Leslie A. Wanner

Research Plant Pathologist

The goal of the research in Dr. Wanner’s lab is increased understanding of disease resistance in potato, which can be used in breeding disease-resistant potato cultivars. Research is focused on:

·    Understanding the basic biology of resistance to two diseases, common scab and late blight, in potatoes.
·    Understanding how the two microbes Streptomyces scabies and Phytophthora infestans cause plant disease
·    Understanding the molecular basis for differences in pathogenicity and aggressiveness of individual isolates of these two disease-causing organisms

Learn more about potatoes here.

Learn more about late blight here

Common potato scab, caused by Streptomyces scabies. Picture from Dr. Goth (Retired)

Late blight on a potato leaf. Picture by Dr. Goth (Retired)

Current Projects

Project Number 1275-21220-099-00

Development of Methodology for Identification & Improvement of Disease Resistance in Potato & Solanum Germplasm

Email
wannerl@ba.ars.usda.go

Other information

Education

Post-Graduate Employment

Professional Societies

Advisory Appointments

Publications

Education

Ph.D. Molecular and Physiological Plant Biology, Univ. of California, Berkeley, 1990.

M. S. Botany, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 1978.

B. S. Botany, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1975.

Post-Graduate Employment

2001-Present. Research Plant Pathologist, Vegetable Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD.
1997-2001. Research Scientist, Norwegian Crop Research Institute Plant Protection Centre, Ås, Norway.
1997-1999. Research Scientist, Institute for Biology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
1996. Assistant professor, Department of Plant Physiology and Microbiology, University of Tromsø, Norway, 1996.
1994-1996. Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Plant Physiology and Microbiology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
1991-1994. Post-doctoral Researcher, Biotechnology Center, Ohio State University.
1990-1991. Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University.

Professional Societies

American Phytopathological Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
International Society for Plant-Microbe Interactions
American Society of Plant Physiologists
International Society for Plant Molecular Biology
Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society

Advisory Appointments

Co-advisor for two senior thesis projects, Norwegian Crop Research Institute and Agricultural University of Norway, 2000-2001.
Co- advisor, doctoral candidate, Agricultural Univ. of Norway, 1998-2002.
Supervisor for two civil engineering students, University of Tromsø, 1998.
Ad hoc reviewer, grant applications to the Norwegian Research Council, 1999.
Ad hoc reviewer, grant applications to the National Science Foundation, USA; 1994, 1998.
Reviewer of manuscripts for the scientific journals European Journal of Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology, Planta, Current Genetics and Journal of Experimental Botany, 1991-2000.

Additional Professional Service

Reviewer of manuscripts for scientific journals [Phytopathology, European Journal of Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology, Planta, Current Genetics, Journal of Experimental Botany], 1991-present.
Grant review panel US AID CDR/MERC, entomology/plant pathology, 2002.
Grant review panel, US Agency for International Development Grant Review Panel, U.S. –Israel Cooperative Development Research/ Central Asian Republics Initiative, Plant Physiology Review Panel, 2001.
Ad hoc reviewer for BARD grants 2002.
Ad hoc reviewer, grant applications to the National Science Foundation, USA; 1994, 1998, 2001-2003.
Ad hoc reviewer, grant applications to the Norwegian Research Council, 1999.
Co-advisor, doctoral candidate, Agricultural Univ. of Norway, 1998-2003.
Co-advisor for two senior thesis projects, Norwegian Crop Research Institute and Agricultural University of Norway, 2000-2001.
Supervisor for civil engineering students, University of Tromsø, 1998.

Publications

1993-Present

More information on these journal articles can be found using AGRICOLA at the National Agriculture Library web site. Many abstracts of the articles are online.

Wanner, L.A. Pathogenicity region of Streptomyces, cause of potato common scab. Phytopathology. 2002. v. 92 (6) Supplement: Abstract p. S85.

Mohr S, Wanner LA, Bertrand H, Lambowitz AM (2000) Characterization of a novel tRNA-like sequence found inserted in a Neurospora retroplasmid. Nucleic Acids Research 28: 1514-1524.

Wanner LA, Junttila O (1999) Cold-induced freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology 120: 391-400.

Lee D, Ellard M, Wanner LA, Davis KR, Douglas CJ (1995) The Arabidopsis thaliana 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL) gene: stress and developmentally regulated expression and nucleotide sequence of its cDNA. Plant Molecular Biology 28:871-884.

Wanner LA, Li G, Ware DH, Somssich I, Davis KR (1995) The phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Molecular Biology 27:327-338.

Chiang C-C, Kennell JC, Wanner LA, Lambowitz AL (1994) A mitochondrial retroplasmid integrates into genomic DNA by a novel mechanism involving the synthesis of hybrid cDNAs and homologous recombination. Molecular & Cellular Biology 14:6419-6432.

Wanner L, Mittal S, Davis KR (1993) Recognition of the avirulence gene avrB from Pseudomonas syringae pv glycinea by Arabidopsis thaliana. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 6:582-91

Other Publications (book chapters, symposium volumes, abstracts, posters)

Wanner, L.A., Elson, M., Adeyemi, A., Haynes, K. Control of pathogenicity of Streptomyces diseases (common scab) in potato. 2002. BARC Poster Day. Abstract p. 49.

