Contact information

Jami L. Thomas

jami.thomas@usda.gov

Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research
1301 Ditto Avenue, Fort Detrick, MD 21702
Phone: (301)-619-5256
Fax: (301) 619-2880

Jami is a Biological Science Technician and has worked for USDA-ARS Foreign Disease Weed Science Research Unit since November 2000. She currently supports Dr. Matthew Tancos’ research on the use of microbial plant pathogens as biological control agents to manage invasive weeds in the U.S. Her skill set includes microbiological (isolating, culturing, and preserving plant pathogens), molecular characterization (identification and sequencing of plants and microbes), and plant pathological techniques (plant propagation, inoculations, disease severity ratings, and host range evaluations).

Previously, she worked as a Biological Science Aid (2000-2002) supporting the unit's biocontrol project while completing her undergraduate degree. She contributed to studies on general risk assessment of potential biological control agents of invasive weeds in the U.S., including host-pathogen interactions and host range evaluations.

Education
B.A. Biology, Hood College, 2002

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.)
  • Screening and assessing biological differences among oomycete-parasitic Trichoderma asperellum isolates for biological control development -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Tancos, M.A., Thomas, J.L., Widmer, T.L. 2023. Screening and assessing biological differences among oomycete-parasitic Trichoderma asperellum isolates for biological control development. PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-09-22-0094-SC.
    
  • Colletotrichum fioriniae infecting invasive Japanese hop (Humulus scandens) in the United States -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Frederick, R.D., Cavin, C.A., Thomas, J.L., Bruckart, W.L., Tancos, M.A. 2021. Colletotrichum fioriniae infecting invasive Japanese hop (Humulus scandens) in the United States. Plant Disease. 106:330-330. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-21-1191-PDN.
    
  • Uromyces rebeccae sp. nov., a newly described rust on the federally endangered plant, California sea-blite (Suaeda californica) -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bruckart, W.L., Thomas, J.L., Abbasi, M., Aime, C.M., Frederick, R.D., Tancos, M.A. 2020. Uromyces rebeccae sp. nov., a newly described rust on the federally endangered plant, California sea-blite (Suaeda californica). Mycologia. 112(3):543-551. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2020.1739602.
    
  • First report of a rust disease on Suaeda californica in California -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bruckart, W.L., Thomas, J.L., Frederick, R.D., Aime, M.C., Abbasi, M. 2019. First report of a rust disease on Suaeda californica in California. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1690-PDN.
    
  • Invasive Blackberry Species in Oregon, USA: Their Identity and Susceptibility to Rust Disease, and Implications for Biological Control-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bruckart, W.L., Michael, J.L., Sochor, M., Travnicek, B. 2017. Invasive Blackberry Species in Oregon, USA: Their Identity and Susceptibility to Rust Disease, and Implications for Biological Control. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 10:143-154.
    
  • Differential aggressiveness of Bipolaris microstegii and B. drechsleri on Japanese Stiltgrass -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bruckart, W.L., Eskandari, F., Michael, J.L., Smallwood, E.L. 2017. Differential aggressiveness of Bipolaris microstegii and B. drechsleri on Japanese Stiltgrass. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 10:44-52.
    
  • Puccinia jaceae is established on Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) in Oregon-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Bruckart, W.L., Michael, J.L., Coombs, E.M., Pirosko, C.B. 2015. Puccinia jaceae is established on Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) in Oregon. Plant Disease. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-09-15-1042-PDN.
    
  • Some dynamics of spread and infection by aeciospores of Puccinia punctiformis, a biological control pathogen of Cirsium arvense -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Berner, D.K., Smallwood, E.L., Vanrenterghem, M., Cavin, C.A., Michael, J.L., Shelley, B.A., Kolomiets, T., Pakratova, L., Bruckart, W.L., Mukhina, Z. 2015. Some dynamics of spread and infection by aeciospores of Puccinia punctiformis, a biological control pathogen of Cirsium arvense. Biological Control. 88:18-25.
    
  • Best linear unbiased prediction of host range of the facultative parasite Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. salsolae, a potential biological control agent of Russian thistle -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Berner, D.K., Bruckart, W.L., Cavin, C.A., Michael, J.L., Carter, M.L., Luster, D.G. 2009. Best linear unbiased prediction of host range of the facultative parasite Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. salsolae, a potential biological control agent of Russian thistle. Biological Control. 158-168.
    
  • Mixed model analysis combining disease ratings and DNA sequences to determine host range of Uromyces salsolae for biological control of Russian thistle-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Berner, D.K., Bruckart, W.L., Cavin, C.A., Michael, J.L. 2009. Mixed model analysis combining disease ratings and DNA sequences to determine host range of Uromyces salsolae for biological control of Russian thistle. Biological Control. 49:68-76.
    
  • A NEW, AGGRESSIVE RUST FUNGUS FROM TURKEY IS A CANDIDATE FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF RUSSIAN KNAPWEED-(Other)
    Phytopathology 95:S14
    
  • FIRST REPORT OF SILYBUM MARIANUM AS A HOST OF PUCCINIA PUNCTIFORMIS-(Research Notes)
    BERNER, D.K., PAXSON, L.K., BRUCKART, W.L., LUSTER, D.G., MCMAHON, M.B., MICHAEL, J.L. FIRST REPORT OF SILYBUM MARIANUM AS A HOST OF PUCCINIA PUNCTIFORMIS. PLANT DISEASE. 86:1271. 2002.
    

Committee and Location Service

• FDWSRU Safety Committee, 2006-2021
• FDWSRU Hazardous Waste Management Officer, 2006-2021
• FDWSRU Biosafety Committee, 2018-Present
• FDWSRU Environmental Management Committee, 2006-2021
• FDWSRU Social Committee
  
  

Awards and Recognition

• • 20 years of government service, 2021