Meet the UNH Plant Pathology Lab
Meet the UNH Plant Pathology Lab
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PI: Dr. Anissa Poleatewich
Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Interactions Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems Anissa joined UNH in January 2017. Before coming to New Hampshire, Anissa worked as a Research Scientist at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Ontario Canada conducting applied research for greenhouse ornamental and vegetable production systems. She is interested in biological control of plant diseases and the role microbes and their metabolites play in plant health, yield, and quality. |
Graduate Students
Liza Degenring
PhD, Agricultural Science (2023)
Liza's PhD work is focused on improving biopesticide efficacy against apple diseases through co-application with natural products. She is primarily interested in the use of chitosan to decrease the severity of apple scab, fruit rots, and postharvest decay of apple. Liza got her master's in Agricultural Science in 2019 at UNH. Her MS research focused on the effect of substrate and cultivar on biopesticide efficacy in greenhouse crops. Before starting at the Poleatewich Lab, Liza worked as a research technician in the Smith Agroecology Lab at UNH. She primarily worked with other researchers on projects examining alternative agricultural practices. In 2012, Liza completed a senior undergraduate thesis and graduated from Boston College with a bachelor of science in Environmental Geoscience.
PhD, Agricultural Science (2023)
Liza's PhD work is focused on improving biopesticide efficacy against apple diseases through co-application with natural products. She is primarily interested in the use of chitosan to decrease the severity of apple scab, fruit rots, and postharvest decay of apple. Liza got her master's in Agricultural Science in 2019 at UNH. Her MS research focused on the effect of substrate and cultivar on biopesticide efficacy in greenhouse crops. Before starting at the Poleatewich Lab, Liza worked as a research technician in the Smith Agroecology Lab at UNH. She primarily worked with other researchers on projects examining alternative agricultural practices. In 2012, Liza completed a senior undergraduate thesis and graduated from Boston College with a bachelor of science in Environmental Geoscience.
Haley Nolen
PhD, Molecular and Evolutionary Systems Biology (2023)
My research evaluates the presence of differential resistance in Chenopodium spp. to the downy mildew pathogen, Peronospora variabilis, for use in breeding programs. I am working to identify New England native sources of resistance in Chenopodium weedy species and creating pathogenicity assays to use in genetic studies and plant breeding programs. Another project that I am working on is investigating the microbiome of the Chenopodium rhizosphere to identify beneficial microorganisms associated with Chenopodium roots and their effect on biotic and abiotic stress responses. I am co-advised by Drs. Anissa Poleatewich and Tom Davis.
PhD, Molecular and Evolutionary Systems Biology (2023)
My research evaluates the presence of differential resistance in Chenopodium spp. to the downy mildew pathogen, Peronospora variabilis, for use in breeding programs. I am working to identify New England native sources of resistance in Chenopodium weedy species and creating pathogenicity assays to use in genetic studies and plant breeding programs. Another project that I am working on is investigating the microbiome of the Chenopodium rhizosphere to identify beneficial microorganisms associated with Chenopodium roots and their effect on biotic and abiotic stress responses. I am co-advised by Drs. Anissa Poleatewich and Tom Davis.
Isabella Borrero
MS, Agricultural Sciences (2024)
Before coming to the Poleatewich Lab, Isabella earned a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences with minors in both German and Microbiology from The Ohio State University in 2022. Her MS research focuses on soilless substrates and natural disease suppression of Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum in floriculture species as well as microbiome analysis in these substrates. Isabella is an avid painter and loves running, reading and traveling.
MS, Agricultural Sciences (2024)
Before coming to the Poleatewich Lab, Isabella earned a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences with minors in both German and Microbiology from The Ohio State University in 2022. Her MS research focuses on soilless substrates and natural disease suppression of Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum in floriculture species as well as microbiome analysis in these substrates. Isabella is an avid painter and loves running, reading and traveling.
