Lafayette Frederick Diversity in Mentoring Award Established
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www.apsnet.org
January 2021 Volume 55 • Number 1
Lafayette Frederick Diversity in Mentoring
Award Established
The Lafayette tion and APS Coun-
Frederick Diversity cil have pledged
in Mentoring Award “If given the opportunity, if given $20,000 each in
was established by the the chance, one may achieve, one matching funds,
APS Foundation in may ascend to heights of reason- so the first $40,000 in donations will be
honor of Dr. Lafayette able prominence in one’s field, and doubled. To donate to the Lafayette Fred-
Frederick to provide one can make an effort to increase erick Diversity in Mentoring Award fund,
mentored experiences by one’s effort the opportunities for visit the APS Foundation web page, click
in plant pathology for others to also develop their talents, on Donate Online, and select Lafayette
students and postdocs their skills, and become highly pro- Frederick Mentoring Award from the list.
from underrepresented minority groups. Dr. ductive scholars in the field. And my For more information on this award,
Frederick had an esteemed career in botany, effort has been, of course, to strive please visit the Lafayette Frederick Diversity
mycology, and plant pathology as a faculty to bring more of these kinds of in Mentoring Award web page or con-
member at Southern University and Atlanta persons into the field of mycology, tact Anna Testen, Sally Miller, or David
University and as department chair at How- plant pathology, and botany as pro- Gadoury.
ard University. Throughout his career, Dr. ductive and outstanding scholars.”
Frederick was a tireless mentor and advocate
for students of color. The goal of this award Dr. Lafayette Frederick, The call for applications for the Lafayette
is to increase the number of practicing plant APS Centennial Meeting Frederick Diversity in Mentoring Award
pathologists from underrepresented groups Plenary Session opens February 1, 2021. ■
by providing funds to mentors to enhance
their mentees’ professional and educational A fundraising goal of $100,000 has been
development through experiential learning. set to endow this award. The APS Founda-
PLANT PATHOLOGY’S PERPLEXING PAST: THE REST OF THE STORY
Roland Thaxter—A Little Known Early American
Plant Pathologist
Robert M. Harveson, University of Nebraska, Panhandle REC, Scottsbluff
Roland Thaxter a botanist or mycologist, never a plant pa- Perplexing Past, continued on page 2
(1858–1932) was the thologist. Although his stint as a practicing
first plant pathologist plant pathologist was short lived, he made
appointed to the first influential, significant contributions that
agricultural station es- were important to the development of plant In This Issue
tablished in the United pathology in its early years in the United APS Foundation����������������������������������������3
States, the Connec- States. Regardless of the semantics, his long APS Opportunities������������������������������������3
ticut Agricultural and productive career as a plant scientist is
OPRO������������������������������������������������������4
Experiment Station, the rest of the story.
New Editorial Boards��������������������������������5
in 1888. In doing so,
Roland Thaxter he became the 10th Background and Education New Assistant Features Editors������������������6
(Lloyd, 1917). Donors of Distinction ������������������������������9
plant pathologist in Roland Thaxter was born (August 28,
the nation and was the first one hired as 1858) into an aristocratic and intellectual People ����������������������������������������������������10
a result of the 1887 Hatch Act. This act New England family with a legacy of Har- Graduate Student Spotlight ��������������������11
created agricultural experiment stations, vard graduates going back three generations Classifieds������������������������������������������������12
while also providing annual funding for each on his father’s side. His father, Levi Thax- Research Notebook ��������������������������������14
state. Thaxter always considered himself as ter, was a lawyer and Harvard graduate, as
Phytopathology News January 2021 1
Perplexing Past, continued from page 1
were his grandfather and great grandfather. His mother, Celia Thaxter, was well-known
Editor-in-Chief: Kenny Seebold
Editor: Jordana Anker and respected in the literary world via her published books.
Design: Jordana Anker Thaxter’s artistic skills and prestige as a botanist were demonstrated by his beautiful
Advertising Sales: Brianna Plank line drawings of fungi, particularly the order, Laboulbeniales, for which he later was con-
Phytopathology News (ISSN 0278-0267) is published monthly, with
the August/September issue combined, by The American Phytopatho-
sidered a world authority. It was said that he inherited his imaginative artistic traits from
logical Society (APS) at 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121 his mother, a regard for scientific accuracy from his father, and an interest in biology and
U.S.A. Phone: +1.651.454.7250, Fax: +1.651.454.0766, E-mail: aps@
scisoc.org, Web: www.apsnet.org. Phytopathology News is distributed to nature from both.
all APS members. Subscription price to nonmembers is $116. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in 1882 with a bachelor’s degree,
Submission Guidelines: Address all editorial correspondence to: Kenny
Seebold, Valent USA, 608 Havana Court, Lexington, KY 40511 U.S.A.
he entered Harvard Medical School in autumn 1883 to study medicine. Before comple-
Phone: +1.859.940.5184; E-mail: PhytoNewsEditor@scisoc.org. In or- tion of medical school, he won a Harris Fellowship. Although his first love was entomol-
der to ensure timely publication of your news items and announcements,
please send in material six weeks prior to the date of publication. Material
ogy, his 2-year appointment allowed him to leave medical school and enter Harvard’s
should be no more than six months old when submitted. Submission of graduate school, where he concentrated on cryptogamic botany. Thus, from 1886 to 1888
materials as electronic files, via e-mail, will speed processing. For informa-
tion on submitting electronic images contact Jordana Anker. Deadline for he was an assistant to the pioneering American botanist W. G. Farlow while working on
submitting items for the February 2021 issue is January 22, 2021. his doctoral degree. He had previously published six brief papers involving insects, but his
APS Leadership seventh and first important mycological publication described species of the rust patho-
Council gen, Gymnosporangium, and his Ph.D. thesis was titled “The Entomophthoraeae of the
President: Mark Gleason
President Elect: Amy Charkowski
United States.”
