Mary LewisPLANT PATHOLOGY

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

INTRODUCTION

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

WHAT IS PLANT PATHOLOGY?

Aspergillus flavus produces a toxin that causes low weight gain and liver failure in animals (so people too!) Corn, Peanut, Almond, Cotton

Non-toxin producing A. flavus fungi are being used as a biocontrol.

Biocontrols are found to be eff ective in decreasing the amount of toxin present incorn products.

The biocontrol used here follows the principle of competition…

…maybe

WHAT IS MY PROJECT?

Studying the population genetics of the fungal pathogen Aspergillus flavus.

Testing the toxicity of the species of Aspergillus flavus species before biocontrol application, after biocontrol application, and then right before harvest.

Hopefully, we can understand how these non-toxigenic and toxigenic species are interacting.

WHAT IS MY PROJECT?

Sounds cool, but I’m in animal science!

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

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

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE

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

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

DIFFERENT AREAS OF PLANT PATHOLOGY

NSF REUs in Biology:

http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm Select “Biological sciences” Explore!

University of Costa Rica, 2012Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell, 2011University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2010

Make friends, make connections, make money!

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

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 50 th alumni signature…and he’d loveto sign the paddles of incoming students! Located in Partners III, RM 223

HOW TO GET INVOLVED AT NCSU

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!

PERKS OF BEING A PLANT PATHOLOGY GRAD STUDENT

Employers love you! (Like, 100% of you, too!)

AND WHEN YOU GRADUATE

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

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

IN SUMMARY