Cassidy Gedling

Cassidy Gedling

Advisor: Dr. Anne Dorrance

Research: Mechanisms of quantitative resistance towards Phythophthora sojae and Fusarium graminearum in soybean

Cassidy Gedling is a PhD candidate in the Department of Plant Pathology. Her research focuses on identifying mechanisms and candidate genes for quantitative resistance towards two pathogens of soybean, Fusarium graminearum and Phythophtora sojae. Currently, fine mapping, gene expression analysis, and long range sequencing of the quantitative trait loci (QTL) are under way for identification and analysis of candidate genes for resistance towards F. graminearum. In an additional study she is conducting an expression quantitative trait (eQTL) analysis to identify defense response pathways and narrow putative candidate genes for quantitative resistance to P. sojae. Untimely, the goals of these studies are to incorporate resistance genes for these two pathogens into future breeding programs.

While completing multiple internships in her undergrad in unrelated fields, she found a passion for plant science through a remediation of natural flora internship at Indiana University Southeast. Gedling earned her B.A. in biology with a minor in plant science from Indiana University Southeast in 2014, and started graduate school directly after finishing her undergraduate degree. After completing graduate school, she hopes to continue her career in industry as a plant pathologist.