U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Databases
                        Alfalfa Transcription Factor Database
                                    iPhyClassifier - Phytoplasma Sequence ClassificationSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory Docs





- Molecular Plant Pathology Main Page
- MPPL retired scientists
- Pseudomonas kuykendallii - new!
- 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni' - new!
- MPPL's Retired Scientists
- Spiroplasma kunkelii
- Phytoplasma Resource Center
- Phytoplasma classification database
- Grapevine Yellows
- Xylella fastidiosa
- viroids
- Potato spindle tuber viroid
- viruses
- Potato Yellow vein virus
- Beet mosaic virus
- peach
- sugarbeet root maggot
- citrus
- Grapes
- Alfalfa
- plant-bacterial recognition

testing2headline bar Spiroplasmas, Phytoplasmas and Vascular Bacteria  The evolution of phytoplasmas and plant pathogenic spiroplasmas, both wall-less bacteria, involved progressive reduction of genome sizes, approaching the minimal sets of genes required for their parasitic lifestyles; gene inactivation through pseudogene formation and the loss of gene sequences were accompanied by the gain of new capabilities enhancing host adaptation and conferring potentials for pathogenicity in insect vectors and plant hosts. Robert E. Davis  impatient One project focuses on the development and use of new and improved technologies for detection, identification, and classification of plant pathogenic vascular-limited prokaryotes including phytoplasmas, spiroplasmas, and walled bacteria that cause potato ring rot and brown rot diseases. Ing-Ming Lee   ATP-binding cassette proteins New knowledge derived from genome information is critical for understanding numerous biological processes that operate in plant pathogens and for developing novel strategies to combat plant diseases. Yan Zhao   Viral-Based Vectors  This research project focuses on the development and use of viral-based vectors for the rapid delivery and expression of foreign gene sequences in plants as a means of testing sequences and protein products which may be useful in plant and animal disease control. Rosemarie W. Hammond and Lev Nemchinov   Viroids  Viroid diseases are responsible for significant losses of food and fiber. Our research goals are to obtain fundamental knowledge about the molecular interactions between viroids and their host, to apply this knowledge to the control of viroid diseases, and to develop and test viroid-induced dwarfing strategies to increase citrus production efficiency. Robert A. Owens   Fungal and Bacterial Pathogens of Sugar Beet  To improve the levels of resistance to *Cercospora* leafspot disease and to *Erwinia* root rot in sugar beet, *Beta vulgaris* L., the genetic and metabolic factors that limit resistance are being identified. This knowledge is used to enhance the plant\'s natural defense mechanisms. L. David Kuykendall   Defense Response Mechanisms in Sugar Beet  Current research efforts are focused on molecular analysis of defense response mechanisms in sugar beet. Isolation and characterization of resistance genes is being pursued in order to develop effective molecular approaches for control of plant diseases with special emphasis on sugar beet pests (sugar beet root maggot, *Tetanops myopaeformis*) and pathogens (*Cercospora beticola*). Anna C. Smigocki   Fungal Pathogens of Wheat  Identification and classification of the wheat (*Triticum aestivum*) pathogens *Phaeosphaeria nodorum* and *P. avenaria*, which cause Stagonospora leaf and glume blotch diseases are improved using molecular techniques. The development of disease control strategies is being facilitated through the study of resistant markers in wheat and virulence factors in *P. nodorum*. Peter P. Ueng    Apoplastic Oxidative Metabolism on Host-Pathogen in Recognition  Our objective is to identify critical biochemical and physiological events that transpire upon contact between the plant cell and pathogen that define the outcome of the interaction. Oxidative metabolism and redox status appear to play dominant roles in this process. C. Jacyn Baker    Citrus Yellow Mosaic Virus Sequencing Citrus yellow mosaic virus is a destructive disease of citrus in India. We have recently completed a thorough characterization of this virus, which included the sequencing of the entire genome and the development of a full length infectious clone of the virus. The cloned virus will be useful in defining the minimum gene set required for infection. We have also developed a diagnostic assay for this virus which can be used to protect the U.S. industry from this disease. Dr. John Hartung


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov