The University of Georgia Plant Center
Plant Center Faculty: Ron Walcott
Associate Professor of Plant Pathology
Ph.D. (1999) University of Georgia
Phone: 706-542-6963
Email: rwalcott@uga.edu
Research in the Walcott Lab
Biology of seedborne bacteria and fungi, development of classical and molecular techniques for rapid detection of seedborne pathogens and the development of effective chemical and non-chemical seed treatments.
Lab Members
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Research Interests
Seed Pathology:
Development of molecular diagnostic assays for detecting seedborne fungi and bacteria. Biology of seed infection and factors contributing to pathogen survival in seeds. Impact of pathogens on seed quality and risks of seed transmission. Biological control of seedborne pathogens.
Selected Publications
Walcott, R.R., Castro, A.C, Fessehae, A. and Ling, K. 2005. Progress towards a commercial PCR-based seed assay for A. avenae subsp. citrulli. Seed Sci. and Technol. (Accepted 01/31/05)
Fessehaie, A., and Walcott, R.R. 2005. Biological control to protect watermelon blossoms and seeds from infection by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. Phytopathology (Accepted 12/14/05)
Walcott, R.R., Fessehaie, A., and Castro, A.C. 2004. Differences in pathogenicity between two genetically distinct groups of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli strains on cucurbit hosts. J. Phytopathol. 152: 277-285
Walcott, R.R., Gitaitis, R.D. and Langston, D.B. Jr. 2004. Detection of Botrytis aclada in onion seed using magnetic capture hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction. Seed Sci. and Technol. 32:425-438
Gitaitis R. D., Walcott, R.R., Sanders, H.F., Zolobowska, L., and Diaz-Perez, J.C. 2004. Effects of mulch and irrigation system on sweet onion: II. The epidemiology of center rot. J. Am. Hort. Soc. 129:225-230
Diaz-Perez, J.C., Giddings, D., Bertrand, D., Sanders, H. Randle, W.M., Walcott, R., and Gitaitis, R. 2004. Effect of mulch and irrigation system on sweet onion: I. Bolting, plant growth, and bulb yield and quality. J. Am. Hort. Soc. 129:218-224
Walcott, R.R. 2003. Detection of seedborne pathogens. HortTechnology: 13:40-47
Walcott, R.R., Castro, A.C., and Gitaitis, R.D. 2003. Role of blossoms in watermelon seed infestation by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. Phytopathology 93: 528-534
Gitaitis, R.D., Walcott, R.R., Diaz-Perez, J.C., Wells, M.L., and Sanders, F.H. 2003. Transmission of Pantoea ananatis, causal agent of center rot of onion, by tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca. Plant Dis. 87: 675-678
Buck, J. W., Walcott, R. R., Beuchat, L. R. 2003. Recent trends in microbiological safety of fruits and vegetables. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2003-01XX-01-RV.
Yates, I.E., Arnold, J.W., Hinton, D.M., Basinger, W., and Walcott, R.R. 2003. Fusarium verticilioides induction of maize seed rot and its control. Can. J. Bot. 81: 422-428
Walcott, R.R., Gitaitis, R.D., Castro, A.C., Sanders, F.H. and Diaz-Perez, J.C. 2002. Natural infestation of onion seed by Pantoea ananatis, causal agent of center rot. Plant Dis. 86: 106-111
Gitaitis, R., Wilson, J., Walcott, R. Sanders, H., and Hanna, W. 2002. Occurrence of bacterial stripe of pearl millet in Georgia. Plant Dis. 86: 326
Gitaitis, R., Walcott, R., Culpepper, S., Sanders, H., Zolobowska, L., and Langston, D. 2002. Recovery of Pantoea ananatis, causal agent of center rot of onion, from weeds and crops in Georgia, USA. Crop Protect. 21: 983-989
Walcott, R.R, Langston Jr. , D. B., Sanders Jr, F. H. and Gitaitis, R. D. 2000. Investigating intraspecific variation of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli using DNA fingerprinting and whole cell fatty acid analysis. Phytopathology 90:191-196
Walcott, R. R. and Gitaitis, R. D. 2000. Detection of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli in watermelon seeds using immunomagnetic separation and the polymerase chain reaction. Plant Dis. 84: 470-474.