Vice President: Ron Walcott
Immediate Past President: Lindsey du Toit
Internal Communications Officer: James Bradeen
Connecticut Experiment Station
Treasurer: Lawrence Datnoff
Senior Councilor-at-Large: Katherine L. Stevenson
Thaxter was always more interested in basic than applied research, but while at the
Councilor-at-Large: David Gent Connecticut Experiment Station, he was greatly pressured to serve the tax-paying citizens
Councilor-at-Large: Courtney Gallup
Divisional Councilor: Ashok Chanda
as a state employee with applied research efforts to solve specific production problems.
Publications Councilor: Krishna Subbarao He stayed in this position only three short years but still made major contributions to
Executive Vice President: Amy Hope
practical plant pathology. He described a number of new diseases, including the cause of
Editors-in-Chief
APS PRESS: Darin Eastburn potato scab, calling it Oospora scabies (now known as Streptomyces scabies), and character-
MPMI: Jeanne M. Harris
Phytobiomes: Carolyn Young
ized the pathogen, separating it from other soil microbes, and determined the pathogen’s
PhytoFrontiers: Niklaus Grünwald role in the disease. He also identified and named the downy mildew disease of lima beans
Phytopathology: Harald Scherm
Phytopathology News: Kenny Seebold as Phytophthora phaseoli.
Plant Disease: Alexander V. Karasev With onion smut, he showed that the disease was soilborne, not seedborne, and that
Plant Disease Management Reports: Kerik Cox
The Plant Health Instructor: Chris Little the young plants were only susceptible for a few days. He proposed the first soil treatment
Plant Health Progress: Pamela Roberts
Plant Management Network: Cristi Palmer
as a disease control measure, illustrating that the application of sulfur within a row with
Board and Office Chairs and Directors
the seed would protect the seedlings until they reached the stage of immunity. He then
2026 Professional Development Forum: Renée Rioux coerced a mechanic to design and create machinery that planted the fungicide and seeds
Academic Unit Leader Forum Chair: Steve Jeffers
APS Foundation Board Chair: David M. Gadoury together followed by demonstrations of this new process in a farmer’s field.
Divisional Forum Chair: Walt Mahaffee
PPB Chair: Rick Bennett
Thaxter’s invention of a prototype knapsack sprayer, consisting of a copper wash boiler
Publications Board Chair: Krishna V. Subbarao with a hand force pump and a Vermorel spray nozzle for a price of about $8.00 (roughly
OE Director: Monica M. Lewandowski
OIP Director: Susan D. Cohen
$200 today), was another useful contribution to plant pathology. With the use of this
OPSR Director: Jeffrey Stein novel sprayer, he was one of the first pathologists in the United States to conduct research
OPRO Director: Nicole M. Donofrio
AMB Director: Paul Esker utilizing the Bordeaux mixture (which he detested) as a fungicide on potatoes, grapes, and
Division Officers quinces.
Caribbean
Divisional Forum Rep: Gilberto Olaya
President: Judith K. Brown,
Back to Harvard
Past President: Carolina Cedano-Saavedra
Vice President: Alberto M. Gochez Thaxter returned to Harvard in 1891 with a teaching and research appointment. He
Secretary-Treasurer: Jose Carlos Verle Rodrigues had a divided interest in entomology and plant pathology, and his new post enabled him
North Central Division
President: Loren J. Giesler to study the combination and relationships of both disciplines with research concerning
Immediate Past President: Anne E. Dorrance
Secretary-Treasurer: Febina M. Mathew
the parasitism of insects by fungi. Today, he is probably best known for his benchmark
Divisional Forum Rep: Loren Giesler work on the fungal order Laboulbeniales, which are obligate parasites of flies and other
Northeastern Division
Divisional Forum Rep: Beth K. Gugino
winged insects, and as the first American to investigate them.
President: Kari A. Peter He spent 40 years at Harvard, from 1891 to his death in 1932, studying fungi and fulfill-
Immediate Past President: Geunhwa Jung
Vice President: Ann L. Hazelrigg ing his passion for mycology. His productive outputs at both the Connecticut Experiment
Secretary-Treasurer: Rosa E. Raudales Station and Harvard showed he was capable of both applied and basic research, although
Pacific Division
Divisional Forum Rep: Walter F. Mahaffee he later professed that he felt his practical accomplishments in Connecticut were not
President: Akif Eskalen
Past President: Inga A. Zasada
commensurate with his salary compensation.
President-Elect: Jeremiah Dung
Secretary-Treasurer: Jane Stewart Postlude
Potomac Division
Divisional Forum Rep: Matthew Kasson One of his obituary writers, James G. Horsfall, related that in public Thaxter viewed
President: Christopher Clarke
Immediate Past President: Matthew T. Kasson plant pathology cynically, referring to it as “squirt gun botany” or “pocketbook mycology.”
Vice President: Alyssa Koehler
Secretary-Treasurer: Sudeep A. Mathew
However, in private he expressed more fondness for his plant pathology colleagues, actual-
Southern Division ly believing their work, as long as it was based on sound scientific principles. His fellow-
Divisional Forum Rep: Nicole A. Gauthier
President: Paul Price
ship with plant pathology was cemented with his signing on as a charter member of APS
President-Elect: Fulya Baysal-Gurel when it began in 1909, as well as his training of at least 12 stellar students who became
Vice President: Lindsey Thiessen
Past President: Chandrasekar S. Kousik
Secretary-Treasurer: Rebecca A. Melanson Perplexing Past, continued on page 3
Phytopathology News January 2021 2
Perplexing Past, continued from page 2 APS Foundation
plant pathologists, 3 of which eventually
became presidents of APS: F. C. Stewart (of Apply Today for the Schroth Faces of
Stewart’s wilt of corn fame), G. P. Clinton,
and H. P. Barss. Now you know the rest of the Future Awards
the story.
Up to four early career nominees will be selected to speak at
REFERENCES the 2021 Schroth Faces of the Future Symposium held during
Clinton, G. P. 1935. Roland Thaxter Plant Health 2021 Online. This year’s symposium will focus
(1858–1932). Natl. Acad. Sci. Biogr. on nematology. Selected speakers will present their research and
Mem. 17:53-68. speculate on the future directions of their discipline. Funding for
Horsfall, J. G. 1979. Roland Thaxter. Annu. this award is generously provided by Milt and Nancy Schroth
Rev. Phytopathol. 19:29-35. through the APS Foundation.
