Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences
College of Tropical Agriculture
University of Hawaii
3190 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 956-7317
e-mail: borth@hawaii.edu
Education
PhD. Botanical Sciences (Plant Pathology). University of Hawaii, 1992.
M.S. Botanical Sciences. San Diego State Univ., 1987.
B.A. Chemistry. University of California at San Diego, 1971.
Experience
2002-present Assistant Plant Pathologist. PEPS/CTAHR, Univ. Hawaii.
1993-2002 Junior Researcher. PEPS/CTAHR, Univ. Hawaii
1992-1993 Research Associate. Hawaiian Sugar Planter's Assn., Aiea, HI
1987-1992 Graduate Research Assistant. Univ. Hawaii/Cooperative Parks Study Unit.
1986-1987 Lecturer. San Diego State University. San Diego, CA
Current Research Interests:
Detection, characterization, and isolation of phytoplasmas and plant viruses in Hawaii. Identification and cloning of plant genes involved in the control of Systemic Acquired Resistance of plants to viruses, fungi, and bacteria, and production of transgenic plants with constitutive expression of these genes. Analysis of gene expression in transgenic plants challenged with pathogens and development of screening assays to evaluate these plants for resistance to viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens.
Publications
Borth, W.B., Hamasaki, R.T., Ogata, D., Hu, J.S., & Fukuda, S.K. 2002. First report of phytoplasmas infecting watercress in Hawaii. Plant Dis. 86: 331
Jones, V. P., Follett, P. A., Messing, R., Borth, W.B., Ullman, D. E., and Hu, J. S. 1998. Effect of Sophonia rufofascia on guava production in Hawaii. J. Econ. Entomol. 91: 693-698.
Borth, W. B. , Hu, J. S., Jones, V. P., and Ullman, D.E. 1998. Effects of synthetic cecropin analogs on in vitro growth of Acholeplasma laidlawii. Antimicrob. Agents & Chemotherapy 45: 1894-1895.
Borth, W.B., Hu, J.S., Jones, V.P., and Ullman, D.E. 1997. Elimination of phytoplasmas as causes of macadamia decline and papaya non-ripening in Hawaii. Trop. Agric. 76: 36-44.
Borth, W.B., Hu, J.S., Kirkpatrick, B.C., Gardner, D.E., and German, T.E. 1995. Occurrence of phytoplasmas in Hawaii. Plant Disease 79: 1094-1097.
Hu, J.S., Ferreria, S., Wang, M., Borth, W.B., Mink, G., and Jordan, R. 1995. Purification, host range, serology, and partial sequencing of dendrobium mosaic potyvirus, a new member of the bean common mosaic virus subgroup. Phytopathology 85: 542-546.
Borth, W.B., Hu, J.S., and Schenck, S. 1994. Double-stranded RNA associated with yellowleaf syndrome of sugarcane. Sugar Cane 3: 5-8.
Borth, W.B., Hu, J.S., Ullman, D.E., and Jones, V. 1994. PCR detection of mycoplasma-like organisms in Hawaii. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 84: 1127.
Borth, W.B., Hu, J.S., and Gardner, D.E. 1992. Dodonaea yellows disease in Hawaii is associated with viruslike particles and mycoplasmalike organisms. Phytopathology 82:1094.
Borth, W.B., Gardner, D.E. and German, T.L. 1990. The association of double-stranded RNA and filamentous viruslike particles with Dodonaea yellows disease. Plant Dis. 74:434-437.
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
American Phytopathological Society
Gamma Sigma Delta
Sigma Xi