ABOUT ME

Morgan Goodnight

PhD Graduate Student

thumbnail_20230124-Morgan_Goodnight-001-sq
PhD graduate student studying the role of irrigation and leaf wetness on tar spot of corn caused by Phyllachora maydis. Biology graduate with more than 2 years of diverse research experience and application of molecular biology. Demonstrated commitment to the pursuit of furthering education in plant pathology, symptom evaluation, and disease management.

Education

PhD    Purdue University, Botany and Plant Pathology                                        May 2027

  • Thesis: Investigating how various environmental conditions, host resistance, and fungicide timing influence Phyllachora maydis biology and epidemiology in corn
  • Advisor: Dr. Darcy Telenko

BS       University of Missouri-Columbia, Biological Sciences                             May 2022

  • Departmental Honors, Minored in Psychology

Publications

  1. Waibel, K. G., Goodnight, K. M., Boyer, J. L., Boyer, S. C., Helms, A. R., Wahlman, J. R., Quinn, D. J., and Telenko, D. E. P. 2025. Field-scale evaluation of fungicide timing for corn diseases and yield in Indiana from 2019 to 2022. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-04-25-0103-RS.
  2. Pena, E., Goodnight, K. M., Shim, S., and Telenko, D. E. P. 2025. Fungicide comparison for foliar disease in corn in Vincennes, Indiana, 2024. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-02-25-0054-PDMR.
  3. Goodnight, K. M., Shim, S., and Telenko, D. E. P. 2025. Evaluation of hybrid by fungicide timing for tar spot management in corn in Wanatah, Indiana, 2024. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-02-25-0048-PDMR.
  4. Waibel, K. G., Goodnight, K. M., Rocco da Silva, C., Bonkowski, J. C., Creswell, T. C., Poudel, P., Quinn, D. J., Ruhl. G. E., Shim, S., Weaver, J. C., Wise, K. A., and Telenko, D. E. P. 2025. Tracking the distribution and risk of tar spot of corn in Indiana from 2015 to 2022. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-08-24-0082-S.
  5. Peña, J. D., Goodnight, K. M., Shim, S., and Telenko, D. E. P. 2025. Comparison of fungicides for management of tar spot, northern corn leaf blight, and gray leaf spot of corn in West Lafayette, Indiana, 2024. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-02-25-0056-PDMR.
  6. Bonkowski, J., Goodnight, K. M., Grskovich, M. R., Telenko, D. E. P. 2024. First Report of Calonectria ilicicola Causing Red Crown Rot of Soybean in Indiana. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-23-2198-PDN.
  7. Goodnight, K. M., Tian, P., and Bissonnette, K. M. 2023. First Report of Macrophomina phaseolina causing Charcoal rot in Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa) in Missouri, USA. Plant Disease. 107:2856. doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-23-0385-PDN.
  8. Wise, K. A., Telenko, D. E. P., Shim, S., Goodnight, K. M., Kennedy, B., and Andersen, N. R. 2023. First report of tar spot on corn caused by Phyllachora maydis in Kentucky. Plant Disease. 107:2522. doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-23-0172-PDN.
  9. Goodnight, K.M., Brand, S.B., and Telenko, D. E. P. 2023. Evaluation of hybrids and fungicide timing for tar spot in corn in northwestern Indiana, 2022. Plant Disease Management Reports. Vol 17: CF007.

Abstracts

  1. Goodnight, K.M., Chilvers, M.I., Smith, D.L., Tenuta, A., and Telenko, D.E.P. “Evaluation of the interaction of hybrid susceptibility and fungicide timing on tar spot of corn”, American Phytopathological Society, August 13th, 2023.
  2.  Goodnight, K.M., Mizuno, M., Chilvers, M.I., Mueller, D., Robertson, A., Smith, D.L., Tenuta, A., and Telenko, D.E.P. “Evaluation of Fungicide Programs for Tar Spot on Corn”, North Central American Phytopathological Society, June 21st, 2023.
  3.  Goodnight, K.M., Tian, P., and Bissonnette, K.M., “Koch’s Postulate of Macrophomina phaseolina on hemp and crops in rotation”, International IPM Symposium, March 2nd, 2022 (ipmsymposium.org/2022/Documents/IPM2022FullProgram.pdf, pg. 114-115)
  4. Goodnight, K.M., Bissonnette, K.M., and Tian, P., “Disease firsts in the first year of hemp production in Missouri”, The Science of Hemp: Production and Pest Management, November 19th, 2021.

