Bishnu Shrestha
Graduate Student
E-mail: BShrestha@agcenter.lsu.edu  

Major Professor: Dr. Jong Ham

Education:

• 2008–present: PhD student, Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge, LA

• 2001-2005: B.S. Agricultural Science (Plant Breeding, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Chitwan

Experience:

• 2008–present: Graduate Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

• 2006-2007: Research Associate, REGARD-NEPAL, Kathmandu

Research:

• Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) associated with partial resistance to bacterial panicle blight (BPB) in Rice

• Characterization of rice defense pathways in response to Burkholderia glumae.

• Characterization of the gene specifically up-regulated in the BPB-partially resistant cultivar in response to B. glumae.

Memberships, Activities:

• Member of American Phytopathological Society (August 2010 – present)

• Member of American Phytopathological Society, Southern Division

• LSU Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology (PPCP) Graduate Student Association:

  • Graduate Student Mentor (Fall 2010 – present)

  • Treasurer (Summer 2009 – present)

Recent publications, posters, oral presentations:

1. Shrestha, B. K., Nandakumar, R., Rush, M. C., Ham, J. H. 2011. Expression of NAC-like transcription factor is involved in bacterial panicle blight resistance in rice. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 101:S268.

2. Ham, J. H., and Karki, H. S., Shrestha, B, Barphagha, I. K., Melanson, R. A., Chen, R., Groth, D. E., Sha, X., Utomo, X., Subudhi, P., and Rush, M. C. 2011. Molecular genetic and genomic studies on bacterial panicle blight of rice and its causative agent Burkholderia glumae. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 101:S266.

3. Ham, J., Barphagha, I., Karki, H., Shrestha, B., Melanson, R., and Chen, R. 2010. Identification of novel regulatory genes of Burkholderia glumae for virulence factors. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 100:S47.