Mani Skaria, PhD Professor Texas A&M University -Kingsville Citrus Center Dick & Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Human Sciences 312 N. International Blvd., Weslaco, TX 78596 Phone (956) 447-3368 Fax (956) 969-0649 E-mail: mani.skaria@tamuk.edu http://www.tamuk.edu/agro/facstaff/skaria.html Professional experience Professor, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), 1999 -present. Joined TAMUK in 1988 at the Citrus Center, 312 N. International Blvd, Weslaco, TX. Interim Chair, Agronomy & Resource Sciences, TAMUK (January - May 2005). I was asked to continue as chair of the department but I declined. Associate professor, TAMUK 1992 and tenured in 1994, TAMUK Assistant professor, 1988-1992, TAMUK Adjunct Faculty, Texas A&M University, College Station and TAMUK Assistant Plant Pathologist, Washington State University and US Agency for International Development (USAID) 1985-88. Graduate Assistant, Purdue University 1979-1984. Lecturer, University of Jordan, Amman, 1976-1979. Education Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, 1984, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, Indiana. 1984. MS. Botany, University of Kerala, India, 1974. BS. Botany, University of Kerala, India.1972. Offices held Chair, Teaching Committee, American Phytopathological Society (APS), 2011 Vice-chair-elect, Teaching Committee, APS, 2010 Chair, Mycology committee, APS, 2005 Vice-chair, Mycology committee, APS, 2004 Secretary, Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society (2002- current) President, Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society (2002-2003) Faculty Senate Member, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2001-04) Page 1
Fruit Section Director, Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society Chairman, Tropical Plant Pathology Committee, APS, 1996 Task Force Member, Committee, Indoor Air Quality in Schools, Texas Department of Health Commissioner appointed Task Force Member, Virus-free Budwood Program, (TDA appointed) Member, numerous citrus industry committees on Citrus tristeza virus and Diaprepes root weevil, Sweet orange scab caused by fungus Elsinoe australis Founding Member, National Citrus Research Council Chairman, Poster Committee, Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society (4 years) Member, Environmental Plant Quality Committee, APS Co-Chair, Cultural Diversity Committee, APS Member, Mycology Committee, APS Teaching Fall 2011 PLSS 6390 Food Safety and Plant BioSecurity Spring 2011 PLSS 6390 Mold, Plants, Buildings, and Human Health Spring 2011 PLSS 5395 Advanced problems in Plant Science Fall 2010 PLSS 4328 Plant Disease and Pest Control Fall 2010 PLSS 6390 Advanced Studies in Horticulture Fall 2009 PLSS 6390 Mold, Plants, Buildings, and Human Health Spring 2009 PLSS 4328. Plant Disease and Pest Control Spring 2009 PLSS 4390 Plant Disease and Pest Control Spring 2008 PLSS 4390 Mold, Plants, Buildings, and Human Health Spring 2008 PLSS 6390 Mold, Plants, Buildings, and Human Health Spring 2007 PLSS 6397 Dissertation Research Fall 2007 PLSS 5306 Thesis Spring 2006 PLSS 4328. Plant Disease and Pest Control Spring 2006 PLSS 6390 Plant Disease and Pest Control Spring 2006 PLSS 6390 Mold, Plants, Buildings, and Human Health Fall 2006 PLSS 5395 Advanced problems in Plant Science Proposed TAMU-K Continuing Education Classes Course Title & CEU Asthma & Allergen Control in Schools: 1 Situation Analysis and Solutions. 3 CEU 2 House Construction with Asthma and Allergen Control Strategies. 3 CEU 3 Asthma and Allergen Control in Your Home. 3 CEU 4 Infection Control in Health-Care facilities. 3 CEU Announcement video link http://www.screencast.com/t/ode3zweyzw http://www.screencast.com/t/owm4ndqxnzat http://www.screencast.com/t/mzuzodbmytit http://www.screencast.com/t/zdm1yjrjytet Page 2
