University of Minnesota Department of Plant Pathology

Thank you to the Des Moines Register for honoring Norman Borlaug, perhaps our most famous alumnus, for Iowa History Month!

Iowa History Month: The Iowa roots of a global agricultural legacy Norman Borlaug’s life reflects the kind of innovation that can grow from Iowa soil and reach far beyond it.

Staff and students made it a wonderful Symposium! Thank you to everyone who came!

Scientists testing fungi to protect Minnesota's one billion ash trees: new from MPR

Scientists testing fungi to protect Minnesota's one billion ash trees A Minnesota scientist is experimenting with using parasitic fungi to kill emerald ash borer, a beetle that has transformed forests and city streets in parts of the state.

Career Opportunity: Postdoctoral Researcher
The Ranjan Lab at the University of Minnesota seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead cutting-edge research on studying the molecular interactions of fungal diseases affecting potatoes, with a focus on identifying key molecular mechanisms and the metabolites of Verticillium wilt and potato interaction, as well as characterizing microbial biocontrol agents.

Apply through UMN:

https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/int/371211 (internal)

https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/371211 (external)

It's Give to the Max Day in Minnesota! We're raising for the Kernkamp Fund, where every gift directly supports career-building experiences for graduate students: https://crowdfund.umn.edu/participants/2933

Today’s faculty leaders are yesterday’s hardworking students! Before he was a faculty member at Dakota State University, Andrew Sathoff (PhD ‘19) was a graduate student in the Samac Lab exploring his passions for teaching and research.

This Give to the Max Day (11/20), we‘re fundraising for the Kernkamp Fund. This versatile fund allows students to participate in meaningful, often costly experiences like travel for meetings and networking. Learn more about our fund and how to give (now or November 20) at the link in bio.

Looking for spring courses? Look no further! PLPA 2001 (Intro to Plant Path) and PLPA 3004/5004 (Microbes for Sustainable Crop Production) combine fascinating plant health biology with real-world problem-solving.

"Blightmare on Stem Street"? We're intrigued! USDA-ARS scientist and UMN Adjunct Professor Dr Deb Samac got on
the Crop Protection Network podcast to discuss a truly spooky alfalfa pathogen, bacterial stem blight:

I See Dead Plants: (S4:E38) Blightmare on Stem Street: Alfalfa Bacterial Stem Blight In this episode Ed interviews of the USDA-ARS. They discuss the long-overlooked disease of alfalfa, bacterial stem blight. Additional Resources Time Stamps (0:00) Introductions (4:06) Overview of alfalfa production Skip to the main topic: (16:30) Bacterial stem blight (21:33) The role of frost (25:0...

Professor Dean Malvick spoke with MPR news yesterday about red crown rot, a soybean disease with no cure, being found in Minnesota and potential consequences. Read the article:

Soybean disease with no cure was detected in Minnesota for the first time Red crown rot, a fungal disease that hides in soil, rots soybean roots away and destroys part of the bean's leaf tissue, has no cure. It’s been found in Minnesota for the first time.

New Video!

Find it in the Field: Oat S**t with Haidyn Larson

Find it in the Field: Oat S**t with Haidyn Larson Take a look at Oat S**t—this fungal oat disease can live for a long time on its host plant, causing long-term problems for impacted farms. Haidyn Larson, a r...

Headed to Honolulu for the 2025 APS Plant Health meeting? Put us on your schedule! UMN PLPA faculty, staff, and students will be postering, leading sessions, sharing research, and socializing. We can’t wait to see you! 🌴🌺

Borlaug Inspire Day brings the science of healthy plants to Iowan kids, right on the farm where Norman Borlaug was raised 🌱 PLPA’s own Pranaya, Connor, Lovepreet, and Hsuan Fu went and shared their love of plant health with tomorrow’s scientists, farmers, and leaders! 🌾