Contact information

Dr. Michael Fulcher

michael.fulcher@usda.gov

Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research
1301 Ditto Avenue, Fort Detrick, MD 21702
Phone: (301) 619 2343
Fax: (301) 619-2880

Michael Fulcher is a Research Plant Pathologist at the USDA-ARS Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU) on Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. Since joining ARS in 2021, Dr. Fulcher has conducted research on the biological control of invasive weeds using plant pathogens and other microbial agents.

Research Emphasis

My program investigates weed-microbe interactions at individual, population, and community scales. Long-term research objectives are (1) to develop new ecological and evolutionary frameworks that guide microbial-based weed biocontrol programs and (2) to discover and deploy microbes as biological control agents of invasive weeds. 

Our group leverages advances in genomics, machine learning, and high-throughput sequencing to understand the ecology and impacts of uncharacterized weed-microbe associations. Areas of ongoing research emphasis include identifying new and emerging pathogens of weeds found in North America, evaluating the safety and efficacy of foreign microbes for use as weed biological control agents, and characterizing the diversity and dynamics of microbial communities associated with invasive weeds. Current target weeds include widespread rangeland invaders as well as species harmful to mid-Atlantic ecosystems.

 

Projects

• Projects

  Monitoring, Implementing and Evaluating the Impacts of New Biological Control Programs for Flowering Rush and Common Crupina Cooperative Agreement (A)   Accession Number:446938

  Discovery and Development of Microbial-Based Biological Control Agents for Use Against Invasive Weeds in the United States In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:439284

  Risk Analysis of Invasive Weeds as Pathways for the Spread of Foreign Plant Pathogens Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:444523

  Biological Control of Invasive Ventenata Using Plant Pathogens Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:446373

 

Publications

• Use the drop down box below to view publications at USDA-ARS:

• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Development and application of the fungal plant pathogen Colletotrichum shisoi to control invasive Perilla frutescens -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Fulcher, M.R., Little, R.R. 2024. Development and application of the fungal plant pathogen Colletotrichum shisoi to control invasive Perilla frutescens. Biological Control. 194:105543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105543.
    
  • Importance of pathobiomes to the success of microbial weed biocontrol agents -(Other)
    Fulcher, M.R., Tancos, M.A., Mueller, R.C., Tannières, M. 2024. Importance of pathobiomes to the success of microbial weed biocontrol agents. Biological Control. 192:105498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105498.
    
  • Fungal plant pathogen Colletotrichum shisoi identified as a potential biological control agent of invasive Perilla frutescens in the United States -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Fulcher, M.R., Staley, C.T. 2024. Fungal plant pathogen Colletotrichum shisoi identified as a potential biological control agent of invasive Perilla frutescens in the United States. BioControl Science and Technology. 34(4):375-388. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2024.2343110.
    
  • Developing microbiome-based approaches to the discovery and release of microbial weed biocontrol agents-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Discovery and development of a biological control agent for invasive perilla mint management in National Parks-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Challenges and emerging opportunities of weed management in organic agriculture -(Book / Chapter)
    Dhakal, M., Zinati, G., Fulcher, M.R., Fornara, D., Martani, E., Contina, J., Hinson, P., Afshar, R., Ghimire, R. 2024. Challenges and emerging opportunities of weed management in organic agriculture. Advances in Agronomy. 184:125-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2023.11.002.
    
  • Genomic features of the host-specific fungal biocontrol agent Ramularia crupinae approved for the management of the federally noxious weed Crupina vulgaris. -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Fulcher, M.R. 2023. Genomic features of the host-specific fungal biocontrol agent Ramularia crupinae approved for the management of the federally noxious weed Crupina vulgaris. PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-23-0138-SC.
    
  • First report of Colletotrichum shisoi causing anthracnose of Perilla frutescens in the United States -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Fulcher, M.R., Owen Smith, P.C. 2023. First report of Colletotrichum shisoi causing anthracnose of Perilla frutescens in the United States. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-22-2121-PDN.
    
  • Temporal variability in nutrient use among Streptomyces suggests dynamic niche partitioning -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Lane, B.R., Anderson, H.M., Dicko, A.H., Fulcher, M.R., Kinkel, L.L. 2023. Temporal variability in nutrient use among Streptomyces suggests dynamic niche partitioning. Environmental Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16498.
    
  • Cryptic functional diversity within a grass mycobiome -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Ndinga Muniania, C., Wornson, N., Fulcher, M.R., Borer, E.T., Seabloom, E.W., Kinkel, L., May, G. 2023. Cryptic functional diversity within a grass mycobiome. PLOS ONE. 18(7): e0287990. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287990.
    
