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Kasson, Matt

Headshot of Matt Kasson.
(304) 293-8837 mtkasson@mail.wvu.edu G103 South Agricultural Sciences

Associate Professor of Mycology and Forest Pathology

Dr. Kasson is an award-winning mycologist, plant pathologist, and science communicator who has built an internationally recognized research program over the last decade at WVU. Dr. Kasson received his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the Pennsylvania State University, where his research focused on fungal biological control of the invasive tree-of-heaven in Pennsylvania. He also holds an A.A.S. in Forest Recreation from Paul Smith’s College and a B.S. in Forest Ecosystem Science and M.S. in Forestry from the University of Maine. His M.S. work focused on understanding how climate change contributed to the spread of beech bark disease in northern Maine. His current research program focuses on the following areas: 1) fungus-arthropod interactions; 2) biological control of invasive plants, pests, and pathogens; 3) canker diseases of forest and shade trees; and 4) fungal biodiversity discovery and analysis. Dr. Kasson teaches undergraduate courses on general microbiology, general plant pathology, and forest pest management. As a science communicator, Dr. Kasson has published pieces on fungi and plant disease for the general public in venues, including The Washington Post, The Conversation, PopSci, and Scientific American, among others.

Publications

  1. Petronek, H.M.**, Lynch, S.C., Lovett, B.***, Martin, A.M.**, Martin, D.K. and Kasson, M.T., 2025. Two morphologically distinct formae speciales in Neonectria magnoliae differ in their virulence on Magnolia family hosts Liriodendron tulipifera and Magnolia fraseri. Mycologia (in press).
  2. Lovett, B.***, Barrett, H.*, Macias, A.M.**, Stajich, J.E., Kasson, L.R. and Kasson, M.T., 2024. Morphological and phylogenetic resolution of Conoideocrella luteorostrata (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), a potential biocontrol fungus for Fiorinia externa in United States Christmas tree production areas. Mycologia, 116(2), pp.267-290.
  3. Stajich, J.E., Lovett, B.***, Lee, E., Macias, A.M.**, Hajek, A.E., de Bivort, B.L., Kasson, M.T., Licht, H.H.D.F. and Elya, C., 2024. Signatures of transposon-mediated genome inflation, host specialization, and photoentrainment in Entomophthora muscae and allied entomophthoralean fungi. Elife, 12, p.RP92863.
  4. Spahr, E.J.**, Wasef, F., Kasson, M.T. and Kijimoto, T., 2023. Developmental genetic underpinnings of a symbiosis-associated organ in the fungus-farming ambrosia beetle Euwallacea validus. Scientific Reports, 13(1), p.14014. 
  5. Ferreira, S.L.**, Stauder, C.M.**, Martin, D.K. and Kasson, M.T., 2021. Morphological and phylogenetic resolution of Diplodia corticola and D. quercivora, emerging canker pathogens of oak (Quercus spp.), in the United States. Plant Disease, 105(05), pp.1298-1307. 
  6. Macias, A.M.**, Geiser, D.M., Stajich, J.E., Łukasik, P., Veloso, C., Bublitz, D.C., Berger, M.C., Boyce, G.R., Hodge, K. and Kasson, M.T., 2020. Evolutionary relationships among Massospora spp.(Entomophthorales), obligate pathogens of cicadas. Mycologia, 112(6), pp.1060-1074.

*Denotes undergraduate researcher/**graduate student/***post-doctoral researcher

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