Ph.D. Student
Email:djdean3@ncsu.edu
Education:
B.S. – University of South Carolina
Dylan graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Chemistry. While at the University of South Carolina, Dylan worked in a bacteriology lab and an oak genetics lab, where he discovered he loved studying microorganisms and plants. During his last year in South Carolina, Dylan applied to multiple plant pathology graduate programs but quickly fell in love with North Carolina State University. His research is focused on SDHI fungicide resistance in the causal agent of dollar spot, Clarireedia spp. Specifically, his research entails developing diagnostic methods to quickly determine the presence of SDHI resistance in this pathogen.
Current Research Projects
Detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with SDHI insensitivity in Clarireedia spp. and development of a novel diagnostic assay for mutated allele detection. (Dylan Dean - Ph.D. student)
- Sanger sequence SdhB, SdhC, and SdhD genes from a population of Clarieedia isolates to determine the quantity of isolates displaying mutations
- Perform in-vitro phenotypic quantification of SDHI insensitivity for isolates
- Develop a probe-based real-time pcr assay to allow for the rapid and high-throughput detection of SNPs associated with field-level SDHI insensitivity
Validation of the Smith-Kerns dollar spot disease warning model on warm-season turfgrasses. (Dylan Dean - Ph.D. student)
- Explore field-level disease development dynamics on warm-season turfgrasses in relation to the predicted risk of disease development
- Determine optimal risk threshold for guiding fungicide application on warm-season turfgrasses
Evaluating the potential for longer spray intervals due to the implementation of ferrous sulfate into a fungicide spray program tailored to control cool-season dollar spot. (Dylan Dean - Ph.D. student)
- Perform a multi-year field experiment across multiple locations exploring differences in a standard fungicide spray program and a fungicide spray program containing ferrous sulfate
