinct endornaviruses co-infecting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Journal of General Virology 93:220-229.

Zhi-Yuan ChenBooks or Book ChaptersBrown, R. L., Bhatnagar, D. Cleveland, T. E., Chen,

Z.-Y., and Menkir, A. 2013. Development of maize host resistance to aflatoxigenic fungi. In Aflatoxins: Recent Advances and Future Prospects (Ed. M. Razzaghi-Abyaneh), InTech, Rijeka, Crotia, ISBN: 978-953-51-0904-4, pp. 3-22. Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/aflatoxins-recent-advances-and-future-prospects/development-of-maize-host-resistance-to-aflatoxigenic-fungi

Publications - Non-Refereed

Christopher A. ClarkBooksClark, C. A., Ferrin, D. M., Smith, T. P., and Holmes, G.

J., eds. 2013. Compendium of Sweetpotato Diseases, Pests, and Disorders, Second Edition. APS Press, The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. 160 pp.

Other PublicationsArancibia, R., Clark, C., Stokes, B., Grelen, L., da

Silva, W., Baird, R., and Main, J. 2013. Sweetpotato tip and end rot incidence in response to pathogen inoculations and postharvest foliar applications of


Publications - Non-Refereed (continued)

Clayton A. HollierPublications Hollier, Clayton A., Overstreet, Charles, Hoy, Jeffrey W.

“Plant Disease Management Guide (online store item)”. 2013

Groth, Donald E., Hollier, Clayton A., Padgett, Guy B. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Bacterial Streak and Black Chaff of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Groth, Donald E., Hollier, Clayton A., Padgett, Guy B. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Fusarium Head Blight (Scab) of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Groth, Donald E., Hollier, Clayton A., Padgett, Guy B. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Leaf Rust of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Groth, Donald E., Hollier, Clayton A., Padgett, Guy B. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Septoria Lea Blotch of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Hollier, Clayton A., Groth, Donald E., Padgett, Guy B. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Stem Rust of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Hollier, Clayton A., Groth, Donald E., Padgett, Guy B. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Loose Smut of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Hollier, Clayton A., Groth, Donald E., Padgett, Guy B. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Powdery Mildew of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Hollier, Clayton A., Padgett, Guy B., Groth, Donald E. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Downy Mildew (Crazy Top) of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Padgett, Guy B., Hollier, Clayton A., Groth, Donald E. “Louisiana Plant Pathology Series: Stripe Rust of Wheat (online only)”. 2013

Levy, Jr., Ronald J., Udeigwe, Theophilus K, Stevens, Jr., J. Cheston, Stephenson, Daniel O., Harrell, Dustin L., Viator, Sonny, Padgett, Guy B., Lofton, Josh, Hollier, Clayton A., Haggard, Beatrix J, Buckley, Blair, Davis, Jeff A., Bollich, Patrick K. “Soybean Variety Recommendations 2013”. 2013

Jeff HoyTechnical/research reportsHoy, J. 2013. Breeding for disease resistance: Change

is coming. Sugar J. 75(12):20-23.Hoy, J. 2013. What should we expect from rust(s)

during 2013? Sugar Bull. 91(6):21-24.Hoy, J. W., and Savario, C. F. 2013. Billet planting

research. Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report, 2011. La. State Univ. Agric. Exp. Sta. publ.

ethphon. National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group Progress Report 2012:7.

Clark, C., da Silva, W., Arancibia, R., Main, J., Schultheis, J., Pesic van-Esbroeck, Z., and Chen, J. 2013. End rots, tip rot, and internal necrosis: investigations into cause and resistance. National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group Progress Report 2012:7-8.

Clark, C. A., da Silva, W., and Villordon, A. 2013. Lenticel proliferation and flooding associated soft rot in sweetpotato. National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group Progress Report 2012:8-9.

Kenneth DamannPublicationsDamann, KE, & DeRobertis, C. 2013. Mating of

Aspergillus flavus x Aspergillus minisclerotigenes hybrids: Are they functionally mules? Phytopathology 103 (Supplement 2)6:32

Lawrence E. DatnoffAbstractsBabu, T., Datnoff, L., Yzenas, J., Tubana, B. 2013.

