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Robert T. Lartey

Research Plant Pathologist

Robert T. Lartey. Robert T. Lartey

Phone: 406.433.9490
Fax: 406.433.5038

• Education • Current Research • Research Experience • Related Web Pages • Publications • Books • Abstracts •

Additional Pages: Research Projects,* Publications*
*Taken from the Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) database.

EDUCATION

Diplom Ingenieur
(International Agriculture)

1976

Universität Gesamthochschule
Kassel, Germany

Grad. Certificate
(Ecol. Environ. Protection)

1979

Universität Gesamthochschule
Kassel, Germany

M.Sc.
(Technology of Crop Protection)

1982

University of Reading
England (UK)

Ph.D.
(Plant Pathology)

1988

Auburn University
Alabama (US)

CURRENT RESEARCH

My current research focuses on development of ecologically sound and economically viable biological control of Cercospora beticola, the causal agent of Cercospora leaf spot of sugar beet. The program concentrates on: 1) Search, screening and identification of potential agents for control of Cercospora beticola. 2) Influence of interaction between Cercospora beticola and its natural antagonists on biological control efficacy. 3.) Role of Cercospora toxins, namely cercosporin and beticolin in defense against natural enemies. 4) Development of a rapid protocol for detection of Cercospora beticola in plant tissues and application of the technique to screen for secondary hosts of C. beticola in the field.

Emerging Concepts.

NPARL Plant Pathologists Robert T. Lartey and Anthony J. Caesar are co-editors of a new book just published by Research Signpost of India entitled “Emerging Concepts in Plant Health Management, 2004.” Click here for more information about the book on the Research Signpost's Website. To order from the publisher send an e-mail to ggcom@vsnl.com or admin@rsflash.com citing the name of the book, volume number, the required number of copies and the purchaser’s name and mailing address. You can also go to the website at http://www.ressign.com.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Prior to joining USDA as a Research Plant Pathologist in 2000, I worked as a postdoctoral fellow after my PhD in Ulrich Melcher’s Lab at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University (OSU), OK from 1989‑1994. I then joined Vitaly Citovsky’s Lab at the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York (SUNY), Stony Brook, NY as Research Scientist. At both OSU and SUNY, Stony Brook, my research focused on molecular biology and characterization of the plant virus Turnip vein-clearing virus (TVCV); I was also a key player in the prior discovery of TVCV at OSU. The research included determination of the complete nucleotide sequence of the TVCV genome and application of the genomic information to study virus host interaction. The sequence information led to the creation of a third tobamoviral sub-group. The sequence also provided basic information to various laboratories for subsequent and ongoing research on host-viral pathogen interactions with TVCV infection of Arabidopsis as a model systems. We also used the model system for studies such as cell-to-cell movement of plant viral infection and intercellular communications. After the work at OSU and SUNY, Stony Brook, I spent brief periods as a Minority Research Fellow at the Department of Biology, SUNY at Albany with Dmitry A. Belostotsky and a Research Associate in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona with Judy Brown.

RELATED WEB PAGES

Agricultural Systems Research Unit Projects

Enzyme May Protect Sugar Beets From Leaf Spot Disease (PDF; 64 KB)

Friendly Fungi Help in War against Cercospora (PDF; 99 KB)

SELECTED JOURNAL ARTICLES:
Please note: The most recent publications by this scientist may not yet be listed here. Please check the ARIS "Publications" page for possible new titles.

