Dr. Nathaniel Mitkowski
Associate Professor of Plant Pathology
Ph.D., 2001, Cornell University (Plant Pathology)
B.S., 1997, University of Massachusetts (Plant Pathology)
70% Teaching, 15% Research, 15% Extension
• PLS 322, Power Units (3 cr.)
• PLS402, Plant Sciences Undergraduate Seminar (1 cr.)
• PLS440/540, Diseases of Turfgrasses and Ornamentals (3 cr.)
• PLS442/542, Advanced Turfgrass Management (3 cr.) (syllabus)
• PLS471/571, Plant Improvment (4 cr.)
•Turfgrass Diseases
My primary research focus is improving and developing disease control strategies for intensively managed turfgrass systems. Over the past 5 years, we have dedicated significant resources to understanding emerging bacterial diseases on turfgrasses and are now examining the phyllosphere ecology of these pathogens. My lab is also currently investigating the biology of nematode pathogens on turfgrasses in Southern New England. In addition, one of my current students is examining the fungicide resistance spectrum of isolates of Colletotrichum graminicola from Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, in order to develop more effective fungicide rotation strategies.
•Nematode Diseases of Vegetables
The northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, is the most destructive nematode pathogen in the Northeast. It
attacks a wide range of vegetable crops and chemical control of the pathogen is often cost prohibitive. My lab is engaged in
screening Lactuca spp. germplasm for nematode resistance and introgressing resistance genes into adapted germplasm.
This strategy promises to be a very effective option for managing this pathogen in temperate climates.
My primary extension responsibility is to run the URI Turfgrass Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. The Lab diagnoses diseases for turfgrass professionals and develops appropriate management strategies. We receive approximately 300 samples each year and are open year-round. Information can be found on our web site at http://www.uriturf.org/.
Mitkowski, N.A. and Chaves, A. 2007. The identification of two different pathovars of Xanthomonas translucens infecting Poa annua L. and the use of 16S-23S rDNA sequences for classifying Xanthomonas translucens pathovars. Journal of Phytopathology (submitted).
Jordan, K. S. and Mitkowski, N.A. 2007. Soil characteristics and management practices associated with population levels of plant-parasitic nematodes on golf course greens in southern New England. Agronomy Journal (accepted).
Mitkowski, N.A. 2007. First report of Subanguina radicicola , the root-gall nematode, infecting Poa annua putting greens in Washington state. Plant Disease 91:905.
Sicuranza, J. and Mitkowski, N.A. 2007. The production of in vitro callus, shoot and rooted plantlets of Rhododendron catawbiense variety 'English Roseum' from florets. HortScience 42:410-412.
Boesch, B.P. and Mitkowski, N.A. 2007. Management of velvet bentgrass putting greens. Applied Turfgrass Science. DOI:10.1094/ATS-2007-0125-01-RS.
Mitkowski, N.A. and Colucci, S. 2006. A limited number of vegetative compatibility groups exist within Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. Journal of Phytopathology 154:500-503.
Jordan, K. S. and Mitkowski, N. A. 2006. Population dynamics of plant-parasitic nematodes in golf course greens turf in southern New England. Plant Disease 90:501-505.
Boesch, B.P. and Mitkowski, N.A. 2005. Chemical methods of moss control on golf course putting greens. Applied Turfgrass Science DOI:10.1094/ATS-2005-1006-01-RV.
Mitkowski, N.A. 2005. First report of bacterial wilt of annual bluegrass caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. poaein Montana. Plant Disease 89:1016.
Mitkowski, N.A., M. Browning, K. Jordan, C. Basu, and N. Jackson. 2005. Pathogenicity of Xanthomonas translucens pv. poae isolated from annual bluegrass on golf course putting greens. Plant Disease 89:469-473.
Mitkowski, N.A. and M. Browning. 2004. Leptosphaerulina australis associated with intensively managed stands of Poa annua and Agrostis palustris. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 26 (2):193-198.
Mitkowski, N.A. and G.S. Abawi. 2003. Root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). The Plant Health Instructor. DOI:10.1094/PHI-I-2003-0917-01.
Mitkowski, N. A. and N. Jackson. 2003. Subanguina radicicola, the root-gall nematode, infecting Poa annua in New Brunswick, Canada. Plant Disease 87(10): 1263.
Mitkowski, N.A. 2003. First report of leaf and sheath spot caused by Rhizoctonia zeae affecting Panicum tennesseense in Rhode Island. Plant Disease 87(8):1006.
Mitkowski, N.A. and G.S. Abawi. 2003. Genetic diversity of New York State Meloidogyne hapla populations determined by RAPD's and mitochondrial DNA. Journal of Nematode Morphology and Systematics 5(2):191-202.
Mitkowski, N.A. and G.S. Abawi. 2003. Reproductive fitness on lettuce of populations of Meloidogyne hapla from New York State vegetable fields. Nematology 5(1):77-83.
Widmer, T.L., N.A. Mitkowski and G.S. Abawi. 2002. Soil organic matter and management of plant-parasitic nematodes. Journal of Nematology 34(4):289-295.
Mitkowski, N.A., H. Van der Beek and G.S. Abawi 2002. Meloidogyne species present in New York State vegetable fields. Plant Disease 86 (8):840-847.
Mitkowski, N.A. and G.S. Abawi. 2002. Monoxenic maintenance and reproduction of Meloidogyne hapla on multiple in vitro root culture systems. Plant Cell Reports 21 (1):14-23
Hill, G.T., N.A. Mitkowski, L. Aldrich-Wolfe, L.R. Emele, D.D. Jurkonie, A. Ficke, S. Maldonado-Ramirez, S.T. Lynch, and E.B. Nelson. 2000. Methods for assessing the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities. Applied Soil Ecology 15:25-36.
Selected Extension Publications
Mitkowski, N.A. Coping with nematodes sans fenamiphos. Turfgrass Trends 16(12). 1-4.
Mitkowski, N.A. and Jordan, K. 2006. Predicting nematode populations can pre-empt disease. Turfgrass Trends 15(12). 1-3.
Mitkowski, N.A. 2005. Dealing with bacterial wilt on Poa. Turfgrass Trends 14(6): 1-3.
Mitkowski, N.A. 2004. Fungicide use on athletic fields. SportsTurf 20(09): 16-18.
Mitkowski, N.A. 2004. Dollar spot research at the University of Rhode Island. Turf Notes 11(4):3-5.
Mitkowski, N.A. 2004. Consider nematode thresholds before treatment. Turfgrass Trends. 13(7):1-5.
Dernoeden, P.H., Jackson, N., Mitkowski, N.A. and Kaminski, J.E. 2002. Bacterial Wilt: An enigmatic annual bluegrass disease on putting greens. Golf Course Management. January 2003: 177-180.
Mitkowski, N.A. 2001. Root-knot nematodes on turf in the Northeastern United States. Turfgrass Trends 10(12):1-4.
2010 Angela Madeiras, Ph.D. program
2009 Parminderjit Kaur, Ph.D. program
2006 Brian Boesch, M.S. (Research Associate, URI)
2005 Katerina Jordan, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, University of Guelph)
American Phytopathological Society
Society of Nematologists
Mycological Society of America
Rhode Island Golf Course Superintendents Association
Cape Cod Golf Course Superintendents Association
New England Golf Course Superintendents Association
Sigma Xi
National Eagle Scout Association
National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution