Advisory Panel

	Contact Information	Expertise and Education	Biography
Dr. Roger Innes	Panel Chair Professor and Associate Chair Department of Biology University of Indiana, Myers Hall 150 915 East Third Street Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7107 Tel: 812-855-2219 Fax: 812-855-6082 rinnes@indiana.edu biography	Areas of Technical Expertise: Genetic and biochemical basis of disease in plants Host-response and disease resistance in plants Education: PhD from University of Colorado, 1988 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley 1988-91	Our primary interest is in understanding the genetic and biochemical basis of disease resistance in plants. Plants are able to specifically recognize pathogens and actively respond. We are investigating how this specific recognition is accomplished and how recognition is translated into a resistant response. To address these questions we take a molecular genetic approach. We use the small mustard Arabidopsis thaliana as our standard host plant, and the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae as our standard pathogen. Recognition of specific P. syringae strains by Arabidopsis is mediated by specific disease resistance (R) genes of Arabidopsis. These R genes are thought to encode receptors that detect a signal produced directly or indirectly by bacterial proteins that are injected into the plant cell. The molecular mechanism of this detection step is poorly understood, however. Understanding this mechanism is a major goal in plant biology, as it will likely lead to new approaches for engineering disease resistance in plants, as well as, provide critical insights into how pathogens evolve to escape recognition and cause disease.
Dr. Adam Bogdanove	Associate Professor Department of Plant Pathology Associate Chair Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program Iowa State University 351 Bessey Hall Ames, IA 50011 Tel: 515-294-3421 Fax: 515-294-9420 ajbog@iastate.edu biography	Areas of expertise: Molecular biology of plant-bacterial interactions Tissue-specificity in bacterial pathogenesis of plants Plant disease resistance Education: BS in Biology, Yale University PhD in Plant Pathology, Cornell University Post-Docs at Purdue and the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research	Research in the Bogdanove laboratory focuses on bacterial plant pathogenesis and plant disease resistance mechanisms. Key areas of focus include molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and plant defense; bacterial type III secretion; plant signal transduction; microbial and plant biotechnology for disease control. The Bogdanove lab utilizes genomic and proteomic approaches to gene discovery alongside molecular biology, genetics, cell biology and biochemical approaches to understanding gene function. The long-term goal is to generate knowledge and tools useful in interfering with disease and in enhancing and extending natural plant defense for better disease control.
Dr. George Sundin	Associate Professor Department of Plant Pathology Michigan State University 103 Center for Integrated Plant Systems East Lansing MI 48824-1311 Tel: 517-355-4573 Fax: 517-353-5598 sundin@msu.edu biography	Areas of technical expertise: Analysis of bacterial pathogen genes controlling the host infection process Pathogen host-specificity and pathogen recognition response Comparative genomics Education: PhD from Oklahoma State University	Dr. Sundin currently provides oversight for the Phytobacteriology and Tree Fruit Pathology programs. His main research interests are in plant pathogen biology and plant-microbe interactions. Current research projects range from molecular biology-driven basic science to applied field and environmental research aimed at solving immediate problems. Dr. Sundin’s long-term goal is to improve the sustainability of tree fruit production by increasing host resistance to bacterial and fungal diseases. This goal can only be achieved through developing an intimate understanding of pathogen-host interactions. He is also a member of the Center for Microbial Ecology.
Dr. Daniel Sumner	Director Agricultural Issues Center Frank H. Buck, Jr. Professor Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 Tel: 530-752-1668 Fax: 530-752-5451 dasumner@ucdavis.edu biography	Areas of expertise: National and international agricultural policy, including: commodity programs, trade policy, human resources and regulations Ag economics and sustainable agriculture Wine economic issues Education: PhD in Economics, University of Chicago MS from Michigan State BS in Agricultural Management, California State Polytechnic University	Dr. Sumner contributes to teaching, research and outreach on a wide range of topics concerning the economics of agriculture. He has a special interest in wine economic issues. Prior to beginning his current position in January 1993, Sumner was the Assistant Secretary for Economics at the United States Department of Agriculture where he was involved in policy formulation and analysis on a whole range of topics facing agriculture and rural America — from food and farm programs to trade, resources, and rural development. Dan participates in research, teaching, and directs an outreach program related to public issues facing agriculture. His research and writing focuses particularly on the consequences of farm and trade policy on agriculture and the economy. Agricultural Issues Center – The Center provides research-based and objective information about the full range of public issues affecting California agriculture. For almost 20 years, the Center has served as a forum where important and often controversial trends and issues involving California agriculture--ranging from water transfers to international trade--have been identified, studied and debated.
Dr. Michael Davis	Professor Citrus Research and Education Center Department of Plant Pathology University of Florida 700 Experiment Station Road Lake Alfred, FL 33850 Tel: (863) 956-1151 mjdavis@ufl.edu biography	Areas of technical expertise: Tropical/subtropical plant pathology Fastidious prokaryotic plant pathogens Disease diagnostics and applied plant pathology Genetic engineering of fruit crops for disease resistance Education: PhD in Plant Pathology, University of California MS in Plant Pathology, Colorado State University BS in Botany, Colorado State University	Dr. Davis’s current research is on the etiology, epidemiology and control of diseases of tropical/subtropical crop plants. He has performed a substantial amount of research on plant diseases caused by fastidious prokaryotes. Dr. Davis was the first individual to isolate, in pure culture, a number of xylem-inhabiting plant pathogens, including Xylella fastidiosa. He also was one of the first scientists to clone DNA for diagnostic probes to identify plant pathogens. Dr. Davis’s current research is focused largely on the development of transgenic papaya and sugarcane for disease control.
Dr. Greg Loeb	Associate Professor Department of Entomology Cornell University NY State Agricultural Experiment Station Geneva, NY Tel: 315-787-2345 gme1@cornell.edu biography	Areas of technical expertise: Insect ecology Integrated pest management Biological control Education: PhD from University of California at Davis MS from San Diego State University BA/BS from University of California at Davis	The overall objective of my program is to develop an understanding of the principal forces that influence the population dynamics and community structure of arthropod herbivores in agricultural and natural ecosystems and use this information to devise and implement multi-tactic pest management programs for grape and small fruit crops. My more basic research is primarily focused on how host plant traits and other environmental factors influence interactions between plant parasites and beneficial arthropods, with the specific applied goal of conserving natural enemies in agroecosystems. As a model system for examining this issue we have been studying the role of leaf morphology in mediating interactions between natural enemy mites (predatory and mycophagous species) and parasites of grapes. A second research area of interest for me is the relationship between host plant resistance and host plant tolerance using strawberry as a model system. My more applied research program focuses on the ecology and integrated control of specific arthropod pests of grapes and small fruit crops. As a grape and small fruit entomologist, 30% of my time is committed to extension activities. Educating growers and pest control advisors as to the proper and effective use of pesticides is an important aspect of my responsibilities. In addition, however, I try to include other approaches to pest control such as the use of predators and parasites, cultural techniques and host plant resistance.