Research
Our Lab focuses on the development of sustainable, environmental friendly and economical management practices for woody ornamental diseases. We detect, diagnose, and manage fungal, oomycete, bacterial, and viral diseases on woody ornamentals using both molecular and classical techniques in nursery production. We detect pathogen and biocontrol agent populations through soil ecosystems. Also we focus on molecular characterization of soilborne pathogens of field and container-grown woody ornamentals grown in Tennessee and determining the grower perceptions and knowledge of soilborne pathogens on woody ornamental production and management practices available and development of sanitation practices for mechanically transmitted woody ornamental diseases.
Current Projects
A coordinated effort to understand the dynamics of Vascular Streak Dieback in redbud production
Vascular streak dieback (VSD) is the current terminology used to describe the plants that exhibit a commonly reported set of symptoms including, stunted growth, chlorosis, necrosis, epicormic shoots on the declining plant, burnet/blight leaves, tip dieback, vascular streaking, and poor root development.
Baysal-Gurel Lab is working on resolving the Vascular streak dieback (VSD) issue that has caused serious economic losses in Redbud nursery production in Tennessee and several other states including Virginia and North Carolina.
Currently, lab members are working on the identification of the environmental factors that favor VSD development and screening the redbud species/cultivars to identify their tolerance/susceptibility to VSD. They are also working on developing an integrated disease management plan to prevent or reduce the losses due to the VSD.
Evaluation of the Sustainable Management Practices to promote the Healthy Growth of Woody Ornamentals
Sustainable management of ambrosia beetles and P. cinnamomi
Dr. Cansu is improving the understanding of how nursery tree crop species (dogwood, red maple, redbud) with different tolerance levels to drought and flood are impacted by ambrosia beetles. They are also testing plant defense elicitors in inducing resistance against ambrosia beetles and P. cinnamomi.
Management of soilborne diseases and Ambrosia beetles in woody ornamentals
Dr. Cansu's research project includes both integrated management of soilborne diseases and Ambrosia beetles in ornamental trees such as maple, dogwood and redbud and characterizing biotic plant stress-related factors and abiotic stressors that influence soilborne disease severity and Ambrosia beetle attacks. She is particularly interested in a better understanding of plant-microorganism interactions to reduce the effect of abiotic stress caused by pathogen bacteria, fungi, and abiotic stress such as drought and flooding and learning plant growth promotion systems.
Identification and management of fungal canker pathogens of woody ornamentals
Fungal canker pathogens, which are known to cause significant damage in woody ornamentals and are difficult to treat. To accomplish this, Pratima Subedi is utilizing a variety of techniques, including culture-based methods and pathogenicity tests to identify the pathogens. Molecular approaches will be used for the specific detection of pathogens while studying their diversity through microbiome analysis. Based on the knowledge gained from these studies, She will propose management strategies that are sustainable and effective for managing canker pathogens.
Economic Impact of woody ornamental diseases in U.S. nursery industry
Economic impact of Vascular Streaking Dieback to Redbud production in the U.S. nursery industry.
Redbud (Cercis spp.) is one of the most popular deciduous flowering trees in the U. S with almost US$26 million annual wholesale value in 2019. This project aims to protect the redbud production in the region by accurate identification of this emerging Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD) disease and work together with the industrial partners to identify effective management approaches while disseminating the knowledge to the growers. With the guidance of Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Dr. Kumuditha Liyanage is conducting a multi-state survey to understand the epidemiology and dispersal of the disease and to estimate the economic impact of the issue and survey to determine symptoms associated with VSD that were observed by the growers with timeline; Cultivar information to identify if any of the redbud cultivars show resistance towards VSD and production information to estimate the losses due to this disease.
The integration of molecular biology/ bioinformatics into plant pathology for efficient disease diagnosis
In the molecular biology division, Dr. Farhat Avin generally focus on the implementation of different molecular methodologies to overcome the barriers to the detection of plant pathogens especially when a new disease outbreak is being reported. Our molecular biology laboratory uses advanced technologies such as Metagenomics, quantitative PCR, Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification, multiplexing, and several other methodologies.
Identify effective management approaches for crown gall and rose rosette diseases
Besides this main project, Dr. Cansu Oksel and Dr. Prabha Liyanapathiranage are also working on identifying effective chemical and biological control agents to manage rose diseases such as crown gall and rose rosette. Moreover, they are also working on identifying microbial diversity in different host-pathogen systems to understand the nature of interaction and to identify effective management approaches.
Identification and functional verification of powdery mildew resistance genes in Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla, or commonly known as bigleaf hydrangea, is a popular ornamental shrub known for their large, colorful inflorescences. A common disease of Hydrangea macrophylla is powdery mildew, Golovinomyces orontii, which tarnishes the beauty and salability of hydrangea plants. Christina Jennings is conducting this research with the USDA-ARS and TSU collaboration. Research will include evaluating powdery mildew response on tolerant and susceptible Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars by inoculation, tissue collection, and measuring whole plant and cellular response; Identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through extraction and RNA sequencing; Identification of candidate genes through RT-PCR and ranking genes by inducibility; and through combining and interpreting all project data to propose a gene model(s).
Christina was previously a lab technician for the Baysal-Gurel lab and her research included fungicidal control of various pathogens on host plants, such as powdery mildew on hydrangea and black spot on rose. This included trials that tested different fungicidal rates and application intervals. Determining this kind of information helps to develop application rotation programs for growers.
Current Funding Partners
