Contact

Kathy Lawrence
Professor
Dept. of Entomology & Plant Pathology
209 Life Science Building
Auburn Univ., AL 36849
334-844-1956

Photo of Kathy Lawrence

Kathy Lawrence

Professor

Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology

Education

1993 Ph.D., Mississippi State University (Plant Pathology)
1988 1988 M.S., Mississippi State University (Plant Pathology)
1981 1981 B.S., New Mexico State University (Agronomy, Crop Science)

Professional Experience

2013-Present Professor, Auburn University
2004-13 Associate Professor, Auburn University
1999-03 Assistant Professor, Auburn University
1996-99 Associate Professor, Northeast Louisiana University
1992-96 Assistant Professor, Northeast Louisiana University

Honors and Awards

2018 Dean’s Grantsmanship Award, College of Agriculture, Auburn University
2017 Dean’s Grantsmanship Award, College of Agriculture, Auburn University
2016-2019 Treasurer for the Society of Nematology
2013 Dean’s Grantsmanship Award, College of Agriculture, Auburn University
2012 Dean’s Grantsmanship Award, College of Agriculture, Auburn University
2011 Distinguished Service Award, Organization of Nematologists of Tropical America
2009 Syngenta Award for Research, Society of Nematologists
2008-10 Editor in Chief, Nematropica
2008-09 President of the Cotton Disease Counci
2003 Distinguished Service Award, Southern Soybean Disease Workers
1997 Agriculture Teacher of Merit, National Association of College Teachers of Agriculture
1996-98 Tom Scott Professorship, Department of Agriculture, Northeast Louisiana University
1995 Researcher of the Year Award, College of Pure and Applied Science, Northeast Louisiana University

Research Activities

Ares of expertise are in soil borne and foliar fungal diseases specifically plant parasitic nematodes and fungi attacking field crops, vegetables and ornamentals with emphasis on nematode and fungal pathogen interactions and host-pathogen relationships in the natural environment. The goals of my applied research (Hatch Project # ALA015-2-14003) are to develop and evaluate ecologically based plant disease management programs for the economically important crops in Alabama, and to deliver these programs to growers. My basic research uses a multidisciplinary approach to address fundamental questions in plant parasitic nematode pathogenicity as well as fungal pathogen interactions and host-pathogen relationships

Courses taught

PLPA 3000
4 credits		 General Plant Pathology and Laboratory – undergraduate.
Survey of plant diseases with emphasis on symptoms recognition, pathogen biology, and management.
Multimedia lecture medium.
PLPA 3003/3004
4 credits		 Plant Pathology Distance Education – undergraduate.
Survey of plant diseases with emphasis on symptoms recognition, pathogen biology, and management.
Web interface medium.
PLPA 5060/6060
3 credits		 Plant Disease Management – undergraduate/graduate.
Aspects of plant disease management including cultural practices, plant resistance, biological and chemical
control and forecasting. Co-taught with Dr. Joe Kloepper.
PLPA 5203/6204
4 credits		 Mycology Distance Education – undergraduate/graduate.
This is a comprehensive survey of the fungi, their evolution, morphology and ontogeny of reproductive
structures. The focus is on plant pathogens. Multimedia lecture medium.
PLPA 5500/6500 Plant Nematology and Laboratory – undergraduate/graduate.
Presentation of nematodes in relation to plant diseases; identification of plant parasitic nematodes;
nature of pathogenicity; principles and practices of management; and recent advances in phytonematology.
Multimedia lecture medium.
PLPA 5503/6506 Plant Nematology Distance Education – undergraduate/graduate.
Presentation of nematodes in relation to plant diseases; identification of plant parasitic nematodes;
nature of pathogenicity; principles and practices of management; and recent advances in phytonematology.
Multimedia lecture medium.
PLPA 7080
3 credits		 Field Survey of Plant Pathology – graduate.
Practical aspects of plant diseases under field conditions, on-site visits via field trips;
discussion of experimental design for field research.

