A Conversation With Four Clinic Directors Behind The National Plant Diagnostic Network

In this episode, Dr. Carrie Harmon (University of Florida), Dr. Matt Bertone (North Carolina State University), Dr. Alicyn Smart (University of Maine), and Dr. Peng Tian (University of Missouri) join host Matt Kasson to discuss the history and importance of National Plant Diagnostic Network, their various roles in the NPDN and the regional diagnostic networks, and their responsibilities as Directors of their University’s Plant Disease and Pest Diagnostic Clinics. They also discuss some of the misconceptions of diagnostics and share some of the craziest samples they’ve encountered. *Show Notes * NPDN Website: https://www.npdn.org/ Dr. Carrie Harmon’s University profile: https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty-pages/carrie-harmon/ UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center: https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/plant-diagnostic-center/ Dr. Matt Bertone’s University profile: https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/profile/matt-bertone/ NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic: https://pdic.ces.ncsu.edu/ Dr. Alicyn Smart’s University profile: https://extension.umaine.edu/about/staff-directory/alicyn-smart/ The University of Maine Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab: https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/plant-disease/ Dr. Peng Tian’s University profile: https://cafnr.missouri.edu/directory/peng-tian-phd/ University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/plant-diagnostic-clinic This episode is produced by Association Briefings. Special Guests: Peng Tian, Alicyn Smart, Carrie Harmon, and Matt Bertone.

In this episode, Dr. Alejandro Olmedo-Velarde, Assistant Professor of Host-Microbe Interactions in the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his lab’s research program on multi-trophic interactions in vector-borne diseases in corn, soybean, and other crops. He also discusses growing up in Ecuador, his time working on numerous tropical plant viruses in Hawaii and transitioning to working with fastidious prokaryotes and diverse disease vectors. *show notes * Dr. Olmedo-Velarde’s Iowa State University profile: https://www.ppem.iastate.edu/people/alejandro-olmedo-velarde Dr. Olmedo-Velarde's lab website: https://faculty.sites.iastate.edu/aolmedov/ Dr. Olmedo-Velarde’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rBzKiKQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao This episode is produced by Association Briefings. Special Guest: Alejandro Olmedo-Velarde.

In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Lowe-Power, Associate Professor Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her lab’s research program on Ralstonia, her NSF CAREER Award, and her cohort based undergraduate research experience (CURE) focused on integrating the next generation of novel investigations of toxin ecology and evolution (IGNITE) in Ralstonia. She also discusses the importance of good mentorship and navigating academia with a unique phenotype. Show Notes Dr. Lowe-Power’s UC Davis profile: https://plantpathology.ucdavis.edu/people/tiffany-lowe-power Dr. Lowe-Power’s lab website: http://lowepowerlab.ucdavis.edu/ Dr. Lowe-Power’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aMxz2moAAAAJ&hl=en This episode is produced by Association Briefings.Special Guest: Tiffany Lowe-Power.

In this episode, Dr. Lina Quesada, William Neil Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Vegetable Pathology at North Carolina State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her lab’s research program on downy mildews and sweet potato diseases. She also discusses her love of extension and how she connects her basic science research with growers’ needs. *Show Notes * Dr. Quesada’s NC State University profile: https://cals.ncsu.edu/entomology-and-plant-pathology/people/lmquesad/ Dr. Quesada’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=im2J9VIAAAAJ 2023 APS Syngenta Award write-up: https://www.apsnet.org/members/give-awards/awards/Syngenta/Pages/2023-Syngenta_Quesada.aspx This episode is produced by Association Briefings.Special Guest: Lina Quesada.

In this episode, Dr. Jim Westwood, Professor of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss parasitic plants and his lab’s work on their novel structures and mechanisms for information exchange with their hosts. He also discusses his time in the Peace Corps in Mauritania and as a Fulbright Scholar in France along with management strategies used against parasitic plants both in the U.S. and abroad. Show Notes Dr. Westwood’s Virginia Tech profile: https://spes.vt.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/westwood-james.html Dr. Westwood’s lab website: https://spes.vt.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/westwood-james/westwood-lab.html Dr. Westwood’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_Q1dozYAAAAJ&hl=en Virginia Tech write-up on Dr. Westwood’s NSF Plant Genome Grant using parasitic plants to edit host plant genomes: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2024/12/parasitic-weeds-tool-for-altering-plant-genomics-collaboration-nsf.html This episode is produced by Association Briefings.Special Guest: Jim Westwood.