5 Case Studies. 2 CEU http://www.screencast.com/t/zgi4ntexn 6 SPECIAL 4 HOUR SEMINARS http://www.screencast.com/t/mza3mjjimjit Short courses: I have taught continuing education courses in citrus pathology and twice coordinated the development of a Citrus Precision Orchard Management course at the Citrus Center, taught with other scientists. I have guided many work-study students, providing them with hands-on experience in field and laboratory work. Several students from Valley ISDs, students from TAMUK, Texas A&M Commerce, the United Kingdom, Turkey, China, and India, and school teachers from the Valley had done special short programs in my laboratory where they planned and executed a research project on citrus nematode, analyzed and presented data in a formal setting. Intersession Course: My personal interest and experience in mold contamination of indoor environment has given me a national level recognition in this area of specialization. I successfully conducted an Intersession Course PLSS 6390, Mold and the Quality of Human Life at TAMUK. Mandatory Continuing Education (Texas Real Estate Commission): I was approached by the Texas A&M University Real Estate Center to develop a course material on mold for the Texas realtors. This resulted in the development of the Video Book of Mold a mandatory course for continuing education of Texas Realtors. External Reviewer, University of Texas at Dallas MBA student: Guided a study on Implementation of an indoor air quality (IAQ) program to fulfill the requirements of MBA degree of Mark Cree Jackson, at UT-Dallas, 1997. Mentor for Valley School Teachers: Partnered with Texas Alliance for Science, Technology, & mathematics Education and mentored summer program, (1994) for two teachers, Louis Walker and Peggy Fisher, Mission ISD. Texas A&M Real Estate Center: I was approached by the Texas A&M University Real Estate Center to develop a course material on mold for the Texas realtors. This resulted in the development of the Video Book of Mold a mandatory course for continuing education of Texas Realtors. Research areas My current research programs include both applied and basic research work. I like to highlight the contributions of Dr. M. Kunta, my research associate, for the molecular characterizations and citrus huanglongbing (HLB) diagnostic work. The molecular part of the work was done with: a) Fungus Phytophthora Page 3
b) Citrus nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans c) Fungus, Elsinoe australis and E. fawcetti d) Disease Hunaglongbing survey PCR tests e) Fungus, Ganoderma lucidum f) Citrus greasy spot Mycosphaerella citri g) G) Melanose disease, Diaporthe citri The applied part of research concentrated around problem solving work done in the field, laboratory and packinghouses for citrus disease management. The diseases targeted included: 1) Fungus, Phytophthora parasitica 2) Citrus nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans 3) Melanose disease, Diaphorina citri 4) Greasyspot, Mycosphaerella citri 5) Fungus, Elisnoe fawcitti and E. australis (E.australis is a significant discovery) 6) Fungus, Ganoderma lucidum 7) Huanglongbing (HLB) survey and detection of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Recent publications M. Kunta, H. Miao, J. L. Perez, T. Shigaki, and Mani Skaria. 2010. Ganoderma infecting citrus in Texas may be a unique taxon within the G. lucidum complex: evidence from the ITS region. Pest Technology 4(1) 62-64. T. P. Thomas, M. Kunta, J. V. da Graça, A. Bhattacharya, M. Sétamou, and M. Skaria. 2010. Effect of Viroids on Resistance to Phytophthora Infection of Citrus. HortScience 45(7): 1069-1072. M. Kunta, H. S. Del Rio, M. Skaria, and E.S. Louzada. 2010. Isolation and molecular characterization of a putative ascorbate peroxidase gene from citrus. International Journal of Fruit Science 10: 1-15. Vamsi S. Reddy, M. Kunta, S. D. Nelson, J. V. da Graca, and M. Skaria. Gene Expression Studies in Sour Orange and C-22 Rootstocks Challenged with the Fungus, Phytophthora nicotianae and the Nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans. Pest Technology 4(1) 29-34. Madhurababu Kunta and Mani Skaria. 2007. Molecular Distinction of Citrus Phytophthora Isolates in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Subtropical Plant Science 58: 1-5. J.V. da Graca, M. Setamou, M. Skaria, and J.V. French. 2007. Arthropod Citrus Exotic Citrus Diseases: A Risk Assessment for the Texas Citrus Industry. Subtropical Plant Science 59: 64-74. Kunta, J.V. da Graca, and Mani Skaria. 2006. Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Citrus Viroids in Texas. HortScience 42: 600-604. Page 4