Lartey, R.T., Lenssen, A.W., Evans, R.G., Ghoshroy, S. 2007. Comparative structural study of leaf spot disease of safflower and sugar beet by cercospora beticola. Plant Pathology Journal. 6(1):37-43.
Caesar, T., Lartey, R.T., Shelver, W.L. 2007. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for cercospora beticola in soil. Journal of Sugarbeet Research. 44:51-70.
Lartey, R.T. 2006. Dynamics of Soil Flora and Fauna in Biological Control of Soil Inhabiting Plant Pathogens. Plant Pathology Journal. 5(2):125-142.
Lartey, R.T., Caesar, T., Caesar, A.J., Shelver, W.L., Sol, N.I., Bergman, J.W. 2005. Safflower: a New Host of Cercospora Beticola. Plant Disease. 89(8):797-801.
Lartey, R. T., Weiland, J.J., Caesar-TonThat, TC and Bucklin-Comiskey, S. 2003. A PCR protocol for rapid detection of Cercospora beticola in infected sugar beet tissues. J. Sugar Beet Res. 40:1-10.
Lartey R. T. and Caesar-TonThat, T.C. 2002. In vitro Interactions Between Laetisaria arvalis and Cercospora beticola the Causal Agent of Cercospora Leaf Spot of Sugar Beet (Submitted).
Lartey, R. T. and Caesar-TonThat, T.C. 2002. Evaluation of Prospects for Biocontrol of Cercospora Leaf Spot of Sugar Beet with Laetisaria arvalis. (Submitted).
Gallegos, L., Fambrough, K., Lartey, R.T., Ghoshroy, S. 2002. Inhibition of Turnip Vein Clearing Virus Movement in Seeds of Infected Arabidopsis Thaliana Plant; a Microscopic Study. Microscopy and Microanalysis. 8(suppl. 2):1598-1599.
Hii, G., Pennington, R., Hartson, S., Daubert Taylor, C., Lartey, R., Williams, A., Lewis, D., and Melcher, U. 2002. Isolate-specific synergy in disease symptoms between cauliflower mosaic and turnip vein-clearing viruses. Arch. Virol. 147: 1371-1384.
Zhang Y. L., Lartey, R. T., Voss, T., Hartson, S., and Melcher, U. 1999. Limitations to Tobacco Mosaic Virus infection of turnip. Arch. Virol. 144: 957-971.
Lartey, R., Ghoshroy, S. and Citovsky, V. 1998. Identification of an Arabidopsis thaliana mutation (vsm1) that restricts systemic movement of tobamoviruses. MPMI. 11: 706-709.
Sheng J., Lartey R., Ghoshroy S. and Citovsky V. 1998. An Arabidopsis thaliana Mutant with Virus Inducible Phenotype. Virology 249 (1): 119-128.
Ghoshroy, S., Freedman, K., Lartey, R., and Citovsky, V. 1998. Inhibition of plant viral systemic movement by non-toxic concentrations of Cadmium. Plant J. 13: 591-602.
Lartey, R., Ghoshroy, S., Ho, J. and Citovsky, V. 1997. Movement and subcellular localization of a tobamovirus in Arabidopsis. Plant J. 12: 537-545.
Lartey, R. T., Voss, T. T., and Melcher, U. K. 1997. Completion of a cDNA sequence of a tobamovirus pathogenic to crucifers. Gene, 188 (2), 295--a correction.
Lartey, R. T., Voss, T. C., and Melcher, U. 1996. Gene Overlap in Tobamoviral RNAs: Evolution and Taxonomic Implications. Mol. Evol. 13: 13227-1338.
Lartey, R. T., Voss, T. T. and Melcher, U. K. 1995. Completion of cDNA sequence of a tobamoviruses pathogenic to crucifers. Gene. 166: 331-332.
Lartey, R. T., Lane, L. and Melcher, U. 1995. Electron microscopic and molecular characterization of turnip vein clearing virus. Arch. Virol. 138: 287-298.
Lartey, R. T., Curl, E. A., and Peterson, C. M. 1994. Interactions of Mycophagous Collembola and Biological Control Fungi in the Suppression of Rhizoctonia solani. Soil Biol. Biochem. 26: 81-88.

SELECTED BOOKS, BOOK CHAPTERS AND POPULAR REVIEWS:

Lartey, Robert T. and Conway, K. E. 2003. Novel Considerations in Biological Control of Plant Pathogens. In: Robert T. Lartey and Anthony J Caesar (ed.) Emerging Concepts in Plant Health Management. Research Signpost (Submitted).
Lartey, Robert and Citovsky, V. 1997. Nucleic Acids Transport in Plant-Pathogen Interactions. In: J. K. Setlow (ed.) Genetic Engineering, Principles and Methods, Plenum Press. 19: 201-214.
Lartey, Robert, Ghoshroy, S., Sheng, J., and Citovsky, V. 1997. Transport Through Plasmodesmata and Nuclear Pores: Cell-to-Cell Movement of Plant Viruses and Nuclear Import of Agrobacterium T-DNA. In: M.A. McCrae, J. R. Sounders, C. J. Smyth and N. D. Stow (eds.) Molecular Aspects of Host Pathogen Interactions. Cambridge Univ. Press. pp. 253-280.
Ghoshroy, S., Lartey, R., Sheng, J., and Citovsky, J. 1997. Transport of Proteins and Nucleic Acids Through Plasmodesmata. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. and Plant Mol. Biol. 48: 27-50.
Curl, E. A. and Lartey, R.T. 1996. Predators: Role of Microfauna. In: Sneh, Jabaji Hare, Neate and Dijst (Editors) Rhizoctonia species. Taxonomy, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Pathology and Disease Control. Kluwer Acad. Press. Dordrecht. pp. 495-506.

SELECTED CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS:

