1975 B.A. Biology, Clark University, Worcester, MA.
1982 M.S. Biology, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA.
1988 Ph.D. Plant pathology and Nematology, University of California, Riverside.
Professional Experience:
1989-1996: Post-doctoral research associate in C. elegans development, Sternberg Lab, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.
1997 - present: Research Plant Pathologist, USDA Nematology Laboratory nematode morphology, taxonomy and phylogeny.
Membership in AAAS, Helminthological Society of Washington, Society of Nematologists, Sigma Xi.
Research Interests:
Developing new characters for nematode taxonomy and phylogeny for systematics of plant-parasitic nematodes (Tylenchida and Dorylaimida), and soil or insect-associated Rhabditida that involve: Microscopy methods such as DIC, Polarization, SEM (cryo- and chemical), TEM Molecular phylogenetic methods, involving especially the Hsp90 gene, Physical characters such as specific gravity and falling behavior in fluids, Assisting the North American Plant Protection Organization to harmonize protocols for potato nematode identification.
Skantar, A. M. L. K. Carta and Handoo, Z. A. 2008. Molecular and morphological characterization of an unusual Meloidogyne arenaria population from traveler’s tree (Ravenala madagascariensis). Journal of Nematology 40(3): 179-189.
Handoo, Z. A., L. K. Carta, and A. M. Skantar. 2008. Taxonomy – Morphological and phylogenetic studies of coffee-associated species of lesion nematodes. In: Souza, R. M., ed., Coffee Nematodes Springer Science and business Media (The Netherlands), 650 pp.
Skantar, A. M., Z. A. Handoo, L. K. Carta, and D. J. Chitwood. 2007. Morphological and molecular identification of Globodera pallida associated with potato in Idaho. Journal of Nematology 39: 133-144.
Hafez, S. L., P. Sundararaj, Z. A. Handoo, A. M. Skantar, L. K. Carta and D. J. Chitwood. 2007. First Report of the Pale Cyst Nematode, Globodera pallida, in the United States. Plant Disease 91(3):325.
Meyer, S. L., I. A. Zasada, D. P. Roberts, B. T. Vinyard, D. K. Lakshman, J.-K. Lee, D. J. Chitwood, and L. K. Carta, 2006. Plantago lanceolata and Plantago rugelii extracts are toxic to Meloidogyne incognita but not to certain microbes. Journal of Nematology 38:333-338.
Carta, L. K., Z. A. Handoo, T. O. Powers, S. A. Miller, R. Pérez-Zubiri, and A. Ramírez-Suárez. 2006. Guidelines for isolation and identification of regulated nematodes of potato. Revista Méxicana de Fitopatología. 23:211-222.
Carta, L. K., and W. Osbrink. 2006. Rhabditis rainai n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditida) associated with the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Nematology 7:863-879.
Handoo, Z. A., A. M. Skantar, L. K. Carta, and Erbe, E.F. 2005. Morphological and Molecular Characterization of a New Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne thailandica n. sp. (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae), Parasitizing Ginger (Zingiber sp.). Journal of Nematology 37(3):343-353.
Skantar, A. M., K. A. Agama, S. L. F. Meyer, L. K. Carta, and B. T. Vinyard. 2005. Effects of geldanamycin on hatching and juvenile motility in Caenorhabditis elegans and Heterodera glycines. Journal of Chemical Ecology 31: 2481-2491.
Skantar, A. M., and L. K. Carta. 2005. Multiple displacement amplification: assessment in PCR and for the development of Hsp90 PCR-RFLP in Meloidogyne spp. Nematology 7: 285-293.
Rao, A., L. Carta, E. Lesuisse, and I. Hamza. 2005. Lack of heme synthesis in a free-living eukaryote. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 102: 4270-4275.
S. L. Meyer, L. K. Carta, and S. Rehner. 2005. Morphological variability and molecular phylogeny of the nematophagous fungus Monacrosporium drechsleri. Mycologia 97(2):405-415.
Handoo, Z. A., A. M. Skantar, L. K. Carta, and D. P. Schmitt. 2005. Morphological, molecular and host-range evaluation of a Meloidogyne hapla population damaging Coffee (Coffea arabica) in Maui, Hawaii. Journal of Nematology 37: 136-145.
Skantar, A. M., and L. K. Carta. 2005. Phylogenetic evaluation of nucleotide and protein sequences from the heat shock protein 90 gene of selected nematodes. Journal of Nematology 36:466-480.
Pizzi, R., L. K. Carta. 2004. Oral Nematode Infection of Tarantulas. Veterinary Record 152 (22):695.
Moser, J. C., H. Konrad, T. Kirisits, and L. K. Carta. 2004. Phoretic mites and nematode associates from Scolytus multistriatus and S. pygmaeus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Austria. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 7:169-177.
Handoo, Z. A., A. P. Nyczepir, D. Esmenjaud, J. G. van der Beek, P. Castagnone-Sereno, L. K. Carta, A. M. Skantar, and J. A. Higgins. 2004. Morphological and molecular characterization of Meloidogyne floridensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae), a root-knot nematode parasitizing peach in Florida. Journal of Nematology 36:20-35.
