Contact information

Dr. Matthew Tancos

matthew.tancos@usda.gov

Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research
1301 Ditto Avenue, Fort Detrick, MD 21702
Phone: (301) 619-7386
Fax: (301) 619-2880

Matthew Tancos is the Lead Scientist of the biological control of invasive plants project at the Foreign-Disease Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU) located at the Fort Detrick U.S. Army installation in Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Tancos’ research group investigates and develops biological control solutions for invasive plant management. His research leverages advances in plant genomics and molecular biology to investigate high-risk but impactful technological advances that will augment microbial-based biological control agents.

Research Emphasis

Research investigates the use of plant pathogens (foreign and endemic) as biological control agents to manage invasive weeds in the U.S., characterizing pathogen emergence and evolution in agroecosystems, and investigating novel molecular-based invasive weed management strategies.

Projects

• Projects

  Gene Drive for Tanacetum Vulgare Control: A Model for Management Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:441068

  Field Release and Evaluation of Ramularia Crupinae for the Management of Invasive Crupina Vulgaris Populations in Idaho Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:442430

  Field Release and Evaluation of Ramularia crupinae for the Management of Noxious Crupina vulgaris Populations Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:445063

  Monitoring, Implementing and Evaluating the Impacts of New Biological Control Programs for Flowering Rush and Common Crupina Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:446938

  Discovery and Development of Microbial-Based Biological Control Agents for Use Against Invasive Weeds in the United States In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:439284

  Field Release and Evaluation of Ramularia crupinae for the Management of Noxious Crupina vulgaris Populations Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:446538

  Field Release and Evaluation of Ramularia crupinae for the Management of Noxious Crupina vulgaris Populations Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:443809

  Augmenting Microbial Biopesticides with Genetic Biocontrol for Improved Weed Suppression Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:443847

  Management of Invasive Weed Populations with Biological Control Agents Memorandum of Understanding (M)   Accession Number:445998

  Biological Control of Invasive Ventenata Using Plant Pathogens Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:446373

Publications

• Use the drop down box below to view publications at USDA-ARS:

• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Importance of pathobiomes to the success of microbial weed biocontrol agents -(Other)
    Fulcher, M.R., Tancos, M.A., Mueller, R.C., Tannières, M. 2024. Importance of pathobiomes to the success of microbial weed biocontrol agents. Biological Control. 192:105498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105498.
    
  • Characterization of emerging Xanthomonas campestris isolates on the widespread, non-native weed Alliaria petiolata -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Harney-Davila, G., Cipollini, D. 2024. Characterization of emerging Xanthomonas campestris isolates on the widespread, non-native weed Alliaria petiolata. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-23-2391-SR.
    
  • Genomic features of the host-specific fungal biocontrol agent Ramularia crupinae approved for the management of the federally noxious weed Crupina vulgaris. -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Fulcher, M.R. 2023. Genomic features of the host-specific fungal biocontrol agent Ramularia crupinae approved for the management of the federally noxious weed Crupina vulgaris. PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-23-0138-SC.
    
  • Benefits and risks of gene drives for invasive plant management - the case for common tansy -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Croghan, L., Smith, A.G., Tancos, M.A., Anderson, N.O., Becker, R.L. 2023. Benefits and risks of gene drives for invasive plant management - the case for common tansy. Frontiers in Agronomy. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2023.1290781.
    
  • Agricultural Research Service weed science research: past, present, and future -(Review Article)
    Young, S.L., Anderson, J.V., Baerson, S.R., Bajsa Hirschel, J.N., Blumenthal, D.M., Boyd, C.S., Boyette, C.D., Brennan, E.B., Cantrell, C.L., Chao, W.S., Chee Sanford, J.C., Clements, D.D., Dray Jr, F.A., Duke, S.O., Porter, K.M., Fletcher, R.S., Fulcher, M.R., Gaskin, J., Grewell, B.J., Hamerlynck, E.P., Hoagland, R.E., Horvath, D.P., Law, E.P., Madsen, J., Martin, D.E., Mattox, C.M., Mirsky, S.B., Molin, W.T., Moran, P.J., Mueller, R.C., Nandula, V.K., Newingham, B.A., Pan, Z., Porensky, L.M., Pratt, P.D., Price, A.J., Rector, B.G., Reddy, K.N., Sheley, R.L., Smith, L., Smith, M., Snyder, K.A., Tancos, M.A., West, N.M., Wheeler, G.S., Williams, M., Wolf, J.E., Wonkka, C.L., Wright, A.A., Xi, J., Ziska, L.H. 2023. Agricultural Research Service weed science research: past, present, and future. Weed Science. 71(4):312-327. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2023.31.
    
