Meet the Faculty

Jeanne Mihail

Professor
Division of Plant Sciences

Phone: 573-882-0574
Fax: 573-882-1467
E-mail: MihailJ@missouri.edu
Address: 111B Waters Hall

Education
B.A., Botany, University of California - Berkeley
M.S., Plant Pathology, University of California - Berkeley
Ph.D., Plant Pathology, University of Arizona

Description
There are many fungi that cause diseases of plant roots. One of these is Armillaria, which infects the roots of forest trees. Even though Armillaria is a microorganism, individuals can occupy very large territories in the forest soil. Some of these territories can occupy several acres. How can a fungus occupy such a large area? They produce root-like structures called rhizomorphs that can grow through the soil in search of woody food bases such as tree roots. From recent research in collaboration with Johann Bruhn, Mihail knows that the species of Armillaria have different foraging strategies. She can measure these foraging strategies by the use of fractal geometry. Recent research has revealed that the foraging of at least one species, Armillaria tabescens, is sensitive to soil atmospheres, a hitherto ignored soil feature. Current experiments focus on the foraging responses to competition within and between Armillaria species. The ultimate research goal is to develop a cellular automaton simulation model. The cellular automaton will permit simulation of spatial and temporal dynamics of Armillaria individuals in single- and multi-species communities.

Mihail and Bruhn have a second research program to develop technology for cultivating specialty fungi in agroforestry settings. They hope that cultivation of these fungi can serve as an enticement for landowners to establish tree plantings along riparian corridors. They are studying the cultivation of a range of fungi, from those for which existing technology requires refinement to others whose value warrants studies with greater risk of failure. They are studying the shiitake, several species of oyster mushrooms, the reishi, maitake, the wood blewit, two species of morels, and two species of truffles.