• Projects

  Developing Breeding Resources and Understanding Pathogen Biology to Control Frogeye Leaf Spot in Indiana (Year 3) Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:443612

  National USDA Uniform Soybean Tests/Root-Knot Nematode Screening with UGA Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:445681

  National USDA Uniform Soybean Tests/Soybean Cyst Nematode Screening with University of Missouri Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:445683

  National USDA Uniform Soybean Tests/Fatty Acid Screening with University of Missouri Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:445684

  National USDA Uniform Soybean Tests/Sugar Screening with Virginia Poly Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:445685

  Designing Soybeans with Enhanced Seed Quality, Plant Health Traits and Climate Resilience In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:443870

  Institutional Biological Safety Committee (IBC) Agreement - Purdue University Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement (N)   Accession Number:442029

  FY24 National USDA Uniform Soybean Tests / Yield, Disease Resistance and Quality Traits Evaluation of Public Breeding Lines Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement (R)   Accession Number:445716

  National USDA Uniform Soybean Tests/Yield, Disease Resistance and Quality Traits Evaluation of Public Breeding Lines Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement (R)   Accession Number:445433

  Identifying Important Pathogenicity Factors in Fungal Pathogens for Developing Novel Soybean Disease Control Strategies Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:444778

  Developing Breeding Resources and Understanding Pathogen Biology to Control Frogeye Leaf Spot in Indiana (Year 3) Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement (T)   Accession Number:442779

• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Comparative genomics approach for the development of microsatellite markers and population structure of Fusarium virguliforme in Argentina and the USA-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Two-Part QTL Mapping Reveals Genetic Determinants of Fusarium graminearum resistance in Soybean-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • The massive 340 megabase genome of Anisogramma anomala, a biotrophic ascomycete that causes eastern filbert blight of hazelnut -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Cohen, A., Cai, G., Price, D.C., Molnar, T., Zhang, N., Hillman, B. 2024. The massive 340 megabase genome of Anisogramma anomala, a biotrophic ascomycete that causes eastern filbert blight of hazelnut. BMC Genomics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10198-1.
    
  • Genome-wide informative microsatellite markers and population structure of Fusarium virguliforme from Argentina and the USA -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Da Silva, L., Tian, H., Schemerhorn, B.J., Xu, J., Cai, G. 2023. Genome-wide informative microsatellite markers and population structure of Fusarium virguliforme from Argentina and the USA. The Journal of Fungi. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9111109.
    
  • Identification of soybean germplasm and associated molecular markers with resistance to Fusarium graminearum -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Detranaltes, C.E., Ma, J., Cai, G. 2023. Identification of soybean germplasm and associated molecular markers with resistance to Fusarium graminearum. Agronomy. 13. Article 2376. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092376.
    
  • Using GWAS to disentangle resistance and susceptibility to major soybean seedling disease pathogens-(Abstract Only)
    Detranaltes, C., Ma, J., Cai, G. 2023. Using GWAS to disentangle resistance and susceptibility to major soybean seedling disease pathogens. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts. ABSTRACT.
    
  • Identification and characterization of resistance and susceptibility sources to Fusarium graminearum in soybean-(Abstract Only)
    Detranaltes, C., Ma, J., Cai, G. 2023. Identification and characterization of resistance and susceptibility sources to Fusarium graminearum in soybean. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts. ABSTRACT.
    
  • Novel sources of resistance to soybean seedling disease pathogen Pythium irregulare-(Abstract Only)
    Detranaltes, C.E., Ma, J., Cai, G. 2023. Novel sources of resistance to soybean seedling disease pathogen Pythium irregulare. International Congress of Plant Pathology Abstracts and Proceedings. ABSTRACT.
    
  • Phytophthora sansomeana-(Popular Publication)
    Detranaltes, C.E., Ma, J., Cai, G. 2022. Phytophthora sansomeana. Encyclopedia of Plant Genomics. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/27319.
    
  • Phytophthora sansomeana, an emerging threat to soybean production -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Detranaltes, C.E., Ma, J., Cai, G. 2022. Phytophthora sansomeana, an emerging threat to soybean production. Agronomy. 12(8). Article 1769. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12081769.
    
  • First report of Fusarium commune causing root rot of soybean seedlings in Indiana -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Detranaltes, C., Saldanha, M., Scofield, S.R., Cai, G. 2022. First report of Fusarium commune causing root rot of soybean seedlings in Indiana. Plant Disease.
    