S.R. Palle, H. Miao, M. Seyran, E.S. Louzada, J.V. dagraca, and M. Skaria. 2005. Evidence for Association of Citrus psorosis virus with Symptomatic trees and an Olpidium-like Fungus in Texas. Proceedings, 16 th Conference of the International Citrus Virologists: 423-426. C.J. Kahlke, J.W. Watson, N. Solis-Gracia, M.Skaria, and J.V. dagraca. 2005. The Texas Citrus Budwood Certification program. Proceedings, 16 th Conference of the International Citrus Virologists: 480-483. T.R. Gottwald, S.R. Palle, H. Miao, M. Seyran, M.Skaria, and J.V. da Graca. 2005. Assessment of the Possibility of Natural Spread of Citrus Psorosis Disease in Texas. Proceedings, 16 th Conference of the International Citrus Virologists. 240-250. C.M. Herron, T.E. Mirkov, N. Solis-Gracia, C.J. Kahlke, M.Skaria, and J.V. dagraca. 2005. Severity of Citrus tristeza virus isolates from Texas. Plant Disease 89:575-580. Reginald S. Fletcher, David E. Escobar., and Mani Skaria. 2004. Evaluating airborne normalized difference vegetation index imagery for citrus orchard surveys. HortTechnology 14: 91-94. R. S. Fletcher, D. E. Escobar., and M. Skaria. 2004. Response of ratio vegetation indices to foot rotinfected citrus trees. Int. J.Remote Sensing. 25:1-6. Q. Du, J. Victor French, Mani Skaria, Chenghai Yang, and James H. Everitt. 2004. Citrus pest stress monitoring using airborne hyperspectral imagery, Proceedings of 2004 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, vol. 6, pp. 3981-3984, Anchorage, AK, Sep. 2004. C.G. Eayre, M. Skaria, C.T. Bull and B. Mackey. 2003. An avirulent Geotrichum candidum isolate controls green mold on citrus fruit, caused by Penicillium digitatum. Subtropical Plant Science 55: 75-78. M. Skaria, C.G. Eayre, H. Miao and B. Mackey. 2003. Effect of packing on rot and fruit damage in Rio Red Grapefruit. Subtropical Plant Science 55: 46050. Mani Skaria. 2003. Man Weather, Arthropods, and Citrus Diseases. In Diseases of Fruits and Vegetables Diagnosis and Management. Kluwer Academic Publishers, the Netherlands. Manuscripts in preparation Madhurababu Kunta, J. Rascoe, P.B. de Sa Snow, J. V. da Graca, B. Salas, M. Setamou, M. Palm, and M. Skaria. 2012. First report of Elsinoë australis causing scab disease of citrus in the U.S. Target journal: Plant Disease. Justin Tanner, Madhurababu Kunta, J. V. da Graca, S. D. Nelson, and M. Skaria. 2012. Seed transmission of Citrus tatter leaf virus. Target Journal: Plant Disease. Page 5
Citrus Center Newsletter Articles, Recent Mani Skaria. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the FDA Plan to Stop Catastrophic Harm. Vol 29 (4) 4. Mani Skaria. When to Remove an Unproductive Orchard? Vol 29 (4) 4. Mani Skaria, 2011. A New Graduate Course, Food Safety & Plant Biosecurity Offered Vol 29 (2) 2. Mani Skaria. 2011. Melanose Disease, Pathogen and Control. Vol 29 (1) 5. da Graca J., M. Kunta, M. Setamou and M. Skaria. Citrus Greening Survey Update. TAMUK Citrus Center Newsletter Vol. 27(6): 1. M. Skaria, M. Kunta, J. V. da Graca, and M. Setamou. Seek, You Will Find Applies to Sweet orange scab. TAMUK Citrus Center Newsletter Vol. 28(4&5): 5. PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Madhurababu Kunta, M. Palm, J. Rascoe, P.B. de Sa Snow, J. V. da Graca, B. Salas, A. Satpute, M. Setamou, and M. Skaria. 2011. First report of sweet orange scab in USA. 2011 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, August 6-10, 2011. J. D. Tanner, M. Kunta, J. V. da Graca, M. Skaria and S. D. Nelson. 