Weston, W. H. 1933. Roland Thaxter. The application deadline is January 31, 2021. Learn more
Mycologia 25:69-89. and apply today! Visit the APS Foundation website for addition-
Weston, W. H. 1933. Roland Thaxter al award funding opportunities. ■
(1858–1932), his influence on plant pa-
thology. Phytopathology 23:564-571. ■
Opportunities Abound to Share Your Work
and Research at APS
topics that may not have been Education Center
communicated otherwise. The APS Education Center consists of
Content can take many peer-reviewed articles and materials used to
forms—research, stories, case enrich courses taught by instructors at all
studies, images, demonstra- levels.
tions, news, etc. In whatever
form your content takes shape, Publication Platforms
APS provides you with a valu- Journals
able resource for dissemination. APS publishes six journals, three of
You are welcome (and encour- which are gold open access, that cover all
aged!) to submit your content, aspects of plant pathology, from fundamen-
which will undergo review tal and applied to molecular and transdisci-
and be subject to an approval plinary.
process, to the programs and
resources listed below. More Books
information on the WHY, APS PRESS has published more than
WHAT, and HOW for each 300 titles that cover the spectrum of plant
source can be found in this disease and related topics, including lab
online article. and field guides, textbooks, and diagnostic
guides, as well as teaching videos and dis-
While books, journals, and annual meet- Education Platforms ease diagnosis software.
ing programming tend to be the most recog-
nizable ways for members to contribute, Podcasts Grow: Plant Health Exchange
there are many other ways to share scientific Twice a month the Plantopia Podcast Grow: Plant Health ExchangeSM is a non-
content and reach a wide audience on APS publishes a new episode that inspires scien- profit, freely available, online resource of
platforms. For example, webinars reached tists and nonscientists alike to explore the timely, science-based information on plant
over 2,700 people in 2020! Each content world of plant health through the eyes of health. It’s a place for plant health manage-
source serves different purposes—some plant pathologists—people on a mission to ment professionals to exchange knowledge
more formal (abstract submission) and protect plants and our food supply. and discover the latest applied research.
others more related to informal discussion Webinars
(podcasts). APS webinars give you access to an Image Database
Submitting your content to APS gives intimate and focused audience ready to The APS Image Database includes more
you the benefit of knowing that your work learn. You will have access to a full range of than 7,000 peer-reviewed images of plant
will be communicated to the appropriate au- multimedia tools to enhance your message diseases, pests, and disorders associated with
dience. Plus, the variety of content sources and connect with professionals in plant 40 plants and crops. Each image has an
creates opportunity for different stakehold- pathology eager to gain insights from your
ers to engage in scientific discourse around research. APS Opportunities, continued on page 4
Phytopathology News January 2021 3
APS Opportunities, continued from page 3 News Capsule Idea Cafes
The APS News Capsule provides a Taking place during the annual meeting,
monthly snapshot of APS articles and Idea Cafes are roundtable discussions that
associated fact sheet that provides descrip- events, both those that have occurred and provide attendees opportunities to discuss
tive metadata, including the scientific and those that are upcoming. current topics and issues in an informal
common names of the host and the patho- environment.
gen or pest. Meeting & Event Platforms
Abstracts
Special Sessions
PDMR Abstracts provide an overview of orig-
Special sessions address relevant topics
Plant Disease Management Reports inal research with the intent to provide a
in phytopathology by featuring presen-
(PDMR) facilitates the distribution and general understanding of a particular study.
tations and discussions from experts. A
archiving of information on cultural, Abstracts submitted for the APS Annual
limited number of 75-minute sessions take
chemical, and biological control of plant Meeting are reviewed and slotted as either
place each year during the Plant Health
diseases. Each 1-page report contains a an oral technical presentation or a poster
annual meeting.
concise summary of experiments in which presentation.
disease control practices were evaluated for Workshops
their ability to control plant disease. Division Meetings
Workshops provide hands-on learning Similar to the annual meeting, division
opportunities, either in conjunction with
Phytopathology News meetings are an integral way to discuss cur-
the annual meeting or throughout the year.
Phytopathology News provides in-depth rent topics, publish research, and participate
More than just hearing presentations and
coverage of APS-related activities, the work in networking opportunities with phytopa-
discussions by experts, workshops provide
of your fellow colleagues, and issues and thologists at a local level. ■
focused demonstrations and techniques that
events of concern to the plant pathology attendees can participate in as part of the
community. learning process.
Office of Public Relations and Outreach
OPRO Meets Mariama Carter
Mariama Carter, a Ph.D. candidate in Magic School Bus episode
the Department of Plant Pathology at the “Gets Planted.” In this
University of Wisconsin-Madison, on behalf episode, Ms. Frizzle takes
of the What’s Eating My Plants? (WEMP) her class on an adventure
student organization at the University of to discover how plants
Wisconsin-Madison. grow. The packet materials
(provided in both English
Science outreach activity: How Plants and Spanish) include a
Grow & Mischievous Microbes. lesson plan to guide guard-
Type of event: An at-home learning ians through the activities, The activity homepage on WEMP’s website.
activity. a crossword puzzle with a
coloring sheet based on information from frozen), ice, blender. Optional: dairy
Intended audience: K–12 students. the episode, a word search with a coloring products such as milk or yogurt.
sheet on bacterial wilt disease, a hands-on
Description of the activity: WEMP Links to publicly available resources
learning activity about the plant vascular
developed an activity packet based on the used for this activity:
system, and an answer key. Together, these
fun and engaging activities teach core • https://sites.google.com/view/whatseat-
concepts in plant physiology and plant ingmyplants/outreach-materials/les-
pathology. sons-for-learning-at-home/how-plants-
grow-mischievous-microbes
Materials needed for this activity:
• Magic School Bus “Gets Planted” ep- How many times has this activity been
isode (available to stream from several hosted? The activity has been freely available
websites). on our WEMP website since August 2020.
