Ning Zhang

Department of Plant Biology and Pathology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 59 Dudley Road New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520 732-932-9711, Ext. 162 Fax: 732-932-9441 zhang@aesop.rutgers.edu

Research Interests:

I am interested in the study of ecology and evolution of plant-associated fungi. The basic questions we try to address include: Why is there so much genetic variation within populations? What are the evolutionary forces that maintain variation in populations? Are there associations between genetic variation and virulence of plant pathogens? And how did the plant diseases originate and evolve? Another primary interest of my research is developing molecular tools for rapid pathogen detection and identification.

Currently my lab focuses on the study of (1) population genetics of Rhizoctonia solani on turfgrass, which causes Brown Patch disease, (2) development of a macroarray system for rapid detection of important turfgrass pathogens, and (3) biogeography and population dynamics of the dogwood anthracnose fungus (Discula destructiva). Product and findings of our research will be useful for plant breeding and disease management.