2011. Evidence of a low rate of seed transmission of Citrus tatter leaf virus in citrus. 2011 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, August 6-10, 2011. Kunta, M., J. V. da Graça, M. Sétamou, and M. Skaria. 2011. A perspective on the activities of Texas HLB diagnostic laboratory. 2011 International Conference on HLB, Orlando, Florida, January 10-14, 2011. Awards and Honors Senior Faculty Teaching Award, 2010. Dick & Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, & Human Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Second prize, poster presentation. 2010. (Justin Tanner, Madurababu Kunta, J.V. da Graça, M. Skaria, S. D. Nelson). A study on Citrus tatter leaf virus seed Transmission. Subtropical plant science society annual meeting, Weslaco, TX, January, 25, 2010. Poster won Second Prize. First prize, poster presentation. Justin Tanner, Madurababu Kunta, J.V. da Graca, M. Skaria, S.D. Nelson. 2010. Tatterleaf virus seed transmission. TAMU pathways research symposium. Laredo, TX. November 13-14. Page 6
David Ross Fellow. 1979-1984. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana National and regional research paper competition awards: The American Phytopathological Society and the Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society Industry recognition (Rhone Poulenc) for commitment to excellence Elected to six committees of the American Phytopathological Society (Tropical Plant Pathology, Environmental Quality and Plant Health, Cultural Diversity, Joint committees of Cultural Diversity and Women in Plant pathology, and Mycology); Chair, Tropical Plant Pathology and Co-chair, Cultural Diversity Committee of the American Phytopathological Society; Elected to Faculty Senate, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Elected president of the Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society Cited by the Cultural Diversity Committee of the American Phytopathological Society as outstanding plant pathologists of foreign origin Inventions U.S patent for a bio-control agent for postharvest fruit decay control. Serial No. 08/508,358 (TAMUS ref # 1115), "Avirulent Geotrichum candidum for biological control of postharvest rots of fruit. An innovative Micro-budding technique for quicker production of budded citrus. Micro-budded trees would yield fruit two years ahead of conventional citrus trees and they cost a fraction of conventional trees. This technique is now commercialized and plants are being distributed, nation-wide. http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=783 A membrane filter technique for quantitative assay of citrus nematodes Conference Presentations (Recent) Justin Tanner, Madurababu Kunta, J.V. da Graça, M. Skaria, S. D. Nelson. A study on Citrus tatter leaf virus seed Transmission. Subtropical plant science society annual meeting, Weslaco, TX, January, 25, 2010. Poster won Second Prize. Justin Tanner, Madurababu Kunta, J.V. da Graça, M. Skaria, S. D. Nelson. Citrus Tatter Leaf Virus Seed Transmission. TAMUS Pathways research Symposium, Laredo, TX, November 13-14, 2009. Poster won First Prize. Page 7
da Graca, J. V., M. Skaria, M. Setamou, and M. Kunta. Update on HLB and psyllid surveys in Texas. Citrus HLB and Potato ZC conference, McAllen, TX, November 16-18, 2009. M. Skaria, M. Setamou, M. Kunta, and J. V. da Graca. A pictorial representation of HLB in the east and the west and hope for an optimistic future for citrus in the USA. Poster. Citrus HLB and Potato ZC conference, McAllen, TX, November 16-18, 2009. M. Kunta, M. Skaria, M. Setamou, and J. V. Da Graca. Update on ACP and HLB surveys and research in Texas, 8th Citrus genomics workshop, South Padre, TX, October 5-6, 2009. da Graca, J. V., Skaria, M., Setamou, M., Kunta, M., Arredondo, M., Salas, B., Parker, P.E. Texas steps up surveys for huanglongbing and the Asian citrus psyllid. International Research Conference on Huanglongbing, Orlando, FL, December 1-5, 2008. M. Kunta, M. Skaria, J. V. da Graca, and T. E. Mirkov. 