Biology Faculty

Dr. Mary Ruth Griffin 
Assistant Professor of Biology

Contact Information
708 Clay Tower Building
University of Charleston
Phone: 304-357-4368
Fax: 304-357-4940
marygriffin@ucwv.edu  
           

Education
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Doctor of Philosophy in Plants, Soils and Insects (PSI)

concentration in Plant Pathology, 2007

Master of Science in Secondary Education, 1998

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts, 1992
Major: Botany            Minor: Education

Teaching Responsibilities

NSCI               Biology 120

Biology           Anatomy and Physiology 251

Biology           Anatomy and Physiology 252

Biology           Microbiology (Summer 2008)

Description of Research

Work with Beauveria bassiana, an entompathogenic fungus with an extensive host range of pest insects. Research model involved Gossypium hirsutum, better known as highland cotton, to determine extent to which B. bassiana protects against the condition of “damping off” caused by Rhizoctonia solani, Thielaviopsis basicola, and Pythium spp. Assay studies examined B. bassiana’s effectiveness as a seed treatment biocontrol in soil. Additional field soils were also examined to determine if soil composition, affected B. bassiana’s efficiency as a biocontrol on cotton. Polymerase chain reaction and electron microscopy were used to detect the endophytic activity of B. bassiana in cotton. Mechanisms of action, including induced systemic resistance, employed by B. bassiana as a biocontrol against cotton pathogens were also examined.

Current Student Projects

Continuing research in the area of biocontrol, to determine efficacy of potential biocontrol organisms against fungal and bacterial species through in vitro studies with different media and plant based nutrients.

Edited student thesis: Rodighiero, R. 2008.The Link Between Thimerosal and Autism:  Is Thimerosal in Childhood Vaccinations the Cause of an Increase in the Incidents of Autism? Thesis Capstone. University of Charleston, Charleston, WV.

Recent Publications

Ownley, B.H., Griffin, M.R., Klingeman, W.E., Gwinn, K.D., Moulton, J.K., Pereira, R.M., Beauveria bassiana: endophytic colonization and plant disease control, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology (2008), doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2008.01.010 
 

Ownley, B. H., Griffin, M. R., Klingeman, W. E., Gwinn, K. D., Moulton, J.K. 2008.

Evidence for endophytic activity of Beauveria bassiana in cotton. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. in submission

Recent Presentations

Ownley, B.H., M.R. Griffin, W.E. Klingeman, K.D. Gwinn, J.K. Moulton,

and R.M. Pereira. 2007. Beauveria bassiana: endophytic colonization and

plant disease control. Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual

Meeting, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, Aug 12-16.