Michael Hoffmann, emeritus professor at Cornell University, received his doctorate in entomology from UC Davis in 1990.

Noted entomologist and UC Davis doctoral alumnus Michael Hoffmann, an emeritus professor at Cornell University known for his advocacy of climate change literacy and the relationship between food and climate change, plus his leadership activities and biological control projects, will deliver the Thomas and Nina Leigh Distinguished Alumni Award Seminar on Monday, Oct. 9 in the Student Community Center, UC Davis.

The Leigh seminar, hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, annually honors distinguished alumni. Hoffmann was selected the 2020 recipient, but the COVID pandemic intervened. This is first seminar since the beginning of COVID pandemic.

Hoffmann will present his lecture from 4 to 5 p.m., in Room D, second floor of the Student Community Center.  It is free and open to the public and no reservations are required.

An invitational reception and buffet dinner will follow in the Student Community Center.

Hoffmann, who received his doctorate in entomology in 1990 from UC Davis, studying with Professor Ted Wilson and later Professor Frank Zalom, will present the seminar on “Our Changing Menu--Climate Change and the Foods We Love and Need,” the title of a book he co-authored with Carrie Koplinka-Loehr, and Danielle Eiseman in April, 2021.

Cover of the 246-page book, written by lead author Michael Hoffmann and two colleagues.

The co-authors "offer an eye-opening journey through a complete menu of before-dinner drinks and salads; main courses and sides; and coffee and dessert. Along the way they examine the escalating changes occurring to the flavors of spices and teas, the yields of wheat, the vitamins in rice, and the price of vanilla." They round out their story "with a primer on the global food system, the causes and impacts of climate change, and what we can all do. Our Changing Menu is a celebration of food and a call to action?encouraging readers to join with others from the common ground of food to help tackle the greatest challenge of our time."

Hoffmann transitioned to emeritus in January 2020 after 30 years at Cornell, but remains active. Serving as executive director of the Cornell Institute for Climate Smart Solutions (2015-2020), he continues to provides visionary leadership, communicates to a wide range of audiences the challenges and opportunities that come with a changing climate, and builds partnerships among public and private organizations.

Hoffmann's leadership activities include co-chairing the President's Sustainable Campus Committee and helping to lead a climate change literacy initiative for students, staff, and faculty. He dedicates his time toward what he calls “the grand challenge of climate change and (to) help people understand and appreciate what is happening through food.” Effectively communicating about climate change, Hoffmann presented a TEDX talk in 2014 on “Climate Change: It's Time to Raise Our Voices” that drew widespread attention.

A native of Wisconsin, Hoffmann holds a bachelor of science degree (1975) from the University of Wisconsin, and his master's degree from the University of Arizona (1978). He served with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam from 1967 to 1971, achieving the rank of sergeant.

UC Davis Experiences. Hoffmann remembers well his experiences at UC Davis. “I was privileged to work with many dedicated faculty in entomology and several other departments.”

After receiving his doctorate at UC Davis, Hoffmann joined the faculty of Cornell in 1990 as an assistant professor, with 60 percent Extension and 40 percent research duties, and advanced to associate professor in 1996, and professor in 2003. His academic career focused on administrative endeavors (80 percent) beginning in 1999.

Hoffmann's career at Cornell included serving as associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, associate director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, and director of the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program. He helped initiate a leadership and professional development week-long program that benefited more than 400 faculty at Cornell and beyond.

Prior to his administrative duties, he worked to develop and implement cost-effective and environmentally sensitive tactics for management of insect pests.  He emphasized biological control, development and application of insect behavior modifying chemicals, and novel control tactics, all in an integrated pest management (IPM) context. Much of his research and Extension programming was multi-state and multidisciplinary in nature. 

Among his entomological achievements, he

• Developed unique, cost-effective and environmentally benign biological control tactics for insect pest of sweet corn, peppers and potatoes, and presented wide scale demonstrations on conventional and organic farms in New York, Virginia, Massachusetts and Canada.
• Published the first popular guide to beneficial insects (64 pages, with more than 5,000 copies distributed)
• Developed patented unique fiber barrier technology for pest control

Thomas Leigh, cotton entomologist

His publication record includes 105 refereed journal articles, nine book chapters, and three books. 

