PPCP NEWS - Louisiana State University · 2019-02-19 · 1 Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology NEWS 2017 From the Department Head Lawrence E. Datnoff (continued on page

1 Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology NEWS 2017

From the Department Head

Lawrence E. Datnoff

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

January 2017

Sudden Death Syndrome of SoybeanRaj Singh, Trey Price

Soybean is one of the major crops grown in Louisiana. In 2014, it was grown in over 1.39 million acres, for a gross farm value of $988 million. During the summer of 2014, soybean variety ‘Asgrow 4232’ exhibited typical symptoms of sudden death syndrome (SDS) in East Carroll Parish. Although the initial yield losses in 2014 were minimal in Louisiana, this pathogen has the potential to spread, and its establishment may lead to negative impacts on soybean production in the state.

Sudden death syndrome is caused by a soilborne pathogen called Fusarium virguliforme. The disease was first discovered in 1971 in Arkansas and is now considered one of the most devastating soilborne diseases of soybean in the United States. According to a yield loss study, SDS cost American growers in excess of 25 million bushels of soybean in 2013. Over time, the disease may result in yield reductions of up to 50 percent in the field.

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Happy 2017!Our department continues to excel on so

many academic and professional levels. 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.

Faculty and students also won a number of prestigious awards for their efforts: the American Phytopathological Society (APS)-Fellow Award (Dr. Raymond Schneider); the LSU AgCenter Doyle Chambers Research Award (Dr. Jeff Hoy); the Gamma Sigma Delta Distingushed Award (Dr. Raj Singh); the Epsilon Sigma Phi’s Distinguished Service Award (Dr. Charles Overstreet); the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association Scholarship Award (Mary Helen Fergurson and Alejandra Jimenez Madrid); and first place in the APS-Southern Division Graduate Student Paper Competition (Eduardo Chagas Silva). Interveinal chlorosis and necrosis of both surfaces caused

by Fusarium virguliforme. (Photo by Myra Purvis, LSU AgCenter.)


HELP US TO ENSURE EXCELLENCE IN PLANT PATHOLOGY AND CROP PHYSIOLOGY

While the Department receives monetary support for core research/extension programs (LSU AgCen-ter) 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.

You may help to support the Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology Department by donating to one of the below listed funds:

#104626 - Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology Graduate Student Invited Lecturer Fund

#100250 - Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology Excellence Fund

#100246 - Dr. C. W. Edgerton Memorial Fund

#100247 - Dr. Weston J. Martin Fellowship Fund

#104992 - M. C. “Chuck” Rush Plant Pathology Teaching Laboratory Fund

#104814 - Don Ferrin Teaching Student Fund

Donations can be made by accessing the LSU Foundation site: www.lsufoundation.org/give or by send-ing a personal check made out to the LSU Foundation with a letter stating which fund you would like to donate to and then mail to:

Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology 302 Life Sciences Building LSU Campus Baton Rouge, LA 70803 For more information contact:

Lawrence E. Datnoff

Professor and Department Head

[email protected]

or 225-578-1366

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Happy 2017!

Our M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students were highly engaged, and their efforts and outstanding contributions continue to infuse the department with vitality and enthusiasm while helping to answer basic scientific questions and solve plant disease and environmental problems of importance to the clientele of Louisiana. A number of students graduated with their M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

In this current newsletter, you’ll see for yourself these wonderful activities and achievements, which are having profound effects on the University and AgCenter missions, on Louisiana agriculture and beyond.

Happy Reading!!!!


Table of Contents

From the Department Head ............................................................................................1

Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybean .........................................................................1

Awards and Honors ............................................................................................................5

APS Fellow Award ...............................................................................................................5

Virginia Tech Alumni Award .............................................................................................5

Doyle Chambers Research Award .................................................................................6

ESP Distinguished Service Award ..................................................................................6

Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award ..................................................6

Search for Excellence Horticultural Award .................................................................6

LACA Scholarship Awards ................................................................................................7

C. W. Edgerton Award. .......................................................................................................7

APS-Southern Division Student Oral Competition Award ...................................7

2016 PPCP Graduates ........................................................................................................7

Faculty Retirement ..............................................................................................................8

2016 Student Guest Speaker ...........................................................................................9

Grad Students International Luncheon .......................................................................9

Grad Students Educational Tours ............................................................................... 10

Summer Technical Sharing Sessions. ........................................................................ 11

PPCP Faculty Activities January-December 2016 ................................................. 12


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The first visible symptoms of SDS in the field appear when plants have reached the reproductive stage, but the pathogen may infect roots soon after planting. Foliar symptoms include bright yellow interveinal chlorosis followed by necrosis of leaf tissue on the upper and lower surfaces. The fungus colonizes roots and lower stems only, and the foliar symptoms are due to translocation of toxins produced by the pathogen. Affected plants appear stunted, and death may occur as the disease develops. Diseased plants are easily pulled, and white bluish fungal sporodochia may be observed on the roots. The pith or inner core of diseased plants remains white, but the cortical tissue becomes necrotic.

The SDS pathogen can persist in the soil for a long time and overwinters in crop debris. Presence of soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) in the field may intensify SDS; however, SCN is rarely encountered in Louisiana. Disease incidence is higher under cool, moist conditions during the early growing season. Compacted and poorly drained fields, heavy rainfall and early planting favor rapid disease development.

