Associate Professor Molecular ecology of plant-associated microbes and the biological control of plant diseases      Lab web site: McSpadden Gardener Lab

News

Who am I?

I am a scientist committed to developing useful knowledge about the complex relationships between plants, microbes, and the environment. I am particularly interested in discovering novel microbes that naturally suppress plant diseases and can be used to develop safe and effective biopesticides. After receiving my Ph.D. in botany in 1998, I worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the USDA's Root Disease and Biological Control Research Unit where I learned much about soilborne diseases and the threats they pose to commercial agriculture. In 2000, I joined The Ohio State University and focused my early work on the distribution and activities of bacteria that colonize the roots of field crops such as corn and soybeans.  I continue to study the ecology pathogen-suppressing rhizobacteria, but I am also keenly interested in how all plant-associated microbes contribute to plant health and productivity in the context of dynamic agricultural environments.

Research Interests

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

The laboratory's work involves molecular characterization of the diversity, population dynamics, and ecological functioning of microbial populations that colonize crop plants, especially corn, soybeans, tomatoes, beans, and strawberries.

The specific goals of the research are to (i) characterize the abundance, diversity, and activities of genes and microorganisms associated with plant growth promotion and plant disease suppression, (ii) determine the impact of different farm management practices and other environmental variables on the occurrence and activities of those targeted populations, and (iii) develop cost-effective biological control strategies that improve agricultural sustainability, productivity, and profitability.

This work involves 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 Outreach

Primary teaching duties involve graduate student education, as an advisor, SAC member, and classroom instructor. I also advise and train other personnel working in the laboratory.

Classroom teaching responsibilities involve significant participation in two graduate-level courses every year, i.e. PLNT PTH655 Quantitative Methods in Applied Biology (100%) and either PLNT PTH 843 Ecology of Plant Asssociated Microbes (50%) or PLNT PTH 830 Topics in Biological Control (100%). In addition, I present a significant portion of PLNT PTH 602 Plant-Microbe Interactions (10%), and I occasionally present guest lectures for other courses in the Department and College.

Primary classroom instruction is in the areas of applied biostatistics, microbial diversity and ecology, biological control of plant pathogens, and other beneficial plant-microbe associations. Guest lectures and discussions focus on the plant and soil microbiology and the methods of molecular microbial ecology. Additionally, several guest lectures are offered annually to different audiences including other University departments, interdisciplinary groups Extension and grower meetings, and the general public. While not assigned any formal extension duties, my research works toward practical application of environmentally sound management systems. I have also worked with producers to develop on-farm trials of biologically-based pest management systems.

Selected Publications

• Benitez, M.-S., and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2009. Linking sequence to function in soil bacteria: Sequence-directed isolation of novel bacteria contributing to soilborne plant disease suppression. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75:915-924.
• Bos, J..I.B., Chapparo-Garcia, A., Quesada-Ocampo, L.M., McSpadden Gardener, B., and Kamoun, S. 2009. Distinct amino acids of the Phytophthora infestans effector AVR3a condition activation of R3a hypersensitivity and suppression of cell death. Molec. Plant-Microbe Interact. 22:269-281.
• Raudales, R.E., Stone, E., and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2009. DAPG-producing pseudomonads improve crop health in acidic soils by altering patterns of nutrient uptake. Phytopathology 99:506-511.
• Baysal, F., Benitez, M.-S., Kleinhenz, M.D., Miller, S.A., and McSpadden Gardener, B.B. 2008. Effects of farm organic transition on soilborne disease suppression. Phytopathology 98: 562-570.
• Benitez, M.-S., Baysal Tustas, F., Rotenberg, D., Kleinhenz, M.D., Miller, S.A., and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2007. Multiple statistical approaches of community fingerprint data reveal bacterial populations associated with general disease suppression arising from the application of different organic field management strategies. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 39:2289-2301.
• McSpadden Gardener, B. B. 2009. Distribution, Modes of Action, and Practical Applications of DAPG-producing Pseudomonas spp. Pages 32-40 in Proceedings of the 2009 International Symsposium on Green Technology in Agriculture, Chonnam National University, Gwanju, South Korea.
• Rotenberg, D. Joshi, R. Benitez, M.S., Gutierrez Chapin, L., Camp, A., Zumpetta, C., Osborne, A., Dick, W.A., and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2007. Complex effects of farm management on rhizosphere colonization by native populations of phlD-containing Pseudomonas spp. and the relative contribution of those bacteria to crop stand and productivity. Phytopathology 97:756-766.
• Pal, K.K. and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2006. Biological control of plant pathogens. The Plant Health Instructor. DOI:10.1094/PHI-A-2006-1117-02. 25 pp. Online: www.apsnet.org/education/AdvancedPlantPath/Topics/biolcontrol/
• McSpadden Gardener, B. 2006. Statistical analyses of microbiological and environmental data. Chapter 22, pp. 555-585 in Modern Soil Microbiology, 2nd ed. J.D. van Elsas, J. Jannson eds. CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL.
• Joshi, R., and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2006. Identification of genes associated with pathogen inhibition in different strains B. subtilis. Phytopathology 95:145-154.
• Gutierrez, L., Lutton, E., and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2006. Distribution and fungicide sensitivity of tomato fruit rot pathogens in Ohio. Plant Disease 90:397-403.
• 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.

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