K-State professor named Fellow of phytopathological society

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Source: Barbara Valent, 785-532-2336, bvalent@k-state.edu
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/MediaGuide/bvalentbio.html
News release prepared by: Adam Holste, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

K-STATE PROFESSOR NAMED FELLOW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University professor has been named a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society.

Barbara Valent, university distinguished professor of plant pathology, received the award for research work she has done with rice blast disease. Valent, a fungal molecular geneticist, researches the molecular genetics of pathogenicity and resistance in the Magnaporthe grisea-rice pathosystem. She is working toward better understanding how fungi make plants sick and how plants try to defend themselves. Her long-term goal is to make plants more disease resistant.

Valent has traveled extensively in Asia and Latin America where rice blast is a major problem. She also has had the opportunity to travel throughout the United States and the world.

"I go to other countries where rice is a big part of their lives," Valent said. "I work with other scientists studying plant diseases. I attend meetings, present seminars at universities and interact with students. I love to talk with students."

The American Phytopathological Society is a scientific, nonprofit organization that promotes the study and control of diseases in plants. Only about one-fourth of 1 percent of its members are honored as Fellows.

Valent, who has authored or co-authored more than 70 publications, received her bachelor's degree in chemistry and her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She came to K-State in October 2001. She previously worked for DuPont Agricultural Products as the technical leader of the genetic disease resistance program.