The Thiessen lab studies diseases of tobacco and field crops to provide precision disease management strategies using next generation technologies to enable sustainable crop management and improve the biological understanding of economically important pathogens. To do this our lab uses molecular techniques (detection tools, microbiota analyses, and fungicide resistance genetics), applied techniques (clinical samples, field trials, greenhouse trials, chemistry assessments), and fundamental biology (pathogen characterization, identification of emerging pathogens, evolution and epidemiology studies) to generate new tools for producers. In addition to generating new management solutions, we work in collaboration with NC Cooperative Extension and with The North Carolina Plant Disease and Insect Clinic to diagnose diseases and provide recommendations on their management.
