Telenko Lab - About Us
Our research program focuses on promoting sustainable and economically sound disease management practices in Indiana field crops. We have an interdisciplinary plant pathology research and extension program involved in studying the biology and management of soilborne and foliar pathogens of agronomic crops.
This research encompasses four major themes:
- Detection and monitoring of disease pathogens to minimize and/or detect the development of fungicide resistance or impact of new diseases in field crops.
- Integration and evaluation of new chemistries or tools into cropping systems.
- Evaluation of host resistance.
- Exploration of new biopesticide options to improve disease management.
The information generated from our research program is used to support extension efforts focused on providing timely and reliable information to growers and industry stakeholders to encourage the adoption of integrated management strategies for improved production efficiency and increase awareness of how diseases impact crop yield potential in Indiana.
Telenko Lab - People
Darcy E. P. Telenko, Ph. D.
Principle Investigator
Associate Professor
Field Crop Pathologist and Extension Specialist
Email: dtelenko@purdue.edu
Phone: 765-496-5168
Our interdisciplinary plant pathology research and Extension program is involved in researching the biology and management of soilborne and foliar pathogens of agronomic crops.
The program is focused on recognizing and understanding new and emerging diseases and their potential impact on Indiana agriculture.
Our research is used to support extension efforts focused on providing timely and reliable information to growers and industry stakeholders to encourage the adoption of integrated management strategies for improved production efficiency and increase awareness of how diseases impact crop yield potential in Indiana.
As a Field Research Associate, I am responsible for setting up and maintaining field trials in corn, soybeans, and wheat for disease management research. My job consists of field mapping and trial set up, equipment maintenance and transportation, planting, pesticide applications, trial maintenance, data collection, and harvesting.
Su Shim
Research Associate/Lab manager
Email: sshim@purdue.edu
Lab Phone: 765-496-3471
Education
MPH - Master of Public Health, Purdue University, W. Lafayette
BSPS - Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmacy, Purdue University
BS - Biological Science, College of Life Science, Sungshin University
Current Research/Project
Evaluation of effect of tillage and hybrid variety for foliar disease; tar spot risk in corn.
Whole Geonomic Sequence of Phyllachora maydis, a perithecial ascomycete, causes a tar spot disease of maize.
Camila Rocco da Silva
Graduate Student
Email: croccoda@purdue.edu
Education
MSc 2018 - State University of Maringa, PR, Brazil - Plant Protection
BS 2016 - Federal University of Mato Grosso, MT, Brazil - Agronomy
Current Research/Projects
My current research involves two different projects:
1. Evaluating fungicide programs and application timing on tar spot management in Indiana corn.
2. Integrated disease management of Fusarium head blight, white mold and tar spot in organic crop systems.
More information about Camila Rocco da Silva
Monica Sayuri Mizuno
Visiting Scholar
Email: mmizuno@purdue.edu
MSc 2021 - State University of Maringa, PR, Brazil - Plant Protection
BS 2018 - State University of Maringa, PR, Brazil - Agronomy
I am a visiting scholar and help with laboratory activities such as pathogenic fungi inoculation, molecular techniques, isolation of fungi and field activities such as labeling stakes, seed counting, rating plant diseases in soybean, corn and wheat, application of fungicides to control pathogens, collecting data, processing data, running statistics, writing manuscripts according to the data collected. I also will be part of a project about tar spot, a very important disease that has been gaining prominence since it was discovered in the United States in 2015.
More information about Monica Mizuno
Morgan Goodnight
Graduate Student
Email: kgoodni@purdue.edu
Education:
BS - Biology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Research Focus: Determining fungicide efficacy and timing on tar spot (Phyllachora maydis) of corn, impacts of irrigation and weather/leaf wetness on tar spot severity and ascospore quantity.
More information about Morgan Goodnight
Emily Duncan
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email: duncanea@purdue.edu
I am an undergraduate student majoring in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology at Purdue University. I have been a part of the research team since May 2019. My role has been to assist in field and lab activities. These jobs include planting crops, disease rating, data processing, fungi inoculation, DNA extraction, and running gel electrophoresis. This lab has allowed me to use my molecular biology knowledge and apply it to corn, soy, and wheat diseases.
More information about Emily Duncan
Cora Reynolds
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email: reyno220@purdue.edu
I am an undergraduate student majoring in Biology. This is my first year in the lab, and I
am excited to see what research has in store for me. My role is to assist graduate students with
their research projects by collecting field data to analyze disease severity and incidence,
maintaining plots, and helping out in the lab through activities like DNA extraction.
More information about Cora Reynolds
Emilia Myers
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email: myers449@purdue.edu
I am an undergraduate student majoring in Natural Resources and Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Quality and Restoration. I've always had a passion for the environment, and in true Midwest fashion I’m excited to focus that passion on corn and soybeans this summer. My job this summer is going to have me out in the field planting crops and collecting soil samples as well as entering trial data in the lab. I’m excited to use my existing soil knowledge this summer, expand on that, and support the research that is being done in the lab in whatever way that I can.
Telenko Lab - Former Lab Members
Mariama Brown
Former Graduate Student
Ph.D. 2023 - Plant Pathology, Purdue University, U. S.
MSc 2018 - Plant Science - Delaware State University, U.S.
BS 2015 - Agricultural Education- College of Agriculture, Science & Education, Portland Jamaica.
Dissertation: Examining the effectiveness of integrated management tactics for sudden death syndrome in soybean (Fusarium virguliforme), analyzing the spatial and temporal expression of FvTox1 from F. virguliforme, and identifying a spectral signature or index that is associated with disease.
More information about Mariama Brown
Kaitlin Waibel
Former Graduate Student
M.S. 2023 - Plant Pathology, Purdue University
B.S. - Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette
Thesis: Fungicide timing, resistance Monitoring, and Phytopathometry for field crop diseases in Indiana
Audrey M. Conrad
Former Graduate Student
M.S. 2022 - Botany and Plant Pathology - Purdue University
B.S. - Biological Engineering - Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Thesis: Management of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean using the biofungicides Coniothyrium minitans and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Education:
PhD - Plant Pathology, Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University
MSc - Agricultural Regulations (Molecular Biology & Plant Biotechnology) - University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, U.S.
BS - General Agriculture - University of Guyana, Tekeyen Campus
Dissertation: Tar spot of corn: Population dynamics, economic impact, and management in Midwestern United States.
Natalia Pineros Guerrero
Former Graduate student
M.S. Purdue University - Botany and Plant Pathology
BS- Agronomy- School of Agricultural Sciences - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C
Thesis: Quinone outside inhibitor (Qoi) fungicide resistance and mating-type distribution of Cercospora sojina populations on soybean from Indiana
Victor Buitrago
Visiting Undergraduate Student
Cayla Haupt
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Audrey Toogood
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Amelia Chaille
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ryan Gray
Undergraduate Research Assistant