Linda Hanson

Linda Hanson, Ph.D. is a USDA-ARS Plant Pathologist and Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University (MSU), affiliated with the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences within the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. She specializes in soil-borne pathogens, particularly fungal pathogens affecting sugar beet and rotation crops, with emphasis on disease diversity and cropping system interactions. Her work integrates mycology, genetics, and agricultural practices to address challenges in crop disease management.

Education:

• B.S. in Botany, University of Washington
• M.S. in Plant Pathology, Michigan State University
• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology with minors in Mycology and Genetics, Cornell University

Research Interests:

• Soil-borne fungal pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium spp., Cercospora beticola)
• Disease resistance mechanisms in sugar beet and table beet
• Fungicide resistance monitoring and management
• Crop rotation strategies to mitigate disease pressure
• Agroecological approaches to sustainable disease control

Publications Trends: Her research focuses on fungal pathogen biology, disease epidemiology, and integrated management strategies. Key themes include Cercospora beticola population dynamics, fungicide resistance surveillance, and spatial-temporal analysis of disease outbreaks in sugar beet and table beet systems.

Advising & Grants: While no formal advisee names are listed, her collaborative research involves extensive partnerships with USDA-ARS, MSU, and industry stakeholders. Projects include disease monitoring networks, fungicide efficacy trials, and sugar beet germplasm development.

Labs & Affiliations:

• USDA-ARS Sugarbeet and Bean Research Unit (East Lansing, MI)
• Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center (Frankenmuth, MI)
• Plant Biology Laboratory at MSU