Staff:

Biographical Information:

Dr. Chitwood received a B.S. in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Maryland. After working as a postdoctoral associate at Beltsville, he joined the Insect and Nematode Hormone Laboratory in 1982. In 1989, he joined the Nematology Laboratory and assumed the position of Research Leader a few years later.

Research Interests:

• Development of environmentally safe control methods for plant-parasitic nematodes, based upon unique aspects of their biochemistry.
• Nematode biochemistry, especially the biosynthesis and function of steroids, sphingolipids, and other lipids.
• The isolation and identification of nematode-antagonistic compounds from fungi and plants.

Expanded Publication List
Reprint Request

• Skantar, A. M., Z. A. Handoo, L. K. Carta, and D. J. Chitwood. Morphological and molecular identification of Globodera pallida associated with potato in Idaho. Journal of Nematology, in press. 2007.
• Hafez, S. L., P. Sundararaj, Z. A. Handoo, A. M. Skantar, L. K. Carta, and D. J. Chitwood. First report of the pale cyst nematode, Globodera pallida, in the United States. Plant Disease 91:325. 2007.
• Skantar, A. M., N. A. Guimond, and D. J. Chitwood. Molecular characterization of two novel 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase genes from the soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines. Nematology 8:321-333. 2006.
• Meyer, S. L. F., I. A. Zasada, D. P. Roberts, B. T. Vinyard, D. K. Lakshman, J.-K. Lee, D. J. Chitwood, and L. K. Carta. Plantago lanceolata and Plantago rugelii extracts are toxic to Meloidogyne incognita but not to certain microbes. Journal of Nematology 38:333-338. 2006.
• Kovaleva, E. S., E. P. Masler, S. A. Subbotin and D. J. Chitwood. Molecular characterization of aldolase from Heterodera glycines and Globodera rostochiensis. Journal of Nematology 37:292-296. 2005.
• Kovaleva, E. S., S. A. Subbotin, E. P. Masler, and D. J. Chitwood. Molecular characterization of the actin gene from cyst nematodes in comparison with those from other nematodes. Comparative Parasitology 72:39-49. 2005.
• Lee, E.-Y., Y.-H. Shim, D. J. Chitwood, S. B. Hwang, J. Lee, and Y.-K. Paik. Cholesterol-producing transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans lives longer due to newly acquired enhanced stress resistance. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 328:929–936. 2005.
• Chitwood, D. J. Burton Yoshiaki Endo, 1926-2005. Journal of Nematology 37:1-3. 2005.
• Chitwood, D. J. Burton Yoshiaki Endo (1926-2005). Nematology 7:319-320. 2005.
• S. A. Lewis, D. J. Chitwood, and E. C. McGawley. Nematode biology, morphology, and physiology. Pages 781-783 in R. M. Goodman, ed., Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. 2004.
• Kovaleva, E. S., E. P. Masler, A. M. Skantar, and D. J. Chitwood. Novel matrix metalloprotease from the cyst nematodes Heterodera glycines and Globodera rostochiensis. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 136:108-112. 2004.
• Chitwood, D. J. Alva Morgan Golden. Journal of Nematology 36:421-423. 2004.
• Merris, M., W. G. Wadsworth, U. Khamrai, R. Bittman, D. J. Chitwood, and J. Lenard. Sterol effects and sites of sterol accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans: developmental requirement for 4α-methyl sterols. Journal of Lipid Research 44:172-181. 2003.
• Chitwood, D. J. Research on plant-parasitic nematode biology conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. Pest Management Science. 59:748–753. 2003.
• Chitwood, D. J. Nematicides. Pages 1104-1115 in J. R. Plimmer, ed., Encyclopedia of Agrochemicals, Vol. 3. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 2003.
• Choi, B.-K., D. J. Chitwood, and Y.-K. Paik. Proteomic changes during disturbance of cholesterol metabolism by azacoprostane treatment in Caenorhabditis elegans. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics 2:1086-1095. 2003.
• Virágh, E., E. Fodor, D. J. Chitwood, T. Farkas, and A. Fodor. 2003. An analysis of the role of polar (phospholipid) membranes, polyunsaturated fatty acids and sterols in the thermoadaptation of entomopathogenic nematode (Steinernema) species. Chapter 12 in R.-U. Ehlers, ed. COST Action 850: Molecular identification and taxonomy of undescribed species of "Long-dauer juvenile phenotype" from Europe and Southern Mediterranean Regions.
• Kovaleva, E. S., A. G. Yakolev, E. P. Masler, and D. J. Chitwood. Human proprotein convertase 2 homologue from a plant nematode: Cloning, characterization, and comparison with other species. FASEB Journal 16:1099-1101, U167-U184. 2002.
