Graduate Research Assistant
Cornell University
Department of Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology
Ithaca, NY 14853

2006 to present, PhD student, Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University

2003, MS, Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science, University of Maine

1998, BS, Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati

Graduate Advisor: Michael Milgroom

 

 

 

Research Focus

I am interested in the genetics and evolution of plant pathogenic fungi. Specifically, I study the phylogeography, population structure, and mating system of the grape powdery mildew fungus, Erysiphe necator. All previous population genetic studies had been centered on populations of the fungus in introduced ranges, so my research was vital to understanding the population structure in the proposed native range, which is eastern North America. I determined that populations in the eastern US are more diverse than those in Europe, Australia and the west coast of the US and that populations in introduced ranges had diverged from eastern North American ancestors. Interestingly, populations in eastern North America are geographically structured, but show no divergence based on Vitis host species or host habitat (cultivated or wild) except for populations from muscadine grape (V. rotundifolia), which were specialized to muscadine.

After understanding the patterns of diversity among populations, I began studies aimed at elucidating the mating system of this fungus. I determined that E. necator is not randomly mating and that there is spatial structuring of genotypes within vineyards. In order to determine this I first identified and characterized mating-type (MAT) genes and developed a PCR-based marker for E. necator. Additionally, I identified MAT genes in four other powdery mildews, including Blumeria graminis. Ongoing population genetic analyses will help shed light on the underlying causes of nonrandom mating.

Professional Experience

2010-2011 Teaching Assistant, Investigative Biology Laboratory, Dept. of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University

2010 Teaching Assistant, Medical and Veterinary Mycology, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University

2009 Teaching Assistant, Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University

2008 Teaching Assistant, Mushrooms of Field and Forest, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University

2003-2006 Research Associate, Plant Molecular Genetics, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, advisor: Dr. Esther van der Knaap.

1999-2003 Biological Science Technician, Plant Pathology and Soil Microbiology, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, New England Plant, Soil, and Water Laboratory, Orono, Maine, advisor: Dr. Robert Larkin.

1997-1998 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Ecological Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, advisor: Dr. Jodi Shann.

Awards and Honors

2010 Barbara McClintock Graduate Student Award, Plant Sciences, Cornell University

2010 Scholarship Recipient, American Society for Enology and Viticulture

2010 Scholarship Recipient, American Society for Enology and Viticulture, Eastern Section

2010 Scholarship Recipient, American Wine Society Educational Foundation

2009 Best Student Oral Presentation, Mycological Society of America

2009 Graduate Fellowship, Mycological Society of America

2009 Richard P. Korf Mentor Travel Award, Mycological Society of America

2009 Scholarship Recipient, American Society for Enology and Viticulture

2009 Scholarship Recipient, American Wine Society Educational Foundation

2008 Richard L. Gabrielson Award, APS Foundation

2008 Research Travel Grant, Cornell University Graduate School

2003 Graduate Student Presentation Award, Runner-up, Annual Meeting of the Northeast Division of the American Phytopathological Society.

2002 Graduate Student Research Exposition Award, Natural Sciences, University of Maine.

2002 Competitive Research Grant, Association of Graduate Students, University of Maine

Elected and Appointed Offices

2008-2009 Chair, Colloquium Committee, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology

2008-2009 Team Member, Fungus Amongus, Lights in Winter Outreach Program, Cornell University

2007-2008 Vice President, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Graduate Student Association

2006-2008 Prospective Student Committee, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University.

2002-2003 Departmental Representative, Association of Graduate Students, University of Maine.

2002-2003 Judge, Maine State Science Fair

Professional Societies and Working Group

American Phytopathological Society

Mycological Society of America

Publications

Peer-reviewed:

M.T. Brewer, L. Cadle-Davidson, P. Cortesi, P. Spanu, and M.G. Milgroom. Identification of mating-type genes and development of PCR-based markers for mating type in powdery mildew fungi. Fungal Genetics and Biology, in review.

O. Frenkel, I. Portillo, M.T. Brewer, J-P. Péros, L. Cadle-Davidson, and M.G. Milgroom. Development of microsatellite markers from the transcriptome of Erysiphe necator for analyzing population structure in North America and Europe. Plant Pathology, accepted.