• Crossword puzzle. The activity packet was also distributed
• Word search. by the APS Family Friendly Group during
• Hands-On Bacterial Wilt Activity: Plant Health 2020.
timer, paper, markers, four drinking To have your science outreach activi-
glasses, drinking straws, water, peanut ty or event featured in the news “OPRO
Children engaged in WEMP’s outreach activities butter (or any kind of nut butter), meets…” new article series, please complete
(before COVID-19). multiple kinds of fruit (fresh or this survey. ■
Phytopathology News January 2021 4
New Phytopathology and Phytobiomes Journal Editorial
Boards Welcomed
In January 2021, Phytopathology and Phytobiomes Journal are international name recognition for high-quality research, extensive
welcoming new editors-in-chiefs and new editorial boards and are editorial experience, and broad insight will serve the journal well for
applauding board members whose 3-year terms have come to an the next three years and beyond. I wish him and his team of senior,
end. associate, and assistant (new for 2021) editors the best as they lead
Harald Scherm served as the 30th editor-in-chief of Phytopa- Phytopathology to new heights.
thology, APS’s premier plant pathology journal, from 2018 through
2020. During his tenure, Scherm assembled a stellar international A Note from Incoming Editor-in-Chief
editorial board, initiated the new Pathogen Spotlight series, pub- Nian Wang
lished three focus issues, and initiated a number of author-friendly I am excited that we have assembled
initiatives, all of which saw nearly a 25% increase in manuscript sub- an outstanding new editorial board for
missions. Over his 3-year term, Phytopathology received 1,505 manu- Phytopathology. The past editorial boards
scripts, including 100 Focus Issue manuscripts, 1,266 research have done an excellent job. I would like
articles, 45 reviews, and 9 letters to the editor. to thank members of past editorial boards
“Despite the increased number of submissions, the time to first for their hard work. With the help of
decision was reduced to less than 30 days, contributing to increased the editorial board, I would like to keep
author satisfaction,” said Krisha Subbarao, the chair of the Publica- improving Phytopathology, the flagship
tions Board. “The journal is in fine shape as he hands the reins over journal of the plant pathology field.
to incoming Editor-in-Chief Nian Wang, University of Florida. The To better serve our authors, audience, and society and promote
APS Council and I are grateful for Harald’s superb stewardship of and distribute science and actionable information on plant pathol-
Phytopathology over the past three years.” ogy, the editorial board consists of outstanding experts covering
all subject areas of plant pathology. To reflect the international
A Note from Harald Scherm audience and authors of the journal, our 31 senior editors represent
Serving as the editor-in-chief of Phy- 13 countries, with more than half from countries other than the
topathology has been one of the highlights United States. We also have 28 associate editors and 9 assistant fea-
of my career as a plant pathologist. The ture editors (6 starting in 2021 and 3 in 2022). We have increased
constant scientific discourse with the the size of our editorial board because Phytopathology is receiving a
journal’s editors, reviewers, and authors historically high level of submissions, and we will continue provid-
during the reviewing and editing process ing high-quality reviews and rapid editorial decisions.
has been invigorating and rewarding. My We will continue our work to attract the best papers, while
editorial board inherited a very strong also doing our best to help colleagues improve and publish their
and healthy journal three years ago, allow- novel and rigorous plant pathology science. We will take measures
ing us to build on the momentum gener- to increase the exposure and recognition of the excellent papers
ated by the previous Phytopathology board led by Krishna Subbarao. published by Phytopathology, including growing our social media
To provide a few specific examples, during the past three years, the presence with the help of the assistant feature editors, editor’s pick
average time from manuscript submission to first decision has been promotions, and Best Student Paper Award.
consistently below 30 days despite record numbers of new submis-
sions (for the first time above 500 manuscripts/year in 2020). The APS and the Phytobiomes Journal Say
journal set another record by publishing more than 2,000 pages/year “Thank You” to Inaugural Editor-in-Chief
in both 2019 and 2020. At the same time, Phytopathology’s impact
metrics have continued to rise, with the journal’s Impact Factor Carolyn Young
consistently above 3.2 for the past two years. In 2016, Carolyn Young took the reins of the society’s first gold
Phytopathology published its first Pathogen Spotlight section (on open-access journal, Phytobiomes Journal, which launched in 2017.
the maize bacterial leaf streak pathogen, Xanthomonas vasicola pv. During her tenure, Young was instrumental in promoting the new
vasculorum) in June 2020, and a second one on Botrytis gray mold journal and recruiting submissions. She oversaw the publication of
is scheduled to appear in spring of 2021. Three high-impact Focus 17 issues and the journal’s first focus issue on bioenergy crops and
Issues have been assembled during this editorial board’s term, with agroecosystems, which will publish in 2021. Phytobiomes Journal
the third one on population genomic- and phylogenomic-enabled articles consistently experience high numbers of downloads and
advances in plant pathology slated for publication in January 2021. citations.
The quality of the review and editorial process is often cited “It was a huge responsibility to start Phytobiomes Journal, assemble
as one of the key reasons why authors submit their manuscripts a capable editorial board, attract good manuscripts, and ensure the
to Phytopathology despite the numerous choices they have among growth of the journal. Carolyn accomplished all of this with aplomb
competing journals in the academic publishing landscape. I would, and is handing the journal over to incoming Editor-in-Chief Johan
therefore, like to thank all editors, reviewers, and APS publications Leveau in its upward trajectory,” said Subbarao. “The society and
staff who have worked diligently to make Phytopathology the place the journal could not have asked for a better inaugural leader! Many
to publish fundamental and impactful research in all aspects of plant thanks to Carolyn for her outstanding leadership!”
