Kansas State University

• Ph.D. Plant Pathology, Texas A&M University, 2002
• B.S. Microbiology, University of Kentucky, 1996

Last 10 Years

2019

• Bandara, A.Y., Weerasooriya, D.K., Gobena, D.D., Hopper, D.J., Tesso, T.T., and Little, C.R. 2019. Improving sweet sorghum for enhanced juice traits and biomass. Plant Breeding 138: In press.
• 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://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/cftm/abstracts/2/1/cftm2015.0193/preview)
  

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

2011

• Liu, P., Guo, W., Jiang, Z., Pu, H., Feng, C., Zhu, X., Peng, Y., Kuang, A., and Little, C.R. 2011 Effects of high temperature after anthesis on starch granules in grains of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Journal of Agricultural Science 149: 159-169.
• Yousef, S., Summy, K.R., and Little, C.R. 2011. Detection of salt toxicity and nitrogen deficiency in Cucumis sativus L. using spectroradiometry and CIR imagery. Journal of Plant Nutrition 34:1236-1244. (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01904167.2011.558164)
• Mengistu, A., Arelli, P.A., Bond, J.P., Shannon, G.J., Wrather, A.J., Rupe, J.B., Chen, P., Little, C.R., Canaday, C.H., Newman, M.A., and Pantalone, V.R. 2011. Evaluation of soybean genotypes for resistance to charcoal rot. Plant Health Progress: Online (doi:10.1094/PHP-2010-0926-01-RS). (http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/php/research/2011/charcoal/)
• Brady, C.R., Noll, L.W., Saleh, A.A., and Little C.R. 2011. Disease severity and microsclerotium properties of the sorghum sooty stripe pathogen, Ramulispora sorgi. Plant Disease 95:853-859.
• Radwan, G., Perumal, R., Isakeit, T., Magill, C.W., Prom, L.K., and Little, C.R. 2011. Screening exotic sorghum germplasm, hybrids and elite lines for resistance to a new virulent pathotype (P6) of Peronoslerospora sorghi causing downy mildew. Plant Health Progress: Online (doi: 10.1094/PHP-2011-0323-01-RS).

2010

• Noll, L.W., Butler, D.N., and Little, C.R. 2010. Tetrazolium violet staining of naturally and artificially molded sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) caryopses. Seed Science and Technology 38: 742-757.
• Tesso, T.T., Ochanda, N., Little, C.R., Claflin, L., and Tuinstra, M.R. 2010. Analysis of host plant resistance to multiple Fusarium species associated with stalk rot disease in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Field Crops Research 118: 177-182.
• Summy, K.R., Little, C.R., Everitt, J.H., Mazariegos, R.A., French, J.V., Setamou, M. and Mata, J. 2010. Detection of incipient pest infestations on glasshouse crops using multispectral imagery and a common vegetation index. Subtropical Plant Science 62: 56-62.

2009

• Perez, J.L., French, J.V., Summy, K.R., Davelos Baines, A., and Little, C.R. 2009. Fungal phyllosphere communities are altered by indirect interactions among trophic levels. Microbial Ecology 57: 766-774.
• Little, C.R., and Magill, C.W. 2009. The grain mold pathogen, Fusarium thapsinum, reduces caryopsis formation in Sorghum bicolor. Journal of Phytopathology 157: 518-519.

Research Reports

• 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)

• Fungal pathogens of row crops
• Seedling, root, stalk, and seed diseases
• Sorghum and soybean diseases

• Natalie Waite, Research Assistant
• Afsana Noor, Graduate Research Assistant
• Victoria Cast, Graduate Research Assistant

• PLPTH 845: Plant Pathogenic Fungi (3 cr.) Even Fall semesters