Marty Carson, Research Leader of the USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory, retired Sept 30, 2011. Marty is from Arcola IL, and was an undergraduate at Eastern Illinois University, and obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in plant pathology at the University of Illinois. Marty was on the faculty at South Dakota State University for eight years and then joined the USDA-ARS Plant Science Research group at Raleigh NC in 1989. In Raleigh Marty became well known for his research on many different maize diseases. In 2002 Marty accepted the Research Leader position for the USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory (CDL) in St. Paul MN. His research at the CDL focused on characterizing durable adult plant resistance to crown rust in oat, and variation in populations of the crown rust fungus Puccinia coronata. In recognition of his research accomplishments Marty was named as a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society (APS) in 2009. Marty was active in APS, serving as associate editor and senior editor of Phytopathology and as a member of the host resistance committee.
While at the CDL Marty oversaw a large expansion of the laboratory facilities; addition of a conference room; new containment facilities for working with foreign pathogen collections; expanded seed storage facilities; updates to the environmental controls for the main building, and modernization of the greenhouse control units. During his time at the CDL Marty was instrumental in placing the CDL at the forefront in addressing the threats posed by rust diseases and Fusarium head blight to cereal production in the United States and worldwide. Marty's support and guidance was critical to the research accomplishments of the scientific staff at the CDL the last nine years. Marty and his wife Deb plan to remain in the Twin Cities area. Their immediate plans are to relax and enjoy some fall travel. Marty is an active gardener and may have some future adventures with large rocks in his yard.
Marty receiving commendation for his years of service to Agricultural Research Service.