Richard J Howard
Richard J Howard
Research Fellow
Education
  • PhD, Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (1980)
  • MS, Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (1977)
  • BS, Natural Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison (1974)
Research
  • Areas of interest include the cell biology of fungal morphogenesis, especially as related to pathogenesis, including function of infection structures, adhesion, mechanisms of penetration, patterns of colonization and resistance. A cytological approach has been used throughout with continuous effort devoted to the improved preservation of cell ultrastructure and affinity probe reactivity using high-pressure freezing, freeze substitution and low temperature scanning electron microscopy. Confocal laser scanning and multi-photon microscopy are currently used together with various fluorescent proteins, affinity probes and laser capture micro-dissection in a broad range of application for study of plant biology.
Professional Activities
  • American Phytopathological Society
  • Mycological Society of America Chair, Committee on Sustaining Membership (1989-91); Member (ex officio) Committee on Awards (1989-91); Member (ex officio) Mycologia Memoiors Board of Editors (1989-91); Councilor for Cell Biology/Physiology (1993-95); Associate Editor of Society's Journal, Mycologia (1994-99); Treasurer of Society, Member of Council and the Executive Committee and Member of Finance and Endowment (ex officio) Committees (1995-98); Member, Mycologia Review Board (1997, 98); Chair, Mycologia Cover Design Committee (1999); Member, MSA Ad hoc Committee on Membership Services (1999); Member, Committee on Finance (1999-01); Cover Editor, Mycologia (2000-01)
  • Member of Graduate School Advanced Degree Committees Purdue University – 2 PhD students (1991-95) University of Delaware – 3 MS students (2002-present University of Kentucky – Claire Venard, Ph.D. comm. (2002-06)
  • Adjunct Faculty Appointments University of Kentucky, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Delaware, College of Agriculture, Department of Plant and Soil Science
Recent Publications

Howard RJ, Gow NAR, eds (2007) The Mycota, Vol. VIII, Biology of the Fungal Cell 2nd Edition. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 341p

More publications [ + ]

Howard RJ, Bourett TM, Ferrari MA (1991) Infection by Magnaporthe: an in vitro analysis.  In Electron Microscopy of Plant Pathogens.  (K Mendgen & D Lesemann, Eds) Springer-Verlag

Howard RJ (1994) Cell biology of pathogenesis. In Rice Blast Disease (RS Zigler, S Leong and PS Teng, Eds). CAB International. pp 3-22

Howard RJ, Valent B (1996) Breaking and entering: cell biology of host penetration by the fungal rice blast pathogen, Magnaporthe grisea. Annu Rev Microbiol 50: 491-512

Howard RJ (1997) Breaching the outer barriers -- cuticle and cell wall penetration.  In The Mycota, Vol VI, Plant Relationships (G Carroll and P Tudzynski, Eds), Springer-Verlag, Berlin. pp 43-60

Howard RJ, Gow NAR, eds (2001) The Mycota, Vol VIII, Biology of the Fungal Cell. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 307p

Howard RJ (2001) Cytology of fungal pathogens and plant-host interactions. Cur Opin Microbiol 4:365-373

Czymmek KJ, Bourettt TM, Howard RJ (2005) Fluorescent protein probes in fungi. In Microbiol Imaging (T Savidge and C Pothulakis, Eds) Methods Microbiol 34: 27-62

Howard RJ, Gow NAR, eds (2007) The Mycota, Vol. VIII, Biology of the Fungal Cell 2nd ed. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 341p

Bourett TM, Howard RJ (2007) The endomembrane system in filamentous fungi.  In  Biology of the Fungal Cell. The Mycota, Vol VIII, 2nd edn (R Howard and NAR Gow, Eds). Springer, Berlin. pp 1-47

Refereed Journal Articles

Howard RJ, Maxwell DP (1975) Cytology of Ceratocystis ulmi. Phytopathology 65:816-819

Smiley RW, Howard RJ (1976) Tolerance to benzimidazole-derivative fungicides by Fusarium roseum on Kentucky bluegrass turf. Plant Dis Reporter 60:91-94

Howard RJ, Aist JR (1977) Effects of MBC on hyphal tip organization, growth, and mitosis of Fusarium acuminatum, and their antagonism by D2O. Protoplasma 92:195-210

Howard RJ, Aist JR (979) Hyphal tip cell ultrastructure of the fungus Fusarium:  improved preservation by freeze-substitution. J Ultrastruct Res 65:224-234

Hoch HC, Howard RJ (1980) Ultrastructural characterization of the basidiomycete Laetisaria arvalis by freeze-substitution. Protoplasma 103:281-297

Howard RJ, Aist JR (1980) Cytoplasmic microtubules and fungal morphogenesis:  ultrastructural effects of MBC determined by freeze-substitution of hyphal tip cells. J Cell Biol 87:55-64