Silicon status of Louisiana soils grown to different field crops. Nutrient Management & Soil & Plant Analysis, Soil Science Society of America, Tampa, Fla., 3-6 November.

Tubana, B., Kongchum, M., Babu, T., and Datnoff, L. 2013. Effect of silicon sources on rice biomass silicon uptake and grain yield. Nutrient Management & Soil & Plant Analysis, Soil Science Society of America, Tampa, Fla., 3-6 November.

Tubana, B., Babu, T., and Datnoff, L. 2013. Silicon dynamics in soils under different cropping systems in Louisiana. Nutrient Management & Soil & Plant Analysis, Soil Science Society of America, Tampa, Fla., 3-6 November.

Miscellaneous The Silicon Conundrum, interview published by

Acres, USA, The Voice of Eco-Agriculture, Vol. 43, No. 7:42-49, 2013, where I explain the value of this overlooked element in agriculture.


Publications - Non-Refereed (continued)

Edward C. McGawley McGawley, E.C. and C. Overstreet. 2013. Reniform

Nematode. IN: Compendium of Soybean Diseases, 5th Ed. IN: Compendium of Soybean Diseases, 5th Ed., J.C. Rupe, Editor, American Phytopathological Society. (in press).

Charles OverstreetBook chapterOverstreet, C. 2013. Diseases caused by Nematodes.

in: C. Clark, D. M. Ferrin, T. P. Smith, and G. J. Holmes, (eds.). Compendium of Sweetpotato Diseases, Pest, and Disorders. Pp. 62-73. The American Phytopathological Society Press, St. Paul, Minnesota

Technical/research reportsKularathna, M. T., C. Overstreet, E. C. McGawley, D.

M. Xavier, C. M. Martin, and D. Burns. 2013. Influence of soil nutrients on reproduction and pathogenicity of Rotylenchulus reniformis on cotton. Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conference, 7-10 January 2013; San Antonio, Texas. National Cotton Council, Cordova, Tenn. Pp. 477-483

Overstreet, C. 2013. Changing strategies for nematode management. 16th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference Proceedings; 1-2 February, Baton Rouge, La. Pp. 6-7

Overstreet, C., E. C. McGawley, M. T. Kularathna, D. M. Xavier, C. M. Martin, D. Burns, and R. A. Haygood. 2013. Nutient and nematicide effects against reniform and root-knot nematodes in cotton. Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conference, 7-10 January 2013; San Antonio, Texas. National Cotton Council, Cordova, Tenn. Pp. 906-910

Xavier, D. M., C. Overstreet, E. C. McGawley, M. T. Kularathna and C. M. Martin. 2013. Influence of soil texture on reproduction and pathogenicity of Rotylenchulus reniformis on cotton. Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conference, 7-10 January 2013; San Antonio, Texas. National Cotton Council, Cordova, Tenn. Pp. 460-464

Extension publicationsFerrin, D.M., C.A. Hollier, J.W. Hoy and C. Overstreet.

2013 Plant Disease Management Guide. Pub. 1802, 295 pages.

Raymond W. SchneiderBook Chapters, On-line Publications and Other

ContributionsSchneider, R. W. 2013. Control of soybean rust

with single R1 applications of a triazole fungicide. Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association Turnrow Talk 17:5.

Ward, N. A., Schneider, R. W., and Cai, G. 2014. Cercospora Blight, Leaf Spot, and Purple Seed Stain. In: Hartman, G. L. and J. C. Rupe (eds). Compendium of Soybean Diseases. 5th ed. American Phytopathological Society. (In Press)

Abstracts, Proceedings and Other ContributionsSchneider, R. W., Clark L. Robertson, Brian M. Ward

and Eduardo Chagas Silva. 2013. Optimization of Fungicide Applications for Management of Cercospora Leaf Blight and Rust in Soybean Proceedings, Southern Soybean Disease Workers.