Visiting Scholars and Research Technicians
Martina Florian (MS)
Cameron Mehalek
BS Marine Biology, Plant Biology & Sustainable Ag. and Food Systems Minors (2022)
Cameron is currently assisting with research on the effectiveness of using chitosan for disease prevention. He is focused on running the in-vitro trials, testing the efficacy of the compound against botrytis at different concentrations and pH. Previously, he has also worked in Jim Haney’s lab studying the bioaccumulation of neurotoxins in the Yellowstone Lake Ecosystem. In 2022, Cameron received his BS in Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater biology from UNH, with minors in both Sustainable Agriculture and Plant Biology. During the summers, he enjoys teaching tide pooling classes at the Seacoast Science Center.
BS Marine Biology, Plant Biology & Sustainable Ag. and Food Systems Minors (2022)
Cameron is currently assisting with research on the effectiveness of using chitosan for disease prevention. He is focused on running the in-vitro trials, testing the efficacy of the compound against botrytis at different concentrations and pH. Previously, he has also worked in Jim Haney’s lab studying the bioaccumulation of neurotoxins in the Yellowstone Lake Ecosystem. In 2022, Cameron received his BS in Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater biology from UNH, with minors in both Sustainable Agriculture and Plant Biology. During the summers, he enjoys teaching tide pooling classes at the Seacoast Science Center.
Undergraduate Students
Lab Alumni
Madie Hassett
MS, Microbiology (2021)
Madie received her MS in Microbiology from UNH in 2021 in which she studied microbial communities in managed and abandoned apple orchards to better understand how soil microbes influence plant health. Before joining the Poleatewich Lab in 2018 as a lab technician, Madie earned a degree in Plant Biology from the University of Vermont, and spent several years working as a technician at UVM, the Forest Service Inventory and Analysis Program, the Bureau of Land Management Botany Program, and as an environmental educator at the McDowell Environmental Center. Currently Madie works in the UNH plant diagnostic clinic as as an Assistant Extension Program Manager.
MS, Microbiology (2021)
Madie received her MS in Microbiology from UNH in 2021 in which she studied microbial communities in managed and abandoned apple orchards to better understand how soil microbes influence plant health. Before joining the Poleatewich Lab in 2018 as a lab technician, Madie earned a degree in Plant Biology from the University of Vermont, and spent several years working as a technician at UVM, the Forest Service Inventory and Analysis Program, the Bureau of Land Management Botany Program, and as an environmental educator at the McDowell Environmental Center. Currently Madie works in the UNH plant diagnostic clinic as as an Assistant Extension Program Manager.
Ryan Spelman
Biology Major/Education Minor (2020)
Ryan has worked on several projects in the Plant Pathology Lab and has an interest in improving disease management for fruit and vegetable growers through applied product efficacy testing. Ryan worked on a projects to evaluate the effect of scion and rootstock cultivar on biopesticide efficacy for suppression of fire blight in apple. Ryan also evaluated the effect of cultivar on plant defense inducer efficacy against powdery mildew of cucumber. Along with his involvement in the Plant Pathology Lab, Ryan was a member of the UNH cross country and track teams. Ryan is currently an MS student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State University.
Biology Major/Education Minor (2020)
Ryan has worked on several projects in the Plant Pathology Lab and has an interest in improving disease management for fruit and vegetable growers through applied product efficacy testing. Ryan worked on a projects to evaluate the effect of scion and rootstock cultivar on biopesticide efficacy for suppression of fire blight in apple. Ryan also evaluated the effect of cultivar on plant defense inducer efficacy against powdery mildew of cucumber. Along with his involvement in the Plant Pathology Lab, Ryan was a member of the UNH cross country and track teams. Ryan is currently an MS student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State University.
Isobel Michaud
MS, Agricultural Sciences (2021)
Isobel's (Izzy) research investigated soil microbial communities and natural disease suppression in different soil/potting mixes in greenhouse production as well as the effectiveness of biopesticides on reducing plant diseases. Izzy is also excited about the bridge between plant pathology and soil science research with the needs and realities of growers and commercial growing operations. Prior to joining the Poleatewich Lab in 2019, Isobel earned degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies at Luther College. She also worked as a high school science, math, and English tutor and has spent several years interning on farms (small diversified farms, greenhouses, a mushroom farm, an apple orchard, and a blueberry farm) in Springvale, Maine. She also works for the Acton-Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA), a non-profit dedicated to protecting the Acton-Wakefield Lakes Region.