  • Identification of a highly virulent Fusarium commune strain as a new soybean root rot pathogen in Indiana-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • A giant chimeric NLR gene responsible for broad spectrum resistance to a soybean pathogen-(Abstract Only)
    Wang, W., Chen, L., Fengler, K., Bolar, J., Llaca, V., Wang, X., Clark, C.B., Fleury, T.J., Myrvold, J., Oneal, D., Van Dyk, D., Hudson, A., Munvolk, J., Baumgarten, A., Thompson, J., Cai, G., Crasta, O., Aggarwal, R., Ma, J. 2022. A giant chimeric NLR gene responsible for broad spectrum resistance to a soybean pathogen. [ABSTRACT] Annual International Plant & Animal Genome Conference.
    
  • A giant NLR gene confers broad-spectrum resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Wang, W., Chen, L., Fengler, K., Bolar, J., Llaca, V., Wang, X., Clark, C.B., Fleury, T.J., Myrvold, J., Oneal, D., Van Dyk, D., Hudson, A., Munkvold, J., Baumgarten, A., Thompson, J., Cai, G., Crasta, O., Aggarwal, R., Ma, J. 2021. A giant NLR gene confers broad-spectrum resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean. Nature Communications. 12:6263. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26554-8.
    
  • Identification and molecular mapping of Rps14, a gene conferring broad-spectrum resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Chen, L., Wang, W., Ping, J., Fitzgerald, J.C., Cai, G., Clark, C., Aggarwal, R., Ma, J. 2021. Identification and molecular mapping of Rps14, a gene conferring broad-spectrum resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-021-03933-9.
    
  • First report of Fusarium fujikuroi causing root rot and seedling elongation of soybean in Indiana -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Detranaltes, C.E., Jones, C.R., Cai, G. 2021. First report of Fusarium fujikuroi causing root rot and seedling elongation of soybean in Indiana. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-21-0570-PDN.
    
  • Report of Mycoleptodiscus terrestris as a new soybean root rot pathogen in Indiana-(Abstract Only)
    Detranaltes, C.E., Cai, G. 2021. Report of Mycoleptodiscus terrestris as a new soybean root rot pathogen in Indiana. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts. Plant Health. 2-6 Aug 2021 (Virtual).
    
  • Identification of Fusarium fujikuroi as a new root rot pathogen of soybean in Indiana-(Abstract Only)
    Detranaltes, C., Jones, C.J., Cai, G. 2021. Identification of Fusarium fujikuroi as a new root rot pathogen of soybean in Indiana. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts. Plant Health 2021. 2-6 Aug 2021 (virtual).
    
  • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in the acidic, oligotrophic pine barrens ecosystem -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bindell, M., Luo, J., Walsh, E., Wagner, N.E., Miller, S.J., Cai, G., Bonos, S.A., Zhang, N. 2021. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in the acidic, oligotrophic pine barrens ecosystem. Grass Research 1:2. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.48130/GR-2021-0002.
    
  • First report of Mycoleptodiscus terrestris causing root rot of soybean in Indiana -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Detranaltes, C., Cai, G. 2021. First report of Mycoleptodiscus terrestris causing root rot of soybean in Indiana. Plant Disease. 105:1194. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-20-2023-PDN.
    
  • Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of Phytophthora sansomeana and Comparative Analysis of Phytophthora Mitochondrial Genomes -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Cai, G., Scofield, S.R. 2020. Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of Phytophthora sansomeana and Comparative Analysis of Phytophthora Mitochondrial Genomes. PLoS ONE. 15(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231296.
    
  • Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of Phytophthora sansomeana and Comparative Analysis of Phytophthora Mitochondrial Genomes -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Cai, G., Scofield, S.R. 2020. Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of Phytophthora sansomeana and Comparative Analysis of Phytophthora Mitochondrial Genomes. PLOS ONE 15(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236076.
    
  • Genomic analysis of the Eastern Filbert Blight fungus, Anisogramma anomala, provides insight to pathogen biology-(Abstract Only)
    Cohen, A.B., Cai, G., Price, D., He, L., Zhang, N., Molnar, T.J., Hillman, B.I. 2020. Genomic analysis of the Eastern Filbert Blight fungus, Anisogramma anomala, provides Plant Health 2020. August 8,2020. Denver, CO.
    
  • PiRV-2 stimulates sporulation in Phytophthora infestans -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Cai, G., Fry, W.E., Hillman, B.I. 2019. PiRV-2 stimulates sporulation in Phytophthora infestans. Virus Research. 271:197674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2019.197674.
    
