Wheat rust pathologist Acevedo to speak at annual meeting

The American Association of the Advancement of Science will welcome North Dakota State University assistant professor and wheat rust pathologist Maricelis Acevedo to speak during the “Pathogens without Borders” session of its 2016 annual meeting Sunday in Washington, D.C.

Acevedo's session will examine the International Stem Rust Screening Nurseries as an example of how disease resistance and yield protection helps to manage the wheat diseases plaguing the area. Her previous work has focused on rust-pathogen virulence evolution with an emphasis on the genetic and molecular mechanism underlying rust pathogen virulence and host resistance.

Wheat diseases are especially devastating in eastern and southern Africa where they have a significant impact on food security for the continent. Former director of the Global Wheat Program at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug created stem rust screening nurseries in Kenya and Ethiopia to combat the spread of wheat stem rust. The nurseries serve as a hub for scientific discoveries, ideas, creation of new wheat varieties and scientific classrooms.

The session will be from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.