The Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology continued its Fall Seminar Series with an excellent seminar from Ekkachai Khwanbua, a Plant Pathology PhD Student. Approximately thirty faculty, staff, students, and guests attended the seminar on November 11th to learn about the effects of rising CO2 levels on plant physiology and disease susceptibility. The seminar allowed Khwanbua to present his research findings before his upcoming graduation.
Khwanbua investigated how changes in atmospheric CO2 affect the physiology of soybeans and maize, as well as their susceptibility to various pathogens. Plants were grown under ambient CO2 conditions (419 parts per million (ppm) for soybeans and 420 ppm for maize) and under elevated CO2 conditions (550 ppm). His findings suggested that disease outcomes varied depending on the specific pant-pathogen interaction. Understanding how rising CO2 levels influence crop health can help plant pathologists better predict and manage future disease developments
Audience members enjoyed Khwanbua’s seminar and recognized the important impacts his research addressed. Graduate student Luke Huggins said Khwanbua did a “great job describing plant physiology and plant-microbe interactions.” Research scientist Weihui Xu enjoyed learning about Khwanbua’s “research on plant-pathogen interactions.
The PPEM Fall Seminar Series continues to showcase the outstanding research conducted by graduate students in the department. On November 18th, the series will continue with an exit seminar present by M.S. Entomology Student Jarod Perez titled “Can Prairie Strips be a Valuable, Novel Location for Iowa Beekeepers?”