Silva, E. C., B. M .Ward, C. L. Robertson, R. W. Schneider. 2013. Effects of Foliar Applications of Micronutrients on Severity of Rust in Soybean. Proceedings, Southern Soybean Disease Workers.

Ward, B. M., C. L. Robertson, R. W. Schneider and E.C. Silva. 2013. Effects of Minor Element Nutrition on Cercospora Leaf Blight of Soybean Proceedings, Southern Soybean Disease Workers.

Silva, E. C., Robertson, C. L., Schneider, R. W., and Ward, B. M. 2013. Effects of mineral nutrition on soybean rust and yield. Phytopathology 103:S2.133.

Ward, B. M., Robertson, C. L., Schneider, R. W., Silva, E. C., ands Albu, S. 2013. Effects of minor elements on Cercospora leaf blight of soybean and production of cercosporin . Phytopathology 103:S2.158.

Raghuwinder “Raj” Singh Singh, R. 2013. “Citrus Canker”. ”, Louisiana State

University Agricultural Center, Publication 3269.

Rodrigo A. ValverdeBook ChaptersValverde, R. A. and Clark, C. A. 2013. Begomoviruses.

Pages 86-88 in:Compendium of sweetpotato diseases, pests, and disorders 2nd ed. C. A. Clark, D. M. Ferrin, T. P. Smith, and G. J. Holmes, eds. The American Phytopathological Society Press. St. Paul, Minn.

Publications in Non-Refereed JournalsValverde, R. A. 2013. Ornamental attributes of some

plant viruses. Louisiana Agriculture 56:29-30.


Dr. Trey Price joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology September 2013. Trey has a 60 percent research and 40 percent extension appointment within the LSU AgCenter and a 20 percent appointment within the department. He began his career in agriculture during high school working as a cotton scout during the summers and as a roustabout at a cotton gin during the fall. After earning a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Louisiana Tech University in 1999, he immediately began his graduate studies with mycoherbicides and other potential biological controls under the direction of Dr. H. L. Walker. After earning a master’s degree in biology at Louisiana Tech University, Trey began his career with LSU AgCenter as an extension/research associate. During his time as an associate, he worked in agronomy, weed science, entomology, and plant pathology in cotton, corn, soybean, wheat, grain sorghum and sweet potatoes. In 2008, while still employed full-time as an associate, he began his graduate studies under the direction of Drs. G. Boyd Padgett and Raymond W. Schneider. His dissertation work led to the discovery of fungicide resistance in the soybean pathogen, Cercospora kikuchii.

Trey is excited to serve as the field crops pathologist for the Northeast Region of Louisiana. He is currently housed at the Macon Ridge Research Station near Winnsboro, Louisiana, and is the statewide contact in cotton pathology. He is also responsible for disease management education in field crops.

Dr. Melanie Lewis Ivey joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology August 2013. Melanie has an 85 percent extension and 15 percent teaching appointment within the LSU AgCenter. She began her career in plant pathology at The Ohio State University-Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OSU-OARDC) in 1999 after earning a master’s degree in plant sciences at the University of Western Ontario. During her time at OARDC, she worked closely with Ohio and out-of-state stakeholders providing them with science-based disease management and plant health strategies for the production of vegetables. In 2006, while continuing to work full time in the Vegetable Pathology Laboratory at OSU-OARDC, she pursued a doctorate that focused on addressing emerging issues in plant health, including fresh produce safety and risk communication and knowledge translation, under the direction of Drs. Sally Miller and Jeffery LeJeune. Melanie completed her doctorate in 2011 and as a research scientist at OSU-OARDC began to develop a program centered on identifying co-management strategies to mitigate the risk of plant and human pathogens on fresh fruit and vegetables. She also investigated the risk factors for microbial contamination in the tomato greenhouse production chain utilizing risk assessment tools.

Melanie is excited about the opportunity to utilize novel and innovative research tools to develop effective communication and information exchange strategies to facilitate producer uptake and application of science-based knowledge pertaining to disease management, and plant health and safety. She will be the statewide contact to exchange knowledge with Louisiana stakeholders concerning disease management of horticultural crops including vegetables, small fruits, fruit and nut trees, ornamentals and turf.

