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Plant Disease Ecology
Ecological Genomics
Biodiversity Resource Science



Karnal bunt epidemiology

Karnal bunt of wheat is one interesting and important example of complexity in invasive potential. We have modeled the likely impact of an Allee effect, or reduced per capita reproductive success at low populations, for this pathogen (Garrett and Bowden 2002). We have recently developed a new turning point analysis of empirical data demonstrating the Allee effect in this system, which provides a general approach for analysis of Allee effects in microbes that can span wide ranges of population sizes.

These projects are supported by the USDA

Collaborators on these projects include:

Bob Bowden, USDA-ARS
Karen Garrett, Kansas State University
Indu Sharma, Punjab Agricultural University
R. C. Sharma, Punjab Agricultural University

Relevant Publications

K. A. Garrett and R. L. Bowden. 2002. An Allee effect reduces the invasive potential of Tilletia indica. Phytopathology 92:1152-1159. [PDF]



Kansas State University

Department of Plant Pathology

Ecological Genomics Institute


PI: Karen A. Garrett