Dean Malvick

Dean Malvick is a Professor and Plant Pathology Leader at the University of Minnesota, affiliated with the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resource Systems within the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center. His career spans research and extension programs focused on fungal and Oomycete pathogens affecting field crops, particularly soybean and corn diseases such as sudden death syndrome, brown stem rot, Goss’s wilt, and corn tar spot.

• Education: PhD in Plant Pathology with a minor in Microbial Ecology (University of Minnesota, 1997); MS in Botany and Plant Pathology (Oregon State University, 1987); BS in Biology (Bemidji State University, 1983).

Research interests center on pathogen population dynamics, host-pathogen interactions, and molecular diagnostic development. Key projects include improving disease management strategies through problem-solving research, understanding associations between fungal pathogens and soybean, and validating molecular tools like qPCR and LAMP assays. Recent work highlights soybean root/stem diseases, corn tar spot, and fungicide efficacy monitoring.

Article trends reveal expertise in plant-microbe interactions, diagnostic techniques, and field-based disease management. Publications emphasize Phytophthora sojae, Fusarium virguliforme, and Phyllachora maydis, with applications in molecular detection, fungicide resistance, and predictive modeling.

Malvick collaborates with institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Corteva, Inc., securing grants from organizations such as the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council. His extension activities include educating producers and agricultural professionals on disease occurrence, diagnosis, and sustainable management practices.