University of Minnesota Department of Plant Pathology

03/30/2026

Thank you to the Des Moines Register for honoring Norman Borlaug, perhaps our most famous alumnus, for Iowa History Month!

Norman Borlaug’s life reflects the kind of innovation that can grow from Iowa soil and reach far beyond it.

03/20/2026

Staff and students made it a wonderful Symposium! Thank you to everyone who came!

12/11/2025

Scientists testing fungi to protect Minnesota's one billion ash trees: new from MPR

A Minnesota scientist is experimenting with using parasitic fungi to kill emerald ash borer, a beetle that has transformed forests and city streets in parts of the state.

12/08/2025

Career Opportunity: Postdoctoral Researcher
The Ranjan Lab at the University of Minnesota seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead cutting-edge research on studying the molecular interactions of fungal diseases affecting potatoes, with a focus on identifying key molecular mechanisms and the metabolites of Verticillium wilt and potato interaction, as well as characterizing microbial biocontrol agents.

Apply through UMN:

https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/int/371211 (internal)

https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/371211 (external)

11/20/2025

It's Give to the Max Day in Minnesota! We're raising for the Kernkamp Fund, where every gift directly supports career-building experiences for graduate students: https://crowdfund.umn.edu/participants/2933

11/13/2025

Today’s faculty leaders are yesterday’s hardworking students! Before he was a faculty member at Dakota State University, Andrew Sathoff (PhD ‘19) was a graduate student in the Samac Lab exploring his passions for teaching and research.

This Give to the Max Day (11/20), we‘re fundraising for the Kernkamp Fund. This versatile fund allows students to participate in meaningful, often costly experiences like travel for meetings and networking. Learn more about our fund and how to give (now or November 20) at the link in bio.

11/12/2025

Looking for spring courses? Look no further! PLPA 2001 (Intro to Plant Path) and PLPA 3004/5004 (Microbes for Sustainable Crop Production) combine fascinating plant health biology with real-world problem-solving.

11/03/2025

"Blightmare on Stem Street"? We're intrigued! USDA-ARS scientist and UMN Adjunct Professor Dr Deb Samac got on
the Crop Protection Network podcast to discuss a truly spooky alfalfa pathogen, bacterial stem blight:

In this episode Ed interviews of the USDA-ARS. They discuss the long-overlooked disease of alfalfa, bacterial stem blight. Additional Resources Time Stamps (0:00) Introductions (4:06) Overview of alfalfa production Skip to the main topic: (16:30) Bacterial stem blight (21:33) The role of frost (25:0...

10/22/2025

Professor Dean Malvick spoke with MPR news yesterday about red crown rot, a soybean disease with no cure, being found in Minnesota and potential consequences. Read the article:

Red crown rot, a fungal disease that hides in soil, rots soybean roots away and destroys part of the bean's leaf tissue, has no cure. It’s been found in Minnesota for the first time.

09/19/2025

New Video!

Find it in the Field: Oat S**t with Haidyn Larson

Take a look at Oat S**t—this fungal oat disease can live for a long time on its host plant, causing long-term problems for impacted farms. Haidyn Larson, a r...

07/15/2025

Headed to Honolulu for the 2025 APS Plant Health meeting? Put us on your schedule! UMN PLPA faculty, staff, and students will be postering, leading sessions, sharing research, and socializing. We can’t wait to see you! 🌴🌺

05/12/2025

Borlaug Inspire Day brings the science of healthy plants to Iowan kids, right on the farm where Norman Borlaug was raised 🌱 PLPA’s own Pranaya, Connor, Lovepreet, and Hsuan Fu went and shared their love of plant health with tomorrow’s scientists, farmers, and leaders! 🌾