An integrated disease management program is critical for managing SDS. Good cultural practices include reducing compaction, improving soil drainage, modifying planting dates, managing soybean cyst nematode, maintaining proper fertility levels and selecting appropriate varieties. All of these may reduce the risk of SDS.

Sudden Death Syndrome

Roots of infected plants colonized with bluish-white sporodochia of Fusarium virguliforme. (Photo by Trey Price, LSU AgCenter.)

Necrotic cortical tissue, with pith remaining white, of symptomatic soybean plant caused by Fusarium virguliforme. (Photo by Boyd Padgett, LSU AgCenter.)

Conidia of Fusarium virguliforme at 400X. (Photo by Trey Price and Raj Singh, LSU AgCenter.)


Awards and Honors

Schneider, Datnoff Receive APS Fellow Awards

Dr. Ray Schneider with APS Fellow Award.

Dr. Lawrence Datnoff with APS Fellow Award.

Drs. Raymond W. Schneider and Lawrence E. Datnoff were elected 2016 Fellows of the American Phytopathological Society and received their awards at the professional organization’s annual meeting in Tampa, Fla. July 31.

APS recognized Schneider as a pioneer with his research because he helped develop a better understanding of the biology and genetics of fungal diseases, such as Fusarium oxysporum and Cercospora kikuchii, and introduced novel ways to control root diseases. The society said he also was worthy of this recognition because of his commendable teaching career. Schneider has published extensively about disease management in soybeans and other crops. Before coming to LSU in 1984, he spent time at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria on a Ford Foundation Fellowship.

In awarding Datnoff the fellow honor, APS cited his high impact research on multiple crops and pathosystems and said he has achieved particular distinction as a pioneer in the use of silicon to improve plant health and suppress plant diseases. APS also noted that as department head, Datnoff has promoted and expanded the vision of graduate student education to go beyond traditional classroom

and individual research activities. Datnoff has conducted research in Spain, Japan, Colombia and Brazil and has an extensive list of publications and academic distinctions.

The society grants the Fellow Award to a small percentage (<0.25%) of its membership in recognition of distinguished contributions to plant pathology or to APS in the areas of original research, teaching, administration, professional and public service and/or extension and outreach.

Datnoff Receives Virginia Tech Alumni Award

Lawrence E. Datnoff received the 2016 Alumni Award from Virginia Tech’s Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science at a ceremony April 1. The award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of plant pathology, physiology or weed science. Datnoff was recognized for his exceptional research impact in mineral nutrition and the suppression of plant diseases. Datnoff received his master’s degree from Virginia Tech in 1981.

Datnoff with the 2016 Virginia Tech Alumni Award and his daughter, Gabby, at the awards ceremony April 1.


Awards and Honors

Hoy Wins Doyle Chambers Research Award

Dr. Jeff Hoy, Professor, received the Doyle Chambers Research Award Dec. 13 for meritorious contributions to agriculture during a career with the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station. He received this award for his many important and groundbreaking research findings in the biology and epidemiology of a number of sugarcane diseases that led to new cultural and chemical control strategies as well as disease resistant cultivars with high yield potential.

Dr. Jeff Hoy is the winner of the Doyle Chambers Research Award.

Overstreet Wins ESP Distinguished Service Award

Dr. Charles Overstreet received the Distinguished Service Award for the Southern Region of Epsilon Sigma Phi at the national Extension Professionals meeting in Cape May, New Jersey, October 24-27. ESP is an honor society comprising extension professionals throughout the United States. The award was presented for outstanding contributions to the understanding and implementation of management strategies to nematode problems that impact the livelihood of many farmers.

Dr. Charles Overstreet receives the Distinguished Service Award for the ESP Southern Region from national ESP president Patricia Dawson.

Singh Earns Two HonorsDr. Raj Singh received the 2016 Faculty Distinguished

Achievement in Agricultural Award April 29 at the Gamma Sigma Delta Society annual meeting in Baton Rouge. He was honored for his outstanding contributions to agriculture over the last five years in teaching, research, extension and/or other distinguished services.

Dr. Singh also was recognized as one of the national finalists for the 2016 Search for Excellence in Commercial or Consumer Horticulture National Award. This award is given to recognize extension professionals for developing and conducting outstanding educational programs in horticulture. He received this award at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents annual meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas July 25.

Dr. Raj Singh receives the 2016 Gamma Sigma Delta Faculty Distinguished Achievement in Agricultural Award from GSD past-president Dr. Janet Fox.

Dr. Singh receives an award from Amy Albertson, County Extension Director, North Carolina State University Extension Services. Singh was a national finalist for the Search for Excellence in Commercial or Consumer Horticulture National Award.


Awards and Honors

Madrid and Ferguson Win LACA Awards

The Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association (LACA) awarded scholarships to Alejandra Jimenez Madrid and Mary Helen Ferguson at its annual meeting Feb. 18 in Marksville, La. They were recognized for academic achievements and performance in agriculture studies. Each received $2,000 and a Certificate of Excellence. Madrid was working on her master’s degree. Her research focused on identifying sources of bacterial wilt resistance to Ralstonia in Louisiana soils. This disease results in severe economic losses in tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. Ferguson was pursuing her Ph.D., focusing on the bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa in rabbiteye blueberries and its impact on yields.

