Milgroom, Michael Gordon
Professor
My interests can be described primarily as the population biology, genetics and evolution of plant pathogens, with applications to plant disease epidemiology and management. These interests integrate disciplines that are traditionally considered separately in the context of either biology or agriculture.
research
research and scholarship focus
My current research focuses on two different topics: 1) the genetics and evolution of vegetative incompatibility in the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, and 2) genetic variation within the grapevine powdery mildew fungus, Erysiphe necator (syn. Uncinula necator). Vegetative incompatibility inhibits the transmission of viruses between strains C. parasitica, impeding biological control of chestnut blight (hypovirulence). I am interested in whether the genes controlling vegetative incompatibility are under balancing selection. The grapevine powdery mildew fungus appears to comprise multiple independent evolutionary lineages that may have marked biological differences that potentially affect disease management. Our goals are to develop genetic tools for studying E. necator and to determine whether genetically distinct lineages are reproductively isolated in the process of forming new species.
primary investigator of
research areas
- biodiversity | collaborative research area (CALS)
- evolution | collaborative research area (CALS)
- genetics | collaborative research area (CALS)
- pathogens | collaborative research area (CALS)
- plant pathology | collaborative research area (CALS)
submitted impact statement
- Mechanisms of genetic variation in fungi | 2006 Impact statement
- Parasexual recombination in the chestnut blight fungus | 2005 Impact statement
affiliations
faculty appointment in
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology (PPPMB) | Cornell department
member of graduate field
- Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology | graduate field
teaching
teaching focus
My undergraduate teaching is in Plant Pathology 301, Biology and Management of Plant Diseases. My goal is to get students to understand the relationship between the biology of plant pathogens and the practice of plant disease management. This course covers a full range of biological organization from molecular plant-microbe interactions to ecosystem-level management systems.
teaches
- ALS 4960 - Internship (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 4940 - Special Topics in Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 4970 - Independent Study in Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 4980 - Undergraduate Teaching Experience (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 4990 - Undergraduate Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 6420 - Special Topics Series - Pathogen Population Biology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 6940 - Graduate Student Special Topics in Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 7980 - Graduate Teaching Experience (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 7990 - Graduate-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 4990 - Undergraduate Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- PLPA 7980 - Graduate Teaching Experience (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- PLPA 7990 - Graduate-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- PLPA 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- PLPA 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
service
event organizer
background
educational background
- Ph. D. Cornell University, 1987
- M.S. University of Michigan, 1982
- B.A. University of Vermont, 1978
professional background
- Faculty, Cornell University, 1987-present
Keywords: chestnut blight, fungal genetics, fungal mating systems, fungi, grape powdery mildew, mycovirus, pathogen population biology, population biology of plant pathogens