Contact Information

Entomology & Plant Pathology
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9775

TEL: (662) 325-2085
FAX: (662) 325-8837

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Clarissa Balbalian

Diagnostician/Laboratory Manager
MSU-ES Plant Diagnostic Clinic
190 Bost North, Rm. 9
Mississippi State, MS 39759-9655
www.extensionplantclinics.msstate.edu

TEL: (662)-325-2146
FAX: (662)-325-8336
Email: cbalbali@ext.msstate.edu

Education:

B.S. 1994; General Biology, Longwood University
M.S. 1998; Plant Pathology (forest pathology concentration), West Virginia University
https://eidr.wvu.edu/files/380/thesis.pdf

Appointment:

100% Extension

Areas of Interest:

Plant Disease Diagnosis; Plant Disease Management; Forest Pathology; Forest Health Management My passions are forest pathology and fungal pathogens. However, as a diagnostician, I work with every kind of plant and pathogen combination imaginable. Mississippi is an exciting place to be a diagnostician because the climate supports a wide range of plants and lots of exciting pathogens! The diagnostic clinic is a member of the southern region of the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) of laboratories http://www.sepdn.org and as such is always on the lookout for new and emerging pathogens and diseases. The lab has permits in place to accept plant disease and nematode samples from anywhere within the contiguous United States. For more information on lab services or sample submission refer to:http://msucares.com/pubs/misc/m1230.pdf

Professional Experience:
  • Faculty Research Assistant; University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute-Center for Biosystems Research 1998-1999.http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/118712633/HTMLSTART
  • Assistant State Plant Pathologist; Virginia Department of Agriculture 1999-2002.
  • Diagnostician/Lab Manager; Mississippi State University Extension Service 2002-present.

Professional Responsibilities:
  • Direct and supervise the plant disease and nematode diagnostic laboratory at Mississippi State University.
  • Diagnose plant diseases and provide management recommendations.
  • Provide regulatory diagnostic services to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry (MDAC-BPI).
  • Support the mission of the National Plant Diagnostic Network.

Teaching

I don't do any formal teaching, but I offer an opportunity for graduate students to pursue a directed individual study in the diagnostic clinic each semester. I also enjoy providing the occasional guest lecture for courses in integrated forest pest management and turf pathology.

Professional Improvement Highlights:

Annually-The annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society.

Biennially- Ornamental Plant Disease and Insect Workshop (Kanuga, NC).

2009 Phytophthora kernoviae Training Workshop (USDA CPHST Beltsville, MD)

2008 Cercospora and Related Anamorphic Fungi; Southern Plant Diagnostic Network Workshop (USDA-APHIS-PPQ-NIS; Auburn University.) (Dr. John McKemy).

2008 Potato Cyst Nematode Training Workshop (USDA CPHST Beltsville, MD).

2007 Mycotoxin Workshop I&II for Diagnosticians (National Plant Diagnostic Network).

2006 Joint meeting of the Northeastern Forest Pathology Workshop and Southwide Forest Disease Workshop.

2005 & 2006 National Soybean Rust Symposia.

2004 Workshop on Real-Time PCR for Plant Disease Diagnosticians (University of Kentucky).

2004 National Plant Diagnostic Network Training: Detection of Soybean Rust and Ralstonia solanacearum Race 3 biovar 2 (USDA-APHIS PPQ,CPHST & NIS Beltsville, MD).

2003 Soybean Rust Diagnostic Training Workshop (USDA-ARS,APHIS,CSREES Ft. Detrick, MD).

2002 Clemson University Nematode Identification Short Course (Dr. Steve Lewis).

2000 West Virginia University Phytophthora Identification Workshop (Dr. Mannon Gallegly).

Professional Association Service:
  • American Phytopathological Society
  • Mississippi Association of Plant Pathologists and Nematologists
  • National Plant Diagnostic Network
    • SPDN representative to the NPDN Diagnostics subcommittee 2006-present
    • 2009 NPDN program planning committee
  • Southern Plant Diagnostic Network
    • SPDN diagnostic representative for MSU
    • SPDN Advisory Council-secretary 2006-present

University Service:
  • Institutional Biosafety Committee, chair 2008-present
  • Departmental Safety Committee 2003-present