  • Weed biocontrol at the USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit-(Abstract Only)
    Fulcher, M.R., Tancos, M.A. 2023. Weed biocontrol at the USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit. International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. Proceedings of the XVI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. Page 154.
    
  • Genetic diversity and structure of Crupina vulgaris (common crupina): A noxious rangeland weed of the western United States -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Gaskin, J.F., Chapagain, N., Schwarzländer, M., Tancos, M.A., West, N.M. 2023. Genetic diversity and structure of Crupina vulgaris (common crupina): A noxious rangeland weed of the western United States. NeoBiota. 82:57-66. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.82.90229.suppl1.
    
  • Screening and assessing biological differences among oomycete-parasitic Trichoderma asperellum isolates for biological control development -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Thomas, J.L., Widmer, T.L. 2023. Screening and assessing biological differences among oomycete-parasitic Trichoderma asperellum isolates for biological control development. PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-09-22-0094-SC.
    
  • Cruciferous weed isolates of Xanthomonas campestris yield insight into pathovar genomic relationships and genetic determinants of host- and tissue-specificity -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Dubrow, Z.E., Carpenter, S.S., Carter, M.E., Grinage, A., Gris, C., Lauber, E., Butchachas, J., Jacobs, J.M., Smart, C.D., Tancos, M.A., Noël, L.D., Bogdanove, A.J. 2022. Cruciferous weed isolates of Xanthomonas campestris yield insight into pathovar genomic relationships and genetic determinants of host- and tissue-specificity. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 35(9):791-802. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-01-22-0024-R.
    
  • Genome sequence of Xanthomonas campestris strain FDWSRU 18048, an emerging pathogen of non-native, invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Dubrow, Z.E., Carpenter, S.S., Bogdanove, A.J. 2022. Genome sequence of Xanthomonas campestris strain FDWSRU 18048, an emerging pathogen of non-native, invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). Microbiology Resource Announcements. 11:e00942-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00942-21.
    
  • Cruciferous weeds do not act as major reservoirs of inoculum for black rot outbreaks in New York State -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Lange, H.W., Tancos, M.A., Smart, C.D. 2021. Cruciferous weeds do not act as major reservoirs of inoculum for black rot outbreaks in New York State. Plant Disease. 106:174-181. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-21-0998-RE.
    
  • Colletotrichum fioriniae infecting invasive Japanese hop (Humulus scandens) in the United States -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Frederick, R.D., Cavin, C.A., Thomas, J.L., Bruckart, W.L., Tancos, M.A. 2021. Colletotrichum fioriniae infecting invasive Japanese hop (Humulus scandens) in the United States. Plant Disease. 106:330-330. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-21-1191-PDN.
    
  • Insights from the past: trends in microbial-based weed biological control research -(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Comparative secretome analyses of toxigenic and atoxigenic Rathayibacter species -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Mcmahon, M.B., Garrett, W.M., Luster, D.G., Rogers, E.E. 2021. Comparative secretome analyses of toxigenic and atoxigenic Rathayibacter species. Phytopathology. 111:1530-1540. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-11-20-0495-R.
    
  • Bacterial canker of tomato: revisiting a global and economically damaging seedborne pathogen -(Review Article)
    Peritore-Galve, C.F., Tancos, M.A., Smart, C.D. 2020. Bacterial canker of tomato: revisiting a global and economically damaging seedborne pathogen. Plant Disease. 105:1581-1595. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-20-1732-FE.
    
  • Uromyces rebeccae sp. nov., a newly described rust on the federally endangered plant, California sea-blite (Suaeda californica) -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bruckart, W.L., Thomas, J.L., Abbasi, M., Aime, C.M., Frederick, R.D., Tancos, M.A. 2020. Uromyces rebeccae sp. nov., a newly described rust on the federally endangered plant, California sea-blite (Suaeda californica). Mycologia. 112(3):543-551. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2020.1739602.
    
