UMN Plant Pathology

larch beetle larvae crawling around in galleries in wood

tree mortality near Boy River

Four new fungal species discovered during examination of an Eastern larch beetle outbreak by @forestmycology.bsky.social @andrewmann.bsky.social plpa.cfans.umn.edu/news/elb-lar...

Scientists testing fungi to protect Minnesota's one billion ash trees A Minnesota scientist is experimenting with using parasitic fungi to kill emerald ash borer, a beetle that has transformed forests and city streets in parts of the state.

Scientists testing fungi to protect Minnesota's one billion ash trees: new from @mprnews.org @forestmycology.bsky.social www.mprnews.org/episode/2025... #fungifriends #mycology

image of verticillium wilt with text Career Opportunity: Postdoctoral Researcher, Ranjan Lab, UMN Job #371211

APPLY NOW! Postdoctoral researcher in the Ranjan Lab: hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/int/371... (internal)
hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/371... (external)

Fungi from Minnesota can kill emerald ash borer beetles A new study from the University of Minnesota found that several species of parasitic fungi were effective at killing emerald ash borer beetles, one of the most devastating forest pests to ever hit Nor...

Fungi from Minnesota can kill emerald ash borer beetles, opening up potential biocontrol solutions: twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/... @forestmycology.bsky.social

Text "Give to the Max Day" with three pictures collaged: four students holding maroon certificates, a student presenting a poster, and a graduate teaching a science class

It's Give to the Max Day in Minnesota! By giving to our fund, you'll directly support the career-building experiences of hardworking graduate students. crowdfund.umn.edu/participants...

Sudden oak death pathogen detected for the first time in Minnesota University of Minnesota researchers detected the pathogen that causes sudden oak death in Minnesota for the first time. Sudden oak death is a tree disease that has devastated forests on the West Coast...

Sudden oak death was detected in Minnesota. What does that mean for our forests and nurseries? @forestmycology.bsky.social @nickrajtar.bsky.social twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/...

Foxtail barley serves as a host for fungal pathogens attacking barley Researchers at the University of Minnesota reported that foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), a wild relative of cultivated barley, can harbor several fungal pathogens and may play a role in the disease ...

Foxtail barley serves as alternate host for fungal pathogens of barley: www.eurekalert.org/news-release...

I See Dead Plants: (S4:E38) Blightmare on Stem Street: Alfalfa Bacterial Stem Blight In this episode Ed interviews of the USDA-ARS. They discuss the long-overlooked disease of alfalfa, bacterial stem blight. Additional Resources Time Stamps (0:00) Introductions (4:06) Overview of al...

"Blightmare on Stem Street"? We're intrigued! USDA-ARS scientist and UMN Adjunct Professor Dr Deb Samac got on @cropnetwork.bsky.social's podcast to discuss a truly spooky alfalfa pathogen, bacterial stem blight. sites.libsyn.com/416264/s4e38...

Nick points to witches cauldron fungus growing off moss on decaying spruce

two witches cauldron fungus with water inside

witches cauldron fungus from the side, filled with water

We can't resist celebrating Witches' Cauldrons in spooky season, even though this unique little cup fungus appears in spring when the snow melts. Read Bob Blanchette and Nick Rajtar in FUNGI on Witches' Cauldrons: fungimag.com/v18i1/v18i1-...

Soybean disease with no cure was detected in Minnesota for the first time Red crown rot, a fungal disease that hides in soil, rots soybean roots away and destroys part of the bean's leaf tissue, has no cure. It’s been found in Minnesota for the first time.

Professor Dean Malvick spoke with @mprnews.org about red crown rot, a soybean disease with no cure, being found in Minnesota and potential consequences: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

A new study just published from @andrewmann.bsky.social PhD dissertation on fungi and bacteria associated with the red turpentine beetle in its native range #fungi #insects #ecology www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/16...