New Faculty Announced


Presentations, Webinars and Posters

Christopher A. ClarkAbstracts of papers presented at scientific meetingsCarey, E. E., Andrade, M., Sweany, R., Clark, C.,

and Villordon, A. 2013. IBRootNet: A collaborative platform for distributed sweetpotato root architecture phenotyping for enhanced crop improvement and management. Poster presented at the African Potato Association Conference, June 30-July 4, 2013, Naivasha, Kenya.

Marc CohnPresentationsCohn, M.A. (2013) The basis of Spartina seed

desiccation tolerance using comparative proteomics. Crop Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Tampa, Fla. November 3-6, 2013

Cohn, M.A. (2013) Death by drying: exploiting comparative Spartina seed physiology to reexamine recalcitrant seed mortality. American Society of Plant Biologists Annual Meeting, Providence, R.I. July 20-24, 2013. [INVITED symposium talk]

Cohn, M.A. (2013) Death by drying: exploiting comparative Spartina seed physiology to reexamine recalcitrant seed mortality. Fascination With Plants Day Symposium. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. May 3, 2013. [invited]

Cohn, M.A. (2012) Recalcitrant Spartina seed death: separating facts from artifacts with comparative physiology. Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich., December 2012 [invited]

Cohn, M.A. (2012) Recalcitrant Spartina seed death: separating facts from artifacts with comparative physiology. Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich., December 2012 [invited]

ThesesWang, Y. 2013. A novel system to study seed

recalcitrance and dormancy – Comparative proteomics between two Spartina species. Ph.D. dissertation, August 2013 [Dr. Wang is now a post-doc at the University of Minnesota Medical Center]

Kenneth DamannPresentations“Aflatoxin and ear rots: Afla-Guard biological control

research”. February 14, 2013, LCCA- LA Consultants-Marksville, La.

“Understanding of biological control of corn” February 26, 2013, AMCOE, Orlando, Fla.

“Aflatoxin research and Aspergillus biocontrol” February 28, 2013, CDWG, St. Louis, Mo.

“Understanding atoxigenic biological control of aflatoxin contamination: Competitive exclusion or inclusion? “ May 15, 2013, USDA-ARS-SRRC, New Orleans, La.

“Mating of Aspergillus flavus x Aspergillus minisclerotigenes hybrids: Are they functionally mules?” August 13, 2013, APS, Austin, Texas.

Lawrence E. DatnoffInvitations to present seminars, scientific papers

and keynote addressPresented a talk on Silicon, biotic stress and

its status in the United States, First International Symposium on Trends and Challenges of Tropical Agriculture: The ecophysiological and sanitary benefits of silicon, Universidad Industrial de Santander and Agromil, Bogota, Colombia, 27-29 November 2013

Presented five invited talks on Silicon and Biotic Stress, Associations of Plant Pathology and Soil Science; San Marcos de Tarrazu, Guacimo, San Jose, Grecia and Quepos, Costa Rica, 5-13 November 2013

Presented a talk on Louisiana Agriculture and the LSU AgCenter, International Forum on Processes and Services of Wetland Ecosystems between IGA-CAS, LSU and the LSU AgCenter, Changchun, China, 28 July-4 August 2013

Jong Hyun HamCaldera, M. A., J. Ham, and R. Singh. 2013.

Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification for detection of Burkholderia glumae.

Shrestha, B. K., M. C. Rush, D. E. Groth, and J. Ham. Suppression of sheath blight development in rice and sclerotia germination of Rhizoctonia solani by rice-associated strains of Bacllus spp.

Karki, H. S. and J. H. Ham. 2013. Virulence deficiencies associated with the mutation of aroA and aroB genes of Burkholderia glumae strain 411gr-6.

J. H. Ham. 2013. The complex regulatory and signaling network for the virulence of the rice pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia glumae revealed by various molecular genetic and genomic studies.


Presentations, Webinars and Posters (continued)

Chen, R., F. Francis, J. Kim, and J. H. Ham. 2013. A transcriptome analysis to identify the regulon of the TofI/TofR quorum-sensing implies the presence of DSF-mediated signing system in Burkholderia glumae.

Osti, S., I. K. Barphaga, and J. H. Ham. 2013. The noble regulator, tepR, influences toxoflavin production and virulence in the rice pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia glumae.

Melanson, R. A., I. K. Barphagha, and J. H. Ham. 2013. Genetic analyses of ntpR encoding a novel negative regulator for toxoflavin production in the rice-pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia glumae.

Melanson, R. A., I. K. Barphagha, and J. H. Ham. 2013. Genetic analyses of ntpR encoding a LysR-family transcriptional factor for its negative regulatory function for the virulence of the rice pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia glumae.

Clayton A. Hollier Mani, K. K., C. Hollier and, D. E. Groth. 2013. Effect

of planting date, fungicide timing, and varietal susceptibility levels on development of narrow brown leaf spot of rice. American Phytopathological Society Annual meeting Aug. 04-08 2013.

Kaur, K, and C. Hollier. 2013. Role of amino acids, vitamins and inorganic salts in the development of Cercospora janseana L. Miyake. Southern Division APS meeting, Feb. 08-10, 2013.

Kaur, K. and C. Hollier. 2013. Effect of amended media, temperature, light on the development of Cercospora janseana. Phytopathology 103 (Suppl.2), No.6, 2013 S2.71

Hollier, C.A. 2013. Louisiana IPM programs and their impacts on the health of the state environment. SERA 003 Annual Meeting, Baton Rouge, La.

Hollier, C.A. 2013. Disease management strategies for field crops in Northeastern Louisiana. 2013 National Conservation Meeting, Baton Rouge, La.

Jeff HoyResearch presentations Avellanenda, M. C., Bombecini, J., and Hoy, J.

W. 2013. Variability in Puccinia melanocephala pathogenicity and sugarcane cultivar resistance in Louisiana.

Avellaneda, M. C., Hoy, J. W., and Pontif, M. P. 2013. Seedling inoculation for cross appraisal of brown rust resistance. Amer. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol.

Grisham, M. P., Haudenshield, J. S., Hoy, J. W., Warnke, K. Z., Maggio, J. R., Waguespack, H. L., Jr., Jackson, W. R., and Hartman, G. L. 2013. Development of orange rust of sugarcane in Louisiana. Amer. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol.

Gutierrez, A. F., and Hoy, J. W. 2013. Quantitative PCR of Xanthomonas albilineans in sugarcane tissues as methodology for evaluating resistance.

Gutierrez, A. F., and Hoy, J. W. 2013. Specificity and Plant Extract Inhibition of qPCR for Xanthomonas albilineans. Amer. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol.

Parco, A. Hale, A., Kimbeng, C., Hoy, J., and Baisakh, N. 2013. Frequency of Brown Rust Resistance Gene Bru1 in the Germplasm Collection of the Louisiana Sugarcane Breeding Program. Amer. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol.

Edward C. McGawleyPresentations Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, Texas;

1/7-11/2013; oral presentation.Multistate Research Project S-1046 Meeting, San

Antonio, Texas; 1/7-11/2013; oral presentation.Future IPM in Europe Conference, Riva Del Garda,

Italy, 3/19-21/2013; invited oral presentationMeeting of Russian Society of Nematology and

Invited lectures at University of Moscow; Moscow, Russia; 6/21-7/7/2013; 5 oral presentations.

Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists; Knoxville, Tenn.; 7/14-17/2013; 2 oral presentations.

Annual Meeting of the Organization of Nematologists of Tropical America; LaSerena, Chile; 10/21-25/2013; oral presentation.

