People

Plant Stress Resistance Biology

Plants respond to stresses by triggering a collection of molecular and cellular processes. Plant stresses can be abiotic, such as extreme temperatures, salinity, and drought; or biotic, such as pathogens and herbivores. These stresses affect the plants ability for proper growth, total yield, quality, and survival.

My group is largely interested in using enabling technologies to understand genomic and expression variation within species and associating these with phenotypic information to understand abiotic and biotic stresses. This includes understanding how this variation is manifested and how this variation influences phenotypes. We are utilizing a myriad of approaches towards increasing and sustaining plant health, including understanding responses to extreme temperatures and salinity, the role of the microbiome in plant stress response, and plant pathogen interactions, by asking questions about global gene expression responses, the mechanisms of response, the genome architecture of plants and pathogens, metabolite profiles, and precise and reproducible large-scale phenotyping. While using cutting edge technologies can answer important biological questions, we also focus on determining the limitations of data analyses using these technologies to enable accurate biological interpretations, especially in complex plant genomes.

• Mechanistic investigations on the metabolic changes induced by dietary, chemical, microbial, and pathophysiological challenges through mass-spec metabolomics, metabolite analysis, stable isotope tracing, in vitro biochemical analysis, animal model, and human intervention treatment.
• Metabolite profiling and analysis in the lab cover both endogenous metabolites (lipids, amino acids, organic acids, aldehydes, ketones, and microbial metabolites) and exogenous metabolites (phytochemicals, pharmaceuticals, carcinogens, and their metabolites) in biofluids, wastes, tissue and cell extracts

Nematology

My research interests include the biology, ecology, and management of plant-parasitic nematodes. Research focuses on the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, and other plant-parasitic nematodes in the soybean-corn production systems. The overall goals are to develop better management strategies and minimize yield loss caused by SCN and other nematodes. A series of studies has examined the effectiveness of the cultural, biological, and chemical controls of plant-parasitic nematodes. Specifically, research projects involve the identification of SCN-resistance and tolerance genes and soybean lines; developing soybean lines and cultivars using novel SCN-resistance; determining life cycle, population dynamics, and race composition of SCN in Minnesota; studying interactions of SCN with other diseases, and associated soil biotic and abiotic factors; optimizing crop rotation schemes for SCN management; studying biological control of SCN and other nematodes; evaluating commercial soybean cultivars for SCN-resistance and yield potential; evaluating commercial chemical and biological nematicides for the control of SCN and other nematodes; studying tillage and soil fertility effects on soybean cyst nematodes and crop yields; studying soil microbial communalities associated with nematodes and crop yields; and studying nematode communities.

Biology and Management of Field Crop Diseases

Plant diseases caused by fungi, Oomycetes, and bacteria can dramatically reduce yield and quality of crops. They are serious economic problems as well as fascinating biological puzzles that can clarify the complex interactions between microbes and plants. My work at the University of Minnesota is divided between conducting research and developing extension education programs on the biology and management of crop diseases.

I focus my research program on the biology and management of fungal and Oomycete plant pathogens and their interactions with plants. One goal is to improve disease management and diagnosis via problem-solving research. Another general goal is to discover new knowledge on the biology and ecology of important plant pathogens that will lead to development and implementation of new and improved disease management strategies. Three broad objectives underlie these goals: (i) determine characteristics of pathogen populations, (ii) understand associations and interactions between fungal pathogens and soybean at the organismal level, and (iii) develop and validate specific molecular diagnostic techniques for detection of plant pathogens. The work is done in laboratory, growth chamber, greenhouse, and field environments. Recent work has focused on sudden death syndrome, brown stem rot, and root rots of soybean; and on Goss’s wilt of corn.

My primary extension responsibility is to develop and deliver educational programs for producers, extension educators, and other agricultural professionals regarding the occurrence and characteristics of crop diseases as well as strategies for their management using effective, economic, and environmentally sound strategies.

My research is centered on translational research of soil-borne fungi that cause crop diseases. More specifically, I am interested in questions related to understanding the ecology and epidemiology of soil-associated fungi and oomycetes and enhancing host disease resistance to improve management. I am also passionate about teaching using learner-centered and inclusive teaching strategies.

I am a molecular plant pathologist whose expertise and interest are in the area of plant-pathogen interaction. My research goal is to understand plant-microbe interactions to enhance plant health, developing sustainable strategies to improve crop yields, and finding solutions to important agriculture problems. My primary research area is to understand the dynamics of the soil-borne fungal pathogens, such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, its virulence, and the resistance/susceptibility mechanism of different host plants using omics, genetics, biochemical and molecular biology approaches.