Dr. Michael Melzer

Associate Professor/Researcher

Dr. Melzer, has a background in virology, but his program currently focuses on biological threats to Hawaii's agriculture and natural ecosystems.

Dr. Melzers program also conducts work in plant pest, pathogen discovery, and diagnostics. As well as clean germplasm, pest and disease surveys, and responses to pest and pathogen invasions. Most recently his work has been focused on the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle as part of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response for the State of Hawaii.

Educational Background:

Ph.D. Tropical Plant Pathology

M.S. Botanical

Sciences (Plant Pathology)

B.S. Biology and Environmental Science

Skills and Expertise

Virology

Molecular and serological diagnostics

Plant germplasm

One Health

Key Publications

Olmedo-Velarde, A., Larrea-Sarmiento, A., Wang, X., Hu, J., and Melzer, M.J. 202X. A

breakthrough in kitavirids: genetic variability, reverse genetics, Koch’s postulates and

transmission of hibiscus green spot virus 2. Phytopathology (in press)

https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-23-0110-R

Vowell, T., Manley, M., Ho, J., Watanabe, S., and Melzer, M.J. 2023. Impact of metal

salts on the survival, development, and oviposition behavior of coconut rhinoceros beetle

(Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae). Frontiers in Insect Science

https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2023.1157769

Olmedo-Velarde, A., Loristo, J., Kong, A., Waisen, P., Wang, K.-H., Hu, J., and Melzer,

M. 2022. Examination of the virome of taro plants affected by a lethal disease, the

alomae-bobone virus complex, in Papua New Guinea. Viruses 14:7 1410

https://doi.org/10.3390/v14071410

Keith, L.M., Sugiyama, L.S., Brill, E., Adams, B.L., Fukuda, M, Hoffman, K.M., Ocenar,

J., Kawabata, A., Kong, A.T., McKemy, J.M., Olmedo-Velarde, A., and Melzer, M.J.

2022. First report of coffee leaf rust caused by Hemileia vastatrix on coffee (Coffea

arabica) in Hawaii. Plant Disease 106:761 https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-21-1072-

PDN

Watanabe, S., Adams, B.-L., Kong, A., Masang, N., Vowell, T., and Melzer, M. 2020.

Identification of genes that result in high mortality of coconut rhinoceros beetle

(Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera) when targeted using an RNA interference approach:

implications for large invasive insects. Annals of the Entomological Society of America

https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saz057