Melvin Bolton

Biography

Melvin D. Bolton received his Ph.D. from the Department of Plant Pathology at NDSU in 2006. He is currently a research plant pathologist at the USDA – ARS Northern Crop Science Laboratory and an adjunct professor in the NDSU Department of Plant Pathology. Dr. Bolton specializes in the molecular biology of fungal diseases in sugar beet. Dr. Bolton’s basic research program utilizes proteomic and molecular techniques to aid in the identification and function of secreted effector proteins from sugar beet fungal and oomycete pathogens. Other research interests include the molecular basis of fungicide resistance, sugar beet gene and hormone profiling during compatible and incompatible interactions, and identification and characterization of new sugar beet pathogens. His applied research focuses on characterizing the interactions of several major sugar beet pathogens of sugar beet to facilitate the development of novel management practices and disease-resistant sugar beet germplasm. Prior to joining the USDA – ARS in Fargo, Dr. Bolton obtained training in the Department of Phytopathology at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and the USDA – ARS Plant Science Research Unit in St. Paul, MN. Dr. Bolton is assisted Ms. Xiaoyun Wang, Dr. Kathrin Bornemann, Ms. Zhuyun (Zoey) Bian, and Ms. Malaika Ebert.

Research Interest

Research interests include the molecular basis of fungicide resistance, sugar beet gene and hormone profiling during compatible and incompatible interactions, and identification and characterization of new sugar beet pathogens.