Charles OverstreetResearch PresentationsNutient and nematicide effects against reniform

and root-knot nematodes in cotton. 2013. Presented at the Beltwide Cotton Conference in San Antonio, Texas, January 7-10, 2013

Changing strategies for nematode management. 2013. Presented at the 16th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference in Baton Rouge, La., January 31-February 1, 2013

Nutrient and nematicide effects against reniform and root-knot nematodes in cotton. 2013. Presented at the Spring Seminar Series of the Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology Department in Baton Rouge, La., January 16, 2013


Presentations, Webinars and Posters (continued)

Raghuwinder “Raj” SinghTechnical Reports/Posters Caldera, M., Ham, J., and Singh, R. “Development

of a Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification for Detection of Burkholderia glumae”. American Phytopahtological Society Annual Meeting. Austin, Texas. August 8, 2013.

Walsh, S., Johnson, C., and Singh, R. “Use of commercial food grade cinnamon products to control fungal growth in vitro”. American Society of Horticulture Science National Conference. Palm Desert, Calif. July 21-26, 2013.

Engagement/OutreachLSU AgCenter Garden Shows and Field Days: 56

attended and participated.Master Gardener Training and Education: 16

Sessions. Plant Health Diagnostic Internship: 13 Students.Workshops and Training: 36 workshops attended

and conducted and organized 4 trainings.Meetings and Symposiums: 34 attended at National

and State level. Chair of the American Phytopathological Society

Diagnostic Committee.Active member of 12 professional organizations at

State and National Level.Collaborate with USDA and LDAF on plant diseases

of regulatory and quarantine status.Extension PresentationsLandscape Plant Health Management, Baton Rouge

Landscape Association Meeting, Baton Rouge, La. September 18, 2013. (24 participants)

Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics, Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, New Orleans, La. September 16, 2013. (12 Participants)

Solving Common Ornamental and Vegetable Problems, PlantFest, Folsom, La. September 14, 2013.

Introduction to LSU AgCenter Plant Diagnostic Center, Macon Ridge Research Station Field Day, Winnsboro, La. September 5, 2013.

Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics, Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, New Orleans, La. August 27, 2013. (37 Participants)

Citrus Canker. Louisiana Fruit and Vegetable Grower Association Meeting. Baton Rouge, La. August 22, 2013. (81 participants)

Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics, Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Lake Charles, La. July 25, 2013. (27 Participants)

Citrus Canker and other Important Diseases of Citrus. County Agents and LDAF Inspector training. Hammond, La. July 29, 2013. (36 participants)

Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics, Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Lake Charles, La. July 25, 2013. (27 Participants)

Disease Management in Nurseries with Emphasis on Phytophthora. South East Nursery and Landscape Association Summer Meeting. Folsom, La. July 23, 2013. (28 participants)

Introduction to Plant Pathology, Louisiana Young Agriculture Producer Program, Baton Rouge, La. July 22, 2013. (4 Participants)

Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics, Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Baton Rouge, La. July 18, 2013. (25 Participants)

Citrus Canker Training to Commercial Citrus Growers. Belle Chasse, La. July 10, 2013. (37 Participants).

Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics, Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, DeRidder, La. June 13, 2013. (15 Participants)

Diseases of Vegetables and Ornamentals in square foot gardening. Covington, La. June 5, 2013. (31 Participants)

Visiting Scientists/Students

Edward C. McGawley2013-Dr. Yuko Takeuchi, Kyoto University laboratory

of Terrestrial Microbiology, Japan. “Pinewood Nematode Pathogenicity Elicitors and vector specificity.”


Meetings Attended

Norimoto Murai2013 National meeting of the American Society of

Plant BiologistsLee S, Su G, Lasserre E, Murai N 2013 New binary Ti

vectors pLSU-tet adapted for Gateway Technology for Agrobacterum tumefaciens-mediated transformation of higher plants. (Poster number P14028/ confirmation number 286948)

The 90th meeting of the APS Southern Division was hosted by the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology at Louisiana State University (LSU), February 8–10, 2013, at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center in Baton Rouge, La. President Raymond Schneider (LSU) coordinated the meeting program, made local arrangements, and welcomed the group of 105 attendees who contributed 53 oral presentations and nine posters to the program. Thursday night prior to the meeting, an Early Professional’s Reception for graduate students and post-docs was hosted at LSU’s Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology. Visitors were given an opportunity to visit faculty, staff, and graduate students and learn about the exciting research occurring at the host department. The meeting started Friday with a session of contributed papers, presided over by Schneider, followed by the first of three sessions for the graduate student paper competition.

