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Melissa Keller is a Ph.D. candidate in
the Schmale lab working with the fungal pathogen Gibberella zeae, the causal agent
of Fusarium head blight in wheat and barley. A native of
Tennessee, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and listening to music.
She earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from Roanoke College in
Salem, Virginia. Melissa worked as an Environmental Program
Coordinator for several years before returning to graduate
school. She is tracking the movement of G. zeae in Virginia wheat and
barley fields. By working with fungal isolates with known
genotypes, Melissa is using DNA/PCR based methodologies to track the
movement of fungal spores. Knowing how far G. zeae can travel and the
influence of a released isolate relative to background G. zeae sources
will enable better understanding of this pathogen’s capabilities in
environmentally favorable years for Fusarium head blight.
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