Damann, K., Sweany, R., DeRobertis, C. 2004. Frequency of colonization of corn kernels by atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus applied as a potential biocontrol agent. Phytopathology 94:000.

Brown, R. L., Chen, Z-Y, Cleveland, T. E., Gonzalez, P., Jackson, T., Menkir, A., Damann, K. E., and Rajasekaran, K. 2003. Progress in identification and characterization of maize resistance traits against aflatoxingenic fungi. Proceedings of the Fungal Genomics, Fumonisin, and Aflatoxin Elimination Workshops, Savannah, GA, p. 58.

Moore, S. H., Abbas, H. K., Kang, M. S., Mascagni, H.J. Jr., Damann, K. E., Rabb, J. L., Brown, L and Hall, W. 2003. Using genotype by environmental interactions to characterize hybrids for resistance to aflatoxin. Proceedings of the Fungal Genomics, Fumonisin, and Aflatoxin Elimination Workshops, Savannah, GA, p. 75.

Chen, Z-Y, Brown, R. L., Cleveland , T. E., and Damann, K. E. 2003. Construction of a gene-silencing binary vector for studying the functions of aflatoxin resistance-associated proteins/genes in corn through genetic engineering. Proceedings of the Fungal Genomics, Fumonisin, and Aflatoxin Elimination Workshops, Savannah, GA, p. 118.

Brown, R. L., Cleveland, T. E., Chen, Z-Y, Gembeh, S. V., Menkir, S., Moore, S., Jeffers, D., Damann, K. E., and Bhatnagar, D. 2002. The identification of maize kernel resistance traits through comparative evaluation of aflatoxin-resistant with susceptible germplasm. Mycopathologia 155(1-2):77.

Chen, Z-Y, Brown, R. L., Cleveland, T. E., and Damann, K. E. 2002. The use of proteomics to elucidate factors regulating the corn-Aspergillus flavus interaction. Mycopathologia 155(1-2): 14.

Chen, Z-Y, Brown, R. L., Damann, K. E., and Cleveland, T. E. 2002. Characterization of a maize kernel protein associated with resistance against Aspergillus flavus infection/aflatoxin production. Mycopathologia 155(1-2):111.

Tubajika, K. M. and Damann, K. E. 2002. Glufosinate-ammonium reduces growth and aflatoxin B1 production. Journal of Food Protection 65(9):1483-1487.

Chen, Z-Y, Brown, R.L., Cleveland, T. E., Damann, K. E., and Russin, J. S. 2001. Comparison of constitutive and inducible maize kernel proteins of genotypes resistant or susceptible to aflatoxin production. Journal of Food Protection 64(11):1785 - 1792.

Damann, K. E. and Tubajika, K. M. 2001. Liberty herbicide reduces aflatoxin contamination in corn. The World Mycotoxin Forum Proceedings, Noordvijk, Netherlands, p. 4.

Tubajika, K. M. and Damann, K. E. 2001. Sources of resistance to aflatoxin production in maize. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 49:1652 - 1656.

Lopes, S.A., Damann, K. E., and Grelen, L. B. 2001. Xanthomonas albilineans diversity and identification based on rep-PCR fingerprints. Current Microbiology 42:155 - 159.

Lopes, S.A., Damann, K. E., Hoy, J. W., and Grisham, M.P. 2001. Infectivity titration for assessing resistance to leaf scald among sugarcane cultivars. Plant Disease 85:592 - 596.

Damann, K. E., Liang, X. Lopes, S. 2001. Production of N-acyl homoserine lactone autoinducers by the N2-fixing endophyte of sugarcane Acetobacter diazotrophicus. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interactions Proc. of 10^th International Congress, Madison,WI, p. 210.

Tubajika, K. M., Mascagni, H. J. Jr., Damann, K. E., and Russin, J. S. 2000. Aflatoxin production in corn by Aspergillus flavus relative to inoculation, planting date, and harvest moisture in Louisiana. LSU AgCenter Research Report Number 102.

Teaching Experience: PLHL 7080 Host-Parasite Interaction and Disease Resistance, covers the genetics, molecular biology and physiology of specificity of disease causation and resistance. Discussion of classical and contemporary literature on a variety of topics illuminates the evolution of our understanding of several model systems of plant disease (see course outline and references for 2004).

Committee Assignments (University, Experiment Station and Departmental):
Departmental Course and Curriculum Committee, Chairman
Departmental Representative to College of Agriculture C and C Committee

Professional Society Memberships:
American Phytopathological Society

Early work centered on understanding the etiology and control of ratoon stunting disease of sugarcane caused by the fastidious bacterium Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli. Efforts were directed at diagnosis and determination of population diversity of pathogens (Clavibacter = Leifsonia, Xanthomonas albilineans, Ustilago scitaminea) and N2-fixing endophytes (Acetobacter diazotrophicus, Herbaspirillum rubrasubalbicans) of sugarcane using molecular techniques. In 1998 concerns with mycotoxins (aflatoxin and fumonisin) in corn and ways to minimize contamination were begun. Results with the herbicide LibertyTM applied late in the growing season to Aspergillus flavus-inoculated corn have shown significant reductions in aflatoxin contamination without yield loss to non-transgenic hybrids. Efforts are underway to characterize the mechanism of reduction and to obtain a local use permit for farmers to apply the herbicide for aflatoxin control. In 2003 a biocontrol approach using atoxigenic A. flavus was initiated in corn. In conjunction with this effort we are characterizing the kernel infecting and soil population diversity of this fungus using vegetative compatibility groups and DNA fingerprinting approaches. I also cooperate with USDA SRRC scientists in New Orleans on mechanisms of resistance to A. flavus and aflatoxin contamination in corn, as well as LSU AgCenter scientists working on resistance breeding, agronomic and post-harvest chemical approaches to ameliorating the aflatoxin contamination problem.

Ph.D., Michigan State University
M.S., University of Arkansas
B.S., Eastern Illinois University