2008. Progress on the development of broad spectrum disease resistance in citrus through transformation with CNGCcit and bcl-2 genes. APS Centennial Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, July 26-30. S. Marepally, M. Kunta, J. V. da Graca, S. Nelson, and M. Skaria. 2008. Molecular identity, infectivity, and differential gene expression associated with Olpidium-like fungus in citrus and vegetables. APS Centennial Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 26-30. V. P. Reddy, M. Kunta, J. V. da Graca, S. Nelson, and M. Skaria. 2008. Studies in sour orange and C-22 rootstocks challenged with the nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans and the fungus, Phytophthora parasitica. APS Centennial Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 26-30. Recent grants Page 8 Year Total Grants Source Received 2011 $618,950 USDA Citrus Industry
2010 $549,642 USDA 2009 $243,886 USDA 2008 $315,191 USDA 2007 $325,577 USDA 2006 $332,581 USDA 2005 $17,000 Industry Invited speaker (Recent) An invited talk at the 8th Sustainable Ag & Natural/Organic Gardening Conference, Edinburg, TX. "Organic nematode and disease control." Edinburg, January 2009. An invited talk at the 8th Sustainable Ag & Natural/Organic Gardening Conference, Edinburg, TX, January 2009. Micro-budded high density planting. Indian River Citrus League Citrus Expo. Fort pierce,, Florida, January 28-30. Invited by the Indian River Citrus league and the University of Florida, IFAS. Travel funding from IFAS. 2009. Invited speaker at the XIII Symposium International de Citricultura, Victoria, Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, June 30, 2009. Presented a talk on Phytophthora- Diaprepes root weevil complex. Contact person: Dr. Varela Fuentes Sostenes, Profesor-Investigador, UAM Agronomía y Ciencias UAT. Invited speaker at the 64 th annual meeting of the Subtropical Plant Science. Topic: Learning to Live with HLB. January 25, 2010, Weslaco, TX. Invited speaker at the 4 th annual conference of the South Texas Association of School Maintenance Officials. Topic: Indoor Air Quality Essentials, Weslaco, TX, February 25, 2010. International Conference Moderator Moderated a Plant Disease session at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society meeting, Portland, Oregon, August 2009 Page 9
Moderated a HLB session at the HLB/ZC International conference in McAllen, TX, October, 2009. Recent graduate students Aditi Satpute, MS, Chair, 2011 Randy Alaniz, MS, member, 2011 Jose Perez, Ph.D, Co-Chair, Co-Chair, 2011 Yadira Zapata, MS, Co-Chair, 2011 Madhurababu Kunta, Ph.D. Co-Chair, 2009 Armindina Villarreal, MS, Co-Chair, 2010 Brad Wood, MS, Co-Chair, 2010 Justin Tanner, MS, member Shilpa Marepally, MS, Co-Chair, 2008 Vamsi Reddy, MS, Co-Chair, 2008 Catherine Simpson, MS, member, 2007 Jose Perez, (MS) Memebr, 2007 Randy Lara, MS, member, 2007 Roberto Salazar, MS, member, 2007 Tina Thomas, MS, Co-Chair, 2006 Liza Vela, MS, Co-Chair, 2006 Gilberto Perez, MS, member, 2006 Arlene Pacheco, MS, member, 2005 Kranthi Mandadi, MS, member, 2005 Shibu Poulose, Ph.D, member, 2005 Steven Schneider, MS, Co-Chair, 2005 Web links http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/path/dec2402a.htm http://www.themonitor.com/newspub/news/stories/2003/04/24/10512399454.shtml http://recenter.tamu.edu/news/25-0103.html http://schoolipm.tamu.edu/resources/program_description/whoweare.htm http://fcs.tamu.edu/housing/iaq/mold/web/ http://www.themonitor.com/newspub/news/stories/2003/04/24/10512399454.shtml Membership in professional organizations American Phytopathological Society Page 10
Subtropical Plant Science (formerly, RGVHS) International Organization of Citrus Virologists Extension and transfer of technology http://www.tamukcc.local/ Mold consultation: Conducted mold problem investigation and prepared remediation protocols for insurance industry, school districts, colleges, universities, state and federal government agencies. Page 11