Research

The Mycology/Plant Pathology lab involves two main projects. The first examines the interactions between cool-season grasses and endophytes - naturally occurring fungi that can infect grasses such as tall fescue. Endophyte-infected tall fescue has enhanced growth, survival, drought tolerance and competitiveness, but unfortunately the endophyte is often toxic. This toxicity causes a condition known as fescue toxicosis in grazing animals that adversely affects the animals' productivity. The lab's project aims to identify "novel" endophytes that benefit their host plants but are not toxic. The goal is to combine these endophytes with the Noble Foundation's collection of grass material to produce new endophyte-grass combinations particularly suited for the southern Great Plains and the southeastern United States.

Their second project addresses a disease called cotton root rot, which is caused by a fungal pathogen found in soil. This is a disease of major economic importance in Oklahoma, Texas and other parts of the Southwest. The fungus attacks the root system of approximately 2,000 different perennial species, including alfalfa - the focus of their research.

The lab screens genetic material of alfalfa for resistance to cotton root rot. Resistant plants will enter a breeding program to enhance the alfalfa genetic pool and researchers will characterize them at the molecular level to understand how they resist the disease. As part of the Consortium for Legume Research, Young joins other researchers from Noble, Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma in working to understand and reduce the impact of cotton root rot in our region.

Personnel

Carolyn Young
Assistant Professor

Ranamalie Amarasinghe
Postdoctoral Fellow

Ruchi Singh
Research Associate

Ginger Swoboda
Research Technician

Johanna Takach
Postdoctoral Fellow