Mark Mescher, Ph.D.

Current Graduate Students:

Tom Bentley
Beth Irwin
Rupesh Kariyat
Kerry Mauck
Lori Shapiro
Jason Smith
Jordan Smith
Anjel Helms

Current Post-doctoral Scholars:

Lucie Salvaudon
Fernanda Penaflor
Nina Stanczyk
Ryoko Ichiki
Jun Tabata

Department Focus Areas:

Chemical Ecology
Disease Ecology and Biology

Links:

Mescher Lab
Center for Chemical Ecology

Research Interests:

My research focuses on the role of plant volatiles in mediating ecological and evolutionary interactions among plants, insects, and pathogens. The main areas of interest of our lab are chemical ecology, disease ecology, co-evolution, and tritrophic interactions.

Recent Publications:

Highlighted papers
Runyon, J.B., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2006. Volatile chemical cues guide host location and selection by parasitic plants. Science 313: 1964-1967. (This Paper has been designated a Faculty of 1000 “Must Read” Factor 6.5)

De Moraes, C.M., M.C. Mescher, and J.H. Tumlinson. 2001. Caterpillar-induced nocturnal plant volatiles repel conspecific females. Nature 410:577-580. This paper is the second most cited article of its issue, having been cited 179 times. (ISI Web of Knowledge citation index- July 20th, 2009)

Mauck, K.E., De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 2010. Deceptive chemical signals induced by a plant virus attract insect vectors to inferior hosts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107(8):3600-3605. (This Paper has been designated a Faculty of 1000 “Must Read” Factor 6.0)

De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 2004. Biochemical crypsis in the avoidance of natural enemies by an insect herbivore. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101: 8993-8997.

Mescher, M.C., and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Olfaction: Chemical Signposts along the Silk Road. Current Biology 19(12):R491-493.

Other publications

Tabata J, C. M. De Moraes, and M. C. Mescher, 2011 Olfactory Cues from Plants Infected by Powdery Mildew Guide Foraging by a Mycophagous Ladybird Beetle. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23799. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023799

Rodriguez-Saona C., N. Vorsa, A.P. Singh, J.Johnson-Cicalese, Z. Szendrei, M.C. Mescher, and J. Frost. 2011. Tracing the history of plant traits under domestication in cranberries: potential consequences on anti-herbivore defences.  Journal of Experimental Botany. 62(8): 2633-2644

Zirbes L, M.C. Mescher , V. Vrancken , J-P Wathelet, F.J. Verheggen. 2011 Earthworms Use Odor Cues to Locate and Feed on Microorganisms in Soil. PLoS ONE 6(7): e21927. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021927

Mauck, K.E., C.M. De Moraes, and M.C. Mescher. 2010. Deceptive chemical signals induced by a plant virus attract insect vectors to inferior hosts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107(8):3600-3605

Runyon, J.B., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2010. Parasitism by Cuscuta pentagona sequentially induces JA and SA pathways in tomato. Plant, Cell and  Environment 33:290-303

Verheggen, F.J., E. Haubruge, and M.C. Mescher.  2010. Alarm Pheromones -Chemical Signaling in Response to Danger. Vitamins & Hormones, Chapter Nine, Volume 83, Pages 215-239

Runyon, J.B., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2010. Plant defenses against parasitic plants show similarities to those induced by herbivores and pathogens. Plant Signaling & Behavior 8(5):929-931.

Mauck K.E., C.M. De Moraes, and M.C. Mescher. 2010. Effects of Cucumber mosaic virus infection on vector and non-vector herbivores of squash. Communicative and Integrative Biology: 3(6):1-4

Stephenson, A.G., L. Shapiro, C.M De Moraes, and and M.C. Mescher, 2010. Nectar, bees, beetles and wilt disease: How they interact and influence pest management. Proceedings of the Mid Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention. Pg. 130.

Mescher, M.C. and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Olfaction: Chemical signposts along the silk road.  Current Biology 19(12):R491-493.

