معرفی
Derrick Mayfield is a Research Scientist III in the Department of Plant Pathology at Iowa State University. He serves as the Molecular Testing Lab Manager and Pathology Lab Manager, overseeing the Seed Health PCR laboratory since 2015. His roles include developing in-house protocols for seed health tests targeting pathogens such as pospiviroids, tobamoviruses, and Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum. Mayfield also provides research support for Seed Pathology and alternates as staff for the broader Seed Health Laboratory.
He holds a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Plant Pathology from Iowa State University, and is currently a Ph.D. student in Plant Pathology at the same institution. His educational background underscores his expertise in plant disease mechanisms and molecular diagnostics.
Mayfield’s research interests focus on molecular diagnostics of plant pathogens, seed health testing methodologies, and the ecology of Fusarium species in agricultural systems. He has contributed to advancing PCR-based protocols for detecting seedborne pathogens and evaluating treatments like fungicide nanoencapsulation to enhance seed protection. His work emphasizes improving seed safety through accreditation processes and harmonizing international seed testing standards.
He teaches courses such as PLP 594L Seed Pathology Lab and PLP 597 Lab Methods for Plant Pathology Research, as well as the National Seed Health System’s annual workshop. His contributions to plant pathology include studies on bacterial and fungal pathogens affecting maize, soybean, and other crops, with an emphasis on mycotoxin production and disease resistance.
Mayfield collaborates with labs and teams within Iowa State’s Seed Science Center and Department of Plant Pathology, contributing to interdisciplinary efforts in plant disease management and seed health systems.