Leigh Seminar. The Leigh seminar memorializes cotton entomologist Thomas Frances Leigh (1923-1993), an international authority on the biology, ecology and management of arthropod pests affecting cotton production. During his 37-year UC Davis career, Leigh was based at the Shafter Research and Extension Center, also known as the U.S. Cotton Research Station. He researched pest and beneficial arthropod management in cotton fields, and host plant resistance in cotton to insects, mites, nematodes and diseases. In his memory, his family and associates set up the Leigh Distinguished Alumni Seminar Entomology Fund at the UC Davis Department of Entomology. When his wife, Nina, passed in 2002, the alumni seminar became known as the Thomas and Nina Distinguished Alumni Seminar.

Leigh joined the UC Davis Department of Entomology in 1958, retiring in 1991 as an emeritus professor, but he continued to remain active in his research and collaboration until his death on Oct. 26, 1993.  The Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America awarded him the C. F. Woodworth Award for outstanding service to entomology in 1991.

Resources: 
'Our Changing Menu': Warming Climate Serves Up Meal Remake" Cornell

Doctoral candidate Alison Coomer Blundell took top honors in the three-minute student competition with her presentation on “Trade Offs Between Resistance Breaking and Fitness Cost in Root-Knot Nematodes.”

It was the lab mates' first-ever conference, and they brought home first- and second-place awards, in addition to a second-place tie in the Cobb Bowl competition which memorializes Nathan Cobb (1859-1932), the father of nematology.

Alison Coomer Blundell, who will be a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Plant Pathology this fall, won first place in the three-minute student competition with her presentation on “Trade Offs Between Resistance Breaking and Fitness Cost in Root-Knot Nematodes.” She received a $250 award and a plaque.

Ching-Jung Lin, who will be a fourth-year doctoral student this fall, won second place in the 12-minute category with her presentation on "Elucidating the Role of MigPSY Peptides in Interactions Between Plants and Root-Knot Nematodes." She received a $250 prize.

The six-member Siddique lab team, "Meloidogyne Gang Gang," which included Blundell, Lin, third-year doctoral student Pallavi Shakya, and second-year doctoral student Veronica Casey, tied for second place in the Cobb Bowl, a jeopardy-like competition that can include both students and postdoctoral fellows on the teams.

"I am very humbled by the award and recognition but am very proud of seeing all my lab mates accomplish their presentations and get good feedback and recognition as well," said Blundell, who seeks a PhD in plant pathology. She holds two undergraduate degrees--a bachelor's degree in biology and a bachelor's degree in chemistry--from Concordia University, Seward, Neb.

“I was first introduced to nematodes in my undergraduate studies where I maintained C. elegans (Caenorhabditis elegans) cultures, but was introduced to plant parasitic nematodes when Dr. Siddique reached out to me about becoming a member in his lab," Blundell said. "This was my first time at SON, and for all my lab mates. SON has allowed me to meet people I have heard about or have talked to on Zoom, email, or twitter and also make new connections with many U.S. states and universities.”

Doctoral candidate Alison Coomer Blundell receiving her first-place award ($250 and a plaque) in the three-minute student competition. She delivered a presentation on “Trade Offs Between Resistance Breaking and Fitness Cost in Root-Knot Nematodes.”

Lin, a first-generation international student, credits co-principal investigator Professor Gitta Coaker of Plant Pathology and the Coaker Lab with mentoring her, offering presentation suggestions. "It was very much appreciated," she said.

Ching-Jung Lin, who will be a fourth-year doctoral student this fall, won second place in the 12-minute competition with her presentation on "Elucidating the Role of MigPSY Peptides in Interactions Between Plants and Root-Knot Nematodes."

• Question: "The Guava root-knot nematode."
  Answer: "Meloidogyne enterolobii"
• Question: "First report of root-knot nematodes."
  Answer:"Who is Miles Joseph Berkeley?"

"The most difficult question, said team member Veronica Casey was: "The color of the first edition of the Journal of Nematology."

"The answer was simply, 'What is orange?' but many teams thought it was green," Casey related. "Another difficult question was 'The full species name of the Beech Leaf disease nematode.' The answer: "What is Litylenchus crenatae mccannii?"

The University of Idaho team won the Cobb Bowl. The UC Davis team, which also included a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Illinois and a graduate student from Montana State University, tied for second place with two other teams: AlohaNema, comprised primarily of students from the University of Hawaii, and Nemafolks, comprised of students from a number of  universities, including Michigan State, Oregon State and Texas Tech. The other two teams represented the University of Florida and The Ohio State University.

