plant pathology

Jan 24, 2025

Study Points to South America – Not Mexico – as Birthplace of Irish Potato Famine Pathogen

Spud sleuth Jean Ristaino and lab members solve a longstanding mystery into the origin of the Irish potato famine pathogen. 

Aug 5, 2024

Study Analyzes Potato-Pathogen ‘Arms Race’ After Irish Famine

Researchers examine both the pathogen's effector genes and the plant's resistance genes simultaneously in a first-of-its-kind analysis. 

Feb 15, 2024

Using Written Records – and Tweets – as a Roadmap for Plant Disease Spread

Examining keyword terms from historic and modern texts can help researchers track and visualize plant diseases like late blight. 

Apr 3, 2023

NC State Researchers Assemble Pathogen ‘Tree of Life’

Researchers provide open-access tool to capture new data on a global plant destroyer, Phytophthora. 

Feb 21, 2023

Yams Benefit From Banana ‘Paper’ Cocoon

"Wrap-and-plant" technique shows promise for increasing tuber size, yields and storage quality. 

Mar 7, 2022

Banana ‘Paper’ Stymies Potato Pest

Made from banana waste, the paper blocks growth and infestation of a nasty worm that wreaks havoc with potato plants. 

Jul 21, 2021

Microbes Play Role in Corn ‘Hybrid Vigor’

Tiny soil organisms have surprising effects on a crop phenomenon that generally favors hybrid over inbred plants. 

Jul 9, 2021

Elevated Warming, Ozone Have Detrimental Effects on Plant Roots, Promote Soil Carbon Loss

Soybean plant roots weaken when placed under climate change stresses, a new study shows. 

Jun 11, 2021

Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Stoked Outbreaks on 6 Continents

NC State researchers track the evolution of pathogen that causes late-blight disease in potatoes and tomatoes. 

May 17, 2021

To Preserve Global Food Security, New Tools Needed to Prevent Plant Disease Pandemics

Global plant disease surveillance and detection systems - along with plant disease modeling - are needed to protect plants - and the food supply. 

Apr 29, 2020

Plant Aid: A Big-Data Project to Detect Plant Diseases Faster

An interdisciplinary team led by professor Jean Ristaino will combine small sensors with big data for faster detection of the diseases plaguing tomato fields. From a hand-held plant disease ‘sniffer’ to a cloud-based database that can alert farmers about the cause of the stress and suggest possible mitigation strategies, the project aims to detect diseases early, improving yield. 

Jul 29, 2019

Portable Tech Sniffs Out Plant Disease In The Field

Researchers have developed portable technology that allows farmers to identify plant diseases in the field. The handheld device, which is plugged into a smartphone, works by sampling the airborne volatile organic compounds that plants release through their leaves. 

Jun 10, 2019

New Microneedle Technique Speeds Plant Disease Detection

Researchers have developed a new technique that uses microneedle patches to collect DNA from plant tissues in one minute, rather than the hours needed for conventional techniques. 

May 20, 2019

Can a Hands-on Model Help Forest Stakeholders Fight Tree Disease?

Participants don't need coding or software expertise to use Tangible Landscape, a 3D model that allows them to try out different approaches for stopping the spread of sudden oak death, which has killed millions of trees. 

Oct 3, 2018

Complex Factors Can Drive the Emergence and Evolution of Plant Pathogens

New research sheds light on factors that contribute to the rise -- and spread -- of plant diseases.