A special symposium, Plant Pathology 2.0: Considerations for the Future of Our Discipline, was held Friday afternoon. The symposium consisted of invited speakers representing government, industry, academia, and APS and was well received. The keynote address was given by Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana

Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and followed by other distinguished speakers, including Harold Lambert (crop consultant, New Roads, La.) and John Russin (vice chancellor, LSU AgCenter).

Thirty-six students participated in this year’s competition, with participants representing LSU, North Carolina State University, Mississippi State University, Texas Tech University, the University of Arkansas, University of Georgia, and Texas A&M. The first place winner was Rebecca Melanson (advisor Jong Hyun Ham) for her presentation “Genetic analyses of ntpR encoding a LysRfamily transcriptional factor for its negative regulatory function for the virulence of the rice pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia glumae.”

The Outstanding Plant Pathologist Award went to Donald M. Ferrin, posthumous, for his numerous achievements in research and teaching. The inaugural Donald M. Ferrin Memorial Service Award, recognizing Southern Division members for their distinguished service to APS and the Southern Division, also was presented posthumously to Ferrin.

An extended lunch gave meeting participants a unique opportunity to enjoy the local Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade.

Louisiana Science and Engineering FairsJudged nine posters in Engineering and Biological

Material section, and nine posters in the Computer Science section for the Senior Division of Louisiana Science & Engineering Fair at the LSU Student Union in the morning of March 27, 2013.

The 90th Meeting of the APS Southern Division


The Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology (PPCP) was well represented at the 2013 APS-MSA Joint Meeting in Austin, Texas, from August 10-14, 2013. Thirty members of the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology at LSU and several alumni were in attendance. The majority of the attending students presented a paper of his or her research at LSU in the form of poster or oral presentations. Rebecca Melanson was invited to present her first place presentation from the 2013 Southern Division APS graduate student paper competition in a special symposium entitled, “Plant Pathologists of the Future: Showcasing the Top Graduate Students from APS Division Meetings.” Melanson received a travel award from APS to attend the Austin meeting. Other students, recent graduates and faculty presenting papers were: Sebastian Albu, Carolina Avellaneda, Maria Alejandra Caldera, Eduardo Chagas, Andres Gutierrez, Favio Herrera, Surasak Khankhum, Kirandeep Kaur Mani, Donald Nelson, Josielle Rezende, Trey Price, Rebecca Sweany, Brian Ward and Kenneth Damann Jr. The research of recent PPCP graduate Jake Fountain, now at the University of Georgia, was presented by Zhi-Yuan Chen. In addition to giving presentations, students and faculty were also busy participating in workshops, committee meetings and networking opportunities. Zhi-Yuan Chen transitioned to chair of the Mycology committee; Jong Hyun Ham was elected vice-chair of the bacteriology committee; Clayton Hollier transitioned to chair of the committee for integrated disease pest management; Melanson transitioned from vice-

chair to chair of the committee for diversity and equality, taking over the role that was held by LSU PPCP alumni Nicole Ward-Gauthier; Raghuwinder (Raj) Singh transitioned to chair of the diagnostics committee; and Lawrence Datnoff, Raymond Schneider, Rodrigo Valverde, and PPCP alumni, Shaker Kousik, served as networking experts at the committee for diversity and equality’s workshop and social, “Networking: YOU Take the Lead!” Other PPCP members in attendance were: Ashok Chanda, Christopher Clark, Mary Helen Ferguson, Teddy Garcia, Don Groth, Jeff and Mary Hoy, Clark Robertson, and Linan Zhang. Kirandeep Kaur Mani and Brian Ward were each awarded an LSU PPCP GSA Scholarship to attend the meeting. The GSA also covered the cost of one networking opportunity, a new PPCP GSA initiative, at the meeting for graduate students in the PPCP GSA who applied for the networking opportunity funding.

Students also used a little bit of free time to check out the sights of Austin and to watch America’s largest urban bat colony emerge from their roost under the Congress Avenue Bridge.