MS, Agricultural Sciences (2021)
Isobel's (Izzy) research investigated soil microbial communities and natural disease suppression in different soil/potting mixes in greenhouse production as well as the effectiveness of biopesticides on reducing plant diseases. Izzy is also excited about the bridge between plant pathology and soil science research with the needs and realities of growers and commercial growing operations. Prior to joining the Poleatewich Lab in 2019, Isobel earned degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies at Luther College. She also worked as a high school science, math, and English tutor and has spent several years interning on farms (small diversified farms, greenhouses, a mushroom farm, an apple orchard, and a blueberry farm) in Springvale, Maine. She also works for the Acton-Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA), a non-profit dedicated to protecting the Acton-Wakefield Lakes Region.
Will Hardesty-Dyck
MS, Agricultural Sciences (2020)
Will's research investigated the effects of aquaponic and hydroponic nutrient solutions on Pythium root-rot in greenhouse strawberries, with an eye toward the interactions among the pathogen, soluble organic carbon, and microbial communities. He ran pre-commercial scale experiments in a custom-built hydroponic system in the MacFarlane greenhouse alongside smaller scale growth chamber assays, generating disease-severity data and samples for genomic work. Prior to his start in the Poleatewich lab, Will graduated from Williams College ('16) with a bachelor's in Chemistry and German before embarking for a two-year fellowship as an English Teaching Assistant in Austria.
MS, Agricultural Sciences (2020)
Will's research investigated the effects of aquaponic and hydroponic nutrient solutions on Pythium root-rot in greenhouse strawberries, with an eye toward the interactions among the pathogen, soluble organic carbon, and microbial communities. He ran pre-commercial scale experiments in a custom-built hydroponic system in the MacFarlane greenhouse alongside smaller scale growth chamber assays, generating disease-severity data and samples for genomic work. Prior to his start in the Poleatewich lab, Will graduated from Williams College ('16) with a bachelor's in Chemistry and German before embarking for a two-year fellowship as an English Teaching Assistant in Austria.
Crysta Harris
MS, Agricultural Sciences, 2019
Thesis: "Evaluating wood fiber soiless substrates for effects on plant performance and nutrient management in container crops"
MS, Agricultural Sciences, 2019
Thesis: "Evaluating wood fiber soiless substrates for effects on plant performance and nutrient management in container crops"
Hallie
Medical Microbiology
Hallie assisted PhD student Haley Nolen with the Chenopodium (Quinoa) Downy Mildew research. Hallie performed extractions of microbial DNA from soil samples to assist with the microbiome studies of New England Chenopodium spp.
Medical Microbiology
Hallie assisted PhD student Haley Nolen with the Chenopodium (Quinoa) Downy Mildew research. Hallie performed extractions of microbial DNA from soil samples to assist with the microbiome studies of New England Chenopodium spp.
Jennifer Mydosh
BS, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences, 2020
Weeks Summer Fellowship recipient. Establishment of a culture collection of bacteria isolated from managed and abandoned orchards as a source of new biocontrol agents.
BS, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences, 2020
Weeks Summer Fellowship recipient. Establishment of a culture collection of bacteria isolated from managed and abandoned orchards as a source of new biocontrol agents.
Kelsey Mercurio
BS, Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology; Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, 2021
UNH Hamel Center REAP Fellowship recipient. "Development of a gnotobiotic assay to study the effect of plant genotype on biocontrol agent colonization."
BS, Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology; Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, 2021
UNH Hamel Center REAP Fellowship recipient. "Development of a gnotobiotic assay to study the effect of plant genotype on biocontrol agent colonization."
Allison Lehoux
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, 2019
UNH Hamel Center URA recipient. "Effects of nutrient source on greenhouse strawberry root growth and root architecture."
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, 2019
UNH Hamel Center URA recipient. "Effects of nutrient source on greenhouse strawberry root growth and root architecture."