Krishna Subbarao

Krishna Subbarao is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis. He focuses on fungal diseases of vegetables, particularly Sclerotinia and Verticillium wilt pathogens. His research integrates ecology, epidemiology, and integrated pest management strategies to combat soilborne diseases. He is based in Salinas, CA, emphasizing practical solutions for agricultural challenges.

Research Interests:

• Fungal disease ecology and epidemiology
• Genetic resistance breeding in lettuce and cotton
• Pathogen population genetics
• Development of diagnostic tools for Verticillium species
• Role of plant-microbe interactions in disease suppression

Recent Research Trends: Recent work emphasizes molecular mechanisms of pathogen virulence, host resistance genetics, and biocontrol strategies. Key themes include Verticillium wilt's host specificity, Sclerotinia minor resistance in lettuce, and functional genomics of fungal effector proteins.

Grants & Outreach: As a Cooperative Extension specialist, Subbarao collaborates with growers to implement disease management practices. His work bridges laboratory discoveries with field applications, including crop rotation strategies and biopesticide evaluations.