Manuscripts in preparation

  1. Goodnight, K. M., Chilvers, M. I., Smith, D. L., Tenuta, A., and Telenko, D. E. P. Evaluation of the interaction of hybrid susceptibility and fungicide timing on tar spot of corn. Plant Health Progress. In preparation.

Conference Proceedings

  1. 2025, February, presented poster at the SSDW Annual Meeting – “Documenting red crown rot in Indiana.”
  2. 2024, November, presented poster at the Purdue Botany Showcase – “Exploring water application timings and their influence on tar spot disease development.”
  3. 2024, July, presented poster at the American Phytopathological Society – “Tracking the movement and risk of tar spot (Phyllachora maydis) of corn in Indiana from 2015 to 2022.”
  4. 2023, December, oral presentation at the Corn Disease Working Group – “Evaluation of multi-year fungicide programs on tar spot of corn.”
  5. 2023, November, presented poster at Purdue Botany Showcase – “Evaluation of the interaction of hybrid susceptibility and fungicide timing on tar spot of corn in Indiana.”
  6. 2023, August, oral presentation at the American Phytopathological Society – “Evaluation of the interaction of hybrid susceptibility and fungicide timing on tar spot of corn.”
  7. 2023, June, oral presentation at the North Central American Phytopathological Society – “Evaluation of Fungicide Programs for Tar Spot on Corn.”
  8. 2022, November, presented poster at Purdue Botany Showcase – “Determining fungicide efficacy and the role of irrigation and leaf wetness on tar spot of corn caused by Phyllachora maydis.”
  9. 2021, November, oral presentation at 2nd Annual Science of Hemp: Production and Pest Management – “Disease firsts in the first year of hemp production in Missouri”; placed 3rd in Student Presentation Competition
  10. 2021, August, Missouri State Fair – Farm Family Day. Field crop diseases and nematodes in Missouri Agriculture, Sedalia, MO.

Invited Talks

  • 2025, March, presented at the Ohio Conservation Tillage & Technology Conference – “Evaluation of Fungicide Timing Strategies for Tar Spot Management in the Midwest”
  • 2022, March, presented poster at International IPM Symposium – “Koch’s Postulate of Macrophomina phaseolina on Hemp and Crops in Rotation”

Research Experience

MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO                                                                                                       2021-2022

Advisors: Dr. Peng Tian, Dr. Lee Miller

  • Diagnosed plant pathogens in sent in samples from throughout Missouri. Used molecular biology, and other diagnostic methods to diagnose different foreign pathogens. Interacted with customers to convey what their cultural and possible chemical management options were and how to apply it to save the plant/tree.
  • Wrote several articles for the lab website regarding Cercospora Leaf Blight and Purple Seed Stain on Soybean, Cercospora Leaf Spot on Lilacs, Rust on Red Clover, Japanese Maple Scale, Anthracnose on Maple Trees, and Dothistroma Needle Blight.
  • Worked closely with Dr. Kaitlyn Bissonnette, field crop plant pathologist, regarding plant diagnoses of various field crops and senior capstone project mentor.

Honors and Awards

  • CPN Seed Award                                                               January 2025
  • 2024 Spring Graduate Student Travel Award            February 2024
  • MU Honors College Graduate                                        May 2022
  • 3rd Place in Student Presentation Competition – Science of Hemp: Production and Pest Management Conference        November 2021
  • Dean’s List                                                                        2019-present

Skills

  • Applications: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, BioEdit, Geneious, PDIS, SAS, R
  • Molecular: DNA Extraction, PCR, Gel Electrophoresis, Gel Purification, Sequence Analysis, ELISA, qPCR
  • Plant Diagnostic: Single spore isolation, microscopy, bacterial streaking, culturing plating