Handoo, Z. A. L. K. Carta and A. M. Skantar, W. Ye, R. T. Robbins, S. A. Subbotin, S. W. Fraedrich, and M. M. Cram. 2005. Morphological and molecular characterization of Longidorus americanum n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae), a needle nematode parasitizing pine in Georgia. Journal of Nematology 37(1):94-104.
Gibbs, D. S., G. L. Anderson, L. R. Beuchat, L. K. Carta, P. L. Williams. 2004. Potential role of Diploscapter, a bacterivorous nematode from soil, as a vector of foodborne pathogenic bacteria to pre-harvest fruits and vegetables. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71:2433-2437.
Carta, L. K., E. F. Erbe, C. Murphy and W. P. Wergin. 2003. Chemical Fixation/Ambient Temperature SEM vs Cryofixation/Low Temperature SEM for Taxonomic Studies of Nematodes.
Wei, J. -Z., K. Hale, L. K. Carta, E. Platzer, and R. V. Aroian. 2003. Bacillus thuringiensis crystal proteins that target nematodes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 100:2760-2765.
Carta, L. K., W. P. Wergin, E. F. Erbe, and C. A. Murphy. 2003. A Comparison of Low Temperature and Ambient Temperature SEM for Viewing Nematode Faces. Journal of Nematology 35:78-81.
Castillo, A., F. Infante, J. F. Barrera, L. K. Carta, and F. E. Vega. 2002. First field report of a nematode (Tylenchida: Sphaerularioidea) attacking the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemu hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in the Americas. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 79:199-202.
Carta, L. K., Z. A. Handoo, A. M. Skantar, J. van Biljon, and M. Botha. 2002. A Redescription of Pratylenchus teres Khan & Singh, 1974 (Nemata: Pratylenchidae), with the description of a new subspecies from South Africa, and a phylogenetic analysis of related species. African Plant Protection 8:13-24.
Carta, L. K., A. M. Skantar, and Z. A. Handoo. 2001. Molecular, morphological and thermal characters of 19 Pratylenchus spp. and relatives using the D3 segment of the nuclear LSU rRNA gene. Nematropica 31:193-207.
Handoo, Z. A., L. K. Carta, and A. M. Skantar. 2001. Morphological and molecular characterization of Pratylenchus arlingtoni n. sp., P. convallariae and P. fallax (Nemata: Pratylenchidae). Nematology 3:607-618 .
Meyer, S. L., D. P. Roberts, D. J. Chitwood, L. K. Carta, R. D. Lumsden, W. Mao. 2001. Application of Burkholderia cepacia and Trichoderma virens, alone and in combinations, against Meloidogyne incognita on bell pepper. Nematropica 31:75-86.
Carta, L. K. 2000. Attraction profiles of bacterial-feeding nematodes (Rhabditida) to Burkholderia cepacia biocontrol bacteria. Journal of Nematology 32:362-369.
Skantar, A. M. and L. K. Carta. 2000. Amplification of HSP90 homologs from plant-parasitic nematodes using degenerate primers and ramped annealing PCR. Biotechniques 29:1182-1185.
Wergin, W. P., R. W. Yaklich, L. K. Carta, E. F. Erbe, and C. A. Murphy. 2000. Effect of an ice nucleating activity (INA) agent on subzero survival of nematode juveniles. Journal of Nematology 32:198-204.
Carta, L. K. and D. G. Carta. 2000. Nematode specific gravity profiles and applications to flotation extraction and taxonomy. Nematology 2:201-211.
Sommer, R. J., L. K. Carta, S.-Y. Kim, and P. W. Sternberg. 1996. Morphological, genetic and molecular description of Pristionchus pacificus sp. n. (Nematoda: Neodiplogastridae). Fundamentals of Applied Nematology 19:511-521.
Sommer, R. J., L. K. Carta, and P. W. Sternberg. 1994. The evolution of cell lineage in nematodes. Development 1994 Supplement, 85-95.
Aroian, R. V., L. Carta, I. Kaloshian, and P. W. Sternberg. 1993. A free-living Panagrolaimus sp. from Armenia can survive in anhydrobiosis for 8.7 years. Journal of Nematology 25:500-502.
Sternberg, P. W., R. J. Hill, G. Jongeward, L. S. Huang, and L. Carta. 1992. Intercellular signaling during C. elegans vulval induction. Pages 353-362 in Volume 57. The Cell Surface. Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology.
Fortuner, R., J. D. Eisenback, L. K. Carta, and V. M. Williamson. 1990. Chapter 3: Methods for collection and preparation of nematodes. Part III. Preparation of nematodes for transmission electron microscopy. Pages 73-121 In: Nickle, W. R., ed., Manual of Agricultural Helminthology. New York: Marcel Dekker.
Carta, L. K. and J. G. Baldwin. 1990. Ultrastructural investigation of phasmid loss in males of Heterodera schachtii and Verutus volvingentis and phylogenetic implications within the Heteroderidae. Journal of Nematology 22:284-301.
Carta, L. K. and J. G. Baldwin. 1990. Phylogenetic analysis of the ultrastructure of phasmid development in Meloidodera floridensis and M. charis (Heteroderidae) Journal of Nematology 22:250-283.
Carta, L. K. 1980. Suppression of Meloidogyne incognita with different levels of Macrocystis pyrifera (Kelp) in sand and soil. M.S. Thesis, California State University, Pomona, 105 pp.
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