The Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology's weekly Plant Pathology 250 seminar series is presented this week by:

Wiphawee Leesutthiphonchai

Seminar Title: “Role of MADS-box transcription factor in sporulation of Phytophthora infestans"

Biography: Whiphawee is a fifth year PhD candidate in Dr. Howard Judelson’s lab. Her research focuses on the role of the MADS-box transcription factor regulated during sporulation of Phytophthora infestans, which causes the late blight disease of potato. She is also working to understand whether sporangia derived from plants lesions and artificial media are functionally equivalent.

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Aidan Shands

Seminar Title: “Generating Genomic Resources to Study the Avocado Phytophthora cinnamomi Populations from California"

Biography: Aidan is a 2nd year PhD student in Dr. Patricia Manosalva’s lab. His research is focused on generating genomic resources for the devastating plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi and investigating the P. cinnamomi genetic diversity associated with avocado phytophthora root rot disease in CA. Aidan received his B.S. in Biology from California State University, Monterey Bay. During his time at CSUMB he researched under Dr. Timothy Miles and developed molecular detection tools for the downy mildew pathogen Pseudoperonospora cubensis, as well as publishing four First Report Disease Notes.