Associate Professor

Lab web sites:

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/mcspaddengardenerlab/ (Current site)

McSpadden Gardener Lab (Coming Soon)

Areas of Special Interest

Molecular microbial ecology of agricultural systems. Biological control of soilborne diseases of plants.

Who am I?

I am a researcher committed to discovering new knowledge about the complex relationships between plants, microbes, and the environment and applying that knowledge to improving agricultural sustainability, productivity, and profitability. My research career developed primarily on the campuses of land grant institutions including the University of Illinois (B.S. '92), Michigan State University (Ph.D. '98), Washington State University (USDA post-doctoral fellow), and now at Ohio State University (Assistant Professor). Those environments had a profound impact on my goals as a scientist, and I am an enthusiastic supporter of the land-grant mission to improve agriculture for the well being of all citizens.

In the course of my professional development, I have been introduced to many facets of plant science, from molecular biology to commercial agriculture. As an undergraduate I was involved in researching the biochemistry of photosynthesis and participated in the development of Bt-corn at a biotech company. As a graduate student, my interests turned to the study of plant-microbe interactions with a particular emphasis on rhizosphere microbial ecology. At MSU, I participated in research activities with colleagues at the NSF-funded Center for Microbial Ecology as well in my home Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. In '95 I worked at the Institute for Plant Protection in the Netherlands, and in '96 I was awarded USEPA Graduate STAR fellowship to fund the completion of my thesis. After receiving my Ph.D., I worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the USDA's Root Disease and Biological Control Research Unit. There, my research productively combined laboratory and field work, and I learned much about the field of plant pathology and its contributions commercial agriculture. In November '00, I joined The Ohio State University as an Assistant Professor on the Wooster campus where I continue to study and learn about the extraordinary advances being made annually in the many fields involved in agricultural research.

Research Interests

Lab Web Site: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/mcspaddengardenerlab/

In our laboratory, we study the microbial ecology of root pathogens and beneficial microorganisms associated with the roots of field crops. Our research efforts focus on the molecular characterization of the diversity and population dynamics of bacteria and fungi that suppress fungal root and fruit pathogens. Additional work has used molecular analyses of amplified ribosomal DNA sequences to evaluate changes in diverse microbial populations associated with changes in root physiology and disease state. The specific goals of our research are to: 1) elucidate the abundance and diversity of specific microbial genes and genotypes in field samples, 2) determine the impact of different management practices and other environmental variables on the occurrence and activities of those targeted microbial populations in the soil and rhizosphere, and 3) implement cost-effective biological control systems that improve crop yields. This work will involve collaborative efforts with other faculty in the Department and throughout the OARDC. Our laboratory is also participating in the Organic Food, Farming, Education and Research (OFFER) and the Ohio Composting and Manure Management (OCAMM) Programs within our college. Recent collaborative efforts have focused on understanding the costs and benefits of various crop rotations and organic amendments in farming systems transitioning to organic production.

Teaching and Extension Interests

Teaching responsibilities currently include advising graduate students, co-teaching PP694A, and contributing guest lectures in PP600, 602, and 832. The course PP694A, Quantitative Methods in Applied Biology, focuses on the proper use of statistical methods to analyze univariate and multivariate data with emphasis on research applications. Guest lectures and discussions focus on the nature of microbial interactions in the phytosphere, biological control, and the methods of molecular microbial ecology. In the coming years, I plan on developing a graduate seminar course on the microbial ecology of agricultural systems. While not assigned any formal extension duties, my research works toward practical application of environmentally sound management systems. In the near future, I will be working with producers to develop on-farm trials of biologically-based pest management systems.

Selected Publications

• McSpadden Gardener, B., Gutierrez, L., Joshi, R., Edema, R., and Lutton, E. 2005. Distribution and biocontrol potential of phlD+ pseudomonads in corn and soybean fields. Phytopathology 95:715-724.

• McSpadden Gardener, B. 2004. Ecology of Bacillus and Paenibacillus spp. in agricultural systems. Phytopathology 94:1252-1258.

• Blouin Bankhead, S., Landa, B., Lutton, E., Weller, D., McSpadden Gardener, B. 2004. Minimal changes in rhizobacterial population structure following root colonization by wild type and transgenic biocontrol strains. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 49:307-318.

• Weller, D., Raaijmakers, J., McSpadden Gardener, B., Thomashow, L. 2002. Microbial populations responsible for specific soil suppressiveness to plant pathogens. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 40:309-348.

• McSpadden Gardener, B., Fravel, D. 2002. Biological control of plant pathogens: Research, commercialization, and application in the USA. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2002-0510-01-RV.

• McSpadden Gardener, B., Miller, S., Kleinhenz, M., Doohan, D., Grewal, P., Stinner, D. 2002. Dried and composted dairy manure in vegetable cropping systems: Effects on soil and plant health. pgs. 581-591In Proceedings of the 2002 International Compost Symposium: Composting and Compost Utilization. The JG Press, Inc: Emmaus, PA. (www.Biocycle.net ).

• McSpadden Gardener B., Weller D. 2001. Changes in populations of rhizosphere bacteria associated with take-all disease of wheat. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67:4414-4425

• McSpadden Gardener B., Mavrodi D., Thomashow L., Weller D. 2001. A rapid polymerase chain reaction-based assay characterizing rhizosphere populations of 2,4-DAPG-producing-bacteria. Phytopathology. 91: 44-54.

• Mavrodi O., McSpadden Gardener B., Mavrodi D., Bonsall R., Weller D., Thomashow L. 2001. Genetic diversity of phlD from 2,4-DAPG-producing fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. Phytopathology. 91: 35-43.

• McSpadden Gardener B., Schroeder K., Kalloger S., Raaijmakers J., Thomashow L., Weller D. 2000. Genotypic and phenotypic diversity of phlD-containing Pseudomonas isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 1939-1946.

Contact Information

Dr. Brian B. McSpadden Gardener
Department of Plant Pathology
The Ohio State University, OARDC
1680 Madison Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691-4096

Phone: (330) 202-3565
FAX: (330) 263-3841
E-mail: bbmg+@osu.edu