Also at the SON meeting, Siddique participated in a session titled "Nematology Faces of the Future." In his five-minute self-introduction, he displayed a map showing how far he has traveled. A native of Multan, Pakistan, he received two degrees in Multan: his bachelor of science degree from the Government College Bosan Road in 2001 and his master's degree in botany from the Bahauddin Zakariya University in 2004. Then it was off to Vienna, Austria to receive his doctorate in 2009 in agriculture and biotechnology from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. After serving as a research group leader for several years at the University of Bonn, Germany, he joined the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty in 2019 as an assistant professor and advanced to associate professor this year.

Alison Blundell Abstract
In her abstract, Blundell wrote: “Root-knot nematodes (RKNs), are among the most devastating pathogens of crops, causing substantial yield and economic losses worldwide. These parasitic organisms can infect over a hundred different plant species and can evade plant defense mechanisms by secreting a concoction of effectors. For decades, the Mi-1 resistance gene has been effective in detecting and inhibiting RKNs in tomatoes. However, the underlying mechanisms by which Mi-1 detects these pathogens remain largely unknown. In recent years, resistance-breaking populations have emerged in both greenhouse and field settings, posing a threat to the potency and effectiveness of the Mi-1 gene and, consequently, the tomato industry."

"We used two strains of M. javanica, one strain VW4, which is recognized by Mi-1, and another strain, VW5, which was selected from VW4 and can overcome resistance mediated by Mi-1," she explained. "Utilizing the newly constructed reference genome for M. javanica (VW4), we compared genomes of VW4 and VW5 and identified an approximately 650 kb region that is present in VW4 but missing in VW5. This missing region contains ten protein-coding genes, three of which encode putative effectors and are currently being tested as potential avirulence genes for Mi-1. In addition, we have conducted a series of infection assays on different host plants lacking Mi-1, and the results revealed a significantly lower egg count in VW5 when compared to VW4. We plan to expand these assays by testing additional M. javanica resistance-breaking strains collected from fields all over California to determine if this trade-off is consistent across other strains. Overall, our results suggest that although VW5 can overcome Mi-1, there is a trade-off in the form of compromised reproduction. This research helps to better understand the mechanism and components of Mi-1 and develop strategies for addressing resistance-breaking populations." (Co-researchers and authors include P. Shakya,  M. Winter, D. Lunt, V. M.Williamson, and S. Siddique)

Ching-Jung Lin Abstract
In her abstract, Lin wrote: "Plant parasitic nematodes pose a severe threat to global food production. These parasites invade plant roots and establish permanent feeding sites, which serve as their sole source of nutrients. To manipulate host responses, they secrete effectors such as phytohormones or peptides that hijack the host's cellular machinery. Plants produce a family of peptides called Plant Peptide Containing Sulfated Tyrosine (PSY) that promote root growth via cell expansion and proliferation. Intriguingly, the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae also produce a PSY-like peptide called RaxX (required for activation of XA21 mediated immunity X), which contributes to bacterial virulence. Our previous research has identified a group of secreted peptides called MigPSYs in root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) that resemble plant PSY peptides and stimulate root growth in Arabidopsis. We found that MigPSY transcript levels are highest during the early stages of infection in rice and tomato plants. Furthermore, down-regulating expression of MigPSY results in reduced root galling and egg production, suggesting that the MigPSYs serve as nematode virulence factors. To gain a better understanding of the roles of MigPSYs, I plan to characterize the mechanisms underlying their function and host perception in plants. This research is expected to provide valuable insights into the mechanism of nematode infection and may lead to the development of new methods for controlling plant-parasitic nematodes." (Co-researchers and authors include H. Z. Yimer, D. D. Luu, A. C. Blundell, M. F. Ercoli, P, Vieira, V. M. Wlliamson, P. C. Ronald and S. Siddique)

The next SON meeting is Aug. 4-9, 2024, in Park City, Utah.

Nematologist Shahid Siddique, assistant professor, explains the interaction between parasitic nematodes and their host plants.

The Shahid Siddique laboratory was out in force on Saturday, Feb. 18 during the 12th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day. 

The nematologists set up their display in the Katherine Esau Science Hall, formerly the Sciences Lab Building, and drew nearly 1000 visitors, the most ever. 

“BioDiv Day went really well,” said Siddique, an assistant professor of nematology, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. “A lot of people took interest in getting information about dog heartworms and root-knot nematodes infecting tomatoes. Some people said that nematodes were their favorite stop for BioDiv Day. We had 906 visitors in total and a vast majority of them were kids with family.” 