  • Comparative genomics approach to build a genome-wide database of high-quality, informative microsatellite markers: application on Phytophthora sojae, a soybean pathogen -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Cai, G., Fleury, T.J., Zhang, N. 2019. Comparative genomics approach to build a genome-wide database of high-quality, informative microsatellite markers: application on Phytophthora sojae, a soybean pathogen. Scientific Reports. 9:7969. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44411-z.
    
  • Global Population structure of Fusarium virguliforme based on microsatellite marker analysis-(Proceedings)
    Tian, H., Fleury, T.J., Wise, K.A., Hushes, T.J., Cai, G. 2019. Global Population structure of Fusarium virguliforme based on microsatellite marker analysis. American Phytopathological Society. August 3-7, 2019, Cleveland, OH
    
  • Mitochondrial genome of Phytophthora sansomeana, a soybean root rot pathogen-(Abstract Only)
    Cai, G., Scofield, S.R. 2019. Mitochondrial genome of Phytophthora sansomeana, a soybean root rot pathogen. American Phytopathological Society. Abstract.
    
  • Cross-protective Salmonella vaccine reduces cecal and splenic colonization of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bearson, S.M., Bearson, B.L., Sylte, M.J., Looft, T.P., Kogut, M.H., Cai, G. 2019. Cross-protective Salmonella vaccine reduces cecal and splenic colonization of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg. Vaccine. 37(10):1255-1259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.12.058.
    
  • Avian intestinal mucus modulates Campylobacter jejuni gene expression in a host-specific manner -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Looft, T.P., Cai, G., Choudhury, B., Lai, L.X., Lippolis, J.D., Reinhardt, T.A., Sylte, M.J., Casey, T.A. 2019. Avian intestinal mucus modulates Campylobacter jejuni gene expression in a host-specific manner. Frontiers in Microbiology. 9:3215. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.03215.
    
  • PiRV-2, a novel RNA virus from Phytophthora infestans, does not belong to any known virus groups -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Cai, G., Myers, K., Fry, W.E., Hillman, B.I. 2018. PiRV-2, a novel RNA virus from Phytophthora infestans, does not belong to any known virus groups. Archives of Virology. 164: 567-572. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-018-4050-0.
    
  • Modulation of porcine microRNAs associated with apoptosis and NF-kappaB signaling pathways in response to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Shippy, D.C., Bearson, B.L., Cai, G., Brunelle, B.W., Kich, J., Bearson, S.M. 2018. Modulation of porcine microRNAs associated with apoptosis and NF-kappaB signaling pathways in response to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Gene. 676:290-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2018.08.044.
    
  • Genome wide analysis of the transition to pathogenic lifestyles in Magnaporthales fungi -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Zhang, N., Cai, G., Price, D.C., Crouch, J., Gladieux, P., Hillman, B., Khang, C.H., Lebrun, M., Lee, Y., Luo, J., Qiu, H., Veltri, D., Wisecarver, J.H., Zhu, J., Bhattacharya, D. 2018. Genome wide analysis of the transition to pathogenic lifestyles in Magnaporthales fungi. Scientific Reports. 8:5862. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24301-6.
    
  • A novel dsRNA virus stimulates sporulation of Phytophthora infestans and may have contributed to late blight epidemics-(Abstract Only)
    Cai, G., Myers, K., Fry, W.E., Hillman, B.I. 2018. A novel dsRNA virus stimulates sporulation of Phytophthora infestans and may have contributed to late blight epidemics. International Congress of Plant Pathology Abstracts and Proceedings.596-P.
    
  • Discula destructiva, an exotic pathogen of Cornus spp. in North America: evidence of independent introductions-(Abstract Only)
    Hadziabdic, D., Mantooth, K., Boggess, S., Windham, M., Miller, S., Cai, G., Spatafora, J., Zhang, N., Staton, M., Ownley, B., Trigiano, R. 2018. Discula destructiva, an exotic pathogen of Cornus spp. in North America: evidence of independent introductions. International Congress of Plant Pathology Abstracts and Proceedings. 452-P.
    
  • Association of Circulating Transfer RNA Fragments with Antibody Response to Mycoplasma bovis in Beef Cattle -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Casas, E., Cai, G., Kuehn, L.A., Register, K.B., McDaneld, T.G., Neill, J.D. 2018. Association of circulating transfer RNA fragments with antibody response to Mycoplasma bovis in beef cattle. BioMed Central (BMC) Veterinary Research. 14:89. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-018-1418-z.
    
