Microbiology
We study fungal ecology, evolution, and systematics, with a special focus on fungal endophytes. We focus on plant communities ranging from Arctic tundra to hot deserts, tropical forests, and agroecosystems. Our diverse projects are united by an...
The Baltrus lab is interested in understanding microbial evolution with a focus on the mechanisms and costs of adaptation and guided by expectations from genomics and population genetics.
Research focus: (i) Dynamics of distribution, prevalence, and co-diversification driving emergent hemipteran-transmitted plants pathogens in cultivated and natural scapes, including the phytobiome (ii) Functional genomic-identification of...
Taking biophysical, biochemical, genetic and evolutionary approaches, we endeavor to elucidate the molecular mechanism involved in viral DNA translocation and particle morphogenesis with single-stranded DNA Microviruses.
Our research aims to comprehend the mechanistic interactions between plants, microbiomes, and ecosystem processes. Understanding this interplay is necessary for advancing sustainable agriculture and addressing climate change.
We provide plant disease diagnostic services to Extension personnel, growers, pest control advisors, homeowners, landscape professionals, arborists, and the general public throughout and beyond Arizona. I collaborate efforts with state and federal...
Dr. Pryor's research interests include biological and cultural control of disease in field, tree, and vegetable crops, phylogenetic analysis and species concepts in fungi, secondary fungal metabolites, and environmental mycology. Additional...
The Schomer lab studies bacterial behaviors involved in the formation and maintenance of soil microbiomes. We use -omics enabled approaches to understand bacterial adaptations that allow them to locate and colonize host plants.
My research aims to understand the intricate interplays between viruses and their plant hosts during infection, mechanisms of plant resistance to viral infections, RNA virus evolution, and viral population genomics.
