UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Leonard Francl, professor of plant pathology at North Dakota State University, has been named head of the plant pathology department in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, effective Aug. 26.

Francl joined North Dakota State University as an assistant professor in 1990, rising to the rank of full professor in 2001. His research has focused on plant disease epidemiology, disease forecasting, nematology and diseases of wheat, including tan spot, Stagonospora leaf blotch and Fusarium head blight.

"Dr. Francl's national experience and leadership in the epidemiology of serious plant diseases brings an important strength to the department and college that complements our programs serving the Commonwealth," says Robert Steele, dean of the college. "We are delighted to have him join our leadership team."

Francl developed and implemented the NDSU Small Grains Disease Forecasting System for growers in North Dakota and Minnesota. In addition, he has studied plant diseases and consulted on research projects in Pakistan, Uruguay and Mexico.

Previously, as a plant pathologist with USDA in Beltsville, Md., he studied population dynamics of the soybean cyst nematode. He also served as a postdoctoral researcher in plant pathology at The Ohio State University, as a research associate in the plant pathology department at the University of Missouri, and as an instructor and assistant professor in the agriculture department at Southeast Missouri State University.

Francl has taught several undergraduate and graduate courses in plant pathology and has advised numerous master's and doctoral degree candidates.

He has authored or co-authored more than 45 articles in refereed scientific journals, served as senior or associate editor for three scientific journals, written eight book chapters and edited two books. He has been active in several professional associations, including the American Phytopathological Society, the American Society of Agronomy, the International and Canadian Societies of Plant Pathology, the Crop Science Society and the Society of Nematologists.

He received his bachelor's degree in agronomy and his master's degree in plant sciences, both from the University of Arizona, and earned his doctorate in plant pathology at the University of Missouri.

Penn State's plant pathology department conducts research, undergraduate and graduate education and cooperative extension programs in plant and mushroom health science with emphases on the control of plant diseases and understanding the relationships between plants, microbes, abiotic stressors and the environment.

The department has made discoveries leading to major reductions in the use of pesticides on crops through its leadership in integrated pest management, by developing disease prediction models and expert systems and by improving genetic resistance to disease by traditional and modern methods.

###

Contact: Chuck Gill cdg5@psu.edu 814-863-2713 814-865-1068 fax #221