Connecticut State The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Robert E. Marra

Portrait of Robert E. Marra

Department of Plant Pathology & Ecology
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Voice: (203) 974-8508 Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail: Robert.Marra@ct.gov

Expertise:

Dr. Marra has expertise in plant pathology, mycology, fungal genetics, population biology, evolution, and molecular biology.  While forest pathology is his principle research interest, Dr. Marra studies a range of plant pathosystems from various perspectives, including population biology, ecology, and mating system evolution.  In collaboration with Dr. Wade Elmer, Dr. Marra identified a new fungal species, Fusarium palustre, a pathogen of the salt marsh grass, Spartina alterniflora, and implicated in salt marsh decline, known as Sudden Vegetation Dieback.  Dr. Marra has also developed interest and expertise in the use of sonic and electrical impedance tomography to assess the internal condition of trees.  Techniques utilized in Dr. Marra’s laboratory include culturing, microscopic analysis, and molecular biology.  Population genetic studies employ several types of molecular markers, including microsatellites, amplified-fragment-length-polymorphisms (AFLPs), and single-strand-conformational-polymorphisms (SSCPs), to study genetic structure and mating patterns in natural populations.  Dr. Marra was instrumental in developing the department’s Molecular Plant Diagnostics Laboratory, in which state-of-the-art molecular technologies, including real-time PCR, are utilized to aid in the rapid identification of plant diseases.  It is through this laboratory that Dr. Marra is annually certified by USDA-APHIS-PPQ to perform molecular diagnostics in annual surveys of Connecticut nurseries and garden centers for the presence of the Sudden Oak Death pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum.  

Education:

B.S., State University of New York at Binghamton (1990); Biology/Russian

Ph.D., Cornell University (1998); Plant Pathology/Mycology

Career history:

Postdoctoral Associate with Dr. Thomas G. Mitchell, Department of Molecular Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, and Dr. Rytas Vilgalys, Department of Biology, Duke University, 2001-2004.

Postdoctoral Associate with Dr. John Jaenike, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 1999-2001.

Station career:

Assistant Agricultural Scientist II, 2004-2014

Associate Agricultural Scientist, 2014-present

Past research:

Dr. Marra’s dissertation research investigated the mating system of the chestnut blight pathogen, Cryphonectria parasitica, at both molecular and population levels of study.  He has also looked at population structure in C. parasitica populations, and how site ecology plays a role in genetic structure of populations.  Dr. Marra did his postdoctoral research on the human pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, a basidiomycete yeast that causes cryptococcal meningitis, for which he developed a genetic linkage map.  He also contributed to the C. neoformans whole genome sequencing project. 

Current research:

Dr. Marra conducts research centered on (but not limited to) three important pathosystems: 

Neonectria ditissima is an ascomycete fungus that causes target canker on a variety of hosts, particularly on birch (Betulaspp.) trees.  In order to investigate genetic structure in natural populations of this fungus, particularly as it correlates with host density and site ecology, Dr. Marra’s lab has developed a suite of molecular genetic markers, including AFLPs and microsatellites.  These markers are currently being used to test hypotheses on the dispersal and genetic structure of natural populations. 

Sudden Vegetation Dieback (SVD) is a disease syndrome of Spartina alterniflora, the marsh cordgrass that is an important component of the estuarine flora of eastern North America.  Dr. Wade Elmer (Plant Pathology & Ecology) has been instrumental in isolatingFusariumfungi from SVD-affected marshes, and has tested their pathogenicity on S. alterniflorain greenhouse studies.  Dr. Marra has studied the phylogenetics of these isolates, and in collaboration with Dr. Elmer has identified at least two new species of Fusarium, one of which, the newly named Fusarium palustre, is a primary pathogen of S. alterniflora.  Current research is focused on using AFLP markers to test hypotheses on the distribution and dispersal dynamics of the fungus in its current known range, from the Gulf Coast of Louisiana to the coast of Maine. 

