Seanna L. Annis

Expertise

🚜 Agriculture, 🌡 Climate change, 🍞 Food security, 🍄 Fungi, 🦠 Pathogens, 🐛 Pests and parasites, 🫐 Wild blueberries

My research focuses on fungi that are pathogens of plants. Research projects in my laboratory examine the genetic diversity, physiology and molecular biology of various fungal pathogens and applied aspects of control of fungi that attack lowbush blueberry. A major focus of my research is mummy berry disease caused by Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi and a disease identified in Maine for the first time in 2009, Valdensinia leaf spot, caused by Valdensinia heterodoxa. Visit Annis’ biography to learn more.

A bubble chart demonstrating Seanna Annis' appointment split. Annis balances her time between teaching courses (50%) in plant biology, research (38%) on fungal pathogens of wild blueberries, and Cooperative Extension activities (12%).
Annis balances her time between teaching courses (50%) in plant biology, research (38%) on fungal pathogens of wild blueberries, and Cooperative Extension activities (12%).

Appointment details

Annis’ work is supported by:

  • School of Biology and Ecology at the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture
  • Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station
  • University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Experiment Station contributions

  • Current project: The biology of fungi causing disease in lowbush blueberry and improvements in their management
  • Developed identification method for leaf rust on lowbush blueberry.
  • Developed program for providing blueberry growers with reports on plant and fungal development and risk of infection information on mummy berry and other diseases that has resulted in improved control of these disease and cost savings to growers.
  • Identified fungal contaminants of maple syrup that may affect quality and safety of syrup and developed control methods.
  • Implemented a network of 15 internet connected weather stations to provide real-time weather data in wild blueberry fields. This network provides data to growers on infection conditions for various fungal pathogens and possible frost conditions.