Participating with Siddique were his graduate students Alison Coomer, Veronica Casey,  Pallavi Shakya, and Ching-Jung Lin, and professor emeritus Valerie Williamson of Plant Pathology. 

The Siddique lab focuses on basic as well as applied aspects of interaction between parasitic nematodes and their host plants. "The long-term object of our research is not only to enhance our understanding of molecular aspects of plant–nematode interaction," Siddique says, "but also to use this knowledge to provide new resources for reducing the impact of nematodes on crop plants in California."

Tomato roots infected with root-knot nematodes. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

1. Celery infected with root-knot nematodes
2. Anisakis nematodes from a Minke whale stomach
3. Heart of a dog infected with heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis)
4. Parasitic nematodes (Baylisascaris transfuga) isolated from the stomach of a bear
5. White-tailed deer eye infected with parasitic nematodes (Thelazia spp.)
6. Sugar beet infected with root-knot nematodes
7. Dog ascaris (Toxocara canis) cause of visceral larva migrans
8. Common parasitic worms of human (Ascaris lumbricoides) cause of Ascaris isolated from human intestine 
9. Dog intestine infected with whipworms
10. Horse stomach parasite community including 1) Parascaris 2) Tapeworms 3) Botfly larvae
11. Yam infected with root-knot nematode
12. Tomato root infected with root-knot nematode
13. Adult raccoon roundworms
14. Filarial nematodes (Onchocerca volvulus) cause of Onchocerciasis river blindness
15. Zoonotic hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum)
16. Ascaris lumbricoides (common parasitic worms of human) 
17. Tree swallow infected with Diplotriaena nematode
18. Sugar beet infected with cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii)
19. Grape roots infected with Root-knot nematodes
20. Mormon crickets infected with horsehair worms (Gordius robustus)
21. Peach roots infected with root-knot nematodes
22. Anisakis nematodes from fish intestine
23. Hysterotahylaciun nematodes isolated from fish
24. Pinworms isolated from human intestine
25. Whipworms isolated from human Intestine
26. Anisakis nematodes isolated from seals
27. Adult dog heartworms

Nematodes from the stomach of a minke whale that died in 1990. Display courtesy of the California Academy of Sciences.

BioDiv Day, founded by the Bohart Museum, is traditionally held on Presidents' Day weekend. Some 3000 attended this year's event, estimated  chair Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator of the Bohart Museum. The "Super Science Day" is free and family friendly. Yang is encouraging donations to help pay expenses; access the UC Davis crowdfunding page.

The Esau Science Hall is newly named for UC Davis professor emeritus Katherine Esau, 1898-1997. Internationally known as one of the most influential plant biologists and professors in history, Esau is lauded for her pioneering work on plant anatomy and structure that laid the foundation for much of today's research in the field. She won the National Medal of Science awarded by then president George Bush.

Esau was born in Ukraine. Her family fled to Berlin after World War I and then emigrated to the United States. She joined the UC Davis faculty after receiving her doctorate in 1931. She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1957, only the sixth woman to receive that honor.  Following her retirement, she relocated to UC Santa Barbara in 1965.  According to Wikipedia, she continued research well into her 90s, publishing a total of 162 articles and five books.

Esau died June 4, 1997 at age 99 in Santa Barbara. A New York Times article quoted Peter Raven, director of the Missouri Botanical Garden: "She absolutely dominated the field of plant anatomy and morphology for several decades. She set the stage for all kinds of modern advances in plant physiology and molecular biology."

In 1982, at age 84, Esau delivered her final UC Davis lecture, covering plasmodesmata. In 1988, she donated $648,000 to UC Davis to establish an endowment to fund plant research fellowships in perpetuity. As of 2020, the endowment's market value has increased by almost six times its original amount, standing at $3.7 million, according to a UC Davis news story.

UC Davis Picnic Day is Saturday, April 23.

The 108th annual UC Davis Picnic Day will include scores of insect-related displays and activities sponsored by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.  Entomological events will take place at Briggs Hall;  the Bohart Museum of Entomology  (Academic Surge Building on Crocker Lane); and in the courtyard of Green Hall (formerly Life Sciences). 

Free and open to the public (as is parking), it will be the first in-person Picnic Day in nearly three years. The theme is "Rediscovering Tomorrow."

