Plant Pathology

1. Plant Pathology Mary Lewis

2. Introduction • Mary Lewis, Class of Fall 2009 • Small Family • Little Brother: Lunsford • Grand Little: Alvey • Undergraduate Degree: • Elementary Education • Plant Biology • Master’s Degree: • Plant Pathology

3. What is plant pathology? • An interdisciplinary science: • plant sciences, microbiology, crop science, soil science, ecology, and physiology • (ok, and genetics and chemistry) • Things plant pathologists study: • fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, phytoplasmas, protozoa, and parasitic plants • nonliving agents, such as air pollutants, nutrient imbalances, and various environmental factors

4. What is my project? • Aspergillusflavusproduces a toxin that causes low weight gain and liver failure in animals (so people too!) • Corn, Peanut, Almond, Cotton • Non-toxin producing A. flavusfungi are being used as a biocontrol. • Biocontrols are found to be effective in decreasing the amount of toxin present in corn products. • The biocontrol used here follows the principle of competition… …maybe

5. What is my project? • Studying the population genetics of the fungal pathogen Aspergillusflavus. • Testing the toxicity of the species of Aspergillusflavusspecies before biocontrol application, after biocontrol application, and then right before harvest. • Hopefully, we can understand how these non-toxigenic and toxigenic species are interacting.

6. Sounds cool, but I’m in animal science!

7. It’s never too late Four major groups of pathogens: • Fungi- more closely related to animals than plants • Nematodes- *are* animals • Bacteria- often can cross-infect animal and plants • Viruses- nobody in any field REALLY understands these

8. It’s never too late • People from all backgrounds get involved in plant pathology: • Aerospace Engineering • Ag. Biotechnology • Ag. Extension • Agroecology • Animal Science (Katie Neufeld, in my own lab!) • Biology • Biotechnology • Cell Biology • Computer Science • Crop Science • Land Resource Science • Natural Resource Sciences • Plant Biology • Soil Systems

9. Different Areas Of Plant Pathology • Pure Science Plant Pathology: • If you could see yourself working for industry • If you could see yourself working in academia • If you could see yourself working for a government agency • If you like having a neat workspace • If you like basic sciences • If you like problem solving • If you’d like to advance fundamental knowledge of your science • If you like playing with liquid nitrogen • If you’re not the biggest fan of sunburn or bugs • Costa Rica 2012 • Plating fungi

10. Different areas of plant pathology • Applied and Extension Based Plant Pathology: • If you could see yourself working for industry • If you could see yourself working in academia • If you could see yourself working for a government agency • If you like to be able to consult farmers about their problems • If you prefer a more mission-oriented career • If you want to see problems at the field source • If you like dirt • If you like to handle live plants • If you like fresh air • Costa Rica 2012 • Looking at problems on a pineapple plantation for Dole

11. How to get involved • NSF REUs in Biology: • http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm • Select “Biological sciences” • Explore! • University of Costa Rica, 2012 • Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell, 2011 • University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2010 • Make friends, make connections, make money!

12. How to get involved at ncsu • Plant Pathology Classes: • PP 222 Kingdom Fungi- Great easy elective. • PP 315- Great science elective and intro class. • PP 318- • Get into a lab: • Talk to me (mhlewis@ncsu.edu) • Talk to Gary Payne (gary_payne@ncsu.edu) • Alumnus of the NC AZ chapter • He’s one of my advisors • He was my 50th alumni signature…and he’d love to sign the paddles of incoming students! • Located in Partners III, RM 223

13. Perks of being a Plant Pathology grad student It can be a lot of work, but… • You can travel to national and international conferences and workshops (usually for free!)* • Your tuition and fees are completely paid for* • You get a bi-weekly stipend of ~$18,000 a year* • Free student insurance* • Free food if you attend weekly speaker series • *=If you apply for graduate school early!

14. And when you graduate Employers love you! (Like, 100% of you, too!) Colleges and universities (research, teaching, and extension) + Agricultural consulting companies + Agrichemical companies + Seed and plant production companies + Tissue culture laboratories + Diagnostic laboratories + International agricultural research centers + Botanical gardens and arboreta + Biotechnology firms + Biological control companies + Private practice + Nurseries and garden centers + Public policy organizations + Lawn and landscape maintenance firms + USDA-Agricultural Research Service + USDA-Forest Service + USDA-Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service + EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) + State departments of agriculture + Environmental, agricultural, and patent law firms More info at aps.net

15. In summary • Plant pathology can take you around the US and across the world. • Plant pathology has a high job placement percentage. • Plant pathology has a lot of opportunity for people from all backgrounds. • Contact: • Mary Lewis mhlewis@ncsu.edu • Gary Payne gary_payne@ncus.edu