College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Sanju holds an MSc in Molecular Biotechnology from the University of Birmingham in the UK, where she studied the sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase protein in Pseudomonas syringae.

Current project:

I am working with postdoctoral researcher Daniel Maddock, undergraduate research assistant Laely Bishop, and faculty members Timothy Miles and Michelle Hulin, to figure out the development of Blueberry stem blight, which threatens Michigan’s $530 million blueberry industry.

In a recent study of 60 strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss) from Michigan blueberries. we found that most produce toxins and carry an ice nucleation gene linked to plant damage. Many strains also showed moderate resistance to copper treatments.

Plant infection tests on blueberry and cherry leaves showed that disease severity depends on the host plant. Early co-inoculation experiments found that lesions were larger when Pss was combined with Neopestalotiopsis fungi, suggesting the bacteria may worsen disease in mixed infections.

To identify the genes involved in virulence, we are creating mutants lacking toxin, ice nucleation, and secretion system genes. These studies will clarify whether Pss acts as a primary pathogen or a synergistic partner in blueberry stem blight and will help improve disease management strategies for Michigan fruit production.