Danielle Rutkowski, doctoral candidate in the lab of associate professor Rachel Vannette, is planning and coordinating the UC Davis Graduate Student Association (EGSA) events.

"We're all so excited that it's in-person again," said Jill Oberski, EGSA president. "Grad students usually run most of the entomology exhibits, but most of the younger graduate students have never been to a 'real' Picnic Day—so we finally have the chance to pass the experience on to them. It's always crazy and exhausting but it's so much fun, and a really great opportunity to engage with the public."

EGSA will be selling a number of t-shirts, both classic attire and new designs. New designs are "UCD Amblypygid," designed by Emma Jochim of the Jason Bond lab (it's EGSA's first arachnid shirt) and the limited-edition 'Mosquito Picnic' for Picnic Day 2022, designed by Oberski. "And we have stickers, masks, and several years' worth of back stock we would love to sell!" Oberski noted, adding that EGSA takes both cash and credit cards. Some of the classic T-shirt designs, such as The Beetles, sell fast. The link to EGSA's online store: https://ucdavisentgrad.square.site/ 

The list of insect-related events includes:

Bug Doctor
In front of Briggs Hall
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Meet an entomologist and talk about insects! Even bring some from your home or garden for identification! The line-up: three doctoral candidates: Xavier Zahnle of the Jason Bond lab, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.;  Zachary Griebenow of the Phil Ward lab, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Jill Oberski of the Phil Ward lab, 3 to 5 p.m. 

Doctor Death
Briggs Hall 122 
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Meet forensic entomologist Bob Kimsey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology and learn how how insects are used in forensics!  Kimsey is also the faculty chair of the department's Picnic Day.

Honey Bees and Honey 
Briggs Hall Courtyard 
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Learn about honey bees and the honey production process. 

This Beetles t-shirt is one of the UC Davis Entomology Graduate Student Association's best sellers.

Lil' Swimmers and Fly-tying 
Briggs Hall
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
See live insects from streams and ponds from lab of professor Sharon Lawler, and learn the art of fly-tying for fly fishing from members of the Fly Fishers of Davis.

Maggot Art 
Green Hall Courtyard
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Children (and grown-ups) can create art using live maggots dipped in non-toxic, water-based paint. (See news story)

Ants
122 Briggs Hall
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Phil Ward lab will get you interested in ants. They'll have posters and photos (some from noted photographer and UC Davis alumnus Alex Wild, curator of entomology at the University of Texas, Austin). Got a question about ants?

Forest Entomology, Medical Entomology, Agricultural Entomology
122 Briggs Hall
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Learn the roles of insects in forest entomology, medical entomology and agricultural entomology. Check out the displays and talk to the entomologists. Among those participating: Agricultural Extension specialist Ian Grettenberger, assistant professor, and his lab will be there, as will forest entomologist and graduate student Crystal Homicz.

Caterpillar Biology
122 Briggs Hall
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Grace Horne, a graduate student in the laboratory of Emily Meineke, assistant professor of urban landscape entomology. will display hornworm caterpillars and pupae, and she'll discuss butterfly and moth biodiversity and biology, including urban biodiversity and their interactions with their host plants.

Mosquito Control 
In front of Briggs Hall 
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Learn about how to control mosquitoes and protect yourself. This booth is staffed by the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. 

The Bohart Museum of Entomology's California dogface butterfly poster.

Butterflies and Change  (Bohart Museum of Entomology)
East Academic Surge Entrance 
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
What's happening with California's state insect, the California Dogface Butterfly? And learn about monarch butterflies. Plus, view the Bohart Museum of Entomology's never-before-seen, student-created traveling, display exhibits.

Cockroach Racing
In front of Briggs Hall 
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Entomologists will race cockroaches on tiny tracks to the delight of the crowd. Be there to cheer your favorites.  

The 2022 Picnic Day, billed as one of the largest student-run events in the nation, will showcase more than 200 events.  Picnic Day chair Amanda Portier and vice chair Jesse Goodman announced that "we strive to bring together people from Davis and beyond to celebrate all that our community has to offer." The schedule includes displays, animal events, performers, and parade floats.  

For the complete schedule, access this link.  "Please be prepared to show an approved UC Davis Daily Symptom Survey for entrance into some indoor events," the website points out. "For those who are not UC Davis students or employees proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours may also be required. Screening is at the discretion of individual exhibits and animal events."