Common smut on corn caused by Ustilago maydis. Easy to ID by the gray galls that form & contain masses of dark spores. Spores can be spread by wind/splashing rain. Control includes selecting hybrids w/t more resistance, crop rotation, balanced fertility & gall removal #Fungi #Corn #Plant-disease 🧪

Find it in the Field: Oat Smut with Haidyn Larson YouTube video by University Of Minnesota Dept. Of Plant Pathology

Find it in the Field: Oat Smut with Haidyn Larson
This video shows how to recognize oat smut, a long-lasting fungal oat pathogen, and a little about how collaborative research is working to solve it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5SP... #fungifriends #mycology #planthealth

If you've found a Stinkhorn Mushroom in the wild before, did you see it or smell it first? 🍄 These funky fungi can be found in lawns or mulch as well as in the wild near wood decay. extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/co... #mycology #fungifriends #fungi

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System - East Lansing, Michigan, United States Working/Functional Title Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System Position Summary The Department of Plant Biology (PLB) at Michigan State University (MSU) seeks applications for a director of...

📢🍄Mycology job alert🍄📢

The Department of Plant Biology at @michiganstateu.bsky.social has a job opening for a herbarium/fungarium director at the Assistant, Associate or Full professor level. Review of applications start on 3rd October 2025.

careers.msu.edu/jobs/assista...

example mushroom you could be working on!

The team!

Rare taxonomic #mycology job in NZ! Conduct fungal biodiversity & taxonomy research, secure funding, publish outputs. Working with the National Collections. PhD + postdoc experience required 🧪. Apply here: careers.sciencenewzealand.org/jobdetails?a...

We see dead (well, dying) plants 💀! This is a good thing when they are located in research trials… Plant early dying and signs and symptoms of black dot are appearing in trials located in Becker MN. Jasper’s inoculum worked like a charm! 🥔⚫️🍄! @umnplantpath.bsky.social

More "plant destroyer" water mold species discovered in Minnesota Scientists at the University of Minnesota say they've discovered more than a dozen different types of a mold known as "plant destroyers."

PLPA on WCCO News:
@nickrajtar.bsky.social
discusses "plant destroyer" water molds in Minnesota @wcconews.bsky.social www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/ne...

Thanks for the great research and great energy 👏

So great to see lab members discussing their work on the biology and management of soilborne fungi at #planthealth2025. I overhead helpful exchanges and introductions 👀🌱. Stop by posters 037, 149, and 271 to learn more about their work or to pick up a business card. One more today, P-406 at 10:15!

Ashok points to and describes a graph on a research poster (contents of graph not visible at this scale)

Austin presents from a podium

Having an unBEETable time today at #PlantHealth2025 with UMN’s Chanda Lab @beetpath.bsky.social — Ashok and Austin brought excellent research on sugarbeet health @plantdisease.bsky.social

Shelf fungus on tree stump

Orange fungus on downed log

Small conks on living tree trunk

Fungi on living tree trunk

As #planthealth2025 starts, just wanted to share some fungi we’ve seen in and near Honolulu! #mycology #fungifriends @plantdisease.bsky.social

hibiscus flower with label (umn at plant health 2025)

Heading to Honolulu next week? Come find us at APS Plant Health: plpa.cfans.umn.edu/news/planthe... @plantdisease.bsky.social

@umnplantpath.bsky.social Becky Spanner and @USDA Fargo Alyssa Flobinus at #2025ISMPMI

green elm leaves

Miss seeing elm trees in Minnesota's metros? Research into resistance and resilience in elm is working to bring them back: mitppc.umn.edu/news/revivin...

Goes by so fast!! 🥹

Recovering samples from the *final field season* of Hunter’s trial at the NWROC.

Ashok Chanda in a field of beet plants in a UMN polo holding up a beet plant

Everyone welcome Dr Ashok Chanda, UMN-PLPA Extension faculty and beet health researcher extraordinaire, to Bluesky! 🦋 @beetpath.bsky.social

Crown tipped coral in a hand

Crown tipped coral fungus on a piece of paper reading "Artomyces pyxidatus, Crown tipped coral fungus, edible, look closely at the tips to see the crown-like shape"

Charmed by coral crowns 👑 Crown-tipped coral fungus, or Artomyces pyxidatus, has tiny, jiggly arms topped with cute "crowns" #fungifriends #mycology

No Microbe Is an Island: The Power of Partnership in Agricultural Innovation - Seed World If you had told me 35 years ago, as I hunched over a microscope in a quiet University of Minnesota lab, that my work would someday touch the lives of

From Professor Linda Kinkel: No Microbe is an Island www.seedworld.com/us/2025/06/3...