Dr. Chris Little

Professor
Kansas State University
4723 Throckmorton PSC
1712 Claflin Road
Manhattan, KS 66506
Education
- Ph.D. Plant Pathology, Texas A&M University, 2002
- B.S. Microbiology, University of Kentucky, 1996
Publications
Last 10 Years
2023 (upcoming)
- Little, C.R. 2023. Phosphorus and plant disease. In: "Mineral Nutrition and Plant Disease, 2nd Ed." (Datnoff, L.E., ed.). APS Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. (In press)
2022
- Noor, A., and Little, C.R. 2022. Evaluating the role of exogenously applied ascorbic acid in rescuing soybean plant health in the presence of pathogen-induced oxidative stress. Pathogens 11, 1117. (Abstract + Links)
- Pimental, M.F., Srour, A.Y., Warner, A.J., Bond, J.P., Bradley, C., Rupe, J., Chilvers, M., Little, C., Robertson, A., Giesler, L., Malvick, D., Kurle, J., Wise, K., Tenuta, A., and Fakhoury, A.M. 2022. Ecology and diversity of fungal species associated with soybean seedling diseases in the US Midwest. Journal of Applied Microbiology 132: 3797-3811. (Abstract + Links)
2021
- Perumal, R., Tesso, T., Jagadish, S.V.K., Morris, G.P., Little, C.R., Bean, S.R., Yu, J., Prasad, P.V.V., and Tuinstra, M.R. 2021. Registration of the sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] nested association mapping (NAM) population in RTx430 background. Journal of Plant Registrations 15: 395-402. (Abstract + Links)
2020
- Perumal, R., Tomar, S.S., Bandara, A., Maduraimuthu, D., Tesso, T.T., Prasad, P.V., and Little, C.R. 2020. Variation in stalk rot resistance and physiological traits of sorghum genotypes in the field under high temperature conditions. Journal of General Plant Pathology: 86: 350-359. (Abstract + Links)
- Bandara, A.Y., Weerasooriya, D.K., Gobena, D.D., Hopper, D.J., Tesso, T.T., and Little, C.R. 2020. Improving sweet sorghum for enhanced juice traits and biomass. Plant Breeding 139: 131-140. (Abstract + Links)
2019
- Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., Weerasooriya, D.K., Tesso, T.T., and Little, C.R. 2019. Stalk rot resistant sorghum genotypes are resilient to pathogen-mediated photosystem II quantum yield retardation. Crop Protection 124: Article 104852. (Abstract + Links)
- Tesso, T., Gobena, D.D., Perumal, R., Bean, S., Wilson, J., and Little, C.R. 2019. Registration of 17 sorghum pollinator germplasm lines resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibitor herbicides. Journal of Plant Registrations 13: 212-216. (Abstract + Links)
- Perumal, R., Tesso, T., Kofoid, K.D., Aiken, R.M., Prasad, P.V.V., Bean, S.R., Wilson, J.D., Herald, T.J., and Little, C.R. 2019. Registration of six grain sorghum pollinator (R) lines. Journal of Plant Registrations 13: 113-117. (Abstract + Links)
2018
- Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., Weerasooriya, D.K., Liu, S., and Little, C.R. 2018. The necrotrophic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina promotes charcoal rot susceptibility in grain sorghum through induced host cell wall-degrading enzymes. Phytopathology 108: 948-956.(Abstract + Links)
- Little, C.R., Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., and Perumal, R. 2018. Diseases and their management in sorghum cultivation: Seedling, seed, panicle, and foliar diseases. In: Achieving Sustainable Cultivation in Sorghum: Genetics, Breeding, and Production Techniques (Rooney, W.L., ed.). Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Ltd. (ISBN: 9781786761200)(Chapter Summary)
- Little, C.R., Perumal. R., Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., and Todd, T.C. 2018. Diseases and their management in sorghum cultivation: Stalk, root, and other diseases. In: Achieving Sustainable Cultivation in Sorghum: Genetics, Breeding, and Production Techniques (Rooney, W.L., ed.). Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Ltd. (ISBN: 9781786761200)(Chapter Summary)
- Perumal, R., Magill, C.W., Peterson, G.C., Prom, L.K., Bashir, E.M., Tesso, T.T., Serba, D.D., and Little, C.R. 2018. Sorghum breeding for biotic stress tolerance. In: Achieving Sustainable Cultivation in Sorghum: Genetics, Breeding, and Production Techniques (Rooney, W.L., ed.). Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Ltd. (ISBN: 9781786761200) (Chapter Summary)
- Little, C.R. and Perumal, R. 2018. The biology and control of sorghum diseases. In: Sorghum: State of the Art and Future Perspectives (Ciampitti, I., and Prasad, P.V.V., eds.). Agronomy Monographs, No. 58. ASA and CSSA, Madison, WI. (doi:10.2134/agronmonogr58.2015.0073) (Abstract + Links)
- Perumal, R., Rajendrakumar, P., Maulana, F., Tesso, T. and Little, C.R. 2018. Genetic changes in sorghum. In: Sorghum: State of the Art and Future Perspectives (Ciampitti, I., and Prasad, P.V.V., eds.). Agronomy Monographs, No. 58. ASA and CSSA, Madison, WI. (doi:10.2134/agronmonogr58.2014.0053) (Abstract + Links)
- Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., Tesso, T.T., Zhang, K., Wang, D., and Little, C.R. 2018. Charcoal rot and Fusarium stalk rot diseases influence sweet sorghum sugar attributes. Industrial Crops and Products 112: 188-195. (Abstract + Links)
2017
- Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., Tesso, T.T., Bean, S.R., Dowell, F.E., Little, C.R., 2017. Impacts of fungal stalk rot pathogens on physicochemical properties of sorghum grain. Plant Disease 101: 2059-2065. (Abstract + Links)
- Pedrozo, R., and Little, C.R. 2017. Fusarium verticillioides inoculum potential influences soybean seed quality. European Journal of Plant Pathology 148: 749-754. (Abstract + Links)
- Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., Weerasoriya, D.K., Tesso, T.T., Prasad, P.V.V., and Little, C.R. 2017. Stalk rot fungi affect grain sorghum yield components in an inoculation stage-specific manner. Crop Protection 94: 97-105. (Abstract + Links)
- Perumal, R., Rajendrakumar, P., Maulana, F., Tesso, T., and Little, C.R. 2017. Genetic changes in sorghum. In Sorghum: State of the Art and Future Perspectives, Agronomy Monographs No. 58. American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America, Inc. Madison, WI. (doi:10.2134/agronmonogr58.2014.0053) (Abstract + Links)
- Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., Weerasooriya, D.K., Tesso, T.T., and Little, C.R. 2017. Stalk rot diseases affect sweet sorghum biofuel traits. BioEnergy Research 10: 26-35. (Abstract + Links)
2016
- Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., Weerasooriya, D.K., Tesso, T.T., and Little, C.R. 2016. Stalk rot fungi affect leaf greenness (SPAD) of grain sorghum in a genotype- and growth stage-specific manner. Plant Disease 100: 2062-2068. (Abstract + Links)
- Adeyanju, A., Yu, J., Little, C., Rooney, W., Klein, P., Burke, J., and Tesso, T. 2016. Sorghum recombinant inbred lines segregating for stay-green QTLs and leaf dhurrin content show differential reaction to stalk rot diseases. Crop Science 56: 2895-2903. (Abstract + Links)
- Adee, E., Ruiz Diaz, D.A., and Little, C.R. 2016. Effect of soil test and phosphorus fertilization on soybean sudden death syndrome severity. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Management 2: Online (https://doi.org/10.2134/cftm2015.0193)
2015
- Pedrozo, R., Fenoglio, J.J. and Little, C.R. 2015. First report of seedborne Fusarium fujikuroi and its potential to cause pre- and post-emergent damping-off of soybean (Glycine max) in the United States. Plant Disease 99: 1865. (Link)
- Bandara, Y.M.A.Y., Perumal, R., and Little, C.R. 2015. Integrating resistance and tolerance for improved evaluation of sorghum lines against Fusarium stalk rot and charcoal rot. Phytoparasitica 43: 485-499. (Abstract + Links)
- Adeyanju, A., Little, C., Yu, J. and Tesso, T. 2015. Genome-wide study on resistance to stalk rot diseases in grain sorghum. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics: Online (doi:10.1534/g3.114.016394). (Link)
- Perumal, R., Tesso, T., Kofoid, K.D., Prasad, P.V.V., Aiken, R.M., Bean, S.R., Wilson, J.D., Herald, T.J. and Little, C.R. 2015. Registration of nine sorghum seed parent (A/B) lines. Journal of Plant Registrations 9: 244-248. (Abstract + Links)
- Prom, L.K., Perumal, R., Montes-Garcia, N., Isakeit, T., Medina-Ocegueda, S., Odvody, G.N., Rooney, W.L., Little, C.R., and Magill, C.W. 2015. Evaluation of Gambia and Mali sorghum germplasm against the downy mildew pathogen, Peronosclerospora sorghi in Mexico and the USA. Journal of General Plant Pathology 81: 24-31. (Link)
2014
- Pedrozo, R. and Little, C.R. 2014. First report of Fusarium thapsinum and its pathogenicity on soybean (Glycine max) in the United States. Plant Disease 98: 1745. (Link)
- Prom, L.K., Perumal, R., Cisse, N. and Little, C.R. 2014. Evaluation of selected sorghum lines and hybrids for grain mold and long smut fungi in Senegal, West Africa. Plant Health Progress: Online (doi:10.1094/PHP-RS-13-0128). (Summary + Links)
- Brzostowski, L.F., Schapaugh, W.T., Rzodkiewicz, P.A., Todd, T.C. and Little, C.R. 2014. Effect of host resistance to Fusarium virguiliforme and Heteroderaglycines on sudden death syndrome disease severity and soybean yield. Plant Health Progress: Online (doi:10.1094/PHP-RS-13-0100). (Summary + Links)
2013
- Kapanigowda, M.H., Perumal, R., Djanaguiraman, M., Aiken, R.M., Tesso, T., Prasad, P.V.V., and Little, C.R. 2013. Genotypic variation in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) exotic germplasm collections for drought and disease tolerance. SpringerPlus 2: 650 (Online, Open Access) (doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-650) (Abstract + Links)
- Kapanigowda, M.H., Perumal, R., Aiken, R.M., Herald, T.J., Bean, S.R., and Little, C.R. 2013. Analysis of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) lines and hybrids in response to early season planting and cool conditions. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 93: 773-784. (Abstract + Links)
- Schneider, S.J., da Graca, J.V., Skaria, M., Little, C.R., Setamou, M., and Kunta, M. 2013. Quantification of greasy spot in grapefruit using computer image analysis and development of a disease severity index. International Journal of Fruit Science 13: 459-465. (Abstract + Links)
2012
- Carris, L.M., Little, C.R., and Stiles, C.M. 2012. Introduction to fungi. The Plant Health Instructor: Online (doi:10.1094/PHI-I-2012-0426-01).