Mary Helen Ferguson, left, and Alejandra Jimenez Madrid receive LACA scholarships.

Silva Wins Two Major AwardsPh.D. candidate Eduardo Chagas Ferreira

da Silva won the prestigious C. W. Edgerton Award. He was nominated by his adviser, Dr. Raymond Schneider. He won this award for his outstanding academic and professional achievements, especially his significant contributions toward our better understanding of Cercospora blight development in soybeans. Da Silva also bested 35 graduate students from 10 universities at the 93rd annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society-Southern Division Feb. 20-21 for his oral presentation on Cercospora leaf blight.

Eduardo Chagas Ferreira da Silva, left, and Dr. Raymond Schneider.

PPCP 2016

Graduates

M.S. DegreesTeddy Garcia Aroca

Allysson Lunos

Ph.D. DegreesMavir Carolina Avellaneda

Mary Helen FergusonSurasak Khankhum


Dr. Marc Cohn Retires

Dr. Marc A. Cohn, Professor of Seed Biology/Crop Physiology, retired from the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology July 6.

Dr. Cohn is a world authority on weed seed dormancy and recalcitrant seed biology. He taught two courses each spring semester: Seed Physiology and Professional Development for Plant Scientists. The latter course provided time-tested strategies for conducting successful research: how to formulate a good question; how to find background information related to your research; how to stay current with the literature; how to create a logical series of experiments; how to construct a manuscript/talk/poster; how to evaluate what you read; how to edit and/or review a manuscript; and how to integrate your findings into the flow of science.

Dr. Cohn’s research and professional service formed his award-winning teaching approach.

Dr. Marc A. Cohn, Professor of Seed Biology/Crop Physiology, retired from the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology July 6.

For 10 years he served as editor-in-chief of the “Seed Science Research” journal. He was the recipient of the prestigious Seed Science Award in 2006 from the Crop Science Society of America, the Tipton Award in 2007 for team research from the LSU AgCenter, the Distinguished Service Award from the Southern Society of Plant Biologists in 2001, LSU’s Sedberry Award for Graduate Student Teaching & Mentoring in 2009, an Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Agriculture in 2011, the College of Agriculture Teacher of the Year for 2011-12 and Tiger Athletic Foundation President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2015.

Dr. Cohn has published over 100 research papers, book chapters and scientific abstracts, and was a recipient or co-recipient of grants funded for more than $5 million. He is a member of the Weed Science Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, the Association of Official Seed Analysts, a life member of the American Society of Plant Biologists and a charter member of the International Seed Science Society.

In retirement as an Emeritus/Adjunct Professor, Dr. Cohn will continue to offer his Professional Development course, write scholarly articles and be available for student consultations. As Dr. Jazz, his “Gifts & Messages” radio show will continue to air each week on WHYR-FM in Baton Rouge (presently Saturdays from 3-5 p.m.) and on many Pacifica Radio Network stations in the United States, in addition to show archives on mixcloud.com/drjazz. Advance warning: his saxophones are out of the closet and could appear publically at any time in the future.

Contributions to the PPCP Max & Lee Cohn Endowment in honor of his retirement would be greatly appreciated. (Please make checks payable to LSU Foundation.)


Graduate Student Association Activities

GSA Seminar Features Dr. Niklaus J. Grunwald

Each spring, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) in the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology invites an outstanding scientist in plant pathology or related discipline to come to LSU and share his/her knowledge and expertise with GSA members. For the 2016 spring seminar, the GSA invited Dr. Niklaus J. Grunwald of the USDA-ARS and the Department of Plant Pathology & Botany at Oregon State University. Dr. Grunwald is a pioneer in Phytophthora biology

Dr. Nik Grunwald with the GSA students after conducting a seminar on “Inferring Pattern and Process of Emergence in Phytophthora Pathogens.”

and management as well as an active member of the American Phytopathological Society. He serves as a senior editor for “Phytopathology,” editor for “Plant Pathology,” senior editor for the APSnet Education Center and chair of the APS Epidemiology and Genetics committees. He broadened the GSA knowledge about oomycete plant pathogens and the expectations of journal editors for publishing articles.

PPCP Graduate Students Hold International Luncheon

Lacy Brooks, Stephen Harding and Ally Lunos enjoy the International Luncheon along with other students.

Last year, graduate students once again held the annual Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology International Luncheon, cooking more than 10 dishes representing Brazil, China, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Serbia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The luncheon is the PPCP Graduate Student Association’s biggest fundraiser and has been held for several years. Once again, the GSA successfully reached its fundraising goal to award two travel scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to students who are attending annual meetings in the coming academic year.


Grads Tour Florida, Georgia Pathology Sites

After the American Phytopathological Society 2016 Annual Meeting in August, PPCP graduate students Alejandra Jimenez, Olanike Omolehin, Jorge Reyes and Rebecca Sweany toured Florida and Georgia businesses, universities and government research stations to learn about job opportunities and to gain hands-on experience with Gulf Coast plant pathology research. In Florida, they visited Speedling in Ruskin, the USDA Sugarcane Research Station in Canal Point, the University of Florida (UF) Everglades Research & Education Center in Belle Glade, Syngenta in Vero Beach, the USDA

Leaning about Huanglongbing (Greening) on citrus and promising resistance. From left, Jorge Reyes, Olanike Omolehin, Alejandra Jimenez and Ping Duan.