Select Publications

  • Hajihassani, Abolfazl and Kathy Lawrence.2018.Plant Parasitic Nematodes of Georgia and Alabama Chapter 15:pages 357-391inPlant Parasitic Nematodes in Sustainable Agricu1ture of North AmericaVolume 2: Canada, Northeastern, Midwestern and Southern USA. eds: Sergei A. Subbotin and John J. Chitambar
  • Lawrence, K. S. and G. W. Lawrence. 2015. Fusarium Seedling Disease of Cotton. (In Press) in Cotton Compendium. eds. Kirpatrick Rothrock, and Woodward. American Phytopathological Society Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota.
  • Lawrence, G.W.  and K. S. Lawrence. 2015. The Reniform Nematode. Pages ( In Press) in Cotton Compendium. eds. Kirpatrick Rothrock, and Woodward. American Phytopathological Society Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota.
  • Lawrence, K. S. and G. W. Lawrence. 2015. Chapter 12: Pest Management: Nematodes. In Conservation Tillage Systems: Production, Profitability and Stewardship. eds J. Bergtold, R. Raper, G. Hawkins, and K. Iversen. CRC Press LLC.
  • Krishna Kumar, K. V., M.S. Reddy, J.W. Kloepper, K. S. Lawrence, X.G. Zhou, D.E. Groth, S. Zhang, R. S. Rao, Q. Wang, M. R. B. Raju, S. K. Raju, W. G. D. Fernando, H. Sudini, B. Du, and M. E. Miller. 2011. Chapter 9: Commercial Potential of Microbial Inoculants for Sheath Blight Management and Yield Enhancement of Rice. In Bacteria in Agrobiology: Crop Ecosystems. eds D.K. Maheshwari. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
  • Lawrence, K. S., 2007. The Fungi: Yeasts and Molds. Pages 61 – 68 in Benson’s Microbiological Applications Laboratory Manual in General Microbiology 11th Edition. Editor Alfred E. Brown, McGraw Hill, New York, New York 10020.
  • Lawrence, G. W and K. S. McLean. 2001. The Reniform Nematode. Pages 42-44 in Cotton Compendium. eds. Kirpatrick and Rothrock. American Phytopathological Society Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota.
  • Lawrence, G. W and K. S. McLean. 1999. Plant Parasitic Nematode Pests of Soybeans. Pages 291-308 in Soybean Production in the Mid-South. Eds, Heatherly and Hodges. CRC Press LLC. (Pps. 291 – 308).
  • Hannah W. Austin, Brant T. McNeece, Keshav Sharma, Prakash M. Niraula, Katheryn S. Lawrence and Vincent P. Klink. 2019. An expanded role of the SNARE-containing regulon as it relates to the defense process thatGlycine max has toHeterodera glycines. Journal of Plant Interactions 14:1. 276-283, DOI: 10.1080/17429145.2019.1622043.
  • Disi, J. O., Mohammad, H.K., Lawrence, K. Kloepper, J. and Fadamiro, H. 2019. A soil bacterium can shape belowground interactions between maize, herbivores and entomopathogenic nematodes. Plant Soil (2019) 437:83–92.  doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-03957-7.
  • McNeece, B. T. Sharma, K. Lawrence, G. W., Lawrence, K. S. and Klink, V. P. 2019. The mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene family functions as a cohort during theGlycine max defense response toHeterodera glycines. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 137:25-41. doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.01.018.
  • Hall, Meredith, K. S. Lawrence, D. Shannon, T. Gonzales, and M. Newman. 2019. First Report of Binucleate RhizoctoniaAG-G on Common Turmeric (Curcuma longa) in the United States. Plant Disease https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1583-PDN
  • Lawaju, B.R., Lawrence, K.S., Lawrence, G.W.,and Klink, V.P. 2018. Harpin-inducible defense signaling components impair infection by the ascomyceteMacrophomina phaseolina. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 129:331–348.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.06.020
  • Till, Stephen, Kathy Lawrence and Patricia Donald. 2018. Nematicides, Starter Fertilizers, and Plant Growth Regulators Implementation into a Corn Production System. Plant Health Progress 19: 242-253.https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1550-PDN
  • Avelar, Sofia, Drew W. Schrimsher, Kathy S. Lawrence, and Judith K. Brown. 2018. First report of cotton leafroll dwarf virus associated with cotton blue disease symptoms in Alabama. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1550-PDN
  • Xiang, Ni, K.S. Lawrence, and P.A. Donald. 2018.Biological control potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria suppression of Meloidogyne incognita on cotton and Heterodera glycines on soybean: A review.  Journal of Phytopathology. 2018; 1–10.
  • Xiang, Ni, K.S. Lawrence, J.W. Kloepper, and P.A. Donald. 2018. Biological control of Rotylenchulus reniformison soybean by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Nematropica: 48:116-125.