Lartey, R.T., Kersey, S., Ghoshroy, S. 2005. A Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of Progression of Cercospora Beticola Infection in Sugar Beet and Safflower. In: Book of Abstracts, 2005. XII International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, December 14-19, 2005, Merida, Mexico. Abstract P4-10, Page 129.
Lartey, R.T., Caesar, T., Sol, N.I., Goshroy, S. 2005. Additional Evidence of Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius) As An Alternate Host to Cercospora Beticola. In: Proceedings from the 33rd Biennial Meeting Agriculture. American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists, March 2-5, 2005, Palm Springs, California. P. 144-150.
Lartey, R.T., Sol, N.I., Ghoshroy, S. 2005. Additional Evidence of Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius) As An Alternate Host to Cercospora Beticola. American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists. P.19-20.
Lartey, R.T., Caesar, T., Caesar, A.J., Shelver, W.L., Sol, N.I. 2004. Safflower: An Alternate Host of Cercospora Beticola. Phytopathology. 94(6):s57.
Caesar-TonThat, T. C. and Lartey, R. T. 2003. Mechanisms of Inhibition of Cercospora beticola by Antagonistic Trichoderma species. Abstracts, 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Christchurch, New Zealand. pp34.
Lartey, R.T. and Caesar-TonThat, T.C. 2003. Antagonism of Cercospora beticola by Laetisaria arvalis involves laccase degradation of cercosporin. Abstracts, 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Christchurch, New Zealand. pp34.
Lartey, R. T. and Caesar-TonThat, T. C. 2002. A Bioassay for Photosensitizing Perylenequinone Cercosporin of Cercospora beticola. Abstr., Annual Meeting, American Phytopathological Society, Milwaukee, WI. Phytopathol. 92: S45.
Gallegos, L., Fambrough, K., Lartey, R.T., Ghoshroy, S. 2002. Inhibition of Turnip Vein-Clearing Virus Movement in Seeds of Infected Arabidopsis Thaliana Plant; a Microscopic Study. Microscopy and Microanalysis. 8(so2):972-973.
Caesar-TonThat, T. C., Lartey, R. T., and Solberg, L. L. 2002. Degradation of cercosporin, a photosensitizing perylene quinone toxin by fungal laccase. Abstr. Joint Meeting of the three divisions of the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS): Xth International Congress of Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology, Xth International Congress of Mycology, XIIth International Congress of Virology. Paris, France.
Lartey, R.T. and Bucklin Comiskey, S.A. 2002. A Pcr Protocol for Rapid Detection of Cercospora Beticola in Infected Sugar Beet Tissues. Phytopathology. V. 12. P. S45.
Lartey, R. T. Evaluation of Antagonists for Control of Cercospora Leaf Spot. 2001. Abstr. Joint Annual Meeting American Phytopathological Society and American Society for Mycology. Phytopathol. 91: S53.
Lartey, R. T. and Curl, E. A. 1998. Dynamic role of Collembola (Insecta) and fungal agents in suppressing Rhizoctonia solani disease on cotton. (Invited speaker: Colloquium on Multitrophic Interactions in Soil Between Arthropods and Plant-Associated Microorganisms, APS-ESA Joint Meeting, Phytopathol.
Ghoshroy, S., Freedman, K., Lartey, R. T., and Citovsky, V. 1997. Inhibition of viral systemic infection by non-toxic concentrations of Cadmium. Abstr, SEB Annual Meeting., J. Experimental Biology. Suppl. 48: 12.
Lartey, R., Ghoshroy, S., and Citovsky, V. 1997. Subcellular localization and symptoms of turnip vein-clearing virus infection of Arabidopsis thaliana. Ann. New York Area Plant Molecular Biology Meeting.
Ghoshroy S., Lartey, R., Freedman, K., and Citovsky, V. 1997. Inhibition of Plant Viral Systemic Infection by Non-toxic Concentrations of Cadmium. Abstr., Ann. New York Area Plant Molecular Biology Meeting.
Lartey, R., Sheng, J., and Citovsky, V. 1996. A new class of Arabidopsis genes involved in systemic movement of turnip vein-clearing virus. Abstr., International Arabidopsis Meeting.
Lartey, R., Sheng, J., Ghoshroy, S. and Citovsky, V. 1996. Virus Induced Corymb-like Inflorescence Development in Arabidopsis. Abstr., International Arabidopsis Meeting.
Sheng, J., Lartey, R., and Citovsky, V. 1996. A new class of Arabidopsis genes involved in systemic movement of a plant virus. Abstracts, 3rd International Workshop on Basic and Applied Research in Plasmodesmal Biology.
Zhang, Y. L., Lartey, R. T., Voss, T. C. and Melcher, U. 1995. Genes Limiting TMV Spread in Turnip Leaves. Abstr., 14th Annual Meeting. American Society for Microbiology.
Curl, E. A. and Lartey, R. T. 1995. Predators: Role of Microfauna in control of Rhizoctonia. Abstr., International National Symposium on Rhizoctonia.
Melcher, U., Lartey, R. T., Voss, T. C., and Zhang, Y. L. 1994. Virus Movement and Host Specificity. Abstr., EMBO and INRA Workshop.
Melcher, U., Lartey, R. T., and Voss, T. C. 1994. Convergent evolution in movement proteins of tobamoviruses. Abstracts, 13th Annual Meeting, American Society for Virology p.253.
Voss, T. C., Lartey, R. T. and Melcher, U. 1994. Ribgrass mosaic virus strain TVCV: Sequence of its cDNA. Abstr., Ann. Meeting, American Society for Microbiology-Missouri Valley Branch. p.25.

Last Modified: 09/29/2008

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