New Publication

We have a new publication out this week as part of the NSF BII Host-Virus Evolutionary Dynamics Institute efforts to standardize virus quantification methods. In collaboration with InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla (Puerto Rico) we figured out a way to perform absolute quantification on potato virus Y (PVY) using a standardized RT-qPCR method.

A robust absolute quantification protocol for potato virus Y based on reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. microPublication Biology. Spencer D., Padilla-Crespo E., Tan E.H. (2025) microPublication Biology
https://doi.org/10.17912/micropub.biology.001779 [article]

New publication

Latest publication from the lab in collaboration with USDA ARS Eastern potato breeding and genetics lab on potato cytoplasm using historical crossing data is now out.

This figure from the paper shows that male parent success is significantly correlated to cytoplasm type.

Lab members in the news!

July has been a busy month, besides our flowering potato trials shown in this picture here.

Of note, Salem Ermish (PhD student with Tan and Andrade labs) was featured in a ribbon cutting ceremony with Maine Potato Board Executive Director Jeannie Tapley, Maine Govenor Janet Mills, UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, UMaine College of Earth, Life and Health Sciences Dean Diane Rowland for the potato phenotyping lab in Aroostook Research Farm in Presque Isle, ME. Link to the news article here.

Also, undergraduate researcher Izzy Weigand was also featured in the latest ME-TACF newsletter, measuring wild American chestnut in Maine.