Jenifer Huang McBeath
Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology
Phone: (907) 474-7431; FAX: (907) 474-6099
Email: jhmcbeath@alaska.edu
Education:
Ph.D. Rutgers University; 1974; Plant Pathology
M.S. University of California, Davis; 1970; Plant Pathology
B.S. National Taiwan University; 1965; Plant Pathology and Entomology
Employment at the University of Alaska (UAF):
1992—
Professor, Department of High Latitude Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry
Experiment Station (AFES), University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).
1986-92
Associate Professor, AFES, UAF
1980-85
Assistant Professor, AFES, UAF.
1977-80
Assistant Professor, Institute of Arctic Biology, UAF
Affiliations
2011—
Special Advisor, Guangxi China Inspection and Quarantine Service, Guangxi,
China
2007—
Visiting Scientist/Professor, Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Resources,
Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
2012
Visiting Professor, China Agricultural University
1992—
Affiliate professor, International of Arctic Research Institute, UAF
Award and Honors:
Member, USDA-FAS Advisory Committee member, Emerging Markets Program, 2002-12.
Received first and subsequent appointments from Ms. Veneman and other Secretaries
of the USDA.
Embassy Science Fellow, U.S. State Department Embassy Science Fellowship, 2003.
McBeath was (and still is) the only non government official to receive this award
Member, U.S/China Bilateral Talks on agricultural products, phytosanitary and plant
quarantine Issues (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) McBeath was (and still is)the only
non-government official to receive this assignment)
Chief Negotiator for Alaska Seed Potatoes Export to China, U.S/China Bilateral Talks, 2003
Usibelli Distinguished Professor Award, UAF, 2000. McBeath established a
scholarship for plant pathology students with the award ($10,000).
UAF Town and Gown Award, 1999
Best Paper Award, Fourth SCBA International Symposia and Workshops, 1992.
Keynote Speaker at many national and international conferences
RESEARCH:
Dr. McBeath’s research interests are in the areas of plant resistance enhancement and plant
disease diagnostics. She is especially keen in understanding the etiology of diseases,
distribution and diversity of plant pathogens and interactions among plants, plant pathogens
and hyperparasites at cellular, biochemical and molecular levels under diverse environmental
conditions. She applies knowledge gained in her research to the development of
environmentally benign means of plant disease control, including exclusion, eradication and
biological control. Her concerns for protecting the environment and human health resulted in
the discovery and development of “Cold Tolerant Trichoderma” (Trichoderma atroviride), a
versatile biological control agent with a strong cold adaptation. The protocol of lab-tested
disease-free seed potatoes was developed through her understanding of environmental
impacts on plant disease symptom. McBeath is a recognized expert on phytosanitary issues
and international trade on agricultural product, regarding, especially, China and Taiwan.
Research Products:
Patent: Cold Tolerant Trichoderma, 11 countries
Phytosanitary protocols for U.S. Alaska seed potatoes exports to China
Lab-tested, disease-free seed potatoes protocol
Publication:
Cheng, M., J. Dong, I-M, Lee, K. Bottner-Parker, Y. Zhao, R. Davis, P. Laski, Z. Zhang, J.H.
McBeath. 2015 Group 16SrXII phytoplasma strains, including subgroup 16SrXII-E
('Candidatus Phytoplasma fragariae') and a new subgroup, 16SrXII-I, are associated with
diseased potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in the Yunnan and Inner Mongolia regions of China"
European Journal of Plant Pathology. DOI: 10.1007/s10658-015-0616-9.
McBeath, G.A., J.H. McBeath and Q. Tian, and Y. Huang. 2014. Environmental Education in
China. Elgar Publisher.
Abouelnars, H., Y. Li, Y.Zhang, J. Liu, S. Li, D. Li, J. Yu, J.H. McBeath, C. Han. 2014. First
Report of potato virus H on Solanum muricatum in China.Plant Disease. In press.
Dong J.H, Yin YY, Fang Q, McBeath JH, Zhang ZK. 2013 A new tospovirus causing chlorotic
ringspot on Hippeastrum sp. in China. Virus Genes 46: 567-570. Doi:10.1007/s11262-0120873-z.
Dong, J.H., L. Zhang, W.H. Li, J.H. McBeath, Z.K. Zhang. 2013. ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma
aurantifolia’-related strain associated with tomato yellows disease in China. J. General Plant
Pathology 79:366-369. Doi: 10.1007/s10327-013-0463-5.
Li, Y., R. Zhang, H. Xiang, H. Abouelnasr, D. Li, J. Yu, J. H. McBeath, C. Han. 2013. Discovery
and characterization of a novel carlavirus infecting potatoes in China. PloS ONE 8:e69255.
Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069255.
Cheng, M., J.H. Dong, L. Zhang, P. Laski, Z. Zhang and J.H. McBeath. 2012. Molecular
haracterization of stolbur group subgroup E (16SrXII-E) phytoplasma associated with
potatoes in China. Plant Disease 96:1372.
Cheng, M., J. Dong, P. J. Laski, Z. Zhang, and J. H. McBeath. 2011 First report of clover
proliferation group phytoplasmas (16SrVI-A) associated with purple top diseased
potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in China. Plant Disease.95:871
Yin, Y.Y., J.H. Dong, Y.-M.Duan, X.Y. Xu, J.H. McBeath, Z.K.Zhang. 2011. First report of
impatiens necrotic spot virus infecting flue-cured tobacco in Yunnan, China. Journal of
Plant Pathology.93: (S4):66.
McBeath, J.H., P.J. Laski and M. Cheng. 2011. First report of aster yellows (16SrI-B)
associated with potatoes in Alaska. Plant Disease 95:767.
Cheng, M, J. Dong, P. J. Laski, Z. Zhang, and J. H. McBeath. 2011. Molecular characterization of ‘
Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ associated with aster yellows-diseased potatoes in China.
Plant Disease 95:777.
Cheng, M., J. Dong, P. J. Laski, Z. Zhang, and J. H. McBeath. 2011. First Report of Clover
Proliferation Group Phytoplasmas (16SrVI-A) Associated with Purple Top Diseased
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in China. Plant Disease. 95:871.
McBeath, J.H., P. J Laski and M. Cheng, 2011. First Report of Aster Yellows (16SrI-B)
Associated with Potatoes in Alaska. Plant Disease 95:767.
Cheng, M, J. Dong, P. J. Laski, Z. Zhang, and J. H. McBeath. 2011. Molecular
Characterization of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ Associated with Aster YellowsDiseased Potatoes in China. Plant Disease 95:777.
McBeath, J.H. and G.A. McBeath. 2010. Environmental Changes and Food Security in China.
303 pp. Springer’s Advances in Global Change Research, Vol. 35. Springer.
Dong, J.H., Zhang, L., J.H. McBeath, Z.K. Zhang. 2010. First report of kidney bean little leaf
disease associated with16SrII group phytoplasma in China. Plant Disease 94:132.
McBeath, G.A. and J.H. McBeath. 2009. Environmental Stressors and Food Security in China.
Journal of Chinese Political Science 14 (1):49-80.
McBeath, J.H., M. Cheng, P. A. Gay and T. Yokogi. 2008. First Report of Flag Smut on
Fescues in Interior Alaska. Plant Disease 92:652.
Dong, J.H., X.F. Cheng, Y.Y. Yin, Q. Fang, M. Ding, T.T. Li, L.Z. Zhang, X.X. Su, J.H.
McBeath, Z.K. Zhang. 2008. Characterization of tomato zonate spot virus, a new
tospovirus species in China. Archives of Virology 153: 855-864.
McBeath, G.A. and J.H. McBeath. 2006 Biodiversity Conservation Policy in China: Policies and
Practices. International Journal of Wildlife Law & Policy.
McBeath, J.H., Gay, P.A., Cheng, M., Ma, M. and Alden, J. 2004. First report of Leptographium
abietinum associated with blue stain disease on declining Western Siberian larch in Alaska.
Plant Health Progress. Doi:10. 1094/PHP-2004-0326-01-HN.
McBeath, J.H 2002. Snow Mold-Plant-Antagonist: Survival of the Fittest under the Snow.
Plant Health Instructor. DOI:10.1094/PHI-1-2002-1010-01.
McBeath , J.H. 2002. Snow Mold-Plant-Antagonist: Survival of the Fittest under the Snow.
APSnet Feature, March issue.
SERVICE
Since 1990, under the request of Alaska farmers, McBeath has been worked on improving
the health of and find market for Alaska seed potatoes. She worked, through the
years, on eliminating diseases from seed lots, search for markets for Alaska
agricultural products, assembling supporting documents for negotiation with officials as
a member of USDA Negotiation team for market access and phytosanitary
requirements in China and Taiwan. Accomplishments of her efforts are as follows:
Alaska is:
1) The only state in the world privileged to export seed potatoes to Taiwan,
2) The only state in the world privileged to export seed potatoes to China,
3) The only US state privileged to export carrots to Taiwan,
4) One of two US states privileged to export asparagus to Taiwan,
5) One of five US states privileged to export table stock potatoes to Taiwan.