• Nitao, J. K., S. L. F. Meyer, J. E. Oliver, W. F. Schmidt, and D. J. Chitwood. Isolation of flavipin, a fungus compound antagonistic to plant-parasitic nematodes. Nematology 4:55-63. 2002.
• Chitwood, D. J. Phytochemical based strategies for nematode control. Annual Review of Phytopathology 40:221-249. 2002.
• Nitao, J. K., S. L. F. Meyer, W. F. Schmidt, J. C. Fettinger, and D. J. Chitwood. 2001. Nematode-antagonistic trichothecenes from Fusarium equiseti. Journal of Chemical Ecology 27:859-869.
• Meyer, S. L. F., D. P. Roberts, D. J. Chitwood, L. K. Carta, R. D. Lumsden, and W. Mao. 2001. Application of Burkholderia cepacia and Trichoderma virens, alone and in combinations, against Meloidogyne incognita on bell pepper. Nematropica 31:75-86.
• Orion, D., G. Kritzman, S. L. F. Meyer, E. F. Erbe, and D. J. Chitwood. 2001. A role of the gelatinous matrix in the resistance of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) eggs to microorganisms. Journal of Nematology 33:203-207.
• Meyer, S. L. F., S. I. Massoud, D. J. Chitwood, and D. P. Roberts. Evaluation of Trichoderma virens and Burkholderia cepacia for antagonistic activity against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Nematology 2:871-879. 2000.
• Nitao, J. K., S. L. F. Meyer, and D. J. Chitwood. In vitro assays of Meloidogyne incognita and Heterodera glycines for detection of nematode-antagonistic fungal compounds. Journal of Nematology 31:172-183. 1999.
• Wergin, W. P., R. W. Yaklich, D. J. Chitwood, and E. F. Erbe. Evaluation of dry ice as a potential cryonematicide for Meloidogyne incognita. Journal of Nematology 31:455-459. 1999.
• Chitwood, D. J. Biochemistry and function of nematode steroids. Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 34:273-284. 1999.
• Lichtenfels, J. R., J. H. Kirkbride, and D. J. Chitwood (eds.). 1998. Systematic collections of the Agricultural Research Service. USDA Miscellaneous Publication Number 1343, 71 pp.
• Chitwood, D. J. 1998. Biosynthesis. Pages 303-330 in R. N. Perry and D. J. Wright, eds. The physiology and biochemistry of free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.
• Chitwood, D. J. Biochemistry and function of nematode steroids. Pages 169-180 in E. J. Parish and W. D. Nes, eds. Biochemistry and function of sterols. CRC Press, Boca Raton. 1997.
• Fodor, E., E. Szállás, Z. Kiss, A. Fodor, L. I. Horvath, D. J. Chitwood, and T. Farkas. Composition and biophysical properties of lipids in Xenorhabdus nematophilus and Photorhabdus luminescens, symbiotic bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 63:2826-2831. 1997.
• Meyer, S. L. F., D. J. Chitwood, and P. Crowley. Influence of soybean cultivar on reproduction of Heterodera glycines in monoxenic culture. Journal of Nematology 29:389-394. 1997.
• Dickson, D. W., D. J. Chitwood, and E. C. Bernard. What every author and reviewer should know about the publication process in the Journal of Nematology. Annals of Applied Nematology 29:619-624. 1997.
• Chitwood, D.J., ed. Program and abstracts—Global Genetic Resources: Access, Ownership, and Intellectual Property Rights, May 19–22, 1996, Beltsville Symposium XXI, Association of Systematics Collections and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD. 1996.
• Abdul-Baki, A. A., J. R. Teasdale, R. Korcak, D. J. Chitwood, and R. N. Huettel. Fresh-market tomato production in a low-input alternative system using cover-crop mulch. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 31:65-69. 1996.
• Abdul-Baki, A. A., S. A. Haroon, and D. J. Chitwood. Temperature effects on resistance to Meloidogyne spp. in excised tomato roots. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 31:147-149. 1996.
• Beachy, R. N., R. P. Cantrell, D. J. Chitwood, R. J. Cook, P. B. Cregan, P. R. Day, T. E. Devine, E. Gantt, D. G. Gilchrist, G. G. Kennedy, T. J. Ng, C. O. Qualset, J. S. Thenell, S. A. Tolin, and A. K. Vidaver. Appropriate oversight for plants with inherited traits for resistance to pests. Chicago: Institute of Food Technologists. 1996.
• Chitwood, D. J., W. R. Lusby, M. J. Thompson, J. P. Kochansky, and O. W. Howarth. The glycosylceramides of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contain an unusual, branched-chain sphingoid base. Lipids 30:567-573. 1995.
• Orion, D., W. P. Wergin, and D. J. Chitwood. Root cortical cell spherical bodies associated with an induced resistance reaction in monoxenic cultures of Meloidogyne incognita. Journal of Nematology 27:320-327. 1995.