Following the meeting, a number of students and professors stopped by University of Texas Austin for a tour, hosted by PPCP alumni, Dr. Sathasivan, who visited PPCP earlier this year. LSU visitors learned a little bit of history about the campus, toured the life sciences library and the greenhouse facilities, among others. They also met with Dr. Jerry Brand, the director of the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae, and learned about current algal research.

2013 APS-MSA Joint Meeting


PPCP 2013 Graduates

Doctoral DegreeRuoxi Chen

Paul “Trey” PriceYi Wang

Master’s DegreeWashington DaSilva

Jake FountainMala Ganiger

Manjula KularathnaDonald NelsenDeborah Xavier

Southern Soybean Disease Workers GatherThe 40th meeting of the Southern Soybean Disease Workers (SSDW) was held March 13 and 14, 2013, at the Pensacola Beach Hilton in Pensacola Beach, Fla., in conjunction with the NCERA-184 Wheat Disease Committee and the NCERA-208 Soybean Rust Committee. The meeting was presided over by President Clayton Hollier. This year, 50 people attended the meet-ing, including members representing universities, USDA, the United Soybean Board (USB) and industry. This year’s meeting began with several presentations on important topics in the southern soybean production system. Raymond Schnei-der talked on the effectiveness of fungicides in managing soybean rust during the 2012 season in Louisiana. A graduate student paper competi-tion followed the symposium and was presided over by Hollier. Five students participated in the competition, representing LSU and the Universi-ty of Arkansas. Paul “Trey” Price III (advisor, G. Boyd Padgett) won first place for his presentation

Paul “Trey” Price III and Brian Ward

The Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology Graduate Student Association (PPCP-GSA) hosted Dr. Brian Staskawicz, professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, March 5 - 7, 2013. During his visit to LSU, Dr. Staskawicz was introduced to the culture of Louisiana and the South as he joined students for meals and research discussions. Dr. Staskawicz met with departmental faculty and students to learn about the research being conducted and to share his own experiences and knowledge as a professional. He presented a seminar entitled, “Effector Targeted Breeding: A Paradigm for Achieving Durable Disease Resistance.”

Staskawicz Speaks at Graduate Student Association Seminar Series

“Sensitivity of Cercospora kikuchii Populations to Methyl Benzimidazole, Carbamate, Quinone Outside Inhibitor, and Demethylation Inhibi-tor Fungicides.” Brian Ward (advisor, Raymond Schneider) won second place for his presentation “Effects of Minor Element Nutrition on Cerco-spora Leaf Blight of Soybean.”


Dr. Kanagasabapathi “Sata” Sathasivan, School of Biological Sciences, University of Texas - Austin, graduated in 1991 under the guidance of Dr. Norimoto Murai. March 13, Sathasivan presented a seminar on “Sustainability of algal biofuel production with improved carbon dioxide sequestration, nutrient utilization and integration with aquaculture.”

Dr. Ron Brlansky, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, graduated in 1977 under the guidance of Dr.

Two Former PPCP Students Speak at 2013 Spring Seminar SeriesKen Derrick. He provided a seminar April 10 on “Exotic Diseases of Citrus: What’s Next?”

During their visit, they had the opportunity to tour the department and meet with faculty members and students, including some of their former professors and committee members. The graduate students met with both professors for lunch to discuss as well as seek their advice and expertise as successful professionals and researchers.

Dr. Kanagasabapathi “Sata” Sathasivan Dr. Ron Brlansky

Visit our website: www.LSUAgCenter.com

William B. Richardson, LSU Vice President for AgricultureLouisiana State University Agricultural Center

Louisiana Agricultural Experiment StationLouisiana Cooperative Extension Service

LSU College of AgricultureThe LSU AgCenter is a statewide campus of the LSU System and

provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.Louisiana State University is an equal opportunity/access university.

PPCP NEWSDepartment of Plant Pathology & Crop PhysiologyResearch . Extension . Teaching

PPCP NEWS - Louisiana State University · Teaching PPCP NEWS. 2 Department of Plant Pathology &...

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