Visiting the Georgia Peanut Commission in Tifton, Georgia. From left, Alejandra Jimenez, Olanike Omolehin, Rebecca Sweany and Jorge Reyes.

Identifying sugarcane diseases. From left, Rebecca Sweany, Jack Comstock, Jorge Reyes and Alejandra Jimenez.

U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, the UF Plant Pathology Department in Gainesville and the Florida Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Pathology in Gainesville. In Georgia, they visited the University of Georgia Plant Pathology at the Tifton campus.

The grads learned about the challenges of providing disease-free seedlings to growers, the sugarcane breeding program in Florida, barn owl rodent control, development of new fungicides and nematicides, promising new leads in Huanglongbing control, the diverse graduate research and career paths at UF, challenges with diagnosing emerging disease in Florida and the multitude of crops studied in Georgia, including peanuts. The students had a great trip, learned a lot and met many great people.

They wish to thank trip organizers, starting with the trip committee: Adam Bigott, Felipe Godoy, Tiago Lelis, Allysson Lunos and Rebecca Sweany. They also thank the hosts: Mark Woorley, Jeff Thomas, Jack Comstock, Matt Van Weelden, Richard Raid, Neil Glynn, Bill Turecheck, Brian Scully, Scott Adkins, Maria Velez Climent, Patricia Soria, Rosemary Loria, Xiaoan Sun and Ron Gitaitis. Last but not least, they thank their financial supporters: Lawrence Datnoff, Bill Richardson, Robert Brown, Zhi-Yuan Chen, Ken Damann and Melanie Ivey.


PPCP Graduate Students Technical Sharing SessionFor the third year in a row, the Journal Club and Training Committee of the Graduate Student Association

(LSU PPCP GSA) hosted the “Summer Technique Sharing Series.” This is a great initiative in which students teach each other research techniques that are performed in different labs. The goal is to broaden their knowledge and to gain insight into understanding the research conducted by others! The presentations given were as follows:

Teddy Garcia Basics of Real-time PCR. Some applications and re-sults for the interpretation of Cercospora cf. flagellaris

June 30th

Isaack Kikway and Ale-jandra Jimenez

Detection and Enumeration of Total Coliforms, and E. coli in Water and Food products using Colilert-18 De-fine Substrate Quanti-Tray System.

July 7th

Eduardo Chagas

Marija Zivanovic

Disease assessment under field and greenhouse conditions (how to develop a rating system, determine incidence and severity of diseases).

Safe seed storage, germination assays, tricks to break dormancy, seed-related resources.

July 14th

Rachel Hershlag and Cesar Escalante

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) extraction. Viral appli-cations.

July 19th

Emily Ringelman Tissue culture techniques for production of virus-free sweet potato planting material. National Clean Plant Network, SP-Center at LSU.

July 21th

Churamani Khanal Extraction techniques for plant parasitic nematodes from soil.

August 16th

Kikway and Jimenez explaining to other students how to detect and enumerate total Coliforms and E. coli.


PPCP Faculty ActivitiesJanuary - December 2016

Chen, Zhi-YuanInvited Presentations:

Commercial Crops Research Institute, GuangXi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi Province, China, Oct. 18. “Overview of aflatoxins: biosynthesis, metabolism, toxicity, impact and prevention.”

Ninth International Symposium on Quality & Safety of Grains and Oil Seeds at Oil Crop Research Institute, CAAS, Wuhan, China, Oct. 10-14. “The history and future risk control of mycotxoins: challenges and opportunities.”

Department of Plant Pathology, University Federal de Vicosa, Brazil, March 28. “Understanding host pathogen interactions to enhance soybean and corn resistance to fungal diseases.”

2016 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, St. Louis, Mo., June 6-8. “Host Induced Gene Silencing as a New Approach to Reduce Aflatoxin Contamination in Corn.”

2016 Commodity Classic meeting, New Orleans. “Transgenic Control of Aflatoxin Contamination in Corn through Host Induced Gene Silencing” progress report on the AMCOE funded project, March 1.

Awards and Honors:

Appointed editor for the “Journal of Oil Crop Science” (July 2016-present).

Committees:

Appointed chair of departmental graduate student admission committee.

Grants and Contracts:

The 2016 Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board grant for “Cercospora Leaf Blight Disease of Soybean-Screening Soybean Varieties for Differences in the Expression of Resistance Genes.” $33,055 (April 2016 – March 2017).

The 2016 Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board grant for “Using Molecular Biology to Control Soybean Diseases: Cercospora Leaf Blight and Rust.” $55,928 (April 2016 – March 2017).

The AMCOE Aflatoxin Program grant for “Transgenic Control of Aflatoxin Contamination in Corn through Host Induced Gene Silencing.” $80,000 (June 2016 – May 2017; portion of $50,000).

The USDA-ARS cooperative agreement award for “Identification and evaluation of proteins/genes associated with aflatoxin-resistance in soybean and maize.” $30,000 (May 2016 – April 2017).

New Collaborations (University, Industry, Other):

Established new collaboration with Oil Crop Research Institute, CAAS, China on detection of cercosporin and its intermediates in culture and in infected soybean leaves.

Established new collaborations with Dr. Peter Cotty at USDA in Tucson, Ariz. and Dr. Tang, Ronghua at the Cash Crop Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China on biocontrol to reduce aflatoxin contamination in peanut and corn.