P.D. Spanu, J.C Abbott, J. Amselem, T.A. Burgis, D.M. Soanes, K. Stuber, E.V.L van Themaat, J.K.M. Brown, S.A. Butcher, S.J. Gurr, M.H. Lebrun, C.J. Ridout, P. Schulze-Lefert, N.J. Talbot, N. Ahmadinejad, C. Ametz, G.R. Barton, M. Benjdia, P. Bidzinski, L.V. Bindschedler, M. Both, M.T. Brewer, L. Cadle-Davidson, M.M. Cadle-Davidson, J. Collemare, R. Cramer, L.R. Francisco, O. Frenkel, D. Godfrey, J. Harriman, C. Hoede, B.C. King, S. Klages, J. Kleemann, D. Knoll, P.S. Koti, J. Kreplak, X. Lu, T. Maekawa, S. Mahanil, M.G. Milgroom, G. Montana, S. Noir, R.J. O’Connell, S. Oberhänsli, F. Parlange, C. Pedersen, H. Quesneville, R. Reinhardt, M. Rott, S. Sacristán, S.M. Schmidt, M. Schön, P. Skamnioti, H. Sommer, H. Takahara, H. Thordal-Christensen, M. Vigouroux, R. Weßling, T. Wicker, R. Panstruga. 2010. Genome expansion and gene loss in powdery mildew fungi reveal functional tradeoffs in extreme parasitism. Science 331:1543-1546.

M.T. Brewer and M.G. Milgroom. 2010 Phylogeography and population structure of the grape powdery mildew fungus, Erysiphe necator, from diverse Vitis species. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10:268.

O. Frenkel, M.T. Brewer and M.G. Milgroom. 2010. Variation in pathogenicity and aggressiveness of Erysiphe necator from different Vitis species and geographic origins in the eastern United States. Phytopathology 100:1185-1193

M.G. Milgroom, K. Sotirovski, M. Risteski, and M.T. Brewer. 2009. Heterokaryons and recombinants of Cryphonectria parasitica in two clonal populations in southeastern Europe. Fungal Genetics and Biology 46:849-854

M.G. Milgroom, K. Sotirovski, D. Spica, J.E. Davis, M.T. Brewer, and P. Cortesi. 2008. Clonal population structure of the chestnut blight fungus in expanding ranges in southeastern Europe and Turkey. Molecular Ecology 17: 4446-4458.  

M.J. Gonzalo, M. Talbot Brewer, C. Anderson, D. Sullivan, S. Gray, E. van der Knaap. 2009. Fruit shape analysis using morphometric and morphology attributes implemented in Tomato Analyzer Software Program. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 134:77-87.

M. Talbot Brewer, J.B. Moyseenko, A.J. Monforte, and E. van der Knaap. 2007. Morphological variation in tomato: a comprehensive study of quantitative trait loci controlling fruit shape and development. Journal of Experimental Botany 58:1339-1349.

M. Talbot Brewer, K. Fujimura, L. Lang, N. Dujmovic, S. Gray, and E. van der Knaap. 2006. Development of a controlled vocabulary and software application to analyze fruit shape variation in tomato and other plant species. Plant Physiology 141: 15-25, cover.

M. Talbot Brewer and R.P. Larkin. 2005. Efficacy of several potential biocontrol organisms against Rhizoctonia solani on potato. Crop Protection 24: 939-950.

Select Abstracts:

M.T. Brewer and M.G. Milgroom. 2008. Phylogeography and sequence diversity of genetic lineages of the grapevine powdery mildew fungus, Erysiphe (Uncinula) necator in North America, Europe, and Australia. Phytopathology 98: S25.

R.P. Larkin and M.T. Brewer. 2005. Effects of biological amendments on soil microbiology and soilborne potato diseases in different cropping systems. Phytopathology 95: S56.

M.T. Brewer and R.P. Larkin. 2003. Effects of a ryegrass rotation and biological control on soil microbial communities and Rhizoctonia disease of potato. Phytopathology 93: S11.

M.M. Talbot and R P. Larkin. 2002. Suppression of Rhizoctonia disease of potato by biological control and a ryegrass rotation. Phytopathology 92: S80.

R.P. Larkin and M.M. Talbot. 2000. Characterization of soil microbial communities under different potato cropping systems in Maine. Phytopathology 90: S45