Websites

Lab Website > Plant Microbial Ecology and Biopesticide Development Lab

Research Area

My laboratory studies the diversity and ecology of plant-associated microorganisms because so many of them can affect plant health in very significant ways. To the extent that we can support the creation and maintenance of mutualistic symbioses, we should be able to enhance plant health and productivity. I am also interested more broadly in microbial community dynamics, with a particular eye to understanding pathogen suppression in a variety of systems.

The specific goals of my research program are to (i) characterize the abundance, diversity, and activities of genes and microorganisms associated with plant growth promotion and pathogen suppression, (ii) determine the impact of different farm management practices and environmental variables on the occurrence and activities of those targeted populations, and (iii) develop cost-effective biological control and inoculation strategies that improve plant health, agricultural sustainability, food safety, and profitability, especially in organic farming systems.

The laboratory's work involves molecular characterization of the diversity, population dynamics, and ecological functioning of microbial populations in agroecosystems, with special emphasis on sustainable and certified organic farming systems.  Our work involves collaborative efforts with other faculty in the Department and throughout the OARDC. Our laboratory participates in the Organic Food, Farming, Education and Research (OFFER), Center for Applied Plant Sciences (CAPS), and a variety of other national and international collaborative projects.

Teaching and Outreach

Primary teaching duties involve graduate student education, as a research advisor and classroom instructor.  I also advise several visiting scientists and research interns every year.  My teaching responsibilities include PLNTPTH 5010 Phytobacteriology (100%), PLNTPTH 5550 Quantitative Methods for Agricultural Scientists (100%), and PLNTPTH 8400 Molecular Bases of Plant Host-Microbe Interactions (30%). I also contribute lectures on biological control and biopesticides in PLNTPTH 5603 Plant Disease Management (10%) and I teach an advanced seminar PLNTPTH 8300 Topics in Biological Control of Plant Pathogens every other year (100%).  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 microbial biopesticides and biofertilizers. I have also worked with producers to develop on-farm trials of biologically-based pest management systems.