Chris ClarkCommittees:

APS Press, Ag Faculty Council and PPCP: Courses and Curriculum, Seminar and Safety.


National Clean Plant Network – $83,000.

Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission – $29,000.

Visiting Scientists/Students:

Aina Roosda is a Borlaug fellow from Indonesia working on a project examining differential gene expression in resistant and susceptible sweet potato storage roots in response to infection with the black rot pathogen, Ceratocystis fimbriata.

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Kenneth DamannInvited Presentations:

Invited by K. Rajasekaran USDA ARS SRRC for a symposium on aflatoxin biocontrol at the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, June 7, where he spoke on “A conceptual framework of biological control of aflatoxin contamination of corn.”


Received a grant of $70,000 in the NGGA’s AMCOE program for Biological Control of Aflatoxin Contamination of Corn. Submitted an AMCOE proposal for 2017, Aflatoxin Mitigation in Corn by Novel Breeding and Biocontrol Approaches, which explore the role of cyclopiazonic acid, a mycotoxin from Aspergillus flavus, as a virulence factor.


Arranged a visit with Dr. Dilip Shah of the Danfort Center in St. Louis to discuss his work with defensins and their use in transgenic plants to control disease.

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Lawrence DatnoffInvited Presentations:

“Contribution of mineral nutrition to plant disease resistance,” FERTBIO 2016 “Rumo Aos Novos Desafios”, Goiania, Go, Brazil, October 16-20.

“Silicon in agriculture and its potential in plant disease protection,” SioTex, San Marcos, Texas, September 29.

“Silicon and Plant Diseases,” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas-Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible, Cordoba, Spain, May 20.

“Silicon fertilizers for plant disease protection,” FertiBertia, Universidad de Seville, Seville, Spain, May 17.

“Silicon fertilizers for plant disease protection,” Julius Kuhn-Institute of Crop and Soil Science, Braunschweig, Germany, February 12.


PPCP Faculty ActivitiesJanuary - December 2016

“Is silicon for plant health a biostimulant, fertilizer or plant protectant?” C&C Europe, Crops and Chemicals Biostimulants and Plant Growth Conference, Berlin, Germany, February 10-11, and Raleigh, NC, July 19-21.

Awards and Honors:

American Phytopathological Society (APS) – Fellow Award, 2016.

Virginia Tech’s Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science Alumni Award, 2016.

Committees:

Technical advisory committee, USAID-IPM Innovation Lab, 2015; Chair 2016.

APS-ICPP Council representative, 2016.


LSU A&M STF Funds – $82,528.

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Vinson DoyleInvited Presentations:

“The future of fungal phylogenomics? Developing the tools to capture phylogenomic scale data across the higher fungi.” Invited seminar speaker in the Agronomy Department at Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, March 1.

Committees:

PPCP Courses and Curricula Chair.


Louisiana Board of Regents Research Competitiveness Subprogram: Leveraging advances in high-throughput sequencing and statistical phylogenetics to improve understanding of fungal pathogen diversity. $128,050 (June 2016 – June 2019).

Louisiana Soybean and Grains Research and Promotion Board: Identifying sources of inoculum to determine effective management strategies for Cercospora Leaf Blight and Purple Seed Stain. $30,000 (April 2016 – March 2017).


Josiene Silva Veloso, Federal Universidade Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil.

New Graduate Students:

Zac Carver

New Collaborations:

Marcelo Carmona and Francisco Sautua, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mercedes Scandiani, Rizobacter, Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Jong Hyun HamInvited Presentations:

University of Carthage & the National Agronomy Institute of Tunis in Tunisia, Oct. 5. “Development of alternative strategies to manage bacterial plant diseases.”

Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) in Brazil, Feb. 17.

“Signaling and regulatory mechanisms of the rice pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia glumae for its pathogenesis, competition and survival.”

Committees:

Professional Societies

Vice President of the Biological Control Committee of the American Phytopathological Society, 2016-2017, (elected)

Member of APHIS Widely Prevalent Bacteria Committee (invited).

Member of the Bacteriology Committee of the American Phytopathological Society.

PPCP Department

Member of the promotion and tenure committee (elected).

Chair of the PPCP Department Safety Committee.

Member of the College of Agriculture Courses and Curricula Committee.

Member of the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology Courses and Curricula Committee.

Member of the LSU AgCenter Accounting Advisory Committee.

Member of Inter-institutional Biological and Recombinant DNA Safety Committee.

Chair of Graduate Student Recruiting Committee.


Syngenta: Evaluation of Rice Seeds Treated with Various Protective Agents, $10,000.

Gowan: Evaluation of a Gowan Product in Suppressing Bacterial Panicle Blight of Rice, $5,000.

Louisiana Soybean and Feed Grains Research and Promotion Board Grant: Development of Foliar Treatment and Soil Amendment Methods to Promote Soybean Health, $30,000.

Louisiana Rice Research Board Grant: Development of Seed Treatment Methods to Enhance Rice Health, $29,625.

Louisiana Rice Research Board Grant: Characterization and Utilization of Genetic Traits for Resistance to Multiple Diseases of Rice, $47,580.


Pablo Vargas (Visiting Student from Zamorano University).


Usha Bhatta (Ph.D.)


PPCP Faculty ActivitiesJanuary – December 2016

Rosalie Calderon (Ph.D.)