pathology. I am so pleased that Nian Wang, one of the outgoing
senior editors, has agreed to take over the helm of the journal by
serving as its next editor-in-chief starting in January 2021. His New Editorial Boards, continued on page 6
Phytopathology News January 2021 5
New Editorial Boards, continued from page 5 manuscripts, engagement with the authors, and assurance that the be-
hind-the-scenes technology needed to support a journal worked seam-
lessly. It will be sad to retire my Phytobiomes t-shirt in my role as EIC,
A Note from Carolyn Young but I am pleased I can stay involved for another term as a senior edi-
My journey with the Phytobiomes Jour- tor and continue to support one of the most up-and-coming journals.
nal started in February 2016, when the
journal was in its infancy. On a phone A Note from Johan Leveau
call with Nik Grünwald, then the chair I am excited about the prospect of
of the Publications Board, I was asked to taking on the role of EIC for the Phyto-
consider being the inaugural editor-in- biomes Journal. Come January 1, 2021, I
chief (EIC) for the Phytobiomes Journal. I will humbly and gratefully accept the ba-
had participated in a number of emerging ton from my predecessor Carolyn Young,
phytobiomes meetings and was excited who has done an absolutely smashing job
about the concept of such a journal, espe- as the journal’s first EIC. Carolyn has led
cially as the first open access APS journal. However, I was even more the journal, from its launch in 2016 and
excited by the topic and scope. Although daunting, this really was its first issue in 2017, to where it is now: a
an unbelievable opportunity, especially watching the journal grow premier, open-access, transdisciplinary pub-
and gain credibility. lication in the exciting and important field of phytobiome research.
I celebrated every first: first editor signed on, first paper submit- I look forward to contributing to the continuing success of Phy-
ted, first paper accepted, first citation, first issue, even the first tweet tobiomes as “a journal that publishes high-quality research, a journal
that wasn’t made by me. A lot goes into starting a new journal, but that recognizes why your research is important, and a journal with
the scariest thing was wondering if the scientific community would broad enough scope that your research belongs” (Young and Kinkel
want to engage with another new journal? This provided another 2017, Phytobiomes J. 1:3-4). If there is one thing that I have learned
opportunity to get to meet members of the phytobiomes commu- as a senior editor, reviewer, author, and reader of Phytobiomes, it is
nity—probably hidden behind the guise of giving you a sticker! As that the success of the journal is really driven by the same commu-
I ended my term as EIC, I was delighted that, in conjunction with nity that it serves. It takes authors sending us their best science; peer
MPMI EIC Jeanne Harris, we could establish opportunities for reviewers who generously offer their time, expertise, and construc-
early-career scientists, in a role as assistant feature editors. tive feedback; an editorial board to maintain quality standards and
Roll on nearly five years later and I can’t believe it is time to pass fairness and to achieve rapid submission turnaround; the unmatched
on the baton to Johan Leveau (University of California, Davis). and tireless enthusiasm of Associate EIC Linda Kinkel; the innova-
Johan captivated me with his research about plant–microbe interac- tive contributions of our newly appointed assistant feature editors;
tions of the phyllosphere, and I still have visions of slides he used to and an incredible staff at APS.
depict the importance of knowing function rather than just abun- And, of course, it takes readers. I hope that the Phytobiomes Jour-
dance. He saw potential in this new journal right from the begin- nal becomes, if it is not already, the journal that you bookmark and
ning and was excited that APS was going beyond plant pathology. browse and that inspires early-career scientists and senior profession-
Thankfully for me, he jumped on the chance to be involved in the als alike in their pursuit of a greater understanding of the phytobi-
journal and has been a very valuable member of the editorial board omes—the complex network of interactions that plants have with
ever since. I look forward to seeing where he takes the Phytobiomes their biotic and abiotic environment and that influences the health
Journal next and know that it will be left in excellent hands. and productivity of plants and agroecosystems. I will keep my ears
I would like to thank all the senior, associate, and technical editors open for reader suggestions about how we can improve our journal,
and the staff at APS headquarters who worked with me and helped include new audiences and contributors, and translate our science
the journal succeed with their dedication to handling and reviewing into action and dialogue with the public. ■
Phytopathology Welcomes New Assistant Feature Editors
Phytopathology aims to provide opportunities for next-generation ology, mycology, virology, biological control and microbial ecology,
plant pathologists to better prepare for their careers. Toward this epidemiology, disease control, nematology, bioinformatics and
end, the journal has added early-career assistant feature editors to computational plant pathology, genetics and genomics of resistance,
its editorial team. These individuals will be involved in promoting and molecular and physiological plant pathology.
newly published manuscripts via social media in collaboration with “We are excited to work with these energetic and promising
communications staff at APS headquarters. They will receive tutor- young scientists and hope to give them a head start in their career
ing and guidance from senior editors regarding review and editorial development and their contributing to the APS flagship journal
processes and will participate in reviewing manuscripts when ready. and the society at large,” said Nian Wang. Catherine Wram (Ore-
The assistant feature editors will also be involved in the selection gon State University), Jorge Diaz Valderrama (Purdue University),
and promotion of Best Student Papers published in Phytopathology. Lisa Rothmann (University of the Free State), Mladen Cucak
More than 30 outstanding early-career scientists, including (Crops Research Centre), Mout de Vrieze (University of Fribourg),
postdocs and senior Ph.D. students, from 19 countries submitted and Peter Abrahamian (USDA-ARS) will begin their 2-year terms
applications for these positions. Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Harald in January 2021. In 2022, Alvaro Perez (Colorado State Universi-
Scherm and incoming Editor-in-Chief Nian Wang worked together ty), Dimitra Angelopoulou (University of Nottingham), and Will
to identify nine assistant feature editors for 2-year terms, with six Cody (Stanford University) will begin their 2-year terms.
