Donald W. Roberts Explained

Donald W. Roberts
Birth Date:20 January 1933
Birth Place:Phoenix, Arizona, US
Fields:entomopathogenic fungi, biological pest control, entomology, mycology
Workplaces:Biology Department, Utah State University
Alma Mater:Brigham Young University, Iowa State University, University of California, Berkeley
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Thesis1 Title:Toxins from the entomogenous fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae: I. Production in submerged and surface cultures, and in inorganic and organic nitrogen media
Thesis2 Title:Toxins from the entomogenous fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae: II. Symptoms and detection in moribund hosts
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Thesis Year:1964
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Doctoral Advisors:Edward Arthur Steinhaus[1] and Mauro M.E. Martignoni
Known For:Metarhizium anisopliae, now M. robertsii, see
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Donald W. Roberts (January 20, 1933 – May 2, 2021) was an American insect pathologist and one of the originators of that field. He was especially known for research into biological pest control of Lepidoptera by Metarhizium but also Beauveria bassiana.[2] He was a Research Professor Emeritus in the Biology Department of Utah State University.[3]

Early life and education

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, US, in 1933. He earned his bachelor's degree in Zoology, minoring in Botany, from Brigham Young University in 1957. He received his master's degree in Entomology, minor in Mycology, from Iowa State University in 1959. He earned his PhD in 1964 from University of California, Berkeley on the then-named Metarhizium anisopliae (now M. robertsii, see below) and its application as a biological control of Lepidoptera.[4] [5]

Postdoctoral career

In 1965, Roberts was hired as an Assistant Rank Insect Pathologist by the Boyce Thompson Plant Research Institute.

Helicoverpa armigera was spreading and invading several countries around the world in 1976, when he was sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to test a nuclear polyhedrosis virus in India.[6]

When that was completed in 1978 he then traveled to work for the Brazilian government on fungal controls of pasture spittlebugs. That lasted until 1981.

In 1980 Roberts founded the Insect Pathology Resources Center at Cornell University. Roberts then went back to work for Boyce when the IPRC became part of Boyce.

Roberts collected fungal pathogens of Nilaparvata lugens in Sri Lanka in 1984.[7]

Roberts was a frequent collaborator of Raymond J. St. Leger, who was also chosen to give the Society for Invertebrate Pathology's Founders Lecture in his honor in 2009.

Awards and honors

1978 US National Science Foundation US/India Exchange Scientist

1985 Fulbright Senior Research Scholarship to the University of Sydney, Australia[8]

University of Sydney Thomas Lawrence Pawlett Scholarship

19861988 The Society for Invertebrate Pathology Vice President

Entomological Society of America, Eastern Branch CIBA-GEICY Recognition Award[9]

19881990 The Society for Invertebrate Pathology President[10]

1989 ESA-EB L.O. Howard Distinguished Achievement Award[11] [12]

1996 Boyce Thompson Institute made Roy A. Young Scientist Emeritus[13]

Entomological Society of Brazil (Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia) honorary membership and recognition award

1996 Society for Invertebrate Pathology Founders' Lecturer on Agostino Bassi who had been retired for some time[14]

2009 Society for Invertebrate Pathology Founders' Honoree award, and Founders' Lecture on his career[15] given by his friend and longtime collaborator R. St. Leger

Patronymic taxa

The species he has become associated with more than any other the former M. anisopliae was renamed Metarhizium robertsii in recognition of his vast contributions.[16]

Personal life and death

Roberts and his wife, Mae, had two children. He died on May 2, 2021, at the age of 88.[17]

Selected bibliography

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Cited as "Myco-and entomotoxigenic properties of the efrapeptins: toxins of the fungus Tolypocladium niveum" by[18] among others

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See also

Notes and References

  1. Davidson . Elizabeth W. . Burges . H. Denis . History of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology . . Society for Invertebrate Pathology (AP) . 89 . 1 . 2005 . 0022-2011 . 10.1016/j.jip.2005.06.001 . 2–11. 16039300 .
  2. St. Leger . Raymond J. . Raymond St. Leger . Society for Invertebrate Pathology 2009 Founders' Lecture . . Society for Invertebrate Pathology (Academic Press) . 105 . 3 . 2010 . 0022-2011 . 10.1016/j.jip.2010.09.021 . 211–219 . 29215470 . 20970532.
  3. Web site: Donald Roberts Biology USU . Department of Biology Utah State University.
  4. Roberts . Donald W. . Donald W. Roberts . Toxins from the entomogenous fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae: I. Production in submerged and surface cultures, and in inorganic and organic nitrogen media . . Society for Invertebrate Pathology (AP) . 8 . 2 . 1966 . 0022-2011 . 10.1016/0022-2011(66)90131-5 . 212–221 . 5949415 . 38321891.
  5. Roberts . Donald W. . Donald W. Roberts . Toxins from the entomogenous fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae: II. Symptoms and detection in moribund hosts . . Society for Invertebrate Pathology (AP) . 8 . 2 . 1966 . 0022-2011 . 10.1016/0022-2011(66)90132-7 . 222–227 . 5949416 . 30149754.
  6. SIP Newsletter . 42 . 2 . . June 2009.
  7. Mycological Society of America NEWSLETTER . 0541-4938 . 35 . 2 . December 1984 . Mycological Society of America.
  8. Web site: Donald Roberts . . June 18, 1985 . November 3, 2021.
  9. SIP Newsletter . 18 . 2 . . May 1986.
  10. SIP Newsletter . 21 . 3 . . July 1996.
  11. Web site: Winners of the L.O. Howard Distinguished Achievement Award . Entomological Society of America, Eastern Branch. July 17, 2023 .
  12. News: Cornell University Agriculture & Life Sciences News . Spring 1990 . Faculty News . 3 . Cornell University.
  13. Web site: BTI Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research - The 77th Annual Report . 2000 . Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research.
  14. SIP Newsletter . 28 . 2 . . July 1996.
  15. Web site: . Great Jumpin' Jehosaphat -- USU's Don Roberts Receives Career Honor . . August 20, 2009 . November 2, 2021.
  16. Web site: Home - Metarhizium robertsii ARSEF 23 . MycoCosm, JGI, US DOE.
  17. Web site: November 9, 2022 . 2021 . . Dr. Donald W. Roberts 1933 – 2021 .
  18. Book: Leatham, Gary . Frontiers in Industrial Mycology . . Boston, MA, USA . 1992 . 978-1-4684-7114-4 . 840289466 . 158. .
  19. Hajek . Ann E. . Ann Hajek . St. Leger . Raymond J. . Raymond St. Leger . Interactions Between Fungal Pathogens and Insect Hosts . . . 39 . 1 . 1994 . 0066-4170 . 10.1146/annurev.en.39.010194.001453 . 293–322.

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