Amara R. (Camp) Dunn

Dunn

Amara R. (Camp) Dunn

Barton Lab, 630 W. North St., Geneva, NY 14456

office phone: 315-787-2426 email:

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Education:

Ph.D. / 2014 / Dr. Christine Smart, committee chair, minors in Fungal & Oomycete Biology and Horticultural Crop Management Systems, Cornell University
M.S. / 2009 / Drs. Helene Dillard and Christine Smart, committee co-chairs, minor in Horticulture, Cornell University
B.S. / 2005 / Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA, graduated Summa Cum Laude

Professional Experience:

2014 - present / Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Section of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University, NYSAES
My postdoctoral research focuses on the biology and management of the white mold pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This includes: (1) testing the efficacy of control strategies (including fungicides); (2) quantifying the genotypic diversity of S. sclerotiorum within and between fields in New York State; and (3) monitoring New York isolates of S. sclerotiorum for resistance to commonly-used fungicides.
2010 - 2014 / Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University, NYSAES
The goal of my dissertation research was to improve management of Phytophthora blight (caused by Phytophthora capsici) by: (1) investigating how high levels of diversity are maintained in populations of P. capsici; (2) visualizing how P. capsici physically interacts with roots of susceptible and tolerant pepper plants; and (3) determining which Phytophthora blight-tolerant sweet pepper varieties are best suited for production in New York State.
2009-2010 / Technician, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University, NYSAES
2006-2009 / Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University, NYSAES
My thesis research focused on improved understanding and management of Phytophthora blight in New York. I conducted greenhouse and field studies to test a potential biological control agent, and field variety trials on peppers and squash to evaluate host tolerance to P. capsici. In addition, I tested isolates of P. capsici collected from farms around New York State for sensitivity to mefenoxam, a fungicide commonly used to control P. capsici. This work resulted in recommendations to growers about the efficacy of using this fungicide in their fields. Finally, I evaluated the genotypic diversity and population structure of P. capsici in New York by genotyping these isolates using microsatellite markers. This resulted in a better understanding of the movement of P. capsici around the state.
2006-2007 / Teaching Assistant, BIO G 103-104: Introductory Biology Laboratory, Cornell University (two semesters)
- Demonstrating and introducing laboratory exercises to undergraduate students
- Supervising and assisting students as they complete activities
- Writing and grading quizzes and tests and assigning semester grades
- Meeting with students individually to improve their understanding of course materials
2005-2006 / Farm Assistant and Outreach Coordinator, Grow Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Assisting with the daily functioning of a 2-acre organic vegetable farm, including planting and maintaining crops, and harvesting vegetables for farmer’s markets and a CSA
- Supervising youth and adult volunteers as they completed basic garden maintenance tasks
- Planning, implementing, and maintaining a small kitchen garden at a local community organization and teaching local high school interns how to harvest vegetables from the garden for use in a local cafe

Professional Societies and Service:

Student Association of the Geneva Experiment Station (SAGES) Scholarship Committee (2008-2009, 2011-2014) Awards two scholarships annually to local high school students planning to study agriculture after graduation

Prospective Student Committee, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Graduate Student Association, 2011-2014

Volunteer at Fun on the Farm (2013) and Empire Farm Days (2009 and 2011), discussing detection, identification, and management of plant diseases with the public

Volunteer at the NYSAES 125th Anniversary Open House, 2007

New Student Committee, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Graduate Student Association, 2006-2008

Member, American Phytopathological Society

Refereed Publications:

Dunn, A. R., Bruening, S. R., Grünwald, N. J., and Smart, C. D. Evolution of an experimental population of Phytophthora capsici in the field. Phytopathology 104:1107-1117.

Summers, C.F., Park, S. Dunn, A.R., Rong, X., Everts, K.L., Kleinhenz, M.D., McSpadden Gardener, B., and Smart, C.D. 2014. Fungal and oomycete pathogen detection in the rhizosphere of organic tomatoes grown in cover crop-treated soils. Applied Soil Ecology 80:44-50.

Dunn, A.R., Lange, H.W., and Smart, C.D. 2014. Evaluation of commercial bell pepper cultivars for resistance to Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici). Plant Health Progress 15:19-24

Summers, C.F., Park, S., Dunn, A.R., Rong, X., Everts, K.L., Meyer, S.L.F., Rupprecht, S.M., Kleinhenz, M.D., McSpadden Gardener, B., and Smart, C.D. Single season effects of mixed-species cover crops on tomato healthy (cultivar Celebrity) in multi-state field trials. 2014. Applied Soil Ecology 77:51-58

Dunn, A.R., Wyatt, L.E., Mazourek, M., Reiners, S., and Smart, C.D. (2013) Performance and tolerance to Phytophthora blight of bell pepper varieties. HortTechnology. 23(3):382-390

Wyatt, L.E., Dunn, A.R., Falise, M., Reiners, S., Jahn, M., Smart, C.D., and Mazourek, M. (2013) Red harvest yield and fruit characteristics of Phytophthora capsici-resistant bell pepper inbred lines in New York. HortTechnology 23(3):356–363

