Graduate student
Cornell University
Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
Ithaca, NY 14853

2004 fall-present PhD student, Plant Pathology; Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University

1994 M.S. Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University,Taichung, Taiwan 1992 B.S. Plant Pathology National Chung Hsing University ,Taichung, Taiwan

Graduate Advisor: Eric B. Nelson

Research Focus   

My work is aimed at trying to determine the microbial communities responsible for suppression of Pythium damping-off in the presence of compost amended disease suppressive soils. Of particular importance are bacterial communities colonizing seeds during the first 8 hours of seed germination. Pythium ultimum infects seeds within 4-8 hr after planting and it is believed that specific microbial communities that may impart disease suppressive properties. The major hypothesis being tested in my work is that hosts are associated with specific microbial communities, which support the suppression of Pythium damping-off. Based on different temporal and quantitative release of seed exudates, cucumber, wheat and pea are chosen to test whether they support suppressiveness of Pythium damping-off on sewage sludge compost. Then demonstrate and determine seed colonizing microbial communities contributing to suppressiveness. Furthermore, I hope to understand the mechanisms by which of those microbial communities which interfere with P. ultimum sporgania germination.

Professional Experience   

July 1999-Aug 2004 - Assistant Plant Pathologist of the Agricultural Research Institute, Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., conducting research on mushroom breeding and cultivation

Awards and Honors    

2003 - Government Scholarship for Studying Abroad (sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan)

1.Chen, M. H., Peng, J. T., Chen, J. T., & Chien, S. Y. 2003. Effects of some factors on the fruiting characteristics of Lepista nuda (Bull.:Fr.) Cooke. Jour. Agric. Res. 52(2): 97-104. (In Chinese with English Abstract)

2.Peng, J. T., Dai, M. C., Tsai, Y. F., Chen, M. H., & Chen, J. T. 2001. Selection and breeding of king oyster mushroom. Jour. Agric. Res. 50(4):43-58. (In English)

3.Chen, M. H., Peng, J. T., & Chen, J. T. 2001. Study on the culture improvement of Lepista nuda (Bull.:Fr.) Cooke. Jour. Agric. Res. 50(1):12-21. (In Chinese with English Abstract)