Howard RJ (1981) Ultrastructural analysis of hyphal tip cell growth in fungi: Spitzenkorper, cytoskeleton and endomembranes after freeze-substitution. J Cell Sci 48:89-103

Hoch HC, Howard RJ (1981) Conventional chemical fixations induce artifactual swelling of dolipore septa. Exp Mycol 5:167-172

Howard RJ, O'Donnell KL (1987) Freeze substitution of fungi for cytological analysis.  Exp Mycol 11:250-269

Hamer JE, Howard RJ, Chumley FG, Valent B (1988) A mechanism for surface attachment in spores of a plant pathogenic fungus. Science 239:288-290

Howard RJ, Ferrari MA (1989) Role of melanin in appressorium function. Exp Mycol 13:403-418

Bourett TM, Howard RJ (1990) In vitro development of penetration structures in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. Can J Bot 68:329-342

Ranty B, Lundquist T, Schneider G, Madden M, Howard R, Lorimer G (1990) Truncation of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) from Rhodospirillum rubrum affects the holoenzyme assembly and activity. EMBO J 9:1365-1373

Rossman AY, Howard RJ, Valent B (1990) Pyricularia grisea, the correct name for the rice blast disease fungus. Mycologia 82:509-512

Heath MC, Valent B, Howard RJ, Chumley FG (1990) Correlations between cytologically detected plant-fungal interactions and pathogenicity of Magnaporthe grisea toward weeping lovegrass. Phytopathology 80:1382-1386

Heath MC, Valent B, Howard RJ, Chumley FG (1990) Interactions of two strains of Magnaporthe grisea with rice, goosegrass, and weeping lovegrass. Can J Bot 68:1627-1637

Bourett TM, Howard RJ (1991) Ultrastructural immunolocalization of actin in a fungus. Protoplasma 163:199-202

Howard RJ, Ferrari  MA, Roach DH,  Money ND (1991) Penetration of hard substrates by a fungus employing enormous turgor pressure. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:11281-11284

Bourett TM, Howard RJ (1992) Actin in penetration pegs of the fungal rice blast pathogen, Magnaporthe grisea. Protoplasma 168:20-26

Heath MC, Howard RJ, Valent B, Chumley FG (1992) Ultrastructural interactions of one strain of Magnaporthe grisea with goosegrass and weeping lovegrass. Can J Bot 70:779-787

Deising H, Nicholson RL, Haug M, Howard RJ, Mendgen K (1992) Adhesion pad formation and the involvement of cutinase and esterases in the attachment of uredospores to the host cuticle. Plant Cell 4:1101-1111

Bourett TM, Picollelli MA, Howard RJ (1993) Postembedment labeling of concanavalin A-binding sites in freeze-substituted fungal cells. Exp Mycol 17:223-235

Braun EJ, Howard RJ (1994) Adhesion of fungal spores and germlings to host plant surfaces. Protoplasma 181:202-212

Bourett TM, Howard RJ (1994) Enhanced labeling of concanavalin A binding sites in fungal endomembranes using a double-sided, indirect method. Mycol Res 98:769-775

Braun EJ, Howard RJ (1994) Adhesion of Cochliobolus heterostrophus conidia and germlings to leaves and artificial surfaces. Exp Mycol 18:211-220

Bourett TM, Howard RJ, O'Keefe DP,  Hallahan DL (1994) Gland development on leaf surfaces of Nepeta racemosa. Intl J Plant Sci 155:623-632

Franco-Lopez R, Howard RJ, Bracker CE (1995) Satellite Spitzenkörper in growing hyphal tips. Protoplasma 188:85-103

Bourett TM, Howard RJ (1996) Brefeldin A-induced structural changes in the endomembrane system of a filamentous fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. Protoplasma 190:151-163

Czymmek KJ, Bourett TM, Howard RJ (1996) Immunolocalization of tubulin and actin in thick-sectioned fungal hyphae after freeze substitution fixation and methacrylate de-embedment. J Micros 181:153-161

Money NP, Howard RJ (1996) Confirmation of a link between fungal pigmentation, turgor pressure, and pathogenicity using a new method of turgor measurement. Fungal Genet Biol 20:217-227

Satiat-Jeunemaitre B, Cole L, Bourett T, Howard R, Hawes C (1996) Brefeldin A effects on plant and fungal cells: something new about vesicle trafficking? J Micros 181:162-177

Sugi JA, Pascholati SF, Kunoh H, Howard RJ, Nicholson RL (1998) Association of Pestalotia malicola with the plant cuticle: visualization of the pathogen and detection of cutinase and non-specific esterase. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 52:213-221

Bourett TM, Czymmek KJ, Howard RJ (1998) An improved method for affinity probe localization in whole cells of filamentous fungi. Fungal Genet Biol 24:3-13