In this episode, Dr. Libby Cieniewicz, Associate Professor of Plant Virology in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss general plant virology and her lab’s work in plant virus ecology and epidemiology across diverse fruit production systems. She also discusses the challenges of managing plant viruses and their disease vectors and advocating for grad student-led associations. Show Notes Dr. Cieniewicz’s Clemson profile: https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/faculty_staff/profiles/ecienie Dr. Cieniewicz’s lab website: https://cieniewiczviruslab.weebly.com/ Dr. Cieniewicz’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=U_Vq9cEAAAAJ SeedWorld article on Dr. Cieniewicz’s collaborative work on peach diseases: https://www.seedworld.com/us/2023/07/18/climate-change-isnt-the-only-challenge-south-carolinas-peaches-have-faced/ This episode is produced by Association Briefings.Special Guest: Libby Cieniewicz.

In this episode, PhD student Isako (Izzi) Di Tomassi from the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Program in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her formative research experiences as an early career plant pathologist, the challenges of losing her graduate advisor due to unprecedented reorganization across the USDA, and her motivation for co-creating and co-organizing the McClintock Letters Initiative. She also discusses her love of teaching and the importance of effective science communication in modern day academia. Show Notes Izzi Di Tomassi’s Cornell profile: https://cals.cornell.edu/people/isako-di-tomassi Izzi Di Tomassi’s website: https://blogs.cornell.edu/isakoditomassi/ Science article on the McClintock Letters Initiative: https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-researchers-are-speaking-science-local-newspapers This episode is produced by Association Briefings.Special Guest: Isako Di Tomassi.

In this episode, Dr. Bob Kemerait, Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia, Tipton joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his long career as an extension plant pathologist working primarily on peanut and cotton diseases both across the southeastern U.S. and internationally in the Philippines, Haiti and Guyana. He discusses the busy life of an extension plant pathologist, the importance of international research in providing perspective, and the value of building long-term working relationships with growers and producers. Dr. Kemerait also discusses the future of extension and his hopes for the future of our profession. Show Notes Dr. Bob Kemerait's University of Nebraska academic profile: https://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/people/faculty/bob-kemerait.html Dr. Bob Kemerait's Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=huyXlmwAAAAJ&hl=en Dr. Bob Kemerait's recent article for Farm Progress 'It may be quiet, but peanut diseases aren’t sleeping': https://www.farmprogress.com/peanut/it-may-be-quiet-but-peanut-diseases-aren-t-sleeping This episode is produced by Association Briefings.Special Guest: Bob Kemerait.

In this episode, 2025 APS Fellow Dr. Carolyn Young, Professor of Plant Pathology and Department Head of Entomology and Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her non-traditional career path as a research scientist in New Zealand and the U.S. along with her passion for fungal endophytes, effectors and secondary metabolites, and phytobiomes. She also discusses the challenges that academia is currently facing, but also the importance of our communities, outreach, and science communication. Show Notes Dr. Young's North Carolina State University academic profile: https://cals.ncsu.edu/entomology-and-plant-pathology/people/cyoung6/ Dr. Young's Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KKa2eyYAAAAJ&hl=en Dr. Young's APS Fellow Feature: https://www.apsnet.org/members/give-awards/awards/Fellows/Pages/Carolyn-Young.aspx This episode is produced by Association Briefings.Special Guest: Carolyn Young.

In this episode, Dr. Michael Boehm, Professor of Plant Pathology, Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his 2025 APS Fellow Award, his decades long career as an academic leader at both The Ohio State University and The University of Nebraska, and his diverse and meaningful experiences serving in the U.S. military. He discusses the challenges that academia faces along with the opportunities for change. Dr. Boehm also discusses the importance of extension and outreach and service to our profession. Show Notes Dr. Michael Boehm's University of Nebraska academic profile: https://nebraska.edu/meet-our-people/chancellors-and-vice-presidents/mike-boehm Dr. Michael Boehm's Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=m5NYCM8AAAAJ&hl=en Dr. Boehm's Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet for 'Plants get sick too!': https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/plpath-gen-1 This episode is produced by Association Briefings.Special Guest: Michael Boehm.