  • Crutcher, F. K., L. S. Puckhaber, R. K. Stipanovic, A. A. Bell, R. L. Nichols, K. S. Lawrence, J. Liu. 2017. Microbial resistance mechanisms to the antibiotic and phytotoxin Fusaric acid. Journal of chemical Ecology October 6, 2017. DOI 10.1007/s10886-017-0889-x
  • Gosse, H. N., K. S. Lawrence, and Sang-Wook Park. 2017. Underground mystery: the role of chemotactic attractants in plant root and phytonematode interactins. Scientia Ricerca 1(2): 83-87.
  • Hall, M., K. Lawrence, W. Groover, D. Shannon, and T. Gonzalez. 2017. First Report of the Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) on Curcuma longain the United States. Plant Disease 101 (10):1826. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-17-0409-PDN.
  • Moye, Hugh. H. Jr., N. Xiang, K. Lawrence, and E. van Santen. 2017. First Report of Macrophomina phaseolinaon Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) in Alabama. Plant Disease 101 (5): 842. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-16-1750-PDN.
  • Xiang, Ni, K.S. Lawrence, J.W. Kloepper, P.A. Donald, and J.A. McInroy. 2017. Biological control of Heterodera glycinesby spore-forming plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on soybean. PLOS ONE 12(7): e0181201.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181201.
  • Dyer, D., N. Xiang, and K. S. Lawrence. 2017. First report of Catenaria anguillulaeinfecting Rotylenchulus reniformisand Heterodera glycinesin Alabama. Plant Disease. 101(8):1547. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-17-0366-PDN.
  • Xiang, Ni, K.S. Lawrence, J.W. Kloepper, P.A. Donald, J.A. McInroy, and G.W. Lawrence. 2017. Biological control of Meloidogyne incognitaby spore-forming plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on cotton. Plant Disease 101(5): 774-784. http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-09-16-1369-RE.
  • Land, C. J., K. S. Lawrence, C. H. Burmester, B. Meyer. 2017. Cultivar, irrigation, and soil contribution to the enhancement of Verticillium wilt disease in cotton. Crop Protection 96:1-6.
  • Xiang, Ni and K. S. Lawrence. 2016. Optimization of In Vitro Techniques for Distinguishing between Live and Dead Second Stage Juveniles of Heterodera glycines and Meloidogyne incognita. PLOS ONE: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154818
  • Land, C. J., K. S. Lawrence, and M. Newman. 2016. First Report of Verticillium dahliae on Cotton in Alabama. Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849. Plant Dis. 100:1, 2016; published online as http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-15-1143-PDN.
  • Zhao, C., Y. Feng, R. Mathew, K. Lawrence, and S. Fu. 2015. Soil microbial community structure and activity in a 100-year-old fertilization and crop rotation experiment. Journal of Plant Ecology doi:10.1093/jpe/rtv007 http://gce.henu.edu.cn/images/Papers/zhao3.pdf
  • Lee, H. K., G. W. Lawrence, J. L. DuBien and K. S. Lawrence. 2015. Seasonal variation and cotton-corn rotation in the spatial distribution of Rotylenchulus reniformis in Mississippi cotton soils. Nematropica 45:(72-81). http://journals.fcla.edu/nematropica/article/view/85053/81982
  • Drew W. Schrimsher, Kathy S. Lawrence, Roelof B. Sikkens, and David B. Weaver. 2014.
  • Nematicides enhance growth and yield of Rotylenchulus reniformis resistant cotton genotypes. Journal of Nematology 46:(367-375).
  • Ruijuan Li, Aaron M. Rashotte, Narendra K. Singh, David B. Weaver, Kathy S. Lawrence, Robert D. Locy. 2014. Integrated signaling networks in plant responses to sedentary endoparasitic nematodes – a perspective. Plant Cell Report Journal. Plant Cell Rep 2015 Jan 11;34(1):5-22. Epub 2014 Sep 11.
  • Nyaku, Seloame T., Venkateswara R. Sripathi, Ramesh V. Kantety, Sarah B. Cseke, Ramesh Buyyarapu, Robert Mc Ewan, Yong Q. Gu, Kathy Lawrence, Zachary Senwo, Padmini Sripathi, Pheba George, and Govind C. Sharma. 2014. Characterization of reniform nematode genome through Shotgun Sequencing. Genome 06/2014; 57(4):1-13. DOI: 10.1139/gen-2014-0019.
  • Castillo, J. D., Lawrence, K. S., and Kloepper, J. W. 2013. Biocontrol of the reniform nematode by Bacillus firmus GB-126 and Paecilomyces lilacinus 251 on cotton. Plant Disease 97:967-976.
  • Moore, S. R. and K. S. Lawrence. 2013. The effect of soil texture and irrigation on Rotylenchulus reniformis and cotton. Journal of Nematology 45:99-105.
  • K. Vijay Krishna Kumar, S. KR. Yellareddygari, M. S. Reddy, J. W. Kloepper, K. S.
  • Lawrence, M. E. Miller, H. Sudini, E.C. Surendranatha Reddy, X. G. Zhou and D. E. Groth. 2013. Ultrastructural studies on the interaction between Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 (Integral®) and the rice sheath blight pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani. African Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 7:2078-2086.
