Comparative genomics of Fusarium species causing Fusarium ear rot of maize.

Fusarium ear rot (FER), caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium verticillioides, stands as one of the most economically burdensome and pervasive diseases affecting maize worldwide. Its impact on food security is particularly pronounced due to the production of fumonisins, toxic secondary metabolites that pose serious health risks, especially for livestock. FER disease severity is complex and polygenic, with few resistance (R) genes being identified for use in breeding resistant varieties.

Prediction of resistance, virulence, and host-by-pathogen interactions using dual-genome prediction models.

Integrating disease screening data and genomic data for host and pathogen populations into prediction models provides breeders and pathologists with a unified framework to develop disease resistance. Developing disease resistance in crops typically consists of exposing breeding populations to a virulent strain of the pathogen that is causing disease. While including a diverse set of pathogens in the experiments would be desirable for developing broad and durable disease resistance, it is logistically complex and uncommon, and limits our capacity to implement dual (host-by-pathogen)-genome prediction models.

Comparative Genomics of Isolates Used to Screen Southern Pines for Pitch Canker Resistance.

Pitch canker, caused by the fungal pathogen , is a global disease affecting many spp. Often fatal, this disease causes significant mortality in both commercially grown and natural pine forests and is an issue of current and growing concern. isolates collected from three locations in the U.

f. sp. Molecular Diagnostics Past, Present and Future.

Watermelon is an important commercial crop in the Southeastern United States and around the world. However, production is significantly limited by biotic factors including fusarium wilt caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus forma specialis (Fon). Unfortunately, this disease has increased significantly in its presence over the last several decades as races have emerged which can overcome the available commercial resistance.

Molecular Characterization of Laboratory Mutants of f. sp. Resistant to Prothioconazole, a Demethylation Inhibitor (DMI) Fungicide.

f. sp. (FON) is the causal agent of Fusarium wilt in watermelon, an international growth-limiting pathogen of watermelon cultivation.

Phylogenetic and phenotypic characterization of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum isolates from Florida-grown watermelon.

Fusarium wilt of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), has become an increasing concern of farmers in the southeastern USA, especially in Florida.

Marker Development for Differentiation of f. sp. Race 3 from Races 1 and 2.

Fusarium wilt of watermelon, caused by f. sp. (FON), is pathogenic only to watermelon and has become one of the main limiting factors in watermelon production internationally.

Draft Genome Sequences of Three Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Isolates Used in Designing Markers for Race Differentiation.

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of three f. sp. isolates that were used to design markers for molecular race differentiation.

Detection of Phytophthora capsici in Irrigation Water using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification.

Phytophthora capsici is a devastating oomycete pathogen that affects many important solanaceous and cucurbit crops causing significant economic losses in vegetable production annually. Phytophthora capsici is soil-borne and a persistent problem in vegetable fields due to its long-lived survival structures (oospores and chlamydospores) that resist weathering and degradation. The main method of dispersal is through the production of zoospores, which are single-celled, flagellated spores that can swim through thin films of water present on surfaces or in water-filled soil pores and can accumulate in puddles and ponds.

Multilocus phylogeny of Acrospermaceae: New epibiotic species and placement of , and anamorphs.

is a poorly known genus of epibiotic and saprophytic species with a subcosmopolitan distribution. Here, we investigate the intriguing relationship between and its host plants in the fern family Polypodiaceae, where it occurs upon approximately 45 neotropical species. We conducted phylogenetic analyses using an eight-marker comprehensive ascomycete data set comprising 719 species representing all major lineages along with 23 new specimens sampled from ferns.

Comparative analysis of different molecular and serological methods for detection of Xylella fastidiosa in blueberry.

Bacterial leaf scorch, caused by Xylella fastidiosa, is a major threat to blueberry production in the southeastern United States. Management of this devastating disease is challenging and often requires early detection of the pathogen to reduce major loss. There are several different molecular and serological detection methods available to identify the pathogen.