Dr. Gilbertson is interested in utilizing various approaches to assess plant pathogen diversity and to apply this information in the development of disease resistant varieties through collaboration with plant breeders. He is also interested in developing improved pathogen detection and inoculation methods in order to facilitate improved screening of crop varieties, germplasm and progenies for disease resistance to a varieity of pathogens. Finally, he is very interested in utilizing improved varieties in IPM programs for disease management in the field. In collaboration with Drs. Steve Temple and Paul Gepts, he has released a number of common bean varieties in California and Africa that are resistant to Bean Common Mosaic virus.
Department: Plant Pathology
Lab: Gilbertson Lab
Email: rlgilbertson@ucdavis.edu