Selected Publications

View > Longer List of Publications

• Williams ML, LeJeune JT, McSpadden Gardener B. 2015. Soil conditions that can alter natural suppression of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ohio specialty crop soils. Appl Environ Microbiol 81:4634 –4641
• Debeport SJ, Assigbetse K, Bayalac R, Chapuis-Lardy L, Dick RP, McSpadden Gardener BB. 2015. Association of Shifting Populations in the Root Zone Microbiome of Millet with Enhanced Crop Productivity in the Sahel Region (Africa). Appl. Environ. Microbiol 81:8 2841-2851
• Visa SF, Cao C, McSpadden Gardener B, and E van der Knaap. 2014. Modeling of tomato fruits into nine shape categories using elliptic fourier shape modeling and Bayesian classification of contour morphometric data. Euphytica 200: 429-439
• Summers, C.F., Park, S., Dunn, A.R., Rong, X., Everts, K.L, Kleinhenz, M.D., McSpadden Gardener, B., and Smart, C.D. 2014. Fungal and oomycete pathogen detection in the rhizosphere of organic tomatoes in cover crop-treated soils. Applied Soil Ecology 80:44-50.
• Summers, C.F., Park, S., Dunn, A.R., Rong, X., Everts, K.L, Meyer, S.L.F., Rupprecht, S.M., Kleinhenz, M.D., McSpadden Gardener, B., and Smart, C.D. 2014. Single season effects of mixed-species cover crops on tomato health in multi-state (organic) field trials. Applied Soil Ecology 77:51-58.
• Kim HJ, Choi HS, Yang SY, Kim IS, Yamaguchi T, Sohng JK, Park SK, Kim JC, Le CW, McSpadden Gardener B, and Kim YC. 2014. Both extracellular chitinase and a new cyclic lipopeptide, chromobactomycin, contribute to the biocontrol activity of Chromobacterium sp. C61. Molecular Plant Pathology. 15:122-132.
• Visa SF, Cao C, McSpadden Gardener B, and E van der Knaap. 2014. Modeling of tomato fruits into nine shape categories using elliptic fourier shape modeling and Bayesian classification of contour morphometric data. Euphytica 200: 429-439
• Park JK, Lee SW, Han S, Kim JC, Kim YC, and McSpadden Gardener B. 2013. Sampling and selection factors that enhance the diversity of microbial collections: Application to biopesticide development. Plant Pathology Journal. 29:144-153.
• Savka M.A., Dessaux Y, McSpadden Gardener B, and Rossbach S.  2013. The “biased rhizosphere” concept and advances in the omics era to study bacterial competitiveness and persistence in the rhizosphere. Ch. 110 pgs 1147-1161  in Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere. F.J. de Bruijn ed. Wiley:Hoboken.
• Park JK, Lee SW, Han S, Kim JC, Kim YC, and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2013. Marker-assisted selection of novel bacteria contributing to soilborne disease suppression. Ch. 60 pgs 637-642 in Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere. F.J. de Bruijn ed. Wiley:Hoboken.Kim, Hyun Jung); Lee, Jin Hee; Kang, Beom Ryong; Rong, Xiaoqing; McSpadden Gardener, Brian B; Ji, Hyung Jin; Park, Chang-Seuk; Kim, Kim, Young Cheol. Draft Genome Sequence of Pantoea ananatis B1-9, a Nonpathogenic Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium.  Journal of Bacteriology 194(3): 729-729.
• Kim, Hyun Jung; Park, Ju Yeon; Han, Song Hee; Lee, Jin Hee; Rong, Xiaoqing; McSpadden Gardener, Brian B.; Park, Seur Kee; Kim, Young Cheol. 2012. Genome Sequence of the Biocontrol Bacterium Chromobacterium sp Strain C-61. Journal of Bacteriology  193(23): 6803-6804.
• Lee, HJ, Kim JS, Yoo SJ, Kang EY, Han SH, Kim, YC, McSpadden Gardner, B, and H. Kang. 2012. Different roles of glycine-rich RNA-binding protein7 in plant defense against Pectobacterium carotovorum, Botrytis cinerea, and tobacco mosaic viruses. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 60: 46-52.
• Panthee, D.R., Chunxue Cao, C.C., Debenport, S.J., Rodríguez, G.R., Labate, J.A., Robertson, L.D., Breksa III, A.P., van der Knaap, E., and B.B. McSpadden Gardener. 2012. Magnitude of Genotype x Environment Interactions Affecting Tomato Fruit Quality. HortScience Vol. 47: 721-726
• Rong, X., Baysal Gurel, F., Meulia, T. and B.B. McSpadden Gardener. 2012. Draft Genome Sequences of the Pseudomonas fluorescens Biocontrol Strains Wayne1R and Wood1R.  Journal of Bacteriology 194:724-725.
• Rong, X., Baysal Gurel, F., Meulia, T., and B.B. McSpadden Gardener. 2012. Draft Genome Sequences of the Biocontrol Bacterium Mitsuaria sp. Strain H24L5A.  Journal of Bacteriology 194: 734-735.
• Cho SM, Park JY, Han SH, Anderson AJ, Yang KY, Gardener BBM, and Kim YC. 2011. Identification and transcriptional analysis of priming genes in Arabidopsis thaliana induced by root colonization with Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6. The Plant Pathology Journal 23: 272-279.
• Kim YC, Leveau J, McSpadden Gardener BB, Pierson EA, Pierson III LS, and C-M Ryu. 2011. The multifactorial basis for plant health promotion by plant-associated bacteria.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 77: 1548-1555.
• Rodriguez GR, Munos S, Anderson C, Sim S-C, Michel A, Causse M, McSpadden Gardener B., Francis F, and E van der Knaap. 2011. Distribution of SUN, OVATE, LC, and FAS in the Tomato Germplasm and the Relationship to Fruit Shape Diversity. Plant Physiology  156: 275-285.
• Westphal, A. Williams, M.L. Baysal-Gurel, F., LeJeune, J.T. and McSpadden Gardener, B.B. 2011. Detection and identification of bacteria associated with the suppression of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in sand-based dairy livestock bedding.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 77: 2113-2121.
• Cao, C., Raudales, R., Park, S., and McSpadden Gardener, B.B. 2010. Biopesticide controls of plant diseases: Resources and products for organic farmers in Ohio. Ohioline Fact Sheet SAG-18-10. Available online at: http://ohioline.osu.edu/sag-fact/pdf/0018.pdf
• Park, S., Cao, C., and McSpadden Gardener, B.B. 2010. Inoculants and soil amendments for organic growers. Ohioline Fact Sheet SAG-17-10. Available online at: http://ohioline.osu.edu/sag-fact/pdf/0017.pdf
• Park, S., Cheng, Z.,McSpadden Gardener, B.B., and Grewal, P. 2010. Are nematodes effective bioindicators of soil conditions and processes along distance from roads and age of development in urban areas?  Environmental Indicators 5: 28-47.
• McSpadden Gardener, B. 2010. Biocontrol of Plant Pathogens and Plant Growth Promotion by Bacillus. Chapter 6 pgs 71-79 in Recent Developments in Management of Plant Diseases, Plant Pathology in the 21st Century, Vol.1, U. Gisi, I. Chet, M. Lodovica Gullino eds. Springer; Amsterdam.  377 pp.
• 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. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 75: 915-924.
• 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.
• Timper, P., Kone, D., Yin, J., Pingsheng, J., and McSpadden Gardener, B.B. 2009. Evaluation of an antibiotic producing strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens for suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes.  Journal of Nematology. 41: 234-240.
• 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.
• 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.
• Joshi, R., and McSpadden Gardener, B. 2006. Identification of genes associated with pathogen inhibition in different strains B. subtilis. Phytopathology 95:145-154.
• 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: http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/advanced/topics/Documents/PHI-BiologicalControl.pdf
• 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.
• 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.