Thomas J. Burr
Professor, Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Director of Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva

Address, Phone, Fax

E-Mail: tjb1@cornell.edu

1978 Ph.D., Plant Pathology, University of California, Berkeley
1973 M.S., Plant Pathology, University of Arizona
1971 B.S., Agricultural Science, University of Arizona

Division of Effort
30% Research, 20% Extension, 50% Administration

Complete CV – html | pdf

My overall program emphasizes research and extension on the biology and control of bacterial pathogens. A primary research goal is to understand how bacteria communicate with each other and how they interact with plants to cause disease or to function as biological controls. In Agrobacterium vitis, the cause of grape crown gall, this involves research on quorum-sensing systems and the subsequent expression of genes that affect plant interactions. Specific interactions include the ability of the bacterium to induce a grape root-specific necrosis and to induce a hypersensitive response on non-host plants, such as tobacco. A related goal is to determine how some strains of A. vitis are able to prevent the development of crown gall specifically on grape and to develop these biological controls for commercial use. Similar objectives are being pursued for Xylella fastidiosa, the cause of Pierces Disease of grape and for Xanthomonas campestris pv glycines, the cause of pustule disease of soybean. Extension goals include the education of growers with regard to bacterial diseases and the implementation of research in the development of effective, environmentally and economically-sound strategies for disease control.
A significant amount of my time is invested in fulfilling the responsibilities of Associate Dean of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and Director of Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva.

Biofilm defective and enhanced mutants of Xylella fastidiosa

Genes required for twitching motility in Xylella fastidiosa

Professional Societies
AAAS
American Phytopathological Society

Research Leaves

Professional Assignments, Honors, and Awards