Verheggen, F.J., E. Haubruge, C.M. De Moraes, and M.C. Mescher. 2009. Production of alarm pheromone by aphids varies in response to their social environment.  Behavioral Ecology 20(2):283–288.

Mescher, M.C., J. Smith, and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Host location and selection by holoparasitic plants. In: Plant–Environment Interactions. František Baluška (ed). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

Delphia, C.M., C.M. De Moraes, A.J. Stephenson, and M.C. Mescher. 2009. Inbreeding in horsenettle influences herbivore resistance.  Ecological Entomology 34(4):513–519.

Delphia, C.M., J.R. Rohr, A.G. Stephenson, C.M. De Moraes, and M.C. Mescher. 2009. Effects of genetic variation and inbreeding on volatile production in a field population of horsenettle.  International Journal of Plant Sciences 70(1):12–20.

Smith, J.L., C.M. De Moraes, and M.C. Mescher. 2009. Plant hormone-mediated plant defense responses to parasitic plants and other antagonists.  Pest Management Science 65(5):497-503.

Dean, J.M., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Plant-rhizobia mutualism influences aphid abundance on soybean.  Plant and Soil 323(1):187-196.

Runyon, J.B., J.F. Tooker, M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Parasitic plants in agriculture: chemical ecology of germination and host-plant location as targets for sustainable control.  Advances for Sustainable Agriculture. 1:123-136.

Frost, C.J., M.C. Mescher, C. Dervinis, J.M. Davis, J.E. Carlson, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Priming defense genes and metabolites in hybrid poplar by the green leaf volatile cis-3-hexenyl acetate. New Phytologist 180:722-734.

Frost, C.J., M.C. Mescher, J.E. Carlson, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Plant defense priming against herbivores: getting ready for a different battle. Plant Physiology 146:818-824.

Frost, C.J., M.C. Mescher, J.E. Carlson, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Why do distance limitations exist on plant-plant signaling via airborne volatiles? Plant Signaling & Behavior 3(7):466-468

Runyon, J.B., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Parasitism by Cuscuta pentagona attenuates host plant defense of insect herbivores. Plant Physiology 146:987-995.

Verheggen, F.J., M.C. Mescher, E. Haubruge, C.M. De Moraes, and E.G. Schwartzberg. 2008. Emission of alarm pheromone in aphids: a non-contagious phenomenon. Chemical Ecology 34:1146-1148.

Delphia, C.M., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2007. Induction of plant volatiles by herbivores with different feeding habits and the effects of induced defenses on host-plant selection by thrips. Journal of Chemical Ecology 33:997-1012.

Frost, C.J., M. Appel, J.E. Carlson, C.M. De Moraes, M.C. Mescher, and J.C. Schultz. 2007. Within-plant signaling via volatiles overcomes vascular constraints on systemic signaling and primes responses against herbivores. Ecology Letters 10:490-498.

Delphia, C.M., M.C. Mescher, G.W. Felton, and C.M. De Moraes. 2006. The role of insect-derived cues in eliciting indirect plant defenses in tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum. Plant Signaling & Behavior 1:243-250.

Ferrari, M.J., A.G. Stephenson, M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2006. Inbreeding effects on blossom volatiles in Curcubita pepo ssp. texana. American Journal of Botany 93:1768-1774.

Mescher, M.C., J.B. Runyon, and C.M. De Moraes. 2006. Host finding by parasitic plants: a new perspective on plant to plant communication. Plant Signaling & Behavior 1(6):284-286.

Runyon, J.B., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2006. Volatile chemical cues guide host location and selection by parasitic plants.  Science 313: 1964-1967.

De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 2005. Intrinsic competition between larval parasitoids with different degrees of host specificity.  Ecological Entomology 30:1-7.

De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 2004. Biochemical crypsis in the avoidance of natural enemies by an insect herbivore.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101: 8993-8997

De Moraes, C.M., J.C. Schultz, M.C. Mescher, and J.H. Tumlinson. 2004. Plant signaling and its implications in sensor technology.  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A. 67:819-834.

