Room 312
Devanshi Khokhani, PhD (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota
Saint Paul, MN, USA
Devanshi Khokhani, PhD (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota
Saint Paul, MN, USA
APS Committee Sponsoring the Proposed Session: Bacteriology
Biological Control
External Group Support/Co-Organization: None
Description: Gram-positive bacteria play a unique dual role in plant health, acting as both friends (beneficial microorganisms) and foes (pathogens). Beneficial genera such as Bacillus, Streptomyces, and Paenibacillus have plant-growth-promoting and biocontrol capabilities, enhancing crop productivity and resilience to stress. On the other hand, pathogenic genera such as Clavibacter are responsible for devastating diseases, including quarantine-restricted pathogens that threaten global agriculture by reducing yields and economic sustainability.
While Gram-positive bacterial pathogens are fewer than their Gram-negative counterparts, their impacts are significant. Recent advances have shed light on their virulence mechanisms, host-pathogen molecular interactions, transmission routes, and the genetic resistance strategies that crops employ. Similarly, research into beneficial Gram-positive bacteria has unveiled their potential for sustainable agricultural practices, such as integrated pest management (IPM), early pathogen detection, and biotechnological applications in breeding disease-resistant crop varieties.
This session offers value to a broad APS audience, including researchers, educators, and practitioners working on bacterial plant pathogens, plant-microbe interactions, and biocontrol approaches to control plant diseases.
Plant Health 2025 Theme: Global Challenges and Disease Management
The proposed session highlights the global agricultural impact of Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, addressing their role in reducing crop yields and economic sustainability. This aligns with the theme's focus on combating the spread of plant diseases across borders.
Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Exploring beneficial Gram-positive bacteria for biocontrol and plant-growth promotion aligns with the APS goal of promoting sustainable and integrated pest management practices.
Collaboration Across Disciplines
By bringing together experts to discuss both the pathogenic and beneficial roles of Gram-positive bacteria, the proposal embodies the collaborative and interdisciplinary approach APS 2025 seeks to foster.
Translational Research for Practical Solutions
The focus on translational approaches—linking fundamental research to applied practices—directly supports the APS 2025 theme of leveraging scientific innovation to address real-world challenges in plant health.
Speaker: Chang-Sik Oh (he/him/his) – Seoul National University, Korea
Speaker: Devanshi Khokhani, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Minnesota
Speaker: Sharon L. Doty, PhD – School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington
Speaker: John S. Bennett, PhD – USDA ARS