Dennis W. Fulbright, Professor
Contact information:
A.B., Whittier College, Whittier, CA, Biology
Ph.D., University of California, Riverside, Plant Pathology
General areas of expertise:
Diseases of trees, Diseases of Christmas trees, conifers, chestnut, oak, bacterial diseases, fungal diseases. Biological control of plant disease. Chestnut blight. Phytophthora root rot of conifers.
Overview of current program:
My laboratory is currently involved in answering questions regarding the diseases of Christmas trees, oak trees, selected conifers in the landscape (white pine) and chestnut trees. My laboratory focus is specifically on the root rot pathogen of Fraser fir, Phytophthora spp. and the devastating disease of American chestnut, chestnut blight caused by Cryphonectria parasitica. Emphasis on chestnut blight research is on both host resistance in American chestnut and the biological control of chestnut blight called hypovirulence, where the pathogen is weakened due to cytoplasmic agents.
Recent publications:
Fulbright, D. W., W. H. Weidlich, K. Z. Haufler, C. S. Thomas and C. P. Paul. 1983. Chestnut blight and recovering American chestnut trees in Michigan. Canadian J. Botany 61: 3164-3171.
Louws, F.J., J. Bell, C.M. Medina-Mora, C.D. Smart, D. Opgenorth, C.A. Ishimaru, M.K. Hausbeck, F.J. de Bruijn, and D.W. Fulbright. 1998. Rep-PCR mediated genomic fingerprinting is a rapid and effective method to identify subspecies and strains of Clavibacter michiganensis. Phytopathology 88: 862-868.
Smart, C.D., Yuan, W., Foglia R., Nuss, D.L., Fulbright, D.W., Hillman, B.I.1999. Cryphonectria hypovirus 3, a virus species in the family hypoviridae with a single open reading frame. Virology 265: 66-73.
Baidyaroy, D., Huber, D.H., Fulbright, D.W., and Bertrand, H. 2000. Transmissible mitochondrial hypovirulence in a natural population of Cryphonectria parasitica. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact.13: 88-95.
Medina-Mora, C.M., Hausbeck, M.K., Fubright, D.W. 2001. Bird’s eye lesions of tomato fruit produced by aerosol and direct applications of Clavibacter michiganesis subsp. michiganensis. Plant Disease 85: 88-91.
Fulbright, D. W. 1999. Chestnut blight and hypovirulence. In: Plant-Microbe Interactions, Vol.4, G. Stacey and N. T. Keen, editors. Pages 57-79. APS Press.
Fulbright, D. W. Editor, A Guide to Nut Tree Culture in North America, Volume 1. 2003. Published by Northern Nut Growers Association
Mann, K.L. and Fulbright, D.W. 2004. Oak wilt: research for future control. Phytopathology 94:S65.
Fulbright, D.W. Stadt, S., Catal, M., and Jacobs, J. L. 2004. Phytophthora root rot of Fraser fir in Michigan. Proceedings of the 6th International Christmas Tree Research and Extension Meeting.
Fulbright, D. W., J. Jacobs, S. Stadt, M. Catal, A.M. Vettraino, and A. Vannini. 2004 . Phytophthora root rot of Abies and Pinus in Michigan. Poster presentation. Phytopthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems IUFRO Working party, Fresising, Germany
Courses taught:
ISB 202
Extension and outreach activities:
Christmas tree diseases, oak wilt disease. Advisor to tree nut growers, focusing on edible chestnuts.