Wanner LA, Hofgaard IS, Lynnebakken N, Hageskal G, Tronsmo AM (2001) Why do isolates of Microdochium nivale vary in aggressiveness? 10th International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 10-14 July, 2001, University of Wisconsin, Madison [poster]

Laroche A, Wanner LA, Ergon Å, Shimosaka E (2001) Molecular characterization of freezing tolerance and snow mold resistance In: Low Temperature Plant Microbe Interactions Under Snow. N. Iriki, D. Gaudet, A. M. Tronsmo, N. Matsumoto, M. Yoshida, and A. Nishimune, Eds. Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station, publisher

Wanner LA, Lynnebakken N, Hageskal G, Hofgaard IS, Tronsmo AM (2000) Basis of differences in aggressiveness between Microdochium nivale isolates on rye grass. British Society for Plant Pathology Presidential Meeting 2000, 18-20 December, 2000. Wye College, UK [abstract, poster]

Hofgaard IS, Wanner LA, Tronsmo AM (2000) Effect of plant age on resistance to snow mould (Microdochium nivale) in rye grass and expression of PR genes. British Society for Plant Pathology Presidential Meeting 2000, 18-20 December, 2000. Wye College, UK [abstract, poster]

Tronsmo AM, Ergon Å, Hageskal G, Hofgaard IS, Hoshino T, Klemsdal SS, Lynnebakken N, Wanner L (2000) Variation between Microdochium nivale isolates. Is pathogenicity correlated with growth rate and molecular markers? Nordic Association of Agricultural Scientists Symposium on Plant and Microbe Adaptations to Winter Environments in Northern Areas 19-21 May, 2000. Akureyri, Iceland [abstract; oral presentation]

Wanner L, Hermansen A, Kalhovd A-H (1999) PCR-based detection of Mycocentrospora acerina in carrots, Scandinavian Association of Agricultural Sciences Congress XXI, Ås, Norway, 28 June-1 July 1999 [poster]

Hermansen A, Wanner L, Kalhovd A-H (1999) Nye metoder for påvisning av gulrotpatogen (translation: New methods for identifying pathogens of carrots) In: Grønn førskning 4/99 pp. 95-98 [Symposium volume]

Wanner L (1998) Light regulation of cold-induced frost hardiness in Arabidopsis. 9th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research. Madison, USA 24-28 June 1998. [poster]

Wanner L, Junttila O (1998) Light regulation of cold-induced frost hardiness in Arabidopsis. Amer. Soc. Plant Physiologists. Madison, USA 27 June-1 July 1998. [poster]

Wanner LA (1997) Light, molecular physiology and frost hardiness in Arabidopsis. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Plant-Microbe Interactions at Low Temperature under Snow. Northern Regional Center, Sapporo, Japan. [Symposium volume]

Wanner LA, Junttila O (1997) Light is required for Arabidopsis cold hardening, sugar and proline accumulation, but not for accumulation of several mRNAs. Finnish-Japanese Workshop "Molecular and physiological aspects of cold and chilling tolerance of northern crops" Agricultural Research Center of Finland, Jokioinen, Finland 17-21 March 1997. [Symposium volume]

Wanner LA, Junttila O (1997) Light is required for Arabidopsis cold hardening, sugar and proline accumulation, but not for accumulation of several mRNAs. Gordon Research Conference on Temperature Stress in Plants, Ventura, California USA 26-31 Jan. 1997. [poster]

Wanner LA, Junttila, O (1996) Carbohydrate mutants and cold hardening in Arabidopsis. Fifth International Plant Cold Hardiness Seminar, Corvallis, USA. 5-8 Aug. 1996. [poster]

Wanner LA, Junttila, O (1996) Ecotype variation in cold-induced frost hardiness in Arabidopsis. Fifth International Plant Cold Hardiness Seminar, Corvallis, USA 5-8 Aug, 1996 [poster]

Wanner LA, Junttila O (1995) Frost hardening in Arabidopsis thaliana: Effects of Light and Temperature. European Science Foundation Workshop on: Genes and Their Products for Tolerance to Physical Stresses in Plants. Maratea, Italy 24-27 September, 1995. [poster]

Wanner LA, Junttila O (1995) Mechanism of frost hardening in plant leaves. Symposium on Molecular Responses to Environmental Stress in Photosynthetic Organisms, Kronlund, Sweden 16-18 June, 1995. [poster]

Wanner LA, Puthoff DP, Paguirigan TV, Ware DW, Davis KR (1994) Recognition of bacterial avirulence genes by Arabidopsis thaliana. Seventh International Symposium for Plant-Microbe Interactions at the Univ. Edinburgh, Scotland, June 26-July 2, 1994. [poster]

Wanner LA, Mittal S, Davis KR (1993) Response of Arabidopsis thaliana to a Pseudomonas syringae pv glycinea avirulence gene. Molecular Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions Conference, Rutgers, New Jersey, April 1993. [poster]

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