Dunn, A.R., Fry, B.A., Lee, T.Y., Conley, K.D., Balaji, V. Fry, W.E., McLeod, A., and Smart, C.D. (2013) Transformation of Phytophthora capsici with genes for green and red fluorescent protein for use in visualizing plant-pathogen interactions. Australasian Plant Pathology 42:583-593

Dunn, A.R., Milgroom, M.G., Meitz, J.C., McLeod, A., Fry, W.E., McGrath, M.T., Dillard, H.R., and Smart, C.D. 2010. Population structure and resistance to mefenoxam of Phytophthora capsici in New York State. Plant Disease 94:1461-1468

Camp, A.R., Dillard, H. R., and Smart, C. D. 2008. Efficacy of Muscodor albus for the control of Phytophthora blight of sweet pepper and butternut squash. Plant Disease 92:1488-1492

Extension and Outreach Activities:

Geneva Boys and Girls Club: Assisted middle school students in gardening activities at the Geneva Community Center during an after school program (Spring 2013 and 2014).

2013 Empire State Producers Expo (formerly Fruit and Vegetable Expo): Co-organized a 2-hour session on disease and pest management in vine crops. Speakers included: Celeste Welty (Dept. of Entomology, The Ohio State Univeristy), Tom Zitter (Dept. of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology), Meg McGrath (Dept. of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology), and Chris Smart (Dept. of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology). The session was attended by approximately 100 people.

2012 Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo: Organized a 2-hour session on managing Phytophthora blight. Speakers included: Michael Mazourek (Dept. of Plant Breeding and Genetics), Bob Muth (Muth Family Farm, Pitman, NJ), Steve Reiners (Dept. of Horticulture), Don Sweet (independent crop consultant, Henrietta, NY), and myself. The session was attended by approximately 100 people.

Phytophthora blight website: Created content for and maintained website to share information with vegetable growers about Phytophthora blight and how to manage it (2010-present): http://phytophthora.pppmb.cals.cornell.edu/

Elementary Science Outreach: Assisted annually with the Elementary Science Outreach Program at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station and Geneva elementary school. Activities included presenting basic concepts of plant pathology to local third grade students, assisting with classroom activities, and planting the school vegetable garden. 2007-present

Kids College: Visiting speaker during Kids College at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY. Led activity with students entering 3rd through 8th grades, investigating food sources for yeast. 21-22 July 2008

Tompkins County 4-H Environmental Appreciation Days: Co-taught a 50-minute lesson for 5th and 6th grade students, introducing them to the idea that “Plants get sick, too.” 7-8 May 2007

Published Abstracts and Technical Articles:

Dunn, A.R. and Smart, C.D. (2013) Attachment and germination of Phytophthora capsici zoospores on roots of susceptible and resistant peppers. Phytopathology 103:S2.37

Dunn, A.R. and Smart, C.D. (2012) Monitoring changes in population structure of an isolated research population of Phytophthora capsici. Phytopathology 102:S4.32

Strauss, J., Cobb, A.C., Camp, A.R., Smart, C.D. and Dillard, H.R. (2010) Evaluation of fungicides and a biocontrol agent for management of Phytophthora blight in snap beans, 2009. Plant Disease Management Reports (online) Report 4:V87. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN

Camp, A.R., Milgroom, M.G., Meitz, J.C., McLeod, A., Fry, W.E., McGrath, M.T., Dillard, H.R. and Smart, C.D. (2010) Phytophthora capsici in New York State: Resistance to mefenoxam and population structure. Phytopathology 100:S20

Camp, A.R., Lange, H.W., Reiners, S. and Smart, C.D. (2010) Sowing the Seeds of Science. Phytopathology 100:S20

Camp, A.R., Lange, H.W., Reiners, S., Dillard, H.R., and Smart, C.D. (2009) Tolerance of hot and sweet pepper lines to Phytophthora blight, 2008. Plant Disease Management Reports (online). Report 3:V018. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN

Camp, A.R., Lange, H.W., Reiners, S., Dillard, H.R., and Smart, C.D. (2009) Tolerance of summer and winter squash lines to Phytophthora blight, 2008. Plant Disease Management Reports (online). Report 3:V022. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN

Camp, A.R., Lange, H.W., Dillard, H.R., and Smart, C.D. (2008) Efficacy of Muscodor albus and the fungicide EF400 for control of Phytophthora blight on winter squash, 2007. Plant Disease Management Reports (online). Report 2:V132. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN

Camp, A.R., Lange, H.W., Dillard, H.R., and Smart, C.D. (2008) Efficacy of Muscodor albus for control of Phytophthora blight on bell pepper and winter squash in a greenhouse, 2007. Plant Disease Management Reports (online). Report 2:V131. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN

Extension Publications:

