About the Lab
The Arthropod Vectors of Plant Pathogens (AVPP) Lab at the Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is led by Dr. Shaonpius Mondal, Assistant Professor of Entomology. The lab researches various plant viruses and their arthropod vectors, specifically aphids and mites in Nebraska and beyond. Currently the lab is focussing on wheat and barley crop, but soybean and corn are of future consideration. Major molecular studies are conducted in ENTO 302. The transmission works are conducted at ENTO 107. The lab is raising two genetically different types of wheat curl mites in 172 Plant Sciences Hall. All the labs are situated on UNL's East Campus. Furthermore, the lab collaborates with USDA-ARS at Lincoln, NE, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) at Omaha and Nebraska Center for Virology.
Current projects include:
- Understanding wheat streak mosaic virus anbd Triticum mosaic virus transmission by wheat curl mite
- Understanding Barley yellow dwarf virus complex in wheat crop in Nebraska.
Lab Leader
Researching Arthropod Vectors and Plant Virus Problems in Nebraska and Beyond!
Lab Goals:
- Understanding strain composition and virus-host vector interactions of aphid-transmitted viruses in wheat crops
- Understanding virus vector-interactions of mite-transmitted viruses in wheat crops.
- Understanding High-Plains Disease in Nebraska wheat and corn cropping systems.