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

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.

Publications

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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 13^th, 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 21^st, 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 2^nd, 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 19^th, 2021.

Manuscripts in preparation

1. Goodnight, K.M., Tian, P., Bonkowski, J., Bissonnette, K.M., and Bish, M. First Report of Tar Spot on Corn Caused by Phyllachora maydis and weather impacts on disease spread in Missouri, USA. Plant Disease. In preparation.
2. Waibel, K.*, Goodnight, K. M.*, Rocco da Silva, C.*, Bonkowski, J., Creswell, T., Poudel, P., Quinn, D. J., Ruhl, G., Shim, S., Weaver, J. C., Wise, K. A., and Telenko, D. E. P.1* XXXX. Phytopathometry for tar spot of corn in Indiana from 2015 to 2022. In preparation. *share first author

Conference Proceedings

1. 2023, December, oral presentation at the Corn Disease Working Group – “Evaluation of multi-year fungicide programs on tar spot of corn.”
2. 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.”
3. 2023, August, oral presentation at the American Phytopathological Society – “Evaluation of the interaction of hybrid susceptibility and fungicide timing on tar spot of corn.”
4. 2023, June, oral presentation at the North Central American Phytopathological Society – “Evaluation of Fungicide Programs for Tar Spot on Corn.”
5. 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.”
6. 2021, November, oral presentation at 2^nd Annual Science of Hemp: Production and Pest Management – “Disease firsts in the first year of hemp production in Missouri”; placed 3^rd in Student Presentation Competition
7. 2021, August, Missouri State Fair – Farm Family Day. Field crop diseases and nematodes in Missouri Agriculture, Sedalia, MO.

Invited Talks

• 2022, March, presented poster at International IPM Symposium – “Koch’s Postulate of Macrophomina phaseolina on Hemp and Crops in Rotation”

Honors and Awards

• MU Honors College Graduate                                                                            May 2022
• 3^rd 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
• Molecular: DNA Extraction, PCR, Gel Electrophoresis, Gel Purification, Sequence Analysis, ELISA, qPCR
• Plant Diagnostic: Single spore isolation, microscopy, bacterial streaking, culturing plating