starting in 2021 and another three starting in 2022. These new
editors represent different subject research areas, including bacteri- New Assistant Feature Editors, continued on page 7
Phytopathology News January 2021 6
New Assistant Feature Editors, continued from page 6 American College of Agriculture (Zamorano) in Honduras, where
my love for research started while working at the Bean Research
Meet the Assistant Feature Editors! Program. This program introduced me to modern plant pathology
techniques, such as molecular diagnosis of plant diseases, which I
Catherine Wram found fascinating. This experience motivated me to further pursue
Ph.D. Candidate my master’s and Ph.D. studies in plant pathology at Purdue Uni-
Oregon State University versity. My graduate research focused on understanding the mating
biology and population genetics of Moniliophthora roreri, the fungus
1. Introduce yourself—your back- causing frosty pod rot disease of cacao.
ground, where you are now, and your I am finishing my postdoctoral training in the Department of
current research focus. Entomology at Purdue, which has focused on the dissemination
I grew up in a suburb outside of Des of postharvest technologies that help farmers mitigate pests and
Moines, IA, surrounded by corn and mycotoxin-producing fungi during storage of grains in Peru. This
soybeans. I majored in microbiology experience has strengthened my communication skills to nonscien-
and genetics at Iowa State University. tific audiences and has been a wonderful way to reconnect with my
My love of plant-parasitic nematodes and agriculture began when I home country. In January 2021, I will start a new research posi-
was an undergraduate research assistant in Thomas Baum’s lab. In tion at the Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza,
the Baum Lab, I learned about the significant impact soybean cyst Amazonas, Peru, in which I will conduct research on cacao, a prime
nematode has on Iowa soybean production and helped characterize product of the region, focusing on the management of frosty pod
the soybean cyst nematode effector GLAND4, a DNA-binding rot and witches’ broom, which are major diseases of the crop in the
protein that acts as a plant transcription factor. region.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I started my Ph.D.
studies at Oregon State University, working with Inga Zasada at 2. Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?
the USDA, which solidified my love for nematology as a career. I applied to be a Phytopathology assistant editor because it will
Throughout my Ph.D. program, I have been able to explore a wide give me the opportunity not only to learn the editorial process of
breadth of agricultural production through my involvement in proj- publishing a scientific paper but also to acquire tools to disseminate
ects that explore plant parasitic nematodes that infect grapes, cher- research discoveries in my own field. In the last months, I have wit-
ries, and even tropical hosts like bananas. My primary research focus nessed how misinterpretation of science has confused people in
at OSU has been understanding the effects of new reduced-risk Peru, with catastrophic consequences because of the current pan-
nematicides on Meloidogyne incognita physiology and cellular demic. This made me realize there is a lack of solid bridges between
function by generating dose-response curves for new nematicides, the scientific and nonscientific communities, especially in non–
determining whether nematode population influences susceptibility English-speaking countries, not to mention the dissemination of
to nematicides, and uncovering how nematicides impact nematode plant pathology-related topics. Therefore, being a Phytopathology
gene expression. assistant editor is a highly motivating opportunity to connect the
scientific with the nonscientific community, using the latest research
2. Why did you apply to be an assistant editor? findings in my field of study as a means of communication.
I hope that by being an early-career assistant editor I can enhance
my own science communication and help other scientists improve 3. What do you hope to accomplish during your time as an
manuscript clarity and accessibility. assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this
position?
3. What do you hope to accomplish during your time as an A major role of the assistant editor is to help identify the most
assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this outstanding research work conducted by graduate students. I look
position? forward to helping Phytopathology in this endeavor. Additionally, I
My goals are to increase engagement outside of the scientific envision myself as an assistant editor who will disseminate gradu-
community, highlight high-end research being done by graduate ate research work through the APS and my personal social media
students, and engage early-career nematologists in APS. I hope to platforms. I hope to be engaged in dissemination of publications in
be involved in promoting Phytopathology research on social media, the Spanish language, with special emphasis on targeting the non-
as I believe putting a face to research can help the public and other scientific community. In this way, I will help create awareness in the
scientists outside our field see the importance of the work we do. I general public about the advancement of plant pathology as a field
am excited to further explore and promote the great research I see of knowledge and as a motor to solve real agricultural problems.
my peers conducting every day, and I especially hope to promote
cutting-edge nematology research conducted by graduate students, Lisa Rothmann
both through social media and in the publication itself. Lecturer
University of the Free State
Jorge Diaz Valderrama
Postdoctoral Researcher 1. Introduce yourself—your back-
Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez ground, where you are now, and your
de Mendoza de Amazonas current research focus.
I am currently a lecturer and principal
1. Introduce yourself—your back- investigator at the University of the Free
ground, where you are now, and your State, South Africa, teaching undergradu-
current research focus. ate modules and supervising postgraduate
My name is Jorge Díaz-Valderrama. I research in the Plant Science Department.
was born and raised in Cajamarca, Peru. I
left Peru to study agronomy at the Pan- New Assistant Feature Editors, continued on page 8
Phytopathology News January 2021 7
New Assistant Feature Editors, continued from page 7 start a Ph.D. study on improvement of potato late blight control in
Republic of Ireland. I am currently preparing to move to the United
In mid-2020, I completed my Ph.D. research, titled “The Spatial States to take a postdoctoral position with Dr. Paul Esker at Penn
Quantification and Hierarchy Characterization of Sclerotinia Prev- State.
alence from a Decade of Observations in Soybean and Sunflower,”
under the supervision of Professor Neal McLaren and Emerson 3. What do you hope to accomplish during your time as an
del Ponte (Federal University of Viçosa). Currently our research assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this
group focuses on plant disease epidemiology and applied manage- position?
ment strategies for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and sorghum leaf and I have been engaged in the work of APS journals for a couple of
grain diseases. Recently our group has started to adopt reproducible years as a reviewer of submitted manuscripts. I also try to promote
research tools and practices, and we hope to continue integrating good science via my social network. These, however, are occasional
and encouraging others to join us. contributions that I hope to improve and bring to the next level.
