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Education

• Ph.D. - University of California (Plant Pathology)
• M.S. - North Dakota State University (Crop and Weed Science)
• B.S. - North Dakota State University (Biotechnology)

Courses Taught

Plant Bacteriology (PLPA 6503)

Research Emphasis

My interests lie in the use of basic research approaches to answer fundamental questions in the plant pest interactions and to use molecular tools to solve applied agricultural problems.

Currently, I am employing an RNAi approach to alter sterol biosynthesis in rice to favor the production of sterols beneficial to human health.  These transgenic rice lines with altered sterol profiles are also being monitored for their resistance to insects and pathogens.  Arabidopsis lines with enhanced sterol biosynthesis capacity have been isolated and identification of genes responsible is in progress.

I am also studying the rice panicle mite with the goal of developing a rapid DNA based method for identification of the pest from field and greenhouse rice samples.  The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial region (COI) is being sequenced from numerous isolates of the panicle and other related mites.  Once the COI gene has been sequenced for geographically and biologically relevant populations, a DNA method will be developed for the detection and identification of the panicle mite from field samples.

Publications

Park, D.S., Sayler, R.J.*, Hong, Y.G., Nam, M.H., and Yang, Y.  2008.  A method for inoculation and evaluation of rice sheath blight disease.  Plant Disease.  92: 25-29.  *Both authors contributed equally to this work.

Van Bruggen, A.H.C., Semenov, A.M., Zelenev, V.V., Semenov, A.V., Raaijmakers, J.M., Sayler, R.J., and de Vos, O.  2008  Wave-like distribution patterns of gfp-marked Pseudomonas fluorescens along roots of wheat plants grown in two soils.  Microb. Ecol. 55:466-475.

Wang, L.C., YEH1, C.H., Sayler, R.J., Ya-Yun Lee, Y.Y., Lui, C.A., and Wu, S.J.  2008.  Arabidopsis HIT1, a putative homolog of yeast tethering protein Vps53p, is required for pollen tube elongation.  Botanical Studies 49: 25-32.

Sayler, R.J. and Yang, Y.Y.  2007.  Real-time PCR detection and quantification of the rice sheath blight pathogen Rhizoctonia solani.  Plant Disease. 91:1663-1668.

Eastwell, K.C., Sholberg, P.L., and Sayler, R.J.  2006.  Characterizing potential bacterial biocontrol agents for suppression of Rhizobium vitis, causal agent of crown gall disease in grapevines.  Crop Protection. 25:1191-1200.

Sayler, R.J., Cartwright, R.D., and Yang, Y.Y.  2006.  Genetic characterization and real-time PCR detection of Burkholderia glumae, a newly emerging bacterial pathogen of rice in the U.S. Plant Disease. 90:603-610.

Chai-Fong Lee, C.F., Pu, H.Y., Wang, L.C., Sayler, R.J., Yeh, C.H., Wu, S.J.  2006.  Mutation in a homolog of yeast Vps53p accounts for the heat and osmotic hypersensitive phenotypes in Arabidopsis hit1-1 mutant.  Planta.  224:330-338.

Etebarian, H., Sholberg, P., Eastwell, K., Sayler, R.J.  2005.  Biological control of apple blue mold with Pseudomonas Fluorescens.  Canadian Journal Microbiology.  51:551-598.

Sayler, R.J., and Kirkpatrick, B.C.  2003.  The effect of copper sprays and fertilization separately and in combination on bacterial canker in 'French' prune.  Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology.  25:406-410.

Sayler, R.J., Southwick, S.M., Yeager, J.T., Glozer, K., Little, E.L., Kirkpatrick, B.C.  2002.  Effect of rootstock and budding height on the control of bacterial canker in French prune.  Plant Disease.  87:543-546.

Cao, T., Sayler, R.J., DeJong, T.M., Kirkpatrick, B.C., Bostock, R.M., and Shackel, K.A.  1999.  Influence of stem diameter, water content, and freezing-thawing on bacterial canker development in excised stems of dormant stone fruit.  Phytopathology.  88:962-966.

Tuzun, S., Gay, P.A., Lawrence, C.B., Robertson, T.L., and Sayler, R.J.  1996.  Biotechnological applications of inheritable resistance to diseases in plants.  Pp. 25-40 In: Technology Transfer of Plant Biotechnology.  Peter M. Gresshoff, Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Sayler, R.J., Ewing, J.D., and McClean, P.E.  1995.  Monogenic and epistatic resistance to bean rust infection in common bean.  Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology.  47:173-184.