Bacterial spot of peaches is an important disease that affects foliage and fruit, and is particularly important in peach orchards of the northeast, including Connecticut.  To address this problem, Dr. Marra heads a departmental team effort in determining whether bacteriophage viruses can be used to control this disease.

Dr. Marra has also developed knowledge and expertise in the use of a new technology for nondestructively assessing the internal condition of trees, identifying cavities, rot, and incipient decay, long an elusive goal of forest pathologists, arborists, and others interested in knowing the extent of internal decay and defect in trees.  The advent of tomographic technologies has made this goal attainable.  Similar to CAT scans used in medical diagnostics, sonic and electrical impedance tomography use sound waves and electrical currents to detect irregularities in structure and composition, as well as water content.  Combining the results of both types of measurements can result in a remarkably accurate depiction of the tree’s internal condition. 

Cankered Birch      Neonectria

tomography

Selected publications available from author, Robert.Marra@ct.gov

 

    • Y. Y. Bjorn Gehesquière, J. A. Crouch, R. E. Marra, K. Van, Poucke, F. Rys, M. Maes, B. Gobin, Monica Höfte, Kurt Heungens. 2016. Characterization and taxonomic reassessment of the box blight pathogen Calonectria pseudonaviculata, introducing Calonectria henricotiae sp. nov. Plant Pathology 65: 37-5
    • W. H. Elmer, R. E. Marra, H. Li, B. Li. 2016. Incidenceof Fusarium spp. on the invasive Spartina  alterniflora on Chongming Island, Shanghai, China. Biological invasions 18: 2221-2227
    • M. Malapi-Wight, J. E. Demers, D. Veltri, R. E. Marra, J. A. Crouch. 2016. LAMP detection assays for boxwood blight pathogens: a comparative genomics approach. Scientific Reports 6: 26140
    • W. H. Elmer, S. Useman, RW Schneider, R. E. Marra, J. A. LaMondia, I. A. Mendelssohn, M. M. Jiménez-Gasco, and F. L. Caruso. 2013. Sudden vegetation dieback in Atlantic and Gulf Coast salt marshes. Plant Disease 97: 436-445.
    • Lamondia, J. A., D. W. Li, R. E. Marra, and S. M. Douglas, 2012. First report of Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum causing leaf spot of Pachysandra terminalis. Plant Disease 96: 1069-1069.
    • Ivors, K. L., L. W. Lacey, D. C. Milks, S. M. Douglas, M. K. Inman, R. E. Marra, and J. A. Lamondia. 2012. First report of boxwood blight caused by Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum in the United States. Plant Disease 96: 1070-1070.
    • lmer, W. E. and R. E. Marra. 2012. Fusarium Crown Rot of Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) in Connecticut caused by Fusarium oxysporum. Plant Disease 96: in press.
    • N. J. Brazee, R. E. Marra, L. Goecke, and P. van Wassenaer. 2011. Nondestructive assessment of internal decay in three hardwood species of northeastern North America using sonic and electrical impedance tomography.  Forestry 84: 33-39.
    • N. J. Brazee, R. E. Marra, and RL Wick.  2011. Genotypic diversity of Armillaria gallica from mixed oak forests using AFLPs.  Mycologia 104(1): 53-61.
    • W. E. Elmer and R. E. Marra. 2010.  New species of Fusarium associated with dieback of Spartina alterniflora in Atlantic salt marshes.  Mycologia 103(4): 806-819.
    • Brazee, N. J., R. E.Marra, L. Goecke, and P. van Wassenaer. 2010. Nondestructive assessment of internal decay in three hardwood species of northeastern North America using sonic and electrical impedance tomography.  Forestry 84(1): 33-39.
