Forest Pathology and Entomology Projects at Auburn University's 

Forest Health Dynamics Laboratory

Graduate Students

Jeff Cheippa MS Graduate Research Assistant BS State University of New York 2011

This experiment is to determine the how loblolly pine decline may be affected by altered climate scenarios. In order to test this, we are using four families (genotypes) of loblolly pine (3000 individuals, 750 of each family). Two of the families are considered resistant to the causal agent (Leptographium terebrantis) while two families are susceptible. Seedlings will be planted in peat potting mix and will be deployed into open-top chambers.  The project has two individual experiments occurring over a two year period (one experiment for each year).  In both experiments, the four families will have three inoculation treatments. The treatments include inoculation with L. terebrantis, wounded + media and unwounded controls.  The first year’s study will be conducted using three treatments of ozone. These treatments will be replicated 4 times over a three month period. Various field and laboratory measurements will be taken before, during and after the treatment period in order to determine the significance to loblolly pine decline. The field measurements will comprise data collected on chlorophyll content, gas exchange, visible ozone symptoms and growth. The laboratory measurements include lesion length, width, depth and area, tissue occlusion, water-potential and biomass.  The second experiment will be conducted using three treatments of rainfall (average rainfall for Auburn, AL along with 20% and 30% reductions). The measurements taken in the field and laboratory are similar to those in the ozone experiment.  From this project we will be able to gain insight into future conditions and challenges in loblolly pine production as well as examine interactions between abiotic and biotic stresses of plants.

Abstracts, Presentations and Manuscripts

Adam Trautwig MS Graduate Research Assistant BS State University of New York 2012

This study investigates the interactions between invasive species and the fungi associated with native plant roots, called mycorrhizae.  The particular interaction I decided to focus on is the way that cogongrass, one of the seven worst noxious weeds in the world, changes the community composition of mycorrhizae on the roots of loblolly pines.  A diverse community of mycorrhizae is vital to the healthy growth and development of the plants they are associated with.  They exchange nutrients, primarily nitrogen and carbon between the soil and the plant, creating a far higher surface area of soil that the plant is able to obtain nutrients from.  Cogongrass produces exudates that may inhibit the growth of plants, and their mutualistic fungi.  It has been demonstrated in other studies that some types of mycorrhizae can grow in the presence of these exudates more effectively than others.  With each mycorrhizal species providing a plethora of services a homogenization of fungal communities could impact tree growth in ways we haven’t even begun to investigate.  In the southeast where loblolly stands are a source of income for many private businesses and landowners these impacts could potentially affect their bottom line, and in turn, the availability of timber in the United States.  It is my ultimate goal to conduct good science and quantify community change in order to allow for more targeted research in the future.

Abstracts, Presentations and Manuscripts

Abstracts, Presentations and Manuscripts

Abstracts, Presentations and Manuscripts

Tessa Bauman PhD Student University of Pretoria MS Louisiana State University 2003 BS Louisiana State University 2000

This study encompasses the associations of root-infesting bark beetles and ophiostomatoid fungi.  Fungi co-occurring with Hylastes beetles in the southeastern states of Georgia and Alabama have been sampled and are being identified.  In addition, fungi associated with both Dendroctonus and Hylastes beetles in Pinus oocarpa in Central America are being investigated.  These associations are important to identify as transport of wood products around the world has introduced both insects and fungi into novel environments, many times with devastating consequences.  Bark beetles often have overlapping niches within trees and could become vectors of newly introduced fungi.  Climate change may also play a role in insect distributions expanding into areas not previously occupied.   To address these concerns, samples have been taken in four countries from roots, beetles and beetle galleries.  Finally, fungi currently placed in the Ophiostoma minus and O. pluriannulatum complexes are being re-assessed for phylogenetic relationships using molecular techniques.

Abstracts, Presentations and Manuscripts

Gifty Acquah Ph.D. Student MSc University of Toronto, Canada BS Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Ghana

Loblolly pine is the most important tree species in the USA. With some 30 million acres in plantations in the southern US alone, it provides 110,000 jobs and contributes approximately $30 billion to the economy of this region. There is a growing need for the use of biomass as an alternative source of energy, fuels, platform chemicals and other products derived from fossil fuel in order to reduce our dependence on the non-renewable resource and also minimize net greenhouse gas emissions and persistent toxic materials resulting from the extraction and processing of fossil fuels. Furthermore, biomass utilization will present an opportunity to develop new and innovative local industries. In the USA, about 65% of the nearly 200 million dry tons of biomass currently being consumed is sourced from forestlands. Therefore, loblolly pine will play a major role in the necessary shift to a sustainable low carbon economy. However, for the past 50 years, there has been reduced growth, tree decline and mortality associated with loblolly pine. The Forest Health Cooperative (FHC) is thus using the selection and deployment of genetically superior families that are disease-resistant as a management strategy to prevent pine decline. It is important that we do not compromise other properties such as the chemical composition and stiffness of these families while breeding for disease resistance. The chemical composition is important because it determines the optimum utilization pathway to a large extent and any change will impact the yield and quality of products. Also, it is important that stiffness is not compromised else mortality due to reasons other than forest disease such as wind failure could occur. In view of this, my research is to use modern analytical tools (i.e. near infrared spectroscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis) to rapidly predict the chemical properties and stiffness of select loblolly pine families. The long term goal of this study is to make the right feedstocks available for the conventional forest industry, as well as to support new biofuels and chemical production initiatives.

Abstracts, Presentations and Manuscripts

Other Graduate Students in the Forest Health Dynamics Laboratory.

Current Graduate Student openings in the Forest Health Dynamics Laboratory.

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