Mescher, M.C., K.G. Ross, D.D. Shoemaker, L. Keller, and M.J.B. Krieger. 2003. Distribution of the two social forms of the fire ant S. invicta in the native South American range. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 96(6):810–817.

De Moraes, C.M., M.C. Mescher, and J.H. Tumlinson. 2001. Caterpillar-induced nocturnal plant volatiles repel conspecific females.  Nature 410:577-580.

De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 1998. Plant-parasitoid interactions in tritrophic systems: a review of recent work with implications for biological control.  Journal of Entomological Sciences 34:31-39.

Fong P., M.E Jacobson, and M.C. Mescher. 1997. Investigating the management potential of a seagrass model through sensitivity analysis and experiments. Ecological Applications 1:300-315.

Press Coverage:

2010

• A quick sniff and she’s off. Caroline Ash. Science: Editors’ Choice. Feb. 29, 2010.
• Aphid deception. Nature: Research Highlights. Feb. 10, 2010.
• Plant virus tricks teach evolutionary pest management. Brandon Keim  Wired Science. Feb.2, 2010.
• The grass isn’t always greener.  Dr. Jim Caryl.  Mental Indigestion. April 7, 2010.
• Virus pulls bait and switch on insect vectors. Andrea Messer.  Penn State Live: Newswire. Feb. 1, 2010.
• Virus makes plants lie to insects. Susan Milius. ScienceNews. Jan. 16, 2010. 
  

2009

• Sorry Vegans: Brussels Sprouts like to live, too. Natalie Angier.  New York Times. Dec. 22, 2009.
• No brainer behavior. Susan Milius  Science News. June 20, 2009.
• Bacteria protect soybean from Aphids. Science Daily. April, 2009.
  

2008

• Loyal to its roots. Carol Kaesuk Yoon  New York Times. June 3, 2008.

2006

• New York Times. This plant has the sense of smell (loves tomatoes, hates wheat). (Henry Fountain) Oct. 3, 2006.
• Washington Post. Science Notebook. (David Brown) Oct. 2, 2006
• Science News. Scent stalking: parasitic vine grows toward tomato odor. Sept. 30, 2006.
• Science in Action, BBC World Service Radio Interview. Sept 29, 2006.
• Science. Parasitic weed uses chemical cues to find host plant. Sept. 29, 2006.
• National Geographic News. Parasitic weed sniffs out prey, study says. (Sean Markey) Sept. 2006
• Leading Edge, BBC Radio 4 Interview. Sept 28, 2006.
• All Things Considered, NPR Radio Interview. Sept 28, 2006.
• NBC Video. Weed with a nose. (Alan Boyle) Sept. 28, 2006.
• International Herald Tribune. Smells like trouble: parasitic weed sniffsout its prey. Sept. 2006.
  
  

2004

• Intercom. Food choice helps hungry caterpillars. (A'ndrea Elyse Messer) Oct. 2004.
• Washington Post. Unusual diet helps caterpillars. June, 2004.
• 2003
• True Health. Plants repel insect pests. 2003.
• Odyssey – Adventures in science. Talking Trees. (C. Berger) Mar. 2003.
  
  

2002

• Discover Magazine. Talking plants. (S. Russell). April, 2002.
  
  

2001

• Natural History. Stay Away from Tobacco (Heather Van Daren). October, 2001.
• Washington Post. Fending off nighttime attacks. April 15, 2001.
• Nature (science update). Nocturnal emissions repel moths (John Whitfield) Apr. 2001.
• Nature (science update). Leaf me Alone. (John Whitfield). Apr. 2001.
• Le Monde. Les subtiles leçons de lutte biologique des végétaux contre les prédateurs.April. 2001.
• CNN headline news. Apr. 3, 2001.
• The Scientist. Plants put up the 'occupied' sign. (Kenneth Lee). March 30, 2001
• Nature. Making crops cry for help (John Whitfield). Mar. 29 2001.