Research in my lab focuses on characterizing emerging fungal diseases. In 2018 we characterized Paecilomyces Rot of apples, a previously unknown disease of apples caused by Paecilomyces niveus. This fungus was previously known as a spoilage mold in processed fruit products. We demonstrated its heat resistance and ability to infect several apple cultivars, and sequenced its genome.
My research program focuses on the biodiversity and ecology of fungi. I have worked extensively on fungi that are associated with insects, and lately I have expanded my program to work on fungi that spoil foods. I use molecular biology and microscopic methods to investigate fungal relationships. I develop basic knowledge on the biodiversity of fungi, describing new species and genera, and construct resources to aid in their identification. I seek to understand the ecological roles of fungi, which inform ways it which we might either use or avoid them.
Outreach and Extension Focus
My outreach focuses on fungi, their diversity, and their impacts on us. It includes consultations in mushroom poisoning emergencies, questions about fungal roles and identification, and public lectures and forays. I coordinate the New York State "Peck" mushroom foray and edit the Cornell Mushroom Blog and an informational facebook page, @Cornell Fungi.
I aim to demystify fungi, including molds and mushrooms, and promote public appreciation of their key roles in the environment. I founded the successful Cornell Mushroom Blog to answer public demand for information about fungi, while also involving my students in outreach through writing about science for a general audience.
The Cornell Plant Pathology Herbarium serves science internationally by as a physical store of data on biodiversity, taxonomy, and nomenclature of fungi and other plant pathogens. We hold over 300,000 specimens and over 60,000 historical images of fungi and agriculture. In 2000 we began digitizing specimen records and images, an effort that's been federally funded since 2010. We moved from substandard facilities that were actively damaging to the collections into a newly renovated facility in 2007. We collaborate with other collections to make our data accessible, and loan specimens internationally to qualified scientists in support of fungal science.
Selected Journal Publications
Presentations and Activities
- Food Fight: fungi in our food. Northeast Mycological Federation Foray (NEMF). July 2018. Northeast Mycological Federation. SUNY-Geneseo, Geneseo NY.
