Darin M. Eastburn, Associate Professor, Crop Sciences, University of Illinois

Primary Disciplines

Plant Pathology, Plant Pathogenic Fungi, Soilborne Diseases, and Diseases of Soybeans

Research

My research interests have focused primarily on diseases caused by soilborne fungi, and on the effects of environment on disease development. My research program has focused both on understanding what factors influence disease development, as well as evaluating potential disease management strategies. Current projects include evaluating the importance of soybean root system characteristics in development of sudden death syndrome on resistant and susceptible varieties of soybeans.

I am also conducting studies on the presence of dsRNA mycoviruses in fungal pathogens of soybeans, including Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines, and the effects these mycoviruses have on the biology and virulence of these pathogens.

Teaching

Plant Pathology 401 and 402

I currently teach the mycology section of Plant Pathology 401/402, "Biology and Ecology of Plant Pathogenic Fungi and Nematodes". The objective of this course is to present to students, up-to-date information concerning the nature of plant pathogenic fungi and nematodes, including the biology, ecology and mechanisms of pathogenicity. This course, along with PLPA 403, is an introductory course required of all MS and PhD students in the crop protection option of the Crop Sciences curriculum, and advanced training for undergraduates in the crop protection option. PLPA 401, the associated laboratory course (PLPA 402), and the companion course covering viruses and bacteria (PLPA 403), introduce interested students to the fundamental concepts of pathogen classification and biology that are needed for the additional 300 and 400 level courses in the Plant Protection option. Taxonomy of the important groups of pathogenic fungi is discussed, and the life cycles and pathogenic properties of representative pathogens are used to highlight the similarities and differences among the groups.

Plant Pathology 200

Go to the "Plants Pathogens and People" web site.

In Plant Pathology 200 students learn about our major crop plants and their most important diseases. These plant diseases also are used to introduce students to issues in agriculture, such as monoculture and genetic diversity, mycotoxins and food safety, pesticides and environmental quality, and genetic engineering and regulation of food production. Throughout the semester, students write papers about these issues. In each paper they are expected to present relevant factual material and to develop their own opinion on the issue. Many students who come into the class with firm convictions that "pesticides are bad" or "genetic engineering is good" or "the government regulates too much" reexamine the basis for their opinions while they become better informed about the science behind these issues. Plant Pathology 100 is taught each an audience of about 75 undergraduates who come from as many as eight different colleges of the university. Students who enroll can use the class to fulfill general education requirements in both natural science and composition. And we now have a "Plants Pathogens and People" web site that includes virtual lectures and laboratories on some of the topics covered in the course.

Crop Sciences 590

In Crop Sciences 590, Professionalism and Ethics in Agricultural and Natural Resource Science, Masters and PhD students explore topics in professionalism, and are encouraged to discuss the ethical dimensions of being a professional scientist. Core topics include student relationships with advisors, scientific writing and authorship, publishing scientific articles, oral presentations, teaching, search for a job, interviewing strategies, evaluating benefits, and conflict resolution. Other topics are selected by the students enrolled. Several of the presentations are made by guest speakers who are particularly knowledgeable about a topic. The course also includes weekly discussion sessions, where scenarios of situations which have ethical implications are presented as case studies. These can involve attribution of credit, conflict of interest, abuse of power, or other ethical dilemmas. As we discuss these issues, students begin to form or evaluate their own professional ethics. The goal of Crop Sciences 490 is to better prepare graduate students for careers as professional scientists.

Literature References

Articles In Refereed Journals

Hobbs, H.A., Eastburn, D.M., D'Arcy, C.J., Kindhart, J.D., Masiunas, J.B., Voegtlin, D.J., Weinzierl, R.A., and McCoppin, N.K. 2000. Solanaceous weeds as possible virus sources in southern Illinois for aphid transmission of cucumber mosaic virus to pepper. Plant Disease 84:1221-1224.
Khan, A., N. Atibalentja, and D. M. Eastburn. 2000. Influence of inoculum density of Verticillium dahliae on root discoloration of horseradish. Plant Disease 84:309-315.
Atibalentja, N., and D. M. Eastburn. 1998. Verticillium dahliae Resistance in Horseradish Germ Plasm from the University of Illinois Collection. Plant Disease 82:176-180.
Dal Soglio, F., K., B. L. Bertagnolli, J. B. Sinclair, and D. M. Eastburn. 1998. Production of chitinolytic enzymes and endoglucanase in the soybean rhizosphere in the presence of Trichoderma harzianum and Rhizoctonia solani. Biological Control 12:111-117.
Atibalentja, N., and D. M. Eastburn. 1997. Identification of sources of resistance to Verticillium dahliae from the University of Illinois horseradish germplasm collection. Plant Disease - in press.
Atibalentja, N. and D. M. Eastburn. 1997. Evaluation of inoculation methods for screening horseradish cultivars for resistance to Verticillium dahliae. Plant Disease 81:356-362.
Bottenberg, H., J. B. Masiunas, C. E. Eastman, and D. M. Eastburn. 1997. Yield and quality constraints of cabbage planted in rye mulch. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture - in press.
Bottenberg, H., J. B. Masiunas, C. E. Eastman, and D. M. Eastburn. 1997. The impact of rye cover crops on weeds, insects, and diseases in snap bean cropping systems. J. Sustainable Agriculture 9:131-155.
Masiunas, J. B., D. M. Eastburn, V. N. Mwaja, and C. E. Eastman. 1997. The impact of living and cover crop mulch systems on pests and yields of snap beans and cabbage. J. Sustainable Agriculture 9:61-89.

Video Tapes

Eastburn, D. M., L. A. McKee, and C. J. D'Arcy. 2000. Dutch elm disease and the American elm. APS Press.
Eastburn, D. M. and CJ D'Arcy. 1996. Late blight and the Irish potato famine. APS Press.

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