SDSU Small Grains and Biomass-Grass Pathology

Background & Contact Information

Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D.
(Principal Investigator)
Associate Professor

Jeff came to SDSU as the Principle Investigator of the Small Grains Pathology program in September, 2004. His appointment is split research and teaching, with a research emphasis on the diseases of importance to small grains production in South Dakota. He teaches PS334 (Diseases of Horticultural Crops) and team-teaches PS714 (Genetics of Disease Resistance and Host Pathogen Interactions) and PS450/550 (Field Diagnosis of Plant Diseases).

Jeff received his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Michigan State University in 2002. He is married (Kim) and has two daughters, Abigail and Isabel.

107 PSB, Box 2108
1205 Jackrabbit Dr.
Brookings, SD 57007
p: 605-688-5540
f: 605-688-4024

Chris joined the program in May, 2006. His work focuses on the scab of wheat and barley, stem rust of cereals and the screening of wheat breeding material for resistance to tan spot, rust, and root/foot rot. Chris graduated from SDSU in May '06 with a B.S. degree in Animal Science. Chris' wife Michelle is the Ag Education Instructor and FFA advisor for Brookings High School.

103 PSB, Box 2108
1205 Jackrabbit Dr.
Brookings, SD 57007
p: 605-688-5158
f: 605-688-4024

Vivek Gupta, M.S.
Ph.D. Student

Vivek joined the program in January, 2008. His research focuses on the modeling and integrated management of stem rust of wheat and barley. Vivek received his M.S. in 1997 from the Department of Plant Pathology CCS HAU, Hisar in India where he studied the Management of Alternaria Leaf Spot of Clusterbean.

154 PSB, Box 2108
1205 Jackrabbit Dr.
Brookings, SD 57007
p: 605-688-6661
f: 605-688-4024

Krystle Ness
M.S. Student

Krystle joined the program in May, 2007. Her research focuses on discovering the pathogens of Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), a biomass grass under domestication by forage crop researchers in the Plant Science Department. Krystle graduated from the Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape, and Parks Department at SDSU.

154 PSB, Box 2108
1205 Jackrabbit Dr.
Brookings, SD 57007
p: 605-688-6661
f: 605-688-4024

Past Program Employees

Lawrence Osborne, Ph.D.
(was Research Associate II)

Larry was with the program for eight years. His work focused on the epidemiology of Fusarium head blight and he also worked on nematode and fungal ecology in farming systems. He earned his M.S. in Plant Pathology from The University of Nebraska (Go Huskers!) and his Ph.D in Plant Science at SDSU. Larry's wife, Dr. Shannon Osborne is a Research Agronomist with USDA-ARS in Brookings.

Larry recently joined the faculty of the department as the Extension Plant Pathologist. Visit his site for more information.

Cindie joined the Small Grains Pathology program in March, 2005 and worked primarily on the screening of breeding lines for resistance to various diseases. She also developed a system to control soil moisture in greenhouse grown wheat plants.