New Plant Pathologist Joins Plant Sciences

Published: November 3, 2017

Greetings Missouri agricultural stakeholders! I am Kaitlyn Bissonnette, and as of October 16th, I am your new MU Extension Field Crop Plant Pathologist serving the state of Missouri. I come to you from Iowa State University where I was a postdoctoral research associate working on applied management of soybean cyst nematode with nematode-protectant seed treatments. In that position, my responsibilities also included participation in a region-wide extension effort to raise awareness about SCN and promote improved pest management practices. Prior to Iowa State, I completed my PhD at the University of Illinois where my research focused on the use of integrated disease management practices to manage Fusarium mycotoxins in winter wheat. Additionally, my experience at Illinois included work on disease management trials for corn, soybeans, and oat. Here in Missouri, I have statewide Extension responsibilities in disease management of field crops and forages. In the coming months (and beyond), I look forward to meeting with many of you and working together to serve the needs of Missouri agriculture.