The society grants this honor to a current APS member in recognition of distinguished contributions to plant pathology or to The American Phytopathological Society. Fellow recognition is based on significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: original research, teaching, administration, professional and public service, and/or extension and outreach.
Chuanxue Hong was born to a farming family in southeastern China. He received his Ph.D. degree in plant disease epidemiology from China Agricultural University in 1990. Dr. Hong joined Virginia Tech as an assistant professor in 1999 and was promoted to full professor in 2010.
Chuan noticed crop losses to diseases and insect pests in his early life and was determined to uplift his fellow farmers through innovative research. This aspiration has driven him to strive for excellence at every step of his career.
Dr. Hong has made significant contributions to the science of Phytophthora, including the discovery and description of thirteen new species and one new taxon, a comprehensive phylogeny for 142 described species and 43 provisionally named taxa, and innovative detection and identification methods, culminating in co-authoring the book Phytophthora: Identifying Species by Morphology and DNA Fingerprints. This reference is a practical guide on selecting genetic markers for identifying cultures to species level, and includes several protocols for detecting important species individually or the genus as a whole in environmental samples. Further, Dr. Hong used P. nicotianae as a model system to investigate intraspecific, interspecific and interkingdom communications. These contributions provided a new horizon for disease control innovation by interfering with pathogens’ communication network, while enabling first responders to identify cultures to species level and detect Phytophthora species from environmental samples within hours versus the days or weeks required using traditional culture and morphological techniques.
Dr. Hong is a recognized leader in biology and management of plant pathogens in irrigation water. He was the first to 1) demonstrate epidemiological and economic significance to nursery crops of Phytophthora species present in irrigation reservoirs, 2) determine zoospore threshold in irrigation water using annual vinca and P. nicotianae as a model phytopathosystem, 3) improve chlorination protocols, and 4) uncover rapid decline of Phytophthora diversity and populations along the water path from runoff entrance to outlet in irrigation reservoirs, challenging a long-time notion that all Phytophthora species thrive in aquatic environments. His improved chlorination protocol for safeguarding sources of irrigation water is now the industry’s standard, saving valuable horticultural crops every day. Similarly, his recommendation of locating pumphouse away from runoff entrance for singe-reservoir recycling systems enables growers to build crop health into their water recycling systems, promoting agricultural biosecurity, and water and environmental sustainability. Chuan coordinated a comprehensive resource book – Biology, Detection, and Management of Plant Pathogens in Irrigation Water.
Dr. Hong is a pioneer in plant pathogen aquatic biology. To understand Phytophthora aquatic ecology, he stepped out of his comfort zone and extended research into recycled water quality, an uncharted territory at the time. Specifically, he instituted continuous monitoring programs in Virginia and several other states. He also incorporated satellite technology to connect the instruments deployed in reservoirs to a computer for real-time water quality monitoring. This research revealed dramatic diurnal and seasonal water quality fluctuations in pH and dissolved oxygen levels, driven by photosynthesis, growth and cycling of algae in the reservoirs. These discoveries provided a framework for lab studies on pathogen aquatic biology. The findings showed the critical importance of knowing and adjusting, as needed, water pH before chlorine injection to ensure maximum efficacy of disinfection. Likewise, nearly $10 billion worth of other agrochemicals used annually in the U.S. are sensitive to pH, and are often prepared with reservoir water. Therefore, it is imperative to check water pH before preparing spray solutions to realize the full potential of agrochemicals.
In an entirely different realm, Dr. Hong is currently leading the global fight against boxwood blight, a serious threat to the iconic landscape plant in North America, Europe and many other parts of the world. Specifically, his lab was the first to: 1) discover natural infection of pachysandra by the blight fungus– Calonectria pseudonaviculata (Cps), 2) identify rainfall as a major weather factor driving blight epidemics, 3) reveal a rapid decline of Cps population in soil with time, 4) adapt mulching, a commonly-used landscaping technique, for blight mitigation, 5) demonstrate flutriafol drench providing season-long protection of boxwood plantings pre-infected by Cps in the Mid-Atlantic, and 6) develop several potent biocontrol agents and biofertilizers, including Burkholderia sp. SSG, three strains of Pseudomonas protegens, and Trichoderma koningiopsis Mb2. His lab is currently investigating boxwood microbiome for crop health and production enhancement.
Overall, Dr. Hong’s leadership and scholarship are extraordinary. He has successfully led twelve international research and extension projects. His current project team, the Boxwood Blight Insight Group, was recognized by receiving the 2022 USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture Partnership Award of Program Improvement through Global Engagement. Chuan has advised 63 junior scientists, including 21 postdocs and 18 graduate students. He has authored or coauthored 464 publications, including 160 refereed journal articles and 157 extension publications. Chuan is a go-to scientist for international communities for reference cultures and technical support on Phytophthora species. He is also the most trusted resource on boxwood blight, irrigation pathogens, Phytophthora diseases, and recycled water quality for horticulture industry and extension communities in the U.S. and beyond.
Dr. Hong has also been active and served his profession in numerous roles, including serving in leadership roles in the APS Diseases of Ornamental Plants Committee, and editorially, as senior editor for Plant Disease, Phytopathology and PhytoFrontiers. Additionally, Dr. Hong has acted as an ad hoc reviewer for 49 journals, and has participated in numerous proposal review panels, both nationally and internationally.
In summary, Dr. Chuan Hong is a talented and well-respected scientist who is certainly deserving of recognition as an APS Fellow for his wide-ranging work on pathosystems important to high value crop production.
