To work with various aspects of Mummy berry disease of lowbush blueberries, caused by the fungus Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi.
The system is a complex system involving natural populations of genetically diverse lowbush blueberry plants managed for fruit production which are attacked by the fungal pathogen, M. vaccinii-corymbosi, which has two spore stages attacking different plant tissues.
My research focuses on fungi pathogenic to plants or animals. Research in my laboratory examines the biology, physiology and molecular biology of a variety of fungal pathogens of wild lowbush blueberries of Maine and Beauveria bassiana which is a fungal pathogen of insects used for biocontrol. I am interested in the mechanisms fungi use to attack their hosts, particularly the production of enzymes and toxins. Research is also being conducted to determine the effect of genetic diversity of pathogens and its implications for disease and the ecology of the fungi. Field research being conducted currently includes a survey examining the fungi associated with stem diseases of blueberry and the effect of cultural practices and genetic variation of hosts on disease.
See also Annis lab Web site and Department of Biological Sciences Home page.