Kira L. Bowen

Professor

224 Life Sciences Building
(334) 844-1953

Areas of Interest:

Plant disease epidemiology; peanut disease management, including minimization of aflatoxin contamination; also disease management in roses, turf, and small grains.

Education:

Ph.D., 1987, Plant Pathology, University of Illinois.

M.S., 1983, Plant Pathology, Minor in Agricultural Economics; University of Minnesota.

B.S., 1980, Plant Sciences, Pennsylvania State University.

 
 
 
 
 
Professional Appointments:
  • 1998 - present, Professor of Plant Pathology, Dept. Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University.
  • 2004 – 2006, Editor-in-Chief, Plant Disease.
  • Aug 2000- Dec. 2007, Research Coordinator, College of Agriculture.
  • Feb. 1998 - Aug. 1999, Chair, Department of Plant Pathology.
  • 1993 - 1998, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Auburn University.
  • 1988 - 1993, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Auburn University.
  • 1987- 1988, Research Affiliate, USDA-ARS, Dept. of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University.

Departmental Responsibilities

  • Chair, Departmental Awards and Nominations Committee, 2002 - 2005
  • 1999. Member, Departmental Executive Committee.
  • 1999-2003, Member, Plant Pathology Seminar Committee

Other Relevant Achievements and Positions Held:

  • Council Member for the American Phytopathological Society, Jan. 2004 to Dec 2007.
  • Service on ARS Project review panels and NRI grant review panels.
  • Editor-In-Chief for Plant Disease, 2004 - 2006.
  • Senior Editor for Plant Disease, 2000 - 2003.
  • Section Editor for Biological and Control Tests for Plant Disease Control, 1994 through 2000.
  • Associate Editor for Plant Disease, 1996 - 2000.
  • Outstanding Graduate Faculty, selected Spring 1998.
  • Associate Editor for Phytopathology, 1990 - 1993.

Professional Societies:

Teaching Experience:

  • General Plant Pathology (PLPA 0309 in quarter system), an introductory course covering both principles of plant pathology and specific diseases. Required for agronomy and horticulture majors at Auburn University. Taught 1989 through spring 2000.
  • Plant Disease Epidemiology (PLPA 7860 and lab, PLPA 7861), a graduate course on concepts of epidemiology as they relate to plant diseases. Offered alternate years; most recently taught Fall 2006.
  • Principles of Plant Disease Control (PLPA 0553), an intermediate level course on the concepts, theories, and specifics of controlling plant diseases. Taught in quarter system, Winter 1999.

Major Grants Awarded:

  • Southern Region Peanut Research Initiative of the National Peanut Board. "Determination of factors that contribute to risk of aflatoxin contamination." $30,000 one year grant (2005) with N. Hill and G. Hoogenboom of the Univ. Georgia.
  • Southeast Peanut Research Initiative, National Peanut Board, "Development of an Aflatoxin Risk Index," $102,908 (AL portion), with collaborators in Georgia (Dr. David Wilson, Tifton) and Florida (Dr. Ken Boote). Sept. 2000 for three years.
  • Southern Region Integrated Pest Management, "Improved decision making tools for management of barley yellow dwarf luteovirus by aphid vector control in wheat," $112,470, G.D. Buntin (GA), J. W. Chapin (SC), K.L. Bowen, and K.L. Flanders, 9/00-9/02.

Selected Publications:

Book Chapters

  • Bowen, K. L.  2008.  Plant Disease Epidemiology. Chap. 33. Pages 367-382 in: Plant Pathology: Concepts and Lab Exercises, 2nd Ed. R. Trigiano, ed.  CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Refereed Journal Articles  (*denotes graduate student)

  • Hagan, A. K., K.L. Bowen, H. L. Campbell, and L. Wells. 2007.  Calendar-based and AU-Pnuts advisory programs with pyraclostrobin and chlorothalonil for the control of early leaf spot and stem rot on peanut. Peanut Sci. 34:114-121. Bowen, K. L., A. K. Hagan, H. L. Campbell, and L. Wells. 2006. Comparison of calendar and AU-Pnut advisory programs with azoxystrobin for the control of leaf spot and southern stem rot on peanut. Peanut Sci. 33: 76-82.
  • Murphy, J.F., and K.L. Bowen. 2006. Proving synergy for plant virus disease. Phytopathology 96:240-247.
  • Allen*, T.W., D.Y. Han, and K.L. Bowen. 2005. Effect of environmental characteristics on Pythium and Mesocriconema spp. in golf course greens in Alabama. Can. J. Microbiology 51:298-293.
  • Hagan, A.K., M.E. Rivas-Davila, K.L. Bowen and L. Wells. 2004. Comparison of fungicide programs for the control of early leaf spot and southern stem rot on selected peanut cultivars. Peanut Sci. 31:22-27.
  • Bowen, K.L. 2003. Development of southern stem rot (caused by Sclerotium rolfsii) in peanut cultivars. Peanut Sci. 30:85-88.
  • Hagan, A.K., H.L. Campbell, K.L. Bowen and L. Wells. 2003. Impact of  Application rate and treatment interval on the efficacy of pyraclostrobin in fungicide programs for the control of early leaf spot and southern stem rot on peanut. Peanut Sci. 30:27-34.
  • Bowen, K.L., Murphy, J.F., Flanders, K.L., Mask, P.L., and Li, R. 2003. Incidence and relative abundance of viruses infecting winter wheat in Alabama. Plant Dis. 87:288-293.
 
 
 
 
For additional information bowenkl@auburn.edu

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