I now work with Dr. Gretchen Kuldau and her students investigating mycotoxins and other fungal metabolites. Our project, currently affectionately nicknamed, “The Cereal Killers,” works with corn, wheat, and sometimes silage or other substrates. The project encompasses a wide range of research, from molecular and chemical bench science to applied chamber, greenhouse, and field trials. We utilize an array of research methods to merge observational studies in mycology and microscopy, with infection and growth studies evaluated by chromatography and/or molecular means.

In my preceding project I served 10 years on the PDA Grape and NSF PEET projects for Elwin Stewart. Among other topics we investigated the organisms and the circumstances that lead to vine decline in grapes, and conducted a 3-year vine decline survey evaluating the health of PA vineyards. This work culminated in the Clean Vine program where I developed several lines of meristem shoot-tip propagated grapevines.

In earlier work, I spent my first 16 years at Penn State on the Christmas Tree Project, working with Bill Merrill, researching conifer diseases. We initiated the PSU Christmas Tree Pest Management Short Course and taught short courses and extension programs throughout the Northeast. Our research focused on conifer foliar needlecasts and blights, but included other conifer diseases such as cankers, galls, shoot diebacks, and root rots as well.

Stewart, E.L., B.E. Overton, and N.G. Wenner. 2008. Towards a Clean Grapevine Program for the Mid-Atlantic: How To---Detect Petri disease, Tomato Ring Spot Virus, Crown Gall in Grape using Molecular Methods and Initiate a Grape Meristem Tip Culture Program.

Overton, B.E., E.L. Stewart, and N.G. Wenner. 2006. Manganese oxidation in Petri disease fungi as a novel taxonomic character. Phytopath. Med. 45: S131-S134.

Morton, L., N.G. Wenner, E.L. Stewart, and B.E. Overton. 2005. Fungi isolated from failing graft unions with necrotic lesions. 4th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases. Abstracts. P. 24. Stellenbosch, SA. 20-21 January 2005.

Overton, B. E., E L. Stewart, X. Qu, N.G. Wenner, B.J. Christ. 2004. Qualitative Real-time PCR SYBR Green detection of Petri disease fungi. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 43: 403-410.

Stewart, E.L., N.G. Wenner, L.A. Long, and B.E. Overton. 2003. Petri and esca disease fungi in declining grapevines in Pennsylvania and New York. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 93: S81 Publication #: P-2003-0391-AMA.

Stewart, E.L., N.G. Wenner, and B. Hed. 2003. First Report of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora on Vitis vinifera, Vitis lambrusca, and French American Hybrids in Pennsylvania and New York. Plant Disease 87: 750.

Merrill, W., N.G. Wenner, and J. O'Donnell. 1997. "Canavirgella banfieldii needlecast of Pinus strobus in Michigan." Plant Disease 81:231.

Merrill, W., N.G. Wenner, and R. Kelley. 1997. "Delphinella balsameae tip blight of Abies lasiocarpa in Vermont." Plant Disease 81:229.

Wenner, N.G., and W. Merril. 1997. "Phyllosticta multicorniculata on Abies spp. in the northeastern U.S. " Plant Disease 81:230.

Merrill, W., N.G. Wenner,and T.A. Dreisbach. 1996. "Canavirgella banfieldii gen. & sp. nov.: A needlecast on pine." Can. J. Bot. 74: 1476-1481.

Merrill, W., and N.G. Wenner. 1996. "Biotic agents associated with ozone-damaged foliage of Pinus strobus in the northeastern U.S." pp. 61-67- In: R. Cox, K. Percy, K. Jensen, & C. Simpson (compilers). Air Pollution and Multiple Stresses . Can. For. Serv. Atlantic Centre, Fredericton, NB. 402 p.

Extension

Stewart, E.L., N.G. Wenner, L. Long, and B.E. Overton. 2005. Crown gall of grape: understanding the disease, prevention and management.

Stewart, E.L. and N.G. Wenner. 2004. Grapevine Decline in Pennsylvania and New York . Wine East: July-Aug 32(2) 12-21 & 51.

Stewart, E.L., J.W. Travis, N.G. Wenner, B.E. Hed, M.l. Chien, and A.J. Muza. 2001. Grapevine Decline in Pennsylvania and New York : A Guide to Symptoms and Understanding the Disease. Informational bulletin © The Pennsylvania State University 2001.

Albers, M., J. Albers, J. Cummings-Carlson, L. Haugen, and N. Wenner. 1996. Pest Alert: Rhizosphaera Needle Disease of Fir. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Northeastern Area. NA-PR-06-96.

Albers, M., J. Albers, J. Cummings-Carlson, L. Haugen, and N. Wenner. 1996. How to Identify and Manage Needlecast Diseases on Balsam Fir. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Northeastern Area. NA-FR-02-96. 10 pages.

Extension

Wenner, N.G. 1987. The effect of chlorothalonil on the infection of Scots pine by Cyclaneusma minus. MS thesis, The Pennsylvania State University, 19 p.