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

Colin Todd, Plant Pathology Graduate Student, UC Riverside

Seminar Title: "Identification and Pathogenicity of Fusarium Species Associated with Young Vine Decline in California"

Biography: Colin Todd is a PhD Candidate in Dr. Philippe Rolshausen's Lab. His research focuses on the microbiome of grapevines, specifically while being produced in California nurseries and during the transition to fruit production in the vineyard. Using both classical plant pathology and molecular methods, he is investigating how both pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms influence grapevine biology during this critical window of time.

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Ben Hoyt, Plant Pathology Graduate Student, UC Riverside

Seminar Title: "A multistate population study of Phytophthora cinnamomi and strategies to control avocado Phytophthora root rot"

Biography: Ben Hoyt is a fourth year Ph.D candidate in Dr. Patricia Manosalva’s lab. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology. His research in the Manosalva lab focuses on Phytophthora root rot of avocado trees caused by the pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi.

Faculty Hosts: Georgios Vidalakis; georgios.vidalakis@ucr.edu