Bourett TM, Czymmek KJ, Howard RJ (1999.) Ultrastructure of chloroplast protuberances in rice leaves preserved by high-pressure freezing. Planta 208:472-479

Duncan KE, Howard RJ (2000) Cytological analysis of wheat infection by the leaf blotch pathogen, Mycosphaerella graminicola. Mycol Res 104:1074-1082

Dickson R, Weis C, Howard RJ, Alldrick SP, Ellis RJ, Lorimer G, Azem A, Viitanen P (2000) Reconsitution of higher plant chloroplast chaperonin 60 tetradecamers active in protein folding. J Biol Chem 275:11829-11835

Czymmek KJ, Bourett TM, Howard RJ (2002) Utility of cytoplasmic fluorescent proteins for live-cell imaging of Magnaporthe grisea in planta. Mycologia 94:280-289

Bourett TM, Sweigard JA, Czymmek KJ, Carroll A, Howard RJ (2002) Reef coral fluorescent proteins for visualizing fungal pathogens. Fungal Genet Biol 37:211-220

Czymmek KJ, Bourett TM, Shao Y, DeZwaan TM, Sweigard JA, Howard RJ (2005) Live-cell imaging of tubulin in the filamentous fungus Magnaporthe grisea treated with anti-microtubule and anti-microfilament agents. Protoplasma 225:23-32

Ching A, Dhugga KS, Appenzeller L, Meeley R, Bourett TM, Howard RJ, Rafalsky A (2006)  Brittle stalk 2 encodes a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein that affects mechanical strength of maize tissues by altering the composition and structure of secondary cell walls. Planta 224:1174-1184

Trade Journals, Extended Abstracts, Proceedings

Bourett TM, Howard RJ (1993) Use of a post-embedding, indirect, double-sided labeling procedure to identify conA binding sites within apical vesicles of a filamentous fungus. In Proc 51st Annu  Meeting Micros Soc Amer. GW Bailey and CL Reider (Eds). San Francisco Press, pp 282-283

Howard RJ, Bourett TM (1993) Cryo-enhancement of ultrastructural, immunological, cytochemical, and low voltage SEM characterization of fungal growth and morphogenesis. In Proc 51st Annu Meeting Micros So. Amer. GW Bailey and CL Reider (Eds). San Francisco Press, pp 114-115

Howard RJ (1996) Biology of cymoxanil action against Phytophthora infestans infection of tomato and potato. In Pests & Diseases. Proc 1996 Brighton Conf Brit Crop Protection Council Vol 3, pp 933-936

Howard RJ, Ferrari MA, Bourett T, Stidham MD, Schillingford C, Power RJ, Hamlen RA (1998) Attivita biologica di cymoxanil nei confronti di Plasmopara viticola e di Phytophthora infestans: analisi citologica. Informatore Fitopatol 3:61-64

Howard RJ, ferrari MA, Genet J-L, Stidham M (2000) Biology of Curzate action against Plasmopara viticola infection of grape. Proc AFPP, Sixieme Conf Intnl sur les Maladies des Plantes, Tours, France

Duncan KE, Howard RJ (2000) Use of cryoSEM and confocal LSM to study pathogenesis: the Septoria tritici blotch pathosystem. Micros Microanal 6:678-679

Howard RJ, Bourett TM, Duncan KE (2000) Impact of cryo techniques on cytological studies of plant pathogeneic fungi and their hosts. Micros Microanal 6:674-675

Bourett TM, Czymmek KJ, Dezwaan TM, Sweigard JA, Howard RJ (2000) Localization and visualization of specific gene products in fungal plant pathogens. Micros Microanal 6:680-681

Czymmek KJ, Bourett TM, Howard RJ (2001) Light and electron microscope immunocytochemistry in freeze-substituted plant and fungal cells. Micros Microanal 7:1200-1201

Bourett TM, Duncan KE, Czymmek KJ, Sweigard JA, Dezwaan TM,  Howard RJ (2001) Cryo-fixation and gene product localization in fungi. Micros Microanal 7:1202-1203

Howard RJ, Duncan KE, Bourett TM, Sweigard JA, Czymmek KJ (2001) Trends in imaging fungal pathogens for cell biological studies of plant disease. Proc Micros Soc Canada, 28th Annu Mtg, June 6-8, 2001, Univ New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, pp 4-5

Howard RJ, Bourett TM, Czymmek KJ (2004) Essential microscopy-based technology for studies of fungal pathogen-plant host interactions.  Micros  Microanal 10, suppl 2:218-219

 

Contact Information:
Richard J Howard,
Research Fellow
DuPont Crop Genetics,
Experimental Station
Wilmington, DE 19880-0353 USA
email: Richard.j.howard@cgr.dupont.com
phone: (302) 695-1494

 

 

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