  • Seloame T. Nyaku, Ramesh V. Kantety, Yonathan Tilahun, Kathy S. Lawrence,
  • Khairy M. Soliman, Ernst Cebert, and Govind C. Sharma. 2013. 18S and ITS1 Genomic Sequence Variations in Rotylenchulus reniformis Isolates from Alabama. The Journal of Cotton Science 17:184–194.
  • Nyaku ST, Sripathi VR, Kantety RV, Gu YQ, Lawrence K, et al. (2013) Characterization of the Two Intra-Individual Sequence Variants in the 18S rRNA Gene in the Plant Parasitic Nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis. PLoS ONE 8(4): e60891. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0060891.
  • Bennett, Rebecca S., Tamara Z. Scott, Katheryn S. Lawrence, and Gary W. Lawrence. 2013. Sequence characterization of race 4-like isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from Alabama and Mississippi. Journal of Cotton Science 17:1-6.
  • Wheeler, T. A., K. S. Lawrence, D. O. Porter, W. Keeling, and B. G. Mullinix, Jr. 2013. The relationship between environmental variables and response of cotton to nematicides. Journal of Nematology 45: 8-16.
  • Rothrock, C. S., S. A. Winters, P. K. Miller, E. Gbur, L. L. Verhalen, T. S. Isakeit,W. E. Batson Jr., F. M. Bourland, P. D. Colyer, T. A. Wheeler, H. W. Kaufman, G. L. Sciumbato, P. M. Thaxton, K. S. Lawrence, W. S. Gazaway, A. Y. Chambers, M. A. Newman, T. L. Kirkpatrick, J. D. Barham, P. M. Phipps, F. M. Shokes, D. R. Sumner, L. J. Littlefield, G. B. Padgett, R. B. Hutmacher, R. M. Davis, R. C. Kemerait, K. W. Seebold Jr., J. D. Mueller, and R. H. Garber. 2012. Importance of fungicide seed treatment and environment on seedling diseases on cotton. Plant Disease 96:(1,805 – 1,817).
  • Matsye, P. D., G. W. Lawrence, R. M. Youssef, K. Kim, K. S. Lawrence, B. F. Matthews, and V. P. Klink. 2012. The expression of a naturally occurring, truncated allele 4 of an a-SNAP gene suppresses plant parasitic nematode infection. Plant Molecular Biology DOI: 10.1007/s11103-012-9932-z.
  • Moore, S. R., and K. S. Lawrence. 2012. Rotylenchulus reniformis in cotton: current methods of management and the future of site-specific management. Nematropica 42:227-236.
  • Krishna Kumar, K. V., S. KR. Yellareddygari, M. S. Reddy, J. W. Kloepper, K. S. Lawrence, X. G. Zhou, H. Sudini, D. E. Groth, S. Krishnam Raju, M. E. Miller. 2012. Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 against Sheath Blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani and on growth and yield of rice. Rice Science 2012 19:55−63.
  • Sikora, E. J., Murphy, J. F., K. S. Lawrence, and Mullen, J. M. 2011. Survey of fungal,
  • nematode and viral diseases of soybean in Alabama. Online Plant Health Progress.
  • doi:10.1094/PHP-2011-1227-01-RS.
  • Moore, S. R., K. S. Lawrence, F. J. Arriaga, E. van Santen, C. H. Burmester. 2011. Influence of water infiltration and root growth on the downward dispersion of Rotylenchulus reniformis. Nematropica 41:73-79.
  • Castillo, J. D., and K. S. Lawrence. 2011. First report of Catenaria auxiliaris parasitizing the reniform nematode Rotylenchulus reniformis on cotton in Alabama. Plant Disease 95:490. (http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PDIS-07-10-0524)
  • Sikkens, R. B., D. B. Weaver, K. S. Lawrence, S. R. Moore, and E. van Santen. 2011. LONREN upland cotton germplasm response to Rotylenchulus reniformis inoculation level. Nematropica 41:66-72.
  • Krishna Kumar, K. V., M.S. Reddy, J.W. Kloepper, S. KR. Yellareddygari, K. S. Lawrence, X. G. Zhou, H. Sudini, M. E. Miller, R. P. Appa, R. E. C. Surendranatha, S. R. Niranjana, and N. S. Chandra. 2011. Plant growth-promoting activities of Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 (INTEGRAL®) and its compatibility with commonly used fungicides in rice sheath blight management. International Journal of Microbiology Research 3:120-130.
  • Krishna Kumar, K. V., M.S. Reddy, S. KR. Yellareddygari, J.W. Kloepper, K. S. Lawrence, X. G. Zhou, H. Sudini, and M. E. Miller. 2011. Evaluation and selection of elite plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for suppression of sheath blight of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani in a detached leaf bio-assay. 2011. International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology 2:488-495.
  • Krishna Kumar, K. V., M.S. Reddy, J.W. Kloepper, K. S. Lawrence, S. KR. Yellareddygari, X. G. Zhou, H. Sudini, E.C. Surendranatha Reddy, D.E. Groth and M. E. Miller. 2011. Screening and Selection of Elite Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) For Suppression of Rhizoctonia solani and Enhancement of Rice Seedling Vigor. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology 5:641-651.