• Chitwood, D. J. Book review: The World of Nematodes by David R. Viglierchio. American Entomologist 40:187. 1994.
• Patterson, G. W., E. Tsitsa-Tsardis, G. H. Wikfors, P. K. Gladu, D. J. Chitwood, and D. Harrison. Sterols and alkenones of Isochrysis. Phytochemistry 35:1233–1236. 1994.
• Fodor, A., I. Dey, T. Farkas, and D. J. Chitwood. Effects of temperature and dietary lipids on phospholipid fatty acids and membrane fluidity in Steinernema carpocapsae. Journal of Nematology 26:278–285. 1994.
• Handoo, Z. A., A. M. Golden, D. J. Chitwood, W. A. Haglund, D. A. Inglis, G. S. Santo, J. G. Baldwin, and D. J. Williams. Detection of pea cyst nematode (Heterodera goettingiana) in western Washington. Plant Disease 78:831. 1994.
• Orion, D., W. P. Wergin, D. J. Chitwood, and E. F. Erbe. Low-temperature scanning electron microscope observations of the Meloidogyne incognita egg mass: The gelatinous matrix and embryo development. Journal of Nematology 26:402-411. 1994.
• Chitwood, D. J. Naturally occurring nematicides. Pages 300–315 in S. O. Duke, J. J. Menn, and J. R. Plimmer, eds. Pest control with enhanced environmental safety. Washington American Chemical Society. 1993.
• Patterson, G. W., E. Tsitsa-Tsardis, G. H. Wikfors, P. K. Gladu, D. J. Chitwood, and D. J. Harrison. Sterols of Tetraselmis (Prasinophyceae). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 105B:253-256. 1993.
• Abdul-Baki, A. A., J. B. Teasdale, D.J. Chitwood, R. N. Huettel, and C. A. Prince. Effect of mulches on growth and yield of muskmelons. Pages 303–308 in W. J. Lamont, Jr., ed. Proceedings of the Twenty-fourth National Agricultural Plastics Congress, Overland Park, Kansas. American Society of Plasticulture and Kansas State University. 1993.
• Svoboda, J. A., and D. J. Chitwood. Inhibition of sterol metabolism in insects and nematodes. Pages 205-218 in W. D. Nes, E. J. Parish, and J. M. Trzaskos, eds. Regulation of isopentenoid metabolism. ACS Symposium Series 497. American Chemical Society, Washington. 1992.
• Binder, B. F., A. B. DeMilo, J. P. Kochansky, and D. J. Chitwood. Inhibition of development in Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda) by a reduced aromatic Schiff base and related compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 40:1475-1477. 1992.
• Chitwood, D. J. 1992. Nematicidal compounds from plants. Pages 185-204 in H. N. Nigg and D. Seigler, eds. Phytochemical resources for medicine and agriculture. Plenum Press, New York.
• Chitwood, D. J., and W. R. Lusby. Sterol composition of the corn root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus agilis and corn root cultures. Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington 58:43-50. 1991.
• Chitwood, D. J. Nematode sterol biochemistry. Pages 257-293 in G. W. Patterson and W. D. Nes, eds. Physiology and biochemistry of sterols. American Oil Chemists' Society, Champaign, IL. 1991.
• Chitwood, D. J., and G. W. Patterson. Separation of epimeric pairs of C-24 alkylsterols by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography of the free sterols at subambient temperature. Journal of Liquid Chromatography 14:151-163. 1991.
• Chitwood, D. J., and W. R. Lusby. Metabolism of plant sterols by nematodes. Lipids 26:619-627. 1991.
• Gladu, P. K., G. W. Patterson, G. H. Wikfors, D. J. Chitwood, and W. R. Lusby. Sterols of some diatoms. Phytochemistry 30:2301-2303. 1991.
• Barker, G. C., D. J. Chitwood, and H. H. Rees. Ecdysteroids in helminths and annelids. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development 18:1-11. 1990.
• Gladu, P. K., G. W. Patterson, G. H. Wikfors, D. J. Chitwood, and W. R. Lusby. The occurrence of brassicasterol and epibrassicasterol in the Chromophycota. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 97B:491-494. 1990.
• Chitwood, D. J., and M. F. Feldlaufer. Ecdysteroids in axenically propagated Caenorhabditis elegans and culture medium. Journal of Nematology 22:598-607. 1990.
• Salt, T. A., D. J. Chitwood, and W. R. Lusby. Sterol metabolism in the nematode Panagrellus redivivus. Lipids 24: 325-328. 1989.
• Chitwood, D. J., W. R. Lusby, and T. A. Salt. Sterol metabolism in the nematodes Panagrellus redivivus, Turbatrix aceti and Caenorhabditis elegans. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 86B:103-107. 1987.
