Nina Zidack, Assistant Research Professor, PhD. from Auburn University. Office: 215 Plant BioScience Building Lab: 130 Plant BioScience Building phone:406-994-6110 fax: 406-994-7600  Email Dr. Zidack

RESEARCH

My research involves the investigation of weed pathogens as possible biological weed control agents. I am especially interested in bacterial diseases of weeds and the formulation of bacterial agents to increase their efficacy as biological herbicides. 

AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

Research in biological control of weeds using plant pathogens, and control of plant diseases using beneficial microbes.  I assist Professor Barry Jacobsen in development of biological control agents against pathogens of sugarbeet and potato.

EDUCATION

• B.S.     Horticulture Science      Montana State University         1987
• Ph.D.   Plant Pathology             Auburn University                       1993

MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• American Phytopathological Society

RECENT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Research:

• Project leader for Consortium for Biological Weed Control using Plant Pathogens (1999 to present)
• Development of mycofumigation of soil with gas producing fungi
• Development of a bacterial pathogen as a biological control agent against the weed houndstongue

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS

• Departmental Search Committees
• Service on three masters and one Ph.D committee

PUBLICATIONS FROM 1998 TO PRESENT

Refereed Journals

Zidack, N.K. and P.C. Quimby, Jr. 2002.  Formulation of bacteria for biological weed control using the stabileze method.  Biocontrol Science and Technology 12:67-74.

Zidack, N.K. and B. J. Jacobsen.  2001. First report and virulence evaluation of Erwinia caratovora subsp. betavasculorum on sugarbeet in Montana.  Plant Health Progress. doi:10.1094/PHP-2001-0706-02-RS (Refereed Online Journal).   

P.C. Quimby, Jr., N.K. Zidack, C.D. Boyette, and W.E. Grey. 1999.A simple method for stabilizing and granulating fungi.  Biocontrol Science and Technology 9:5-8

Amsellem, Z, N.K. Zidack, P.C. Quimby, Jr., Gressel, J. 1998.  Long-term dry preservation of viable mycelia of two mycoherbicidal organisms.  Crop Protection 18:643-649.

Extension Publications

Jacobsen, B.J., D. Collins, N. Zidack, J. Eckhoff, and J. Bergman.  2000a.  Management of Cercospora leafspot in Western North Dakota and Eastern Montana.  Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 30: 273-276.

Jacobsen, B.J., D. Collins, N. Zidack, J. Eckhoff, and J. Bergman. 2000b. Management of Rhizoctonia crown and root rot.  Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 30: 271-272.

Jacobsen, B.J., D. Collins, N. Zidack, J. Eckhoff, and J. Bergman. 2000c. Fungicide and fungicide plus Bacillus spp. seed treatments for control of Pythium and Aphanomyces root rots.  Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 30: 277-278.

Jacobsen, B.J., D. Collins, N. Zidack, J. Eckhoff, and J. Bergman.  1999.  Management of Cercospora leafspot in Western North Dakota and Eastern Montana.  Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 30: 273-276.

Jacobsen, B.J., D. Collins, N. Zidack, J. Eckhoff, and J. Bergman. 1999. Management of Rhizoctonia crown and root rot.  Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 30: 271-272.

Jacobsen, B.J., D. Collins, N. Zidack, J. Eckhoff, and J. Bergman. 1999. Fungicide and fungicide plus Bacillus spp. seed treatments for control of Pythium and Aphanomyces root rots.  Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 30: 277-278.

Books and Book Chapters

Quimby, P.C., Jr., G. Mercadier, W. Meikle, F. Vega, J. Fargues and N.K. Zidack. 2001.  Enhancing biological control through superior formulations: A worthy goal but still a work in progress. pp. 86-95 in: Enhancing biocontrol agents and handling risks.  NATO Science Series Vol. 339, IOS Press, Amsterdam.

Tiourebaev, K.S., S. Nelson, N.K. Zidack, G.T. Kaleyva, A.L. Pilgeram, T.W. Anderson, and D.C. Sands.  2000.  Amino acid excretion enhances virulence of bioherbicides.  Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of weeds, Neal Spencer, Ed.  pp. 295-299.

Zidack, N.K., B.J. Jacobsen, and P.C. Quimby, Jr. 2000.  Biological control of houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) with the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis synergized with pelargonic acid.  Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of weeds, Neal Spencer Ed.  p. 250.

Zidack, N.K. 1999.  Implications for induced resistance to pathogens and herbivores for biological weed control.  pp. 371-378 in: Induced Plant Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores A. A. Agrawal , S. Tuzun, and E. Bent, eds. APS Press, St. Paul, MN.

Zidack, N.K. and Quimby, P.C. 1998. Formulation and application of plant pathogens for biological weed control.  pp. 371-381 in:  Biopesticides:  Use and Delivery  F.R. Hall and J.J. Menn, eds.  Humana Press, Totowa, N.J.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

Research:

1. Development of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis as a biological control agent for the weed houndstongue.  Project involves development of application technology, virulence enhancement of the pathogen and field efficacy trials.
2. Elucidation of the mode of action of a foliar applied Bacillus biocontrol agent for Cercospora leaf spot of sugarbeet.  Physiological data indicates the Bacillus induces multiple resistance factors in the plant including oxidative burst and the production of PR proteins (In cooperation with Barry Jacobsen).
3. Development of technology for the mycofumigation of soil using the gas producing fungi Muscodor albus and Muscodor roseus.  These fungi produce gasses which are toxic to a wide range of soilborne pathogens and may provide an alternative to methyl bromide for soil fumigation (In cooperation with Gary Strobel and Barry Jacobsen

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