I am looking forward to doing this work in a more structured
2. Why did you apply to be an assistant editor? manner and within a team of researchers at a similar stage of their
When I saw the advertisement focused on “early-career research- career as me.
ers,” I immediately thought, “Oh, that’s me!” As an APS member, I
knew I could actively contribute to the society from a distance in Mout de Vrieze
this manner. I realized that although I do not (yet) have many pub- Postdoctoral Researcher
lished materials I could gain experience through being mentored in University of Fribourg
reviewing and editing at Phytopathology. I was also very excited by
the idea of promoting published plant pathology work on social 1. Introduce yourself—your back-
media platforms, as this has become a powerful tool to connect and ground, where you are now, and your
communicate within our community and with the general public. I current research focus.
also see social media engagement as a manner in which to foster an When I was completing my master’s
interest in undergraduate students to continue a career path in the degree in bioengineering, I wrote my the-
wonderful world of plant disease and health. sis on chemical and biological control of
potato blackleg disease. It was then that
3. What do you hope to accomplish during your time as an I first took an interest in plant pathology. Coming from a family of
assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this potato growers, a project on potato was the right one for me. This
position? first encounter with the world of research and plant pathology was
I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an estab- a great experience, and it led me to pursue a Ph.D. degree on potato
lished and esteemed community. I can only hope I will be an asset late blight at Agroscope and the University of Zürich. After my Ph.D.
to the growth and interest in plant pathology. I look forward to be- studies, I spent a year working as a junior plant pathologist at the
ing able to build relationships within Phytopathology and the wider Wageningen University and Research’s Field Crops Department,
plant pathology community so that I can continue to participate in working on IPM for arable and vegetable crops in the Netherlands
reviewing and editing in the future. I hope to strengthen the repro- and internationally.
ducibility of reports submitted to Phytopathology and to encourage
others to take the leap to learn a new skill, to not only benefit their 2. Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?
own research but our discipline as well. I am excited about the new Currently, I am working as a postdoc in Professor Laure Weiss-
initiatives that can be developed during our tenure as early-career kopf’s group at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. I am in-
assistant editors and will embrace the challenges the future may hold vestigating the potato microbiome, focusing on plant health and the
for us. possibility of exploiting the natural microbiome of the plant against
potato late blight. Between bacterial community analysis and strain
Mladen Cucak isolation and characterization, we try to determine which bacteria
Plant Pathologist/Epidemiologist naturally associated with potato plants could be of interest to fight
Pennsylvania State University late blight. After elucidating the mechanisms of action these bacte-
ria use to affect the pathogen, we select, combine, and test the most
1. Introduce yourself—your back- promising and complementary candidates for potential application.
ground, where you are now, and your
current research focus. 3. What do you hope to accomplish during your time as an
The focus of my research is under- assistant editor and what do you most look forward to in this
standing and quantifying the relationship position?
between the pest, host, environment, and I am passionate about what I do and very driven by the present
human interaction in diverse agronomic need to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly plant pro-
pathosystems. I am combining statistical and mathematical compu- tection strategies. I believe that promoting research and engag-
tational approaches and applied field and lab methods to simplify ing both the scientific and nonscientific communities are key in
and understand these relationships in order to turn it into a practi- tackling these challenges. I especially wish to engage the younger
cal integrated pest management decision-making advice. generations, and I think that social media brings us a lot of oppor-
tunities for it. Being part of the assistant features editor team of
2. Why did you apply to be an assistant editor? Phytopathology is a new way for me to share my passion with others
My formal education is in the field of plant production and plant and promote science.
protection. I became interested in plant disease epidemiology during
my master’s studies. Subsequently I had an opportunity to work on
the development of crop disease and pest prediction systems at the
Norwegian Institute of Bio-Economy (NIBIO). That path led me to New Assistant Feature Editors, continued on page 9
Phytopathology News January 2021 8
New Assistant Feature Editors, continued from page 8 2. Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?
Phytopathology is a pioneering journal in plant pathology. The posi-
Peter Abrahamian tion of assistant editor is appealing as a way to get more involved in
Postdoctoral Associate the journal and to gain editorial experience in serving on the journal
USDA-ARS editorial board.
1. Introduce yourself—your back- 3. What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant
ground, where you are now, and your editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?
current research focus. I am looking forward to advancing pioneering and impactful re-
I am originally from Lebanon. I hold search published by my fellow plant pathologists, with emphasis
a master’s degree in plant protection from on early-career scientists like myself. I am excited about highlight-
the American University of Beirut and ing important research relevant to diverse audiences, whether in
a Ph.D. degree in plant pathology from industry, government, academia, or extension agencies. Finally, I
the University of Florida. Currently, I am a postdoctoral associate am hoping that with the implementation of infographics and
with the USDA-ARS in Beltsville, MD. I work on virus and viroid images we can attract a wider audience outside the scope of plant
diseases in vegetable crops. My previous work involved both applied pathology. ■
and basic research, studying bacterial diseases with a focus on epide-
miology and disease management.
APS Foundation
Ag Day Held at Washington
Donor of Distinction Pavilion in Sioux Falls,
Meet some of the amazing people who support
APS Foundation. Learn more about who they South Dakota
are and why they give their time and resources to From corn to wheat to
support others. soybeans, South Dakota
farmers play an essential role
in providing food, developing
the economy, and providing
I support the APS Foundation because employment. To celebrate,
it provides opportunities for students to support, and understand
not only advance their careers but also more about the significance
to build a community in plant pathol- of agriculture in South Da-
ogy. As an undergraduate student, my kota, the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls held an event known
involvement with APS was first made as “Ag Day.” With various exhibits set up for families, this event was
possible through a gift membership. Since educational and exciting. Augustana set up an exhibit from the Bi-
then, APS has provided me opportunities ology Department, with Amrutha Alluri, Austin Lanen, and Sally
to share my work at annual meetings Mallowa participating at the event. The display was focused to al-
through the John S. Neiderhauser, and low families to learn more about unique plants found in the United
Malcom and Catherine Quigley and States and included a pollination “cell-fie” station and information
Dennis H. Hall Joint Student Travel Awards. Additionally, APS has on the International Year of Plant
enabled me to discover and participate on several committees with Health (IYPH). Overall, this event
likeminded colleagues and has given me the opportunity to serve as was a fun and engaging learning
the graduate student member of the Office of Public Relations and opportunity that provided valuable
Outreach Board. All of these experiences have enriched my profes- information on the importance of
sional and personal lives. The ongoing networking, collaboration, plants, plant diseases, and agricul-
and friendships made are possible because of the APS Foundation, ture. The team has also participated
and I hope to continue to extend these opportunities for future in online presentations on plant
students by supporting APS. health on the Fun and Education
Global Network (FEGNe; hosted
Tina Wu is a Ph.D. candidate in plant pathology at the University by APS member Ken Monjero with
of Wisconsin-Madison. ■ students from South Africa, Ghana,
the United States, and Kenya). ■
Phytopathology News January 2021 9People
Degrees Zamir K. Punja, professor in the Depart-
Samodya Kushani Jayasinghe recently ment of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser
completed all requirements for her M.S. University, Burnaby, Canada, was invited
degree in plant pathology at Washington State to present a seminar to the Department of
University. Her thesis was titled “Impact of Plant Pathology, Washington State University
Paper Mill Fly Ash and Biochar on Soil Health (WSU), on November 30, 2020. Punja’s re-
and Productivity of Wheat.” Her thesis com- search investigates the causes and management
mittee was led by Tim Murray and included of plant diseases on vegetable and horticul-
Tim Paulitz, Maren Friesen, and Haiying tural crops and includes the applications of
Tao. Jayasinghe received her B.S. degree in bi- plant biotechnology for disease management.
