EMSL Scientist’s Work on Gnomoniopsis Fungi Gets Noticed

Dr. Mikhail Sogonov coauthors published research to help forest and plant pathologists identify hardwood and crop fungi related to chestnut blight fungus.

Cinnaminson, NJ

Chestnut blight fungus was introduced to the United States from Asia sometime in the first decade of the 1900s. Within 30 to 40 years most of America’s mature chestnut trees had been wiped out by the disease caused by the fungus.

There is a group of fungi that includes the species that caused the chestnut blight. Gnomoniopsis are leaf and stem inhabiting pyrenomycetes that infect plants. The class of fungi causes extensive crop loss and the research by Dr. Sogonov and several other researchers recently shed new light on the identification of these important fungi.

The research was accepted earlier this year by the peer reviewed journal, Mycologia. According to the interpretive summary it, “…describes and illustrates all fungal species in a genus related to the chestnut blight fungus. Many of these species occur on hardwood trees and herbaceous plants in North America, although most of them do not cause serious diseases. This research provides descriptions and illustrations of these fungi along with a key for identification. In addition, relationships between these species have been determined based on DNA sequences.”

Dr. Sogonov began his passion for understanding fungi in his native Russia. He earned his doctorate degree at Moscow State University before coming to the United States. He has authored numerous publications and has taught or mentored at both Moscow State University and Rutgers University. His research has been presented at conferences around the globe from Russia to Australia.

EMSL, one of the nation’s largest environmental microbiology testing laboratories, has put Dr. Sogonov’s years of experience working along with a team of other Ph.D. microbiologists to work in their renowned Mycology Department. “Dr. Sogonov’s scientific research has been instrumental in allowing other scientists to better understand many types of fungi,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President for EMSL Analytical, Inc. “The benefit to EMSL’s clients is tremendous and he has once again helped take research from academia into the world of commercial environmental microbiology.”

For more information about fungal research into Gnomoniopsis or other environmental testing please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, visit www.EMSL.com or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of quality environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

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EMSL Analytical, Inc.

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