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The Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory
Welcome to the MPPL Lab:
Where we create innovative strategies to manage and control agriculturally important plant diseases caused by:
- Phytoplasmas
- Spiroplasmas
- Bacteria, Viruses & Viroids
- Insect Pests
- Fungi
Click here to view the legacies of MPPL's retired scientists !!!
Viroids are small RNA molecules that cause many agriculturally important diseases in vegetable and woody crops worldwide. Scientists in MPPL are studying the interaction of viroids with their plant hosts in order to introduce resistance to these small RNA pathogens and reduce crop losses.
Read more in Agricultural Research Magazine:
-VIROIDS!—From Scourge to Boon in the 21st Century?
Photo Credit: Dr. Rosemarie W. Hammond, Research Plant Pathologist
An Interactive Online Research Tool for Phytoplasma Identification, Classification, and Candidatus Species Assignment.
Read more in the Microbiology Society Journal:
A Model for Understanding Phytoplasma-Induced Alterations of Plant Growth Pattern and Architecture.
Read more in National Academy of Science and APS Journals:
-Phytoplasmal infection derails genetically preprogrammed meristem fate and alters plant architecture
Alfalfa is the most extensively cultivated forage legume in the world. Alfalfa productivity has often been limited by various biotic and abiotic components in the ecosystem.
In MPPL, we study emerging disease-causing pathogens of Alfalfa and genetic basis of the plant's resistance to them. This research help to prevent potential threats to Alfalfa production and improve Alfalfa adaptability to less favorable environmental conditions.
Read more of our recent research:
-Characterization of alfalfa virus F, a new member of the genus Marafivirus.
-Alfalfa virus S, a new species in the family Alphaflexiviridae.
Mission
The mission of the Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory is to solve problems related to the management and control of agriculturally important plant diseases. The Laboratory's research program involves comprehensive studies of plant diseases caused by two major types of pathogens: 1) subcellular pathogens (viruses and viroids) and 2) prokaryotes (phytoplasmas, spiroplasmas and walled bacteria), and studies of plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. The research addresses the ecology, morphology, systematics, biochemistry, molecular biology, host/resistance, genetics, and genomics of the pathogens; host-pathogen interactions; and the development of new diagnostic approaches and safe disease control mechanisms. Our research addresses damaging diseases of crops including grape, apple, citrus, alfalfa, corn, sugar beet, and vegetable crops. Our scientific advances impact agricultural crops, forest and ornamental trees, natural ecosystems, and animal health.