Plantopia

The Doctor who chose plant health over human medicine

In this episode, Dr. Melanie Medina López, postdoctoral researcher in the Roman-Reyna Lab in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State University, joins host Matt Kasson to discuss phytobiomes, soybean cyst nematode, and biocontrol. She also discusses growing up in Puerto Rico, her time working on vaccine development, and her love of science. *Show Notes * Dr. Melanie Medina López PSU profile: https://plantpath.psu.edu/directory/mkm6528 [https://plantpath.psu.edu/directory/mkm6528] Dr. Melanie Medina López google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tegwxa8AAAAJ&hl=en [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tegwxa8AAAAJ&hl=en] This episode is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com]. Special Guest: Melanie Medina López.

Searching for Plantopia's New Host / Co-Host

In this episode, former Plantopia host, Jim Bradeen, joins host Matt Kasson to discuss the origins and current state of APS's Plant Health podcast. In addition to providing a behind the scenes look of putting together a single episode, they also discuss some of their favorite memories and where they see the podcast headed as the search for a new host / co-host gets underway. *show notes * Featured episodes Going Viral: https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/64 [https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/64] Plant Pathology 101: https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/47 [https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/47] Of Peeps and People…and Plant Pathology: https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/25 [https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/25] Arms Race Part 1: Ug99: https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/1 [https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/1] This episode is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com]. Special Guest: Jim Bradeen.

Lobbying for Plant Health: A conversation with D.C. lobbyist Madeline Wade

In this episode, D.C. lobbyist Madeline Wade, M.P.P., partner and founder of Brumidi Group, joins host Matt Kasson to discuss all things lobbying including her firm’s role in working on behalf of APS to advance their policy priorities and implement meaningful policy actions. She also discusses her time on The Hill working under U.S. Representative Greg Walden, navigating the crowded D.C. political ecosystem, and the role of social media and its influence on political discourse. *Show Notes * Madeline Wade’s Brumidi Group profile: https://www.brumidigroup.com/madeline-wade [https://www.brumidigroup.com/madeline-wade] Madeline Wade’s Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-wade-a2419639 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-wade-a2419639] This episode is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com]. Special Guest: Madeline Wade.

A Conversation With Four Clinic Directors Behind The National Plant Diagnostic Network

In this episode, Dr. Carrie Harmon (University of Florida), Dr. Matt Bertone (North Carolina State University), Dr. Alicyn Smart (University of Maine), and Dr. Peng Tian (University of Missouri) join host Matt Kasson to discuss the history and importance of National Plant Diagnostic Network, their various roles in the NPDN and the regional diagnostic networks, and their responsibilities as Directors of their University’s Plant Disease and Pest Diagnostic Clinics. They also discuss some of the misconceptions of diagnostics and share some of the craziest samples they’ve encountered. *Show Notes * NPDN Website: https://www.npdn.org/ [https://www.npdn.org/] Dr. Carrie Harmon’s University profile: https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty-pages/carrie-harmon/ [https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty-pages/carrie-harmon/] UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center: https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/plant-diagnostic-center/ [https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/plant-diagnostic-center/] Dr. Matt Bertone’s University profile: https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/profile/matt-bertone/ [https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/profile/matt-bertone/] NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic: https://pdic.ces.ncsu.edu/ [https://pdic.ces.ncsu.edu/] Dr. Alicyn Smart’s University profile: https://extension.umaine.edu/about/staff-directory/alicyn-smart/ [https://extension.umaine.edu/about/staff-directory/alicyn-smart/] The University of Maine Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab: https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/plant-disease/ [https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/plant-disease/] Dr. Peng Tian’s University profile: https://cafnr.missouri.edu/directory/peng-tian-phd/ [https://cafnr.missouri.edu/directory/peng-tian-phd/] University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/plant-diagnostic-clinic [https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/plant-diagnostic-clinic] This episode is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com]. Special Guests: Peng Tian, Alicyn Smart, Carrie Harmon, and Matt Bertone.

Field of Dreams: Plant Pathology in the Corn State

In this episode, Dr. Alejandro Olmedo-Velarde, Assistant Professor of Host-Microbe Interactions in the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his lab’s research program on multi-trophic interactions in vector-borne diseases in corn, soybean, and other crops. He also discusses growing up in Ecuador, his time working on numerous tropical plant viruses in Hawaii and transitioning to working with fastidious prokaryotes and diverse disease vectors. *show notes * Dr. Olmedo-Velarde’s Iowa State University profile: https://www.ppem.iastate.edu/people/alejandro-olmedo-velarde [https://www.ppem.iastate.edu/people/alejandro-olmedo-velarde] Dr. Olmedo-Velarde's lab website: https://faculty.sites.iastate.edu/aolmedov/ [https://faculty.sites.iastate.edu/aolmedov/] Dr. Olmedo-Velarde’s google scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rBzKiKQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rBzKiKQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao] This episode is produced by Association Briefings [https://associationbriefings.com]. Special Guest: Alejandro Olmedo-Velarde.