معرفی
Amy Charkowski is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Biology at Colorado State University (CSU), located in Fort Collins, Colorado. Her research focuses on understanding how necrotrophic bacterial pathogens like Pectobacterium and Dickeya infect plants, particularly potatoes, and developing methods to detect these pathogens in tubers and the environment. She also investigates potato viruses such as Potato virus Y (PVY) and explores strategies for resistance and detection. Charkowski teaches Topics in Plant Pathology: Plant Bacteriology, covering bacterial-plant interactions and disease mechanisms. Her lab is located in the Plant Sciences Building, and she actively collaborates with the CSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic.
Her research emphasizes integrated approaches, including genomic analysis, metabolomics, and field trials to address plant disease challenges. Key projects include identifying genetic factors in wild potato species (Solanum chacoense) that confer resistance to bacterial pathogens and optimizing molecular diagnostic tools for rapid disease detection. Charkowski’s work also addresses practical agricultural issues, such as managing powdery scab through soil amendments and crop rotation, and evaluating the efficacy of chemical treatments for pathogen control.
Charkowski’s contributions extend to outreach and education, including workshops on disease management and collaborative efforts with growers. Her research has implications for sustainable agriculture, crop resilience, and global food security, particularly in managing emerging pathogens like Dickeya dianthicola, responsible for devastating blackleg and soft rot in potato crops.