- Prom, L.K., Perumal, R., Errattaimuthu, S.R., Little, C.R., No, E.G., Erpelding, J.E., Rooney, W.L., Odvody, G.N., and Magill, C.W. 2012. Genetic diversity and pathotype determination of Colletotrichum sublineolum isolates causing anthracnose in sorghum. European Journal of Plant Pathology 133: 671-685. (Abstract + Links)
- Tesso, T., Perumal, R., Little, C.R., Aduyanju, A., Radwan, G., Prom, L.K. and Magill, C.W. 2012. Sorghum pathology and biotechnology - A Fungal disease perspective: Part II. Anthracnose, stalk rot and downy mildew. The European Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology 6: 31-44. (Abstract + Links)
- Little, C.R., Perumal, R., Tesso, T., Prom, L.K., Odvody, G.N. and Magill, C.W. 2012. Sorghum pathology and biotechnology - A fungal disease perspective: Part I. Grain Mold, Head Smut and Ergot. The European Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology 6: 10-30. (Abstract + Links)
- Mengistu, A., Arelli, P.A., Bellaloui, N., Bond, J.P., Shannon, G.J., Wrather, A.J., Rupe, J.C., Chen, P., Little, C.R., Canaday, C.H., Newman, M.A. and Pantalone, V.R. 2012. Evaluation of soybean genotypes for resistance to three seed-borne diseases. Plant Health Progress: Online (doi:10.1094/PHP-2012-0321-02-RS).
- Seifers, D.L., Perumal, R. and Little, C.R. 2012. New sources of resistance in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) germplasm are effective against a diverse array of Potyvirus spp. Plant Disease 96: 1775-1779.
Research Reports
- Adee, E.A., Little, C.R., and Ciampitti, I.A. 2019. Influence of soybean planting date on sudden death syndrome and soybean yield. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports, Vol. 5 (doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7777). (Abstract + Links)
- Sassenrath, G., Little, C.R., Roozeboom, K., Lin, X., and Jardine, D.J. 2019. Controlling soil-borne disease in soybean with a mustard cover crop. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports, Vol. 5 (doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7740). (Abstract + Links)
- Adee, E., Little, C.R., and Ciampitti, I.A. 2018. Impact on soybean yield from sudden death syndrome and soybean planting date. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports, Vol. 4 (doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7610). (Abstract + Link)
- Adee, E., Diaz, D.R., and Little, C.R. 2017. Soybean sudden death syndrome influenced by macronutrient fertility on irrigated soybeans in a corn/soybean rotation. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports, Vol. 3 (doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7431). (Abstract + Links)
- Sassenrath, G., Little, C.R., Hsiao, C.J., and Shoup, D.E. 2017. Cover crop systems to control charcoal rot in soybeans. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports, Vol. 3 (doi:10.4148/2378-5977.1383). (Abstract + Links)
- Adee, E., Little, C.R., and Ciampitti, I. 2016. Sudden death syndrome and soybean planting date. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports, Vol. 2 (doi:10.4148/2378-5977.1225). (Abstract + Links)
Research
- Fungal pathogens of row crops
- Seedling, root, stalk, and seed diseases
- Sorghum and soybean diseases
Staff & Students
- Natalie Waite, Research Assistant
- Afsana Noor, Graduate Research Assistant (Ph.D.)
- Nathan Smith, Graduate Research Assistant (M.S.)
Teaching
- PLPTH 845: Plant Pathogenic Fungi (3 cr.) Even Fall semesters
- PLPTH 500: Principles of Plant Pathology (3 cr.) Spring semesters