Ateet Maharjan (M.S.)

New Collaborations:

Rice genetics and disease management study: Dr. Adam Famoso and Dr. Donald Groth (Rice Research Station, LSU AgCenter).

Soil microbial community study: Dr. Changyoon Jeong (Red River Research Station, LSU AgCenter).

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Clayton A. HollierInvited Presentations:

“Soybean disease impact on yield in coastal Louisiana parishes,” Iberia/St. Mary Soybean Production Meeting, Jeanerette, Feb. 4.

“Corn, grain sorghum: the good, the bad and the ugly,” 2016 LATMC annual meeting, Marksville, Feb. 18.

“Louisiana’s contribution to IPM implementation.” Southern Region IPM Coordinator’s Conference, Raleigh, NC, March 16.

“Yield losses associated with southern corn rust,” Mid-south Association of Wheat and Feed Grains Scientists, Madison, Ala., August 8.

“Fungicide efficacy and yield loss due to soybean rust in the Mid-South U.S. Soybean Rust Workshop, Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 29.

Committees:

Department

Awards and Publicity

Graduate Admissions and Standards

APS

Crop Loss and Risk Evaluation

Epidemiology

Extension

Integrated Plant Disease Management


$130K

New Collaborations:Mississippi State University (soybean)University of Arkansas (soybean)Auburn University (soybean)University of Tennessee (soybean, maize)University of Kentucky (soybean, maize)Purdue University (soybean, maize)Iowa State University (soybean, maize)Southern Illinois University (soybean)United Soybean Board (soybean)North Central Corn Cooperative

Jeff HoyInvited Presentations:

American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Lafayette, La. “Why does sugarcane grow better in new ground?” Feb. 3.

Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association, Marksville, La. “Disease concerns for 2016,” Feb. 18.

Awards and Honors:

Doyle Chambers Award, Dec. 13.

Committees:

Social (Chair)

AdHoc Faculty Replacement (Chair)


American Sugar Cane League, $30,000.

Helena Chemical Co., $17,000.

Certis, $17,000.

BASF, $1,500.

USDA-NIFA, $10,259.


Walcott James, pathologist, Central Romana Sugar, Dominican Republic.


Jancee Rice: Evaluation of mosaic incidence and resistance in breeding program parental populations.

New Collaborations:

Central Romana Sugar, Dominican Republic, review of disease management programs, July 11-15.

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McGawley, E.C.Invited Presentations:

Green Section Research Centre of Kansai Golf Union, Kansai, Japan, August 17.

Laboratory of Terrestrial Microbiology, Kyoto, Japan, August 19.

XVII International Colloquium on Soil Zoology, Nara, Japan, August 23.

Japanese Forestry Society, Hiroshima, Japan, August 27.

University of Kyoto Agriculture School, August 29.

Committees:

Member, Education committee, Society of Nematologists.

Chair, Membership Committee, Society of Nematologists.

Member, Publicity Committee, LSU Dept. Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology.


DuPont, “Evaluation of new chemistries against plant parasitic nematodes,” $40,000.



Vive Crop Protection, “Evaluation of in-furrow nematicides against turf-associated nematodes,” $24,500.

New Collaborations:

Continuing collaboration with Drs. Yuko Takeuchi and Kazuyoshi Futai of the Terrestrial Microbiology Laboratory of the University of Kyoto (Japan).

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Charles Overstreet Invited Presentations:

Nematode update for cotton. Presented at the Louisiana Agricultural Technology & Management Conference, February 18, Marksville, La.

“Nematode associated diseases in soybean,” presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Southern Soybean Disease Workers, March 9-10, Pensacola Beach, Fla.

Awards and Honors:

Epsilon Sigma Phi Distinguished Service for Louisiana, presented from the Alpha Alpha Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, February 17.

Gamma Sigma Delta Alumni Certificate of Merit, Annual Meeting of Gamma Sigma Delta, April 29, Baton Rouge, La.

Epsilon Sigma Phi Distinguished Service for Southern Region, presented at National Meeting of Epsilon Sigma Phi, October 24-27, 2016, Cape May, New Jersey.

Committees:

Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology Awards and Publicity and Space Committee.

Search Committee for Assistant Professor, Northeast Research Station, St. Joseph, La.


C. Overstreet and E. C. McGawley. 2016. Management of plant-parasitic nematodes in soybean. Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board ($40,000).

C. Overstreet. 2016. Program to establish collaboration between Brazilian-Argentinian institutions and LSU for soybean disease research. Louisiana EPSCoR, LINK, Board of Regent ($2,000).

C. Overstreet. 2016. TAPs efficacy and crop safety in cotton against cotton nematodes. Bayer CropScience ($22,000).

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Trey PriceInvited Presentations:

“Disease Management in Louisiana Row Crops,” LDAF re-certification, Jan. 13, Nov. 4.

“Soybean Disease Update, New Research and Emerging Issues,” Louisiana Agricultural Consultant’s Conference, Marksville, La., Feb. 17-19.

“Foliar Disease Management in Cotton,” Louisiana Agricultural Consultant’s Conference, Marksville, La., Feb. 17-19.

Producer Meetings in NELA, CENLA and SWLA (13 total).

Field Days in NELA, CENLA, and SWLA (9 total).

