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Title: FLORA W. PATTERSON, FIRST WOMEN MYCOLOGIST AT USDA

Author
item Rossman, Amy

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Press On Line Lessons
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2002
Publication Date: 6/17/2002
Citation: Rossman, A.Y. 2002. Flora W. Patterson, FIRST WOMEN MYCOLOGIST AT USDA. APSnet feature story.

Interpretive Summary: Flora Patterson (1847-1923) worked at the Bureau of Plant Industry in Washington, D.C. for 27 years as the Mycologist in Charge of Mycological and Pathological Collections. One of her major responsibilities was the inspection of imported commodities for non-native fungal pathogens. She discovered a number of new species of plant pathogenic fungi that she described and illustrated. Among the interceptions was the dangerous potato wart disease caused by Synchytrium endobioticum which was identified on imported potatoes. One of the most memorial episodes in her plant quarantine activities concerned the Japanese flowering cherry trees that were given to the U.S. government as a present from the Mayor of Tokyo. Patterson was also involved in several of the major fungal pandemics in the U.S. including the chestnut blight disease. Her most significant contribution was her recognition of the importance of the need for a reference collection of fungi. She added over 90,000 specimens to the U.S. National Fungus Collections. Patterson organized programs and assembled a staff that notably influenced subsequent development of the U.S. National Fungus Collections. Emphasis was on the taxonomy of plant pathogenic fungi especially those of plant quarantine significance, a priority that continues to this day.

Technical Abstract: Flora Patterson (1847-1923) worked at the Bureau of Plant Industry in Washington, D.C. for 27 years as the Mycologist in Charge of Mycological and Pathological Collections. One of her major responsibilities was the inspection of imported commodities for non-native fungal pathogens. She discovered a number of new species of plant pathogenic fungi that she described and illustrated. Among the interceptions was the dangerous potato wart disease caused by Synchytrium endobioticum which was identified on imported potatoes. One of the most memorial episodes in her plant quarantine activities concerned the Japanese flowering cherry trees that were given to the U.S. government as a present from the Mayor of Tokyo. Patterson was also involved in several of the major fungal pandemics in the U.S. including the chestnut blight disease. Her most significant contribution was her recognition of the importance of the need for a reference collection of fungi. She added over 90,000 specimens to the U.S. National Fungus Collections. Patterson organized programs and assembled a staff that notably influenced subsequent development of the U.S. National Fungus Collections. Emphasis was on the taxonomy of plant pathogenic fungi especially those of plant quarantine significance, a priority that continues to this day.