UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mariah Kidd, a Penn State student earning her master’s degree in plant pathology in the College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program grant for her research in nematology.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited institutions in the United States.
According to Kidd, nematology is the study of nematodes, which are microscopic worms that live within underground ecosystems. She explained that there are thousands of species of nematodes, many of which impact crop production in the United States.
“Some nematodes are beneficial for crop production in that they help produce nitrogen that plants such as soybeans utilize for growth,” she said. “However, many species are parasitic and feed on plant tissue. It is very difficult to control parasitic nematodes because fumigation kills off a lot of beneficial plant microorganisms that are essential to a healthy microbiome.”
Parasitic nematodes are responsible for more than $1 billion worth of annual soybean crop losses, she added.
The problem, Kidd said, is compounded by warmer winters caused by climate change, which lead to populations of many species of parasitic nematodes no longer dying at their natural rates. For example, female soybean cyst nematodes lay their eggs at the end of their life cycles. These eggs remain dormant in the soil until they sense the presence of the root tissue of their host plants, at which point they hatch.
Because more eggs are able to survive milder winters, some crop fields are seeing an increase of up to hundreds of thousands more nematode eggs.
“There is much that is still not understood about the ways in which nematodes interact with one another,” Kidd said. “By learning more about how these microorganisms interact with one another, experts can help better protect plant and crop production.”
Kidd also explained that studying nematology is important because there are few people currently entering the field — a troubling trend as the nematode problem escalates with time.
“The most important thing about nematology is definitely crop protection,” Kidd said. “Educating farmers about this changing threat so prevention measures can be implemented is essential.”
She explained that biotic controls may be one solution. Kidd’s research will explore possible correlations in the ways that certain species of parasitic nematodes interact with one another, creating opportunities for future researchers to discover biotic control methods that may be used to compete with parasitic nematodes for resources, helping to limit their impact on farming.
Kidd said Carolee Bull, professor of plant pathology and systematic bacteriology, plant pathology, and environmental microbiology, was instrumental in Kidd receiving the grant. Bull provided National Science Foundation workshops in which Kidd and other students were given the opportunity to work on their proposals.
“This process is definitely something you need a support network for,” Kidd said. “To anyone who applies for the grant in the future, I would highly recommend getting a mentor who has previous experience applying for grants. I would not have been able to it without Dr. Bull or my advisor, Dr. Paul Esker.”
Kidd currently works with Esker, associate professor of epidemiology and field crop pathology, in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, which offers a free testing lab that accepts soil samples from growers in Pennsylvania who wish to have their soil samples tested. Test results are collected and stored in a database that helps track the locations of high levels of harmful nematode species.
“This fellowship is a tremendous honor and most deserving for Mariah,” said Esker. “The proposed research she developed grew from ideas we had discussed in our laboratory. It was unbelievable to watch her take those ideas, shape them and revise them throughout the application process. I was most impressed with how she grew as a researcher and budding expert on nematodes and their importance to agriculture production.”
Kidd explained that she chose Penn State because of the friendly atmosphere created by faculty.
“Before I even submitted my application for the program, Dr. Esker took the time out of his schedule to meet with me. He responded and set up a meeting with me very quickly. You don’t really find that anywhere else,” she said. “Penn State has all the opportunities that a large school offers while also having really friendly and caring faculty.”
For more information regarding the free testing program, contact Adriana Murillo-Williams (axm1119@psu.edu), Paul Esker (pde6@psu.edu) or Alyssa Collins (aac18@psu.edu), or contact your local Penn State Extension office for additional information about the sampling program. For more information about soybean cyst nematode, visit The SCN Coalition website.