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Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology

Message from the Bull Penn

In this issue of SporePrints, we celebrate the successes of the department during Fall 2021. Here you will see that PPEM members are continuing to be very successful in grant writing and leveraging those funds into publications, especially from our students and postdocs! Our impact on Pennsylvania agriculture continues to be strong through our applied research and extension programs. Our educators are being recognized at the national level and our students are winning top honors at the University, Regional and National levels. Our currently open faculty searches are sure to keep this momentum going.

Our second year operating under the veil of the global COVID pandemic is coming to an end. This has been a difficult period of time for many of us in the PPEM family. Our students, postdocs and early career faculty or faculty with children to care for have been particularly impacted. I am personally saddened that it has been difficult over these last few years to appropriately celebrate our retirees and mourn the passing of the many members of our department who have left us since January 2020. 

Despite the short-term and lasting impacts of the pandemic, we are looking for silver linings. You, our industry, government and other supporters, our alumni, our retirees and our emeritus faculty are the brightest silver linings we could ask for. Your support helps us to provide the richest opportunities for our trainees. This year we are placing all your investments in helping the trainees make up for the last two years. They will be going to more conferences and workshops to build their networks and skills and will be traveling to conduct research at international locations that were put on hold due to the pandemic. You can be part of our efforts to ensure they get these opportunities by following the donation link at the bottom of the newsletter.

Carolee Bull
Professor and Head
Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology
Karen Luong
WATCH THIS ISSUE'S VIDEO
2021 GRADUATE STUDENT COHORT
Incoming plant pathology graduate students Chelsea Newbold, Mariah Kidd, Avalon Miller, Evan Buckner and Franco Acevedo Lugo stop for a photo during the department's graduate student orientation on August 20. Not pictured: Andrew Miles, Lily Cao and Maria Alejandra Gil Polo. IMAGE: PENN STATE
Department welcomes 2021 graduate student cohort

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently welcomed eight new graduate students. Continue reading...
RECENT GRADUATES
  • Phillip Martin
    Ph.D., Plant Pathology; Biogeochemistry
  • Chad Vosburg
    M.S., Plant Pathology
  • Amanda Grube
    Plant Pathology Minor; B.S., Plant Science
AWARDS
Laura Kaminsky
Kaminsky receives College of Agricultural Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award

Laura Kaminsky, a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, has been selected as a recipient of the 2021 College of Agricultural Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award. Continue reading...
Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology graduate students, from left, Jeremy Held, Elisa Lauritzen, Rachel Richardson and Ryan Spelman.
Graduate students receive grants from Northeast SARE

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program selected proposals of four plant pathology graduate students for the 2021 Graduate Student Grant Awards. SARE offers competitive grants to projects that explore and address key issues affecting the sustainability and future economic viability of agriculture. Continue reading...
Jamie Spychalla
Plant pathology student receives American Society for Enology and Viticulture scholarship

Jamie Spychalla, a plant pathology graduate student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, recently received a scholarship from the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. Continue reading...
Brenda Wingfield
University of Pretoria honors adjunct professor with Chancellor Award

Adjunct Professor Brenda Wingfield was given the Chancellor Award: Research, which is awarded to a researcher in recognition of exceptional achievement in the field of research aimed at the advancement of science, and the associated promotion of the interests of the University of Pretoria. Continue reading...
Jeremy Sutherland
Sutherland takes first place in FFAR Fellows Lightning Talk Competition

Jeremy Sutherland, a graduate student in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, won first place in the 2021 Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Fellow Lightning Talk Competition. Continue reading...
Competitors and judges react to the announcement of the winning teams in the College of Agricultural Sciences' 2021 Ag Springboard business pitch contest. A pair of recent graduates planning to manufacture and sell crop row covers made of hemp fiber won the top prize of $7,500 to support their venture. Credit: College of Agricultural Sciences. All Rights Reserved.
Team pitching hemp crop row covers to replace plastic wins Ag Springboard

