Rusty Rodriguez

Email: Rusty Rodriguez

Ph.D. 1983, Microbiology, Oregon State University. Plant-fungal symbioses and Salmonid genetics; molecular biology, microbial ecology, genetics, biochemistry, plant physiology. The research generated from this program is intended to be used for the scientifically sound management of natural resources.

Current research ranges from studies of the role of fungi in the invasiveness of non-indigenous plants to the hybridization between rainbow and cutthroat trout species. The fungal research projects involve 1) determining the genetic and biochemical bases of symbiotic lifestyles (mutualism commensalism, parasitism), and 2) Using fungal symbiosis to reduce crop irrigation requirements, increase efficiency of habitat restoration, protect plants against disease to reduce to flow of pesticides into aquatic systems, and protect plants in natural and agricultural ecosystems against the impacts of global warming (increased CO2, temperature, drought, and salinity). The salmon projects involve developing PCR based genetic systems to determine sex and run timing of juveniles and adults, and assess hybridization between species.

Representative Publications:

Freeman, S. and Rodriguez, R.J. 1993. Genetic conversion of a fungal plant pathogen to a non-pathogenic, endophytic mutualist. Science 260:75-78.

Redman, R.S., Dunigan, D.D., and Rodriguez, R.J. 2001. Fungal symbiosis: from mutualism to parasitism, who controls the outcome, host or invader? New Phytologist, 151:705-716.

Redman, R.S., Sheehan, K.B., Stout, R.G., Rodriguez, R.J. and Henson, J.M. 2002. Thermotolerance generated by plant/fungal symbiosis. Science, 298:1581.

Clifton, D.R. and Rodriguez, R.J. 1997 Characterization and application of a quantitative DNA marker that discriminates sex in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 54:2647-2652.

Ostberg, C. and Rodriguez, R.J. 2002. Species specific molecular markers differentiate Onchorhynchus mykiss (steelhead and rainbow trout) from Onchorhynchus clarki clarki (coastal cutthroat trout) and identify hybridization between the species. Molecular Ecology Notes, 2:197-202.

Rasmussen, C., Ostberg, C.O., Clifton, D.R., Holloway, J.L., and Rodriguez, R.J. 2003. Identification of a genetic marker that discriminates ocean and stream-type chinook in the Columbia River basin. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, In Press.

Mailing Address:

U.S. Geological Survey
Western Fisheries Research Center
6505 NE 65th St.
Seattle, WA 98115

Phone: 206-526-6282
Fax: 206-526-6654