Why is Isabella Rabac, a rising senior majoring in Environmental Studies and Sustainability, working an internship this summer in Linda Hanson’s lab?
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EmailIn the quest to understand the effects of Rhizoctonia on sugarbeets in Michigan, a curious twist to an old problem creates a unique opportunity for this summer scientist!
What’s an ES&S student doing this summer in Linda Hanson’s plant pathology lab? Working with soil of course!
Meet Isabella Rabac, a rising senior (Environmental Studies and Sustainability) who is working an internship this summer in Linda Hanson’slab, part of the USDA/ARS Sugarbeet and Bean Research Unit, and their quest to understand the effects of Rhizoctonia on sugarbeets in Michigan.
Rhizoctonia root and crown rot is one of the most severe soil-borne diseases of sugarbeet.
Isabella’s summer project involves the Michigan Sugar research plot, where they have been working with sugar beet varieties to control this ubiquitous pathogen for decades. Research at this plot includes restricting crop rotations and rigorous applications of fungicides. “A few years ago, they noticed that in this field, Rhizoctonia was failing to get ahold!” said Isabella’s advisor Linda Hanson,“ and they contacted us here at MSU to help them figure out how and why.”
Over time, the soil in agricultural research plots can develop a complex structure of fungi, bacteria, and other organisms that create growth problems for the very disease people are trying to study. “In this case, we are calling this a potential suppressive soil,” Linda said. “There could be some other issues leading to the problems, but we have already ruled out several.”
“From a soil perspective, this is really interesting,” said Isabella who is using samples of the soil to create full screen with an array of treatments for comparison studies. Isabella says she enjoys hands on, field and lab experience and has completed all the coursework for a minor in Agronomy. With an eye to the future, she says she’s going on for a masters’ degree. “I really love soil science, and participated in judging competitions with the MSU Soil Judging Club.” Isabella plans to present her research later this year as more data becomes available.