A pair of recent Penn State graduates planning to manufacture and sell crop row covers made of hemp fiber — instead of the typical plastic — won $7,500 toward their venture in the College of Agricultural Sciences’ 2021 Ag Springboard student business pitch contest. Continue reading...
Ananda Bandara
Penn State Postdoctoral Society announces annual awards

Ananda Bandara, a postdoctoral scholar in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has been selected as the recipient of the Penn State Postdoctoral Society's 2021 Outstanding Postdoc Award. Continue reading...
RETIREMENTS
Buckhout Laboratory
Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology Faculty Retire

The following faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology have recently retired:
RESEARCH
Penn State has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study bacterial control methods and their implications for disease prevention in plants. Here, green cells represent persister cells that tolerated tailocin exposure. Red cells were destroyed by the tailocin. Credit: Prem Kandel / Penn State. Creative Commons
USDA grant to support study at Penn State on antimicrobial tolerance in plants

Kevin Hockett, assistant professor of microbial ecology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, recently received a $682,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study bacterial control methods and their implications for disease prevention in plants. Continue reading...
 Admission Tuition and Aid Research Athletics News AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Research suggests foliar fungicides help increase soybean yield in some regions soybean research Research aided by a plant pathologist at Penn State examined the use of foliar fungicides in soybean to prevent fungal plant diseases such as frogeye leaf spot and brown spot. Credit: Pixabay. All Rights Reserved.
Research suggests foliar fungicides help increase soybean yield in some regions

While previous studies have shown little economic benefit associated with using foliar fungicides in soybean as a preventive measure, new research aided by a Penn State plant pathologist suggests otherwise, especially in southern regions. Continue reading...
Scientists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are exploring technologies designed to address labor shortages on mushroom farms.   Credit: John Pecchia. All Rights Reserved.
USDA grant supports Penn State research on mushroom industry automation

A nearly $4 million grant awarded to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will support an interdisciplinary, multi-university team of researchers as they investigate technologies designed to address labor shortages on mushroom farms. Continue reading...
Mike Peck, research technologist in Penn State’s Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, evaluates potato samples for shape, skin texture, skin diseases and defects.  Credit: Robert Leiby. All Rights Reserved.
Penn State potato research program chips in with valuable insights for industry

The commonwealth has more potato chip manufacturers than any other state in the United States, according to Robert Leiby, agronomist for Pennsylvania Co-Operative Potato Growers. He said those manufacturers rely on the state’s potato industry, which produces about 83,000 tons of potatoes each year, primarily white potatoes used to make the popular snack. Continue reading...
Tar spot of corn, a fungal leaf disease, was discovered in a cornfield in Lancaster County in late summer 2020. Credit: Alyssa Collins. All Rights Reserved.
Plant pathologists at Penn State head investigation into tar spot disease in Pa.

Plant pathologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are keeping a watchful eye on a corn disease new to Pennsylvania that has the potential to cause significant yield loss and reduce grain quality. Continue reading...
Research supported by a plant pathologist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences suggests that machine-learning algorithms could increase corn and soybean yields. Credit: Pexels. All Rights Reserved.
U.S. soybean, corn yields could be increased through use of machine learning

Research guided by a plant pathologist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences suggests that machine-learning algorithms that are programmed to recognize changing weather patterns could show producers and agricultural managers how to increase soybean and corn yields in the United States. Continue reading...
A structural mycelium-based component prototype for the MycoCreate pavilion that was developed by Gürsoy's research team. Mycelium comes from the root of fungi.  Credit: Arian Saeedfar. All Rights Reserved.
Stuckeman School professor receives research grant for biodegradable structures