Awards and Honors:

Past-President, Southern Soybean Disease Workers

Committees:

PPCP Awards and Publicity

LACA Planning Committee

Interagency Field Tour Planning Committee

Corn Disease Workers Group

Soybean Disease Workers Group

Wheat Disease Workers Group

Graduate Committees (Teddy Garcia, Myra Purvis, PPCP; Kelly Arceneaux, Ben Merrit, Maryam Shahrtash, SPESS)


PI: “Managing Diseases in Louisiana Grain Sorghum,” LSBGRPB, $8,868.

PI: “Corn and Wheat Disease Management in Louisiana,” LSBGRPB, $9,500.

PI: “Foliar and Soilborne Soybean Disease Management in Louisiana,” LSBGRPB, $61,642.

PI: “Enhanced Pest Control Systems for Mid-South Soybean Production” (multi-state), United Soybean Board ($102,233) & Mid-South Soybean Board ($160,000).

CO-PI: “Developing FHB Resistant Wheat Varieties Developed for the Gulf Coast, U.S. Scab Initiative,” $8,107.

Multiple Industry Cooperatives: BASF, Bayer, Cheminova, Dow, Dupont, FMC, Gowan, Isagro, Syngenta, Valent and others.

New Collaborations:

Vinson Doyle/Zac Carver, Seed Transmission of Cercospora kikuchii, MRRS Location.

Ray Schneider/Brian Ward, Green Stem Syndrome Field Project, MRRS Location.

Tom Allen (Mississippi State), Taproot Decline Preliminary Variety Screening, two Locations.

Eric Larson (Mississippi State), Esten Mason (University of Arkansas), John Youmans (University of Georgia), Steve Harrison (SPESS), Boyd Padgett (DLRS) Fusarium Head Blight Seed Treatment Project.

Enhanced Pest Control Systems for Mid-South Soybean Production (multi-state), United Soybean Board & Mid-South Soybean Board.

Carol Pinell-Alison (Franklin Parish Agent), Cercospora Blight and Chloride Toxicity in Verification Soybean Trial, Bringol Farms.



Jeremy Hebert (Acadia Parish Agent), Aerial Blight Fungicide Efficacy Trial, Kim Frey Farms.

Bruce Garner (West Carroll Parish Agent), Fungicide Strip Trial, Vendal Fairchild Farms.

Burt Bluhm (UA), Terry Spurlock (UA), Maria Tomaso-Peterson (MS St), Tom Allen (MS St), Tessie Wilkerson (MS St), Raj Singh (PCPP), Taproot Decline Characterization Project.

Todd Knight (consultant), Taproot Decline Yield Loss Estimation, Truelove Farms.

Ashley Peters (consultant), Taproot Decline Yield Loss Estimation, Bowe Road Location.

Ross Bell (consultant), Taproot Decline Yield Loss Estimation, Rayville Airport Location.

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Raymond W. SchneiderAwards and Honors:

Fellow, APS.

Committees:

Courses and Curriculum.


Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board.

United Soybean Board.

Brandt, Inc.


Dr. Aponsu (Pram) M. Abhayawardhanna, Department of Chemistry, LSU (postdoc).

New Collaborations:

Dr. Megan Macnaughtan, Department of Chemistry, LSU.

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Raj SinghInvited Presentations:

“Oomycete Diseases and Pathogen Detection,” PLHL Introductory Mycology, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. November 9.

“Plant Diseases Caused by Oomycete,” PLHL Introductory Mycology, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. November 7.

“Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics,” Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, St. Francisville, La. November 1.

“Vegetable Diseases and their Management,” LaTerre Vegetable Field Day, Thibodaux, La., October 29.

“Plant Diagnostics in Louisiana,” UNA Research Tour Group, Baton Rouge, La., October 19.

“Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics,” Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Gonzales, La., Oct. 18.

“Boxwood Dieback Symptoms and Signs,” Landscape Horticulture Field Day and Southeastern Louisiana Nursery Association Meeting, Hammond, La., Oct. 6.

“New Diseases of Horticulture Crops in Louisiana,” Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Control, Louisiana Pest Management Association, Lafayette, La., Oct. 5.

“Southern Turfgrass Disease Identification and Management,” Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Control, Louisiana Pest Management Association, Lafayette, La., Oct. 5.

“An Introduction to Plant Diagnostics,” PLHL 4000 General Plant Pathology, Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 22.

“Vegetable Diseases and Pest Management,” Hort 4083 Vegetable Crops, Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 20.

“Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics,” Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Hammond, Louisiana, Sept. 15.

“Plant Virus Disease Detection,” Plant Virology PLHL 7040, Baton Rouge, La. Sept. 14.

“Plant Virus Disease and Their Transmission,” Plant Virology PLHL 7040, Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 12.

“Plant Diseases Impacting Louisiana Horticulture Industry,” Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology Department Seminar, Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 7.

“Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics,” Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Covington, La., Sept. 1.

“Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics,” Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Lafayette, La., Aug. 25.

“Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics,” Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Baton Rouge, La., July 19.

“Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics,” Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, Lake Charles, La., July 7.

“Diseases in Gardens and Landscapes,” Garden Fest, Baton Rouge, La., June 18.

“Plant Pathology and Plant Health Diagnostics,” Louisiana Master Gardener Training Session, New Orleans, June 16.

“Field Identification and Diagnosis of Vegetable Diseases,” County Agent Vegetable Training, Husser, La., June 7.

“Tomato Disease Update to Louisiana Producers,” Annual Tomato Field Day, Paulina, La. June 2.

“Plant Diagnostics 102: Plant Pathogens and the Symptoms They Cause,” Plant Disease Diagnostic Training for Agricultural Professionals in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, University of Guam, Guam, May 26.

“Use of Immunostrips in Field Detection of Plant Diseases,” Plant Disease Diagnostic Training for Agricultural Professionals in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, University of Guam, Guam, May 25.

“Introduction to Symptoms Caused by Viral Plant Pathogens,” Plant Disease Diagnostic Training for Agricultural Professionals in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, University of Guam, Guam, May 25.

“Diseases of Fruit Trees, Plant Disease Diagnostic Training for Agricultural Professionals in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, University of Guam, Guam, May 25.



“Plant Diagnostics 101: What’s Normal, What’s not and Why,” Plant Disease Diagnostic Training for Agricultural Professionals in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, University of Guam, Guam, May 24.

“Louisiana Ornamental Disease Update,” Green Industry Open House, Hammond, La., May 6.

“Plant Diagnostics 102, Sentinel Plant Network Workshop,” American Public Garden Association, New Orleans, April 20.

“Plant Diagnostics 101,” Sentinel Plant Network Workshop, American Public Garden Association, New Orleans, April 19.

“Turfgrass Diseases and their Management,” Golf Course Maintenance Lecture Hort 4090, Baton Rouge, La., April 18.

“Plant Disease Management in Home Gardens,” Central Louisiana Garden Expo, Alexandria, La., April 8.

“Conventional and Modern Methods Used in Diagnosing Plant Health Problems,” Plant Disease Management PLHL 4001, Baton Rouge, La., April 4.

“Rose Rosette Disease Identification and Management,” Spring Garden Show, New Orleans, April 2.

“Rose Rosette Disease of Roses: Identification and Management,” Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Control, Louisiana Pest Management Association, Shreveport, La., March 16.

“Disease Management in Southern Turfgrass, Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Control,” Louisiana Pest Management Association, Shreveport, La., March 16.

“Backyard Fruit Disease Management,” Backyard Fruit Production Symposium, Gonzales, La., March 3.

“Vegetable Disease Management in Home Gardens,” Feliciana Spring Seminar Series-Home Grounds, St. Francisville, La., March 1.

“Boxwood Dieback Identification and Management,” Landscape Pest Management Workshop, Hammond, La., Feb. 17.

“Rose Rosette Disease in Louisiana,” Landscape Pest Management Workshop, Hammond, La., Feb. 17.

“How to Distinguish Between Bacterial and Fungal Leaf Spots of Crape Myrtle,” Landscape Pest Management Workshop, Hammond, La., Feb. 17.

“Foliar Disease Management in Watermelons,” Watermelon Growers Annual Meeting, Franklinton, La., Feb. 4.

“Identifying and Managing Lawn Diseases in Southern Turfgrass, Basics of Professional Lawn Care,” Shreveport, La., Feb. 3.

“Cercospora and Bacterial Leaf Spots of Crape Myrtle,” Gulf States Horticulture Expo, Mobile, Ala. Jan. 20.

“Boxwood Dieback; A New Emerging Disease of Boxwoods,” Gulf States Horticulture Expo, Mobile, Ala. Jan. 20.

“Disease Management in St. Augustine Grass,” Louisiana Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, Baton Rouge, La. Jan. 7.

Awards and Honors:

Search for Excellence in Commercial or Consumer Horticulture National Award Finalist, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Little Rock, Ark., July 25.

Gamma Sigma Delta Faculty Distinguished Achievement in Agricultural Award, Baton Rouge, La., April 29.

Committees:

Courses and Curricula.

Graduate Student Admissions.

Award and Publicity.


Southern Plant Diagnostic Network Agricultural and Food Research Initiative grant, $30,000.

Citrus Clean Plant Network grant, $15,623.

MchIleny Tabasco Pepper Improvement grant, $24,000.

Citrus Insect and Disease Cooperative Pest grant, $2,500.

Sudden Oak Death Cooperative Pest grant, $2,700.

LSU AgCenter Plant Diagnostic Center Revenue, $6,025.

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Rodrigo ValverdeInvited Presentations:

Speaker at the APS annual meeting in Tampa, Florida special session: Contributions of plant viruses to phytobiome research. Presentation title, “Viruses in Nature: Persistent viruses.”

Seminar speaker at the LSU Museum of Natural History, October 14, Baton Rouge, La.

Seminar speaker at the National Congress of Agriculture, Food and Environment, October 26, San Jose, Costa Rica.


Soybean green stem research grant $17,000.


Organized a workshop for graduate students (Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology) given by Dr. Joao Paulo Rodrigues Marques from Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, entitled. “Plant Anatomy Techniques Applied to In Situ Hybridization”


Started collaborative research (virus bioinformatics) with Mr. Ricardo Alacla-Briceño, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville.


Visit our websites: www.lsu.edu/ppcp

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 Agriculture

The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.

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

Annual Spring Departmental Crawfish Boil Coming soon in April/May 2017

Stay tuned!!!!

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PPCP NEWS - Louisiana State University · 2019-02-19 · 1 Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology NEWS 2017 From the Department Head Lawrence E. Datnoff (continued on page