  • Characterization of a multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg outbreak strain in commercial turkeys: Colonization, transmission, and host transcriptional response -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bearson, B.L., Bearson, S.M., Looft, T., Cai, G., Shippy, D.C. 2017. Characterization of a multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg outbreak strain in commercial turkeys: Colonization, transmission, and host transcriptional response. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 4:156. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00156.
    
  • Confirmation of independent introductions of an exotic plant pathogen of Cornus species, Discula destructiva, on the east and west coasts of North America and subsequent population bottlenecks-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Mantooth, K., Hadziabdic, D., Boggess, S., Windham, M., Miller, S., Cai, G., Spatafora, J., Zhang, N., Staton, M., Ownley, B., Trigiano, R. 2017. Confirmation of independent introductions of an exotic plant pathogen of Cornus species, Discula destructiva, on the east and west coasts of North America and subsequent population bottlenecks. PLoS One. 12(7): e0180345. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180345.
    
  • Genome-wide informative microsatellite database and global population structure of Fusarium virguliforme-(Abstract Only)
    Cai, G., Fleury, T.J., Wise, K.A., Hushes, T.J. 2017. Genome-wide informative microsatellite database and global population structure of Fusarium virguliforme. Meeting Abstract.
    
  • Transcriptional response of turkeys to MDR Salmonella enterica serovar heidelberg-(Abstract Only)
    Bearson, S.M., Cai, G., Bearson, B.L. 2017. Transcriptional response of turkeys to MDR Salmonella enterica serovar heidelberg [abstract]. Microbe, American Society of Microbiology, June 1-5, 2017, New Orleans, Louisiana. Paper No. 880.
    
  • Association of microRNAs with antibody response to mycoplasma bovis in beef cattle -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Casas, E., Cai, G., Kuehn, L.A., Register, K.B., Mcdaneld, T.G., Neill, J.D. 2016. Association of microRNAs with antibody response to mycoplasma bovis in beef cattle. PLoS One. 11(8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161651.
    
  • Association of bta-miR-24-3p with serum antibody response to Mycoplasma spp. in beef cattle-(Abstract Only)
    Casas, E., Cai, G., Kuehn, L.A., Register, K.B., Neill, J.D., McDaneld, T.G. 2016. Association of bta-miR-24-3p with serum antibody response to Mycoplasma spp. in beef cattle. 35th International Society for Animal Genetics Conference, July 23-27, 2016, Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 39.
    
  • The goat (Capra hircus) mammary gland secretory tissue proteome as influenced by weight loss: A study using label free proteomics -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Hernandez-Castellano, L.E., Ferreira, A.M., Nanni, P., Grossmann, J., Arguello, A., Capote, J., Cai, G., Lippolis, J.D., Castro, N., Almeida, A.M. 2016. The goat (Capra hircus) mammary gland secretory tissue proteome as influenced by weight loss: A study using label free proteomics. Journal of Proteomics. 145:60-69. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.03.030.
    
  • Association of selenocysteine transfer RNA fragments with serum antibody response to Mycoplasma spp. in beef cattle-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Characterization of circulating transfer RNA-Derived RNA fragments in cattle -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Casas, E., Cai, G., Neill, J.D. 2015. Characterization of circulating transfer RNA-Derived RNA fragments in cattle. Frontiers in Genetics. 6:271. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00271.
    
  • MicroRNA expression profiling in tonsils of calves challenged with a laboratory strain or field isolates of Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus-(Abstract Only)
    
    

• ARS News Articles

  Microbial Marauder of Potato, Tomato Crops Has an Accomplice

Soybean Pathology 

Dr. Cai’s primary research interest is on soybean diseases caused by fungi and oomycetes with considerable economic consequences. He has worked on Cercospora leaf blight and purple seed stain, Phytophthora root and stem rot, sudden death syndrome, and seedling diseases caused by Pythium spp. and Fusarium graminearum. He recently started working on frogeye leaf spot as the impact of this traditional southern disease is rising in the north central region where most soybeans are produced in the USA. His research areas include: 1) pathogen genomics, population structure and evolution; 2) novel disease resistance in soybean germplasm collections; 3) genetic characterization of genomic loci responsible for the resistance. He also collaborates with soybean breeders to incorporate the resistant loci into elite soybean lines.

 

Additionally, Dr. Cai is the coordinator of USDA Uniform Soybean Tests – Northern Region. This is a community-wide, cooperative project with over 20 research groups in north central states in the USA and provinces of Canada. It evaluates advanced soybean breeding lines developed by soybean breeders in the public sector for yield, agronomic traits,  seed nutritional composition and disease resistance.