    • Marra, R. E., and D.-W. Li. 2009. First Report of Pestalotiopsis paeoniicola Causing Twig Blight onPaeonia suffruticola, in the North America.Plant Disease 93: 966.
    • Marra, R. E., R. Hiskes, and C. E. Rutledge. 2009. Invasive Species and Connecticut’s Forests. Connecticut Woodlands 73(4): 7-13.
    • Marra, R. E., 2008.  Isolation and characterization of eleven codominant markers for the Perennial Canker fungal pathogen, Neonectria ditissima.  Molecular Ecology Resources.9(3): 906-909.
    • Marra, R. E., and S. M. Douglas.  2005.  Phytophthora ramorum:  a new threat to Connecticut’s forests and landscapes.  Frontiers of Plant Science 55(2): 2-4.
    • Marra, R. E., J. C. Huang, K. Nielsen, R. V. Vilgalys, and T. G. Mitchell.  2004. A Genetic Map ofCryptococcus neoformans, var. neoformans Serotype D (Filobasidiella neoformans).  Genetics 167: 619-631.
    • Marra, R. E., and  M. G. Milgroom.  2004.  Mixed mating in natural populations of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica. Heredity 93: 189-195.
    • Marra, R. E., and M. G.Milgroom.  2001.  The mating system of the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica: selfing and self-incompatibility.  Heredity 86(2): 134-143.
    • Marra, R. E., and M. G. Milgroom.  1999.  PCR amplification of the mating-type idiomorphs inCryphonectria parasitica.  Molecular Ecology 8: 1947-1950.
    • Loftus, B. J., E. Fung, P. Roncaglia, D. Rowley, P. Amedeo, D. Bruno, J. Vamathevan, M. Miranda, I. J. Anderson, J. A. Fraser, J. E. Allen, I. E. Bosdet, M. R. Brent, R. Chiu, T. L. Doering, M. J. Donlin, Cl A. D’Souza, D. S. Fox, V. Grinberg, J. Fu, M. Fukushima, B. J. Haas, J. C. Huang, G. Janbon, S. J. M. Jones, H. L. Koo, M. I. Krzywinski, J. K. Kwon-Chung, K. B. Lengeler, R. Maiti, M. A. Marra, R. E. Marra, C. A. Mathewson, T. G. Mitchell, M. Pertea, F. R. Riggs, S. L. Salzberg, J. E. Schein, A. Shvartsbeyn, H. Shin, M Shumway, C. A. Specht, B. B. Suh, A. Tenney, T. R. Utterback, B. L. Wickes, J. R. Wortman, N. H. Wye, J. W. Kronstad, J. K. Lodge, J. Heitman, R. W. Davis, C. M. Fraser, R. W. Hyman.  2005.  The Genome of the Basidiomycetous Yeast and Human Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.  Science 307: 1321-1324.
    • Litvintseva, A. P., R. E. Marra, K. Nielsen, J. Heitman, R. Vilgalys, T. G. Mitchell, 2003. Evidence of sexual recombination among Cryptococcus neoformans Serotype A Isolates in Sub-Saharan Africa.Eukaryotic Cell 2: 1162-1168.
    • McGuire, I. C., R. E. Marra, and M. G. Milgroom.  2004.  Mating-type heterokaryosis and selfing inCryphonectria parasitica.  Fungal Genetics and Biology 41: 521-533. McGuire, I. C., R. E. Marra, B. G. Turgeon, and M. G. Milgroom.  2002.  Analysis of mating-type genes in the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica.  Fungal Genetics and Biology 34(2): 131-144.
    • Nielsen K., R. E. Marra, F. Hagen,  T. Boekhout, T. G. Mitchell, G. M. Cox, and J. Heitman. 2005.  Interaction between genetic background and the mating type locus in Cryptococcus neoformansvirulence potential.  Genetics 171: 975-983.
    • Carter, D. A., N. Tran-Dinh, R. E. Marra, and  R. E. Vera. 2004. The development of genetic markers from fungal genome initiatives.  In Applied Mycology and Biotechnology, An International Series. Volume 4: Fungal Genomics.  D. K. Arora, G. G. Khachatourians (eds). Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.