• Lozano, R., T. A. Salt, D. J. Chitwood, W. R. Lusby, and M. J. Thompson. Metabolism of sterols of varying ring unsaturation and methylation by Caenorhabditis elegans. Lipids 22:84-87. 1987.
• Chitwood, D. J., R. Lozano, W. R. Lusby, M. J. Thompson, and J. A. Svoboda. Metabolism and function of sterols in nematodes. In Ecology and Metabolism of Plant Lipids, G. Fuller and W. D. Nes (eds.), ACS Symposium Series Vol. 325, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. pp. 200-217. 1987.
• Chitwood, D. J., M. A. McClure, M. F. Feldlaufer, W. R. Lusby, and J. E. Oliver. Sterol composition and ecdysteroid content of eggs of the root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria. Journal of Nematology 19:352-360. 1987.
• Herbert, E. W., Jr., D. J. Chitwood, and H. Shimanuki. Chalkbrood research at Beltsville. American Bee Journal 127:488-491. 1987.
• Chitwood, D. J. Inhibition of steroid or hormone metabolism or action in nematodes. In Vistas on Nematology, J. A. Veech and D. W. Dickson, (eds.), Society of Nematologists, Hyattsville, MD. pp. 122-130. 1987.
• Chitwood, D. J., R. Lozano, and W. R. Lusby. Recent developments in nematode steroid biochemistry. Journal of Nematology. 18:9-17. 1986.
• Salt, T. A., R. Lozano, W. R. Lusby, D. J. Chitwood and M. J. Thompson. 24-Methyl-23-dehydrocholesterol: A new sterol intermediate in C-24 demethylation from the nematodes Panagrellus redivivus and Caenorhabditis elegans. Steroids 48:451-460. 1986.
• Herbert, E. W., Jr., D. J. Chitwood, and H. Shimanuki. The effect of a candidate compound on chalkbrood disease in New Jersey. American Bee Journal 126:258-259. 1986.
• Feldmesser, J., J. Kochansky, H. Jaffe, and D. J. Chitwood. Future chemicals for control of nematodes. In BARC Symposium VIII: Agricultural Chemicals of the Future, J. L. Hilton, (ed.), Rowman and Allanheld, Totowa, NJ. pp. 327-344. 1985.
• Chitwood, D. J., P. A. Hutzell, and W. R. Lusby. Sterol composition of the corn cyst nematode, Heterodera zeae, and corn roots. Journal of Nematology 17:64-68. 1985.
• Lozano, R., W. R. Lusby, D. J. Chitwood, and J. A. Svoboda. Dealkylation of various 24-alkylsterols by the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Lipids 20:102-107. 1985.
• Lozano, R., W. R. Lusby, D. J. Chitwood, M. J. Thompson, and J. A. Svoboda. Inhibition of C28 and C29 phytosterol metabolism by N,N-dimethyldodecanamine in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Lipids 20:158-166. 1985.
• Herbert, E. W., Jr., D. J. Chitwood, and H. Shimanuki. New compounds with potential for the control of chalkbrood. American Bee Journal 125:430-431. 1985.
• Chitwood, D. J., W. R. Lusby, and B. Fried. Sterols of Echinostoma revolutum (Trematoda) adults. Journal of Parasitology 71:846-847. 1985.
• Chitwood, D. J., W. R. Lusby, R. Lozano, M. J. Thompson, and J. A. Svoboda. Sterol metabolism in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Lipids 19: 500-506. 1984.
• Lozano, R., D. J. Chitwood, W. R. Lusby, M. J. Thompson, J. A. Svoboda, and G. W. Patterson. Comparative effects of growth inhibitors on sterol metabolism in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 79C:21-26. 1984.
• Chitwood, D. J., W. R. Lusby, R. Lozano, M. J. Thompson, and J. A. Svoboda. Novel nuclear methylation of sterols by the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Steroids 42: 311-319. 1983.
• Chitwood, D. J., and L. R. Krusberg. Diacyl, alkylacyl and alkenylacyl phospholipids of the nematode, Turbatrix aceti. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 69B:115-120. 1981.
• Chitwood, D. J., and L. R. Krusberg. Diacyl, alkylacyl and alkenylacyl phospholipids of Meloidogyne javanica females. Journal of Nematology 13: 105-111. 1981.
• Chitwood, D. J. Phospholipids of the nematodes Turbatrix aceti and Meloidogyne javanica. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Maryland. 1980.
• Chitwood, D. J., and L. R. Krusberg. Pectolytic enzymes in three populations of Ditylenchus dipsaci. Journal of Nematology. 9: 187-192. 1977.
• Chitwood, D. J. Pectolytic enzymes in three populations of Ditylenchus dipsaci. M. S. Thesis, University of Maryland. 1975.