ological sciences from the University of Ruhu- Delivered online, his seminar, titled “The Challenges of Dealing
na, Matara, Sri Lanka, in 2013. She was a teaching assistant in the with Emerging Pathogens of Marijuana Crops in Commercial Pro-
Department of Botany, University of Ruhuna, from 2013 to 2014. duction,” was well attended by graduate students, postdoctoral as-
From 2014 to 2015, she was a research officer in the Plant Patholo- sociates, and faculty of the plant pathology and other departments.
gy Division, Sri Lanka Tea Research Institute, Talawakele, Sri Lanka, Tim Paulitz, research plant pathologist at USDA-ARS and adjunct
studying distribution of stem and collar canker and dieback caused professor in the WSU Department of Plant Pathology, coordinated
by the Fusarium solani complex and pathogenicity of Erwinia spp. the seminar. ■
on tea (Camelia sinensis) plants, mycotoxin-producing fungal species
in black tea, disease diagnosis for specimens submitted by stakehold-
ers, and treatment recommendations. She is planning to continue
studying for a Ph.D. degree.
Cullen Shaffer completed his M.S. degree
in plant pathology from the University of
Arkansas (UA) working on peony viruses. His
thesis was titled “The Virome of Peony and
the Population Structure of Its Most Promi-
nent Viruses.” Cullen single-handedly doubled
the number of viruses known to infect peony
and provided insight into the movement of
peony viruses between continents. His M.S.
program was directed by Ioannis E. Tzane-
takis, Terry Kirkpatrick, and Gary McDonald. Schaffer, a native
of Hamburg, AR, received his B.S. degree in biology from Southern
Arkansas University, and before he entered the program at UA, he
worked as an intern on radiation and microgravity-induced damage
in cells at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Cullen
would like to continue his career working in biotechnology or as a
lab manager at a plant pathology or biology lab.
Seminars
Jeremiah Dung, associate professor from
the Department of Botany and Plant Pathol-
ogy, Oregon State University, Central Oregon
Agricultural Research and Extension Center,
Madras, OR, was invited to present a sem-
inar to the Department of Plant Pathology,
Washington State University (WSU), on
December 7, 2020. Dung’s research focuses
on the epidemiology, population biology, and
integrated disease management of plant diseas-
es affecting seed and specialty crops in central Oregon. His seminar,
titled “Applying Molecular Tools for IPM of Diseases in Central
Oregon Specialty Crops,” was delivered online and was well at-
tended by graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and faculty of
the plant pathology and other departments. Tim Paulitz, research
plant pathologist at USDA-ARS and adjunct professor in the WSU
Department of Plant Pathology, coordinated the seminar.
Phytopathology News January 2021 10Graduate Student Spotlight: Cesar Escalante
Who is your major professor? For that reason, I became interested in
Dr. Rodrigo Valverde learning more about how pathogens affect
crops and how we can control them. I was
Are you an APS member? also interested in learning more about the
Yes. physiology of the plants and the interaction
with pathogens.
How have you been involved in
the APS organization? Do you have any social media handles
I have attended all of the APS Annual that you want included?
Meetings since 2016. During that time, I E-mail: cguardado@agcenter.lsu.edu
have been a member of the Virology and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cesar.
Graduate Student Committees. Currently, escalante.756
I am the graduate student representative Twitter: @cesaresgua ■
member in the APS Office of Education
(2018–2021).
Please provide a brief description of
your research
I study the molecular and biological inter-
actions between asymptomatic viruses and
other pathogens of economic importance in
bell pepper.
What type of degree program are you What is your hometown?
enrolled in?
Tocoa, Honduras.
Ph.D., Louisiana State University.
What is your favorite pathogen/plant
What year are you in graduate school? disease?
Third year; expect to graduate summer
Tomato spotted wilt virus.
2021.
How did you become interested in the
What is your academic department/ field of plant pathology?
section called at your institution?
I come from a family of farmers. Since I was
Department of Plant Pathology and Crop
a child, I saw my dad struggling with many
Physiology.
disease problems that affected his crops.
Learn more about the APS Graduate Student Committee initiatives and student opportunities. Connect with the committee
on Twitter @plantpathgrads and Facebook.
Graduate Students:
Apply to be Featured in
Phytopathology News!
For each issue of Phytopathology News, the APS Graduate Student
Committee chooses a graduate student to be featured in a spotlight
article. Applicants are chosen based on their involvement in APS as
student members and their expected graduation dates. The com-
mittee strives to integrate students into society affairs and activities
and recommends ways to address student concerns. Submit your
application for consideration on the submission webpage. ■
Register for the upcoming IS-MPMI Translational Science work-
shop on February 10. Listen to talks from experts in the field of
molecular plant–microbe interactions and discover new develop-
ments at the forefront of the field. Learn more and reserve your spot
today! ■
Phytopathology News January 2021 11You can also read