  • First Report of Xanthomonas campestris infecting Invasive Garlic Mustard in the United States -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Frederick, R.D. 2020. First Report of Xanthomonas campestris infecting Invasive Garlic Mustard in the United States. Plant Disease. 104:1251. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-19-1963-PDN.
    
  • The identification and conservation of tunicaminyluracil-related biosynthetic gene clusters in several Rathayibacter species collected from Australia, Africa, Eurasia and North America -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Sechler, A.J., Davis, E.W., Chang, J.H., Schroeder, B.K., Murray, T.D., Rogers, E.E. 2020. The identification and conservation of tunicaminyluracil-related biosynthetic gene clusters in several Rathayibacter species collected from Australia, Africa, Eurasia and North America. Frontiers in Microbiology. 10:2914. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02914.
    
  • Discovery of tunicamycin-related biosynthetic gene clusters in three Rathayibacter species, including one endemic to the Northwest U.S. (R. agropyri)-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Dual RNA-seq analyses of Rathayibacter toxicus and bacteriophage NCPPB3778 over a time course following infection-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Evolution of the U.S. biological select agent Rathayibacter toxicus-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Davis, E.W., Tabima, J.F., Weisberg, A.J., Lopes, L.D., Wiseman, M.S., Wiseman, M.S., Pupko, T., Belcher, M.S., Sechler, A.J., Tancos, M.A., Schroeder, B.K., Murray, T.D., Luster, D.G., Schneider, W.L., Rogers, E.E., Andreote, F., Grunwald, N.J., Putman, M.L., Chang, J.H. 2018. Bacteriophage NCPPB3778 and a type I-E CRISPR drive the evolution of the U.S. biological select agent Rathayibacter toxicus. mBio. 9:e01280-18.
    
  • Partial proteome of the corynetoxin-producing Gram-positive bacterium, Rathayibacter toxicus -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Fennessey, C.M., McMahon, M.B., Sechler, A.J., Kaiser, J., Garrett, W.M., Tancos, M.A., Luster, D.G., Rogers, E.E., Schneider, W.L. 2018. Partial proteome of the corynetoxin-producing Gram-positive bacterium, Rathayibacter toxicus. Proteomics. 18:1700350. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201700350.
    
  • Whole genome sequence of two Rathayibacter toxicus strains reveals a tunicamycin biosynthetic cluster similar to Streptomyces chartreusis-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Sechler, A.J., Tancos, M.A., Schneider, D.J., King, J.G., Fennesey, C.M., Schroeder, B.K., Luster, D.G., Schneider, W.L., Rogers, E.E. 2017. Whole genome sequence of two Rathayibacter toxicus strains reveals a tunicamycin biosynthetic cluster similar to Streptomyces chartreusis. PLoS One. 12(8):e0183005.
    

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Education

Ph.D. Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University
B.S. Biology, Ball State University

Research Experience

• Lead Scientist and Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease/Weed Science Unit, Frederick, MD, 2022-present
• Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease/Weed Science Unit, Frederick, MD, 2018-present
• Postdoctoral Research Molecular Biologist, USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease/Weed Science Unit, Frederick, MD, 2016-2018

Honors and Awards

• Headquarters Postdoctoral Research Associate Program, USDA-ARS, 2023
• ARSX Finalist, USDA-ARS, 2020
• R.M. Gilmer Award, Cornell University, 2016
• Barbara McClintock Award, Cornell University, 2015
• I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium Award, American Phytopathological Society, 2014
• Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant, Cornell University, 2013
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2013-2016
• Outstanding Senior in Biology, Ball State University, 2011
• Newell C. Cook Sr. and Jr. Scholarship, Ball State University, 2011
• Rhodes Scholarship Finalist, 2010
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greater Research Opportunities Undergraduate Fellowship, 2009-2011

ARS News Articles 

• ARS News Articles

  USDA-Agricultural Research Service and Weed Science Society of America Collaborate to Present Weed Science Webinar Series