Dr. Carol Ishimaru Associate Professor  Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management cishimar@lamar.colostate.edu

This program focuses on plant-microbe interactions that impact plant health. These include interactions leading to disease or disease suppression. Plant-microbe interactions involving gram-positive bacteria are a major emphasis. Current research interests involves the use of genomic approaches to identify pathogenicity genes in Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, which causes bacterial ring rot disease on potato. Another area of research is the biological control of plant diseases achieved through the introduction of plant-associated bacteria. The system being studied is biological control of fire blight on apple and pear through antibiotic producing strains of Pantoea agglomerans.