Dr. Bhabesh Dutta

Professor

University of Georgia

State: GA

(w) (229) 386-7495

About

Dr. Bhabesh Dutta is a Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology with a four-way Extension (75%), Research (20%), and Service (5%) appointment. As a primarily Extension faculty member, his mission-oriented research program is – by necessity – pulled in many different directions based on the emerging needs of the vegetable industry that he serves. Nevertheless, Dr. Dutta has been able to develop a remarkably comprehensive and internationally recognized signature research thrust that integrates basic and applied science to understand and manage bacterial diseases of the iconic Vidalia onion, especially those caused by bacterial Pantoea species (causal agents of center rot disease). This work ranges from bacterial genomic diversity and virulence mechanisms to understanding the biology of vector-borne Pantoea infections and to translating basic research into sustainable disease management practices. In onion, as well as in the approximately two dozen other vegetable crop species he works with, Dutta is remarkably adept at translating research results into actionable information to fuel his Extension program, including results from fundamental research in host-pathogen interactions.