Dunn, A.R., Reiners, S., and Smart, C.D. (2013) Choosing bell pepper varieties to maximize Phytophthora tolerance and yield. Veg Edge Vol. 9, issue 5. Cooperative Extension Publication, Cornell University

Dunn, A.R. and Smart, C.D. (2012) Fungicide resistance found in Phytophthora blight isolates from WNY. Veg Edge Vol. 8, issue 4. Cooperative Extension Publication, Cornell University

Dunn, A.R. Smart, C.D., Reiners, S., Mazourek, M. (2012) Comparing yield and disease incidence among Phytophthora tolerant sweet peppers. Proceedings of the 2012 Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo

Smart, C.D., Dunn, A.R., Jones, L.A. and Lange, H.W. (2011) Management strategies for Phytophthora blight. Proceedings of the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention (pp. 81-82)

Dunn, A.R. Smart, C.D., Mazourek, M., Lange, H. (2011) Update on Phytophthora resistant variety trials. Proceedings of the 2011 Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo

Camp, A.R., Dillard, H.R., McGrath, M.T., Smart, C.D. (2010) Phytophthora blight pathogen’s potential to survive, spread, and develop fungicide resistance in New York. Veg Edge Vol. 6, issue 3. Cooperative Extension Publication, Cornell University

Camp, A.R. Reiners, S., Smart, C.D. (2010) Summer squash and pepper variety trials for resistance to Phytophthora blight in upstate New York. Veg Edge Vol. 6, issue 3. Cooperative Extension Publication, Cornell University

Dillard, H.R., Straus, J., Cobb, A., Camp, A., Smart, C., Ballerstein, J., and Reiners, S. (2010) Molds! Gray, white and Phytophthora blight. Proceedings of the 2010 Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo (pp. 46-47)

Smart, C.D., Lange, H.W., Camp, A.R., Reiners, S., Dillard, H.R., and Gu, J. (2009) Look out for Phytophthora blight on beans. Proceedings of the 2009 Fruit and Vegetable Expo (p. 97)

Smart, C.D. and Camp, A.R. (2009) The facts about Phytophthora blight. Fact sheet on the vegetable disease Phytophthora blight including symptoms, pathogen biology, mechanisms of spread and control strategies; handed out at the bean and dry bean research meetings and the organic production program work team meeting in 2009, and is also available on-line: http://phytophthora.pppmb.cals.cornell.edu/images/resources/Pcap brochure 03-01-11.pdf

Smart, C.D. and Camp, A.R. (2009) Seed Treatments. Handout provided at the Greenhouse Bacterial Disease Control workshops in eastern NY. 23-24 February 2009. This was reproduced in several newsletters.

Camp, A.R. and Smart, C. D. (2009) Using biological products to grow healthy transplants. Handout at NOFA NY transplant production meeting, January 2009

Smart, C. D., Camp, A. R., Dillard, H. R. and Reiners, S. (2008) What’s the latest on Phytophthora blight of vine crops? Proceedings of the 2008 Fruit and Vegetable Expo (pp. 134-135)

Research Presentations:

Dunn, A.R. (2014 Towards improved management of Phytophthora capsici: a journey of a thousand peppers starts with a few rotten squash. Seminar given at Cornell University, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology. 25 March 2014

Dunn, A.R. (2014) Phytophthora capsici: In the field and under the microscope. Seminar given at the Ohio State University, OARDC Department of Plant Pathology. 10 February 2014

Dunn, A.R. and Smart, C.D. (2013) Attachment and germination of Phytophthora capsici zoospores on roots of susceptible and resistant peppers. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society in Austin, TX. 11 August 2013

Dunn, A.R. and Smart, C.D. (2012) Monitoring changes in population structure of an isolated research population of Phytophthora capsici. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society in Providence, RI. 6 August 2012

Dunn, A.R. (2011) Host resistance and pathogen population structure: Two approaches to improved management of Phytophthora blight in New York State. Seminar given at the Pennsylvania State University Department of Plant Pathology. 31 October 2011

Camp, A.R. (2009) Knowing is half the battle: Biology and management of Phytophthora capsici in New York. Department seminar series, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University. 10 March 2009, Geneva, NY

Camp, A.R., Lange, H.W., Dillard, H.R., and Smart, C.D. (2008) Efficacy of Muscodor albus for control of Phytophthora blight on bell pepper and butternut squash in the greenhouse. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society in Minneapolis, MN. 26-30 July 2008

Extension Presentations:

Dunn, A.R., Kikkert, J., Ballerstein, J., Reiners, S., Pethybridge, S.J. (2014) Fungicide-based management of white mold of snap bean. Processing Snap and Lima Bean Advisory Meeting in Geneva, NY on 17 December. Approximately 35 people in attendance.

Dunn, A.R. Smart, C.D., Reiners, S., Mazourek, M. (2012) Comparing yield and disease incidence among Phytophthora tolerant sweet peppers. 2012 Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo in Syracuse, NY on 25 January. Approximately 100 growers were in attendance.