Department of Pathology
Michigan State University

  

Dennis W. Fulbright,  Professor Dennis Fulbright

 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: 1) diseases of conifers, specifically to help the Christmas tree industry in the state, and 2) the edible chestnut industry, to help it become established by improving the quality of the nuts. My laboratory focus is on root rot pathogens such as Phytophthora and Macrophomina; needle cast pathogens of conifers such as Rhabdocline and Stigmina; chestnut blight caused by Cryphonectria parasitica; and, rot of chestnuts caused by bacteria, yeast, and fungi. 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 various cytoplasmic agents. I am the university adisor to the Michigan Nut Growers Association, the Midwest Nut Producers Council and Chestnut Growers, Inc.

 Recent publications:

Catal, M., Adams, G.C., and Fulbright, D. W. 2010. Real-Time PCR evaluation of Douglas fir variety Shuswap resistance to Rhabdocline needlecast disease. Phytopathology. (In press).
Fulbright, D.W. 2010. Stigmina on spruce in Michigan. 9th International Christmas Tree Research and Extension Conference, Oregon, September, 2009. IFURO (In press)
Fulbright, D.W., Mandujan, M. and Stadt, S. 2010. Chestnut production in Michigan. First European Chestnut Conference. Acta Horticulturae (In press).
Donis-Gonzalez, I., Ryser, E.T., Guyer, D., and Fulbright, D.W. 2010. Efficacy of postharvest treatments for reduction of molds and decay in fresh Michigan chestnuts. First European Chestnut Conference. Acta Horticulturae (In press).
Donis-Gonzalez, I., Ryser, E.T., Guyer, D., and Fulbright, D.W. 2010. Shell Mold and Kernel Decay of Fresh Chestnuts in Michigan. First European Chestnut Conference. Acta Horticulturae (In press).
Guyer, D., Xing, J., Mandujano, M., Fulbright, D.W. 2010. Influence of selected factors on efficiency and effectiveness of a peeling machine for chestnut. First European Chestnut Conference. Acta Horticulturae (In press).
Medina Mora, C.M., and Fulbright, D.W. 2010. Evaluation of Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) for Genetic Analysis of Chestnut Trees in Michigan Orchards. First European Chestnut Conference. Acta Horticulturae (In press).
Donis Gonzalez, I. R., M. Mandujano, C. Medina-Mora, D. W. Fulbright. 2009. Presence of mycotoxins after 90 days of storage in fresh chestnuts. 4th International Chestnut Symposium, Beijing, China. Acta Horticulturae  844: 69-74.
Quesada-Ocampo, L. M., D. W. Fulbright, and M. K. Hausbeck. 2009. Susceptibility of Fraser Fir to Phytophthora capsici. Plant Disease 93: 135-141. 
Courses taught:

ISB 202

Extension and outreach activities:

Christmas tree diseases, oak wilt disease. Advisor to tree nut growers, focusing on edible chestnuts.
| Login |