Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology

Gary C. Bergstrom, Professor 

Members of Dr. Bergstrom's laboratory are conducting research on the etiology, epidemiology and integrated management of diseases affecting warm season and cool season grasses with potential as biofuel feedstock crops in the Northeast. They are conducting surveys of diseases in perennial grasses and will be assessing disease resistance in cultivars of switchgrass and other grass species to prevalent rusts, fungal leaf blights, and smuts.  Clean seed programs, seed treatment, and intercropping are also being investigated as components of integrated disease management. The Bergstrom team is also collaborating with colleagues at Cornell and USDA-ARS to explore plant pathogens as sources of novel enzymes for biomass conversion.  Dr. Bergstrom's activities include outreach education with extension educators, crop producers, and agribusiness, and he currently serves as co-chair of Cornell's Extension Program Work Team on Integrated Field Crops, Soil, and Pest Management.