  • Agricultural Research Service weed science research: past, present, and future -(Review Article)
    Young, S.L., Anderson, J.V., Baerson, S.R., Bajsa Hirschel, J.N., Blumenthal, D.M., Boyd, C.S., Boyette, C.D., Brennan, E.B., Cantrell, C.L., Chao, W.S., Chee Sanford, J.C., Clements, D.D., Dray Jr, F.A., Duke, S.O., Porter, K.M., Fletcher, R.S., Fulcher, M.R., Gaskin, J., Grewell, B.J., Hamerlynck, E.P., Hoagland, R.E., Horvath, D.P., Law, E.P., Madsen, J., Martin, D.E., Mattox, C.M., Mirsky, S.B., Molin, W.T., Moran, P.J., Mueller, R.C., Nandula, V.K., Newingham, B.A., Pan, Z., Porensky, L.M., Pratt, P.D., Price, A.J., Rector, B.G., Reddy, K.N., Sheley, R.L., Smith, L., Smith, M., Snyder, K.A., Tancos, M.A., West, N.M., Wheeler, G.S., Williams, M., Wolf, J.E., Wonkka, C.L., Wright, A.A., Xi, J., Ziska, L.H. 2023. Agricultural Research Service weed science research: past, present, and future. Weed Science. 71(4):312-327. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2023.31.
    
  • Enhancing invasive weed biocontrol research through microbial community and genome sequencing -(Abstract Only)
    Fulcher, M.R. 2023. Enhancing invasive weed biocontrol research through microbial community and genome sequencing. Meeting Abstract. 113(11S):S3.134. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-113-11-S3.1.
    
  • Corynespora cassiicola isolates recovered from Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) are capable of causing target spot on tomato and cotton -(Abstract Only)
    Fulcher, M.R. 2023. Corynespora cassiicola isolates recovered from Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) are capable of causing target spot on tomato and cotton. Phytopathology. 113(11S)S3.137. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-113-11-S3.1.
    
  • Microbial genome and community sequencing identifies new potential agents and targets for invasive weed biological control-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Weed biocontrol at the USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit-(Abstract Only)
    Fulcher, M.R., Tancos, M.A. 2023. Weed biocontrol at the USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit. International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. Proceedings of the XVI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. Page 154.
    
  • A fungal pathogen (Colletotrichum shisoi) reduces biomass, flowering, and competitive ability of invasive beefsteak plant (Perilla frutescens)-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Climate and pest interactions pose a cross-landscape management challenge to soil and water conservation -(Review Article)
    Young, S.L., Campbell, J.W., Fulcher, M.R., Grewell, B.J. 2023. Climate and pest interactions pose a cross-landscape management challenge to soil and water conservation. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 78(2):39A-44A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.1025A.
    
  • Impacts of crop management on nutrient use among soil Streptomyces -(Abstract Only)
    Lane, B.R., Gieske, M.F., Anderson, H.M., Fulcher, M.R., Kinkel, L.L. 2022. Impacts of crop management on nutrient use among soil Streptomyces. Symposium Proceedings. 112:11S, S3.130. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-112-11-S3.1.
    
  • Microbes collected from invasive plants at the C&O Canal are potential weed management tools-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Colletotrichum shisoi identified as a potential biocontrol agent of the invasive plant Perilla frutescens -(Abstract Only)
    Fulcher, M.R., Owen Smith, P.C. 2022. Colletotrichum shisoi identified as a potential biocontrol agent of the invasive plant Perilla frutescens. American Phytopathological Society Potomac Division Meeting. 112:8S, S2.18. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-112-8-S2.16.
    
  • Draft genome sequences of 14 fungal species from Alternaria section Infectoriae -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Fulcher, M.R., Bergstrom, G.C. 2022. Draft genome sequences of 14 fungal species from Alternaria section Infectoriae. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.01084-22.
    
  • Fungal plant pathogens observed on perennial cereal crops in New York during 2017-2018 -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Fulcher, M.R., Law, E.P., Wayman, S., Ryan, M.R., Bergstrom, G.C. 2022. Fungal plant pathogens observed on perennial cereal crops in New York during 2017-2018. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 37:279-291. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170521000582.
    
  • First report of Erysiphe cruciferarum causing powdery mildew of Alliaria petiolata in Maryland -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Fulcher, M.R., Owen Smith, P.C. 2022. First report of Erysiphe cruciferarum causing powdery mildew of Alliaria petiolata in Maryland. Plant Disease. 106(5):1532. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-21-2060-PDN.
    
  • Genome sequences from Alternaria species in section Alternariae-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Soil nutrient inputs shift endophytic phenotypes in a manner consistent with a significant role for species interactions in community assembly-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Insights from the past: trends in microbial-based weed biological control research -(Abstract Only)
    
    

• Or view all publications via Google Scholar

 

Education

Ph.D. Plant Pathology, Cornell University
B.S. Environmental Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

 

Research Experience

• Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, Foreign Disease/Weed Science Unit, Frederick, MD, 2021-present.
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, 2019-2021.

 

ARS News Articles

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