A research team led by Benay Gürsoy, assistant professor of architecture and director of the Form and Matter (ForMat) Lab in the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing, was awarded the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Upjohn Research Initiative grant to advance the study of biodegradable building composites made from mycelium, which comes from the root of fungi. Continue reading...
EXTENSION & OUTREACH
An international workshop co-led by Paul Esker, associate professor of epidemiology and field crop pathology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, focused on global plant health. Credit: Pixabay/Kira Hoffman. All Rights Reserved.
Penn State professor helps spearhead global plant-health conference in France

If action isn’t taken to protect the health of the world’s plants, the prognosis for some species is poor, especially in regions that lack plant protection policies and extension services, according to scientists who participated in an international workshop and conference that was co-led by a plant pathologist at Penn State. Continue reading...
Melanie Miller Foster, co-founder of the Global Teach Ag Network in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, center, speaks at the 2021 World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium. Also shown are Kerri Wright Platais, special adviser to the chancellor and director, international agriculture, Colorado State University Spur, and Rob Bertram, chief scientist, U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security.  Credit: Flickr/World Food Prize. All Rights Reserved.
At World Food Prize: Penn State educator discusses next generation of ag leaders

Melanie Miller Foster, co-founder of the Global Teach Ag Network in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, discussed the role of educators in preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders as an event panelist at the 2021 World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium. Continue reading...
Penn State Extension’s ‘Victory Garden Reinvented!’ webinars are available in Spanish. Credit: Penn State Extension / Penn State. Creative Commons
Penn State Extension Victory Garden Program supports Latino community

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners expected there would be a renewed interest in home gardening in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, they developed the 10-part “Victory Garden Reinvented!” webinar series to support gardeners across the country. Continue reading...
Lead Image: G. Krawczyk, Penn State
Podcast: Dr. Tree Fruit and Don - End of Season Maintenance

Don Seifrit, Kari Peter, Greg Krawczyk, and Rob Crassweller discuss mole and vole control, insect control during late Fall/Winter (including an update on Lorsban (chlorpyrifos)), and some fungicidal techniques to improve the orchard before next season. Continue reading...
Lead Image: K. Peter, Penn State
Podcast: Dr. Tree Fruit and Don - Introducing Dr. Long He, Agriculture Engineer, Penn State — plus current concerns for the season

Don Seifrit, Kari Peter, Greg Krawczyk, and Rob Crassweller are joined for the first time by Dr. Long He, Penn State agriculture engineer. Dr. He describes his work and background and talks about future projects. Kari, Greg, and Rob also discuss current season concerns. Continue reading...
TEACHING
María del Mar Jiménez-Gasco
Plant pathology professor receives Excellence in Teaching Award

María del Mar Jiménez-Gasco, professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, received this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the American Phytopathological Society. The honor came during the group’s annual meeting, Plant Health 2021, held virtually Aug. 2-6. Continue reading...
ALUMNI NEWS
Old Main
Alumni Networking Opportunities

Interested in networking with current members in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State? Complete the Alumni Networking form and someone will be in contact to discuss your availability. 
Lion Shrine
Connect with PPEM after the 2022 Annual APS meeting

Traveling to State College after this year's annual APS meeting in Pittsburgh? Are you interested in attending an outdoor picnic with the department? Let us know your plans after the meeting by completing the 2022 Annual APS Meeting form
NEW FACULTY AND STAFF
Alfalfa Field IMAGE: PENN STATE
Penn State seeks assistant professor of global change pathology

The Department of Plant Pathology & Environmental Microbiology in the College of Agricultural Sciences is in search of a tenure-line faculty member at the rank of assistant professor. Continue reading...
IN MEMORIAM
Lee Schisler
Lee Schisler, professor emeritus of plant pathology, dies at 93

Lee Schisler, professor emeritus in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, died on October 27 at the age of 93. Continue reading...
Herbert Cole, Jr.
Herbert Cole, Jr., professor emeritus of plant pathology, dies at 88

Herbert Cole, Jr., professor emeritus in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, died on August 19 at the age of 88. Continue reading...
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