University of California Davis doctoral candidate Alison Blundell, shown here holding a root knot nematode-infested tomato plant, is the winner of the 2025 John M. Webster Outstanding Student Award from the Society of Nematologists. Photo courtesy of University of Davis California

DAVIS, CA (MGP) - Doctoral candidate Alison Blundell of the laboratory of associate professor Shahid Siddique, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is the recipient of the 2025 John M. Webster Outstanding Student Award from the Society of Nematologists.

She is the first University of California Davis student to win the award, launched in 2007 to recognize “a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in his/her thesis research in nematology as well as other skills necessary to be a well-rounded scholar.”

As the recipient of the $1,500 prize, Blundell will deliver a 30-minute oral presentation of her research at SON’s 64th annual meeting, to be held July 13 to 17 in Victoria, British Columbia.

“The evaluation committee was very impressed by your personal qualities and accomplishments,” the committee wrote, in praising her scientific accomplishments, leadership and commitment to the field of nematology.

 Blundell, who joined the UC Davis doctoral program in 2020, is completing her dissertation on “Trade-Offs Between Virulence and Evading Resistance in Root-Knot Nematodes.” She investigates how root-knot nematodes overcome Mi-1 in tomatoes and is testing for susceptibility associated with resistance breaking. Mi-1 is a crucial gene in tomato plants that confers resistance against root-knot nematodes, which are parasitic nematodes that can and do severely damage crops. 

Blundell has collected root-knot nematodes (RKN) isolates from affected fields across the state, developed single egg mass cultures, and is now applying whole-genome sequencing to identify genetic signatures associated with resistance and its breakdown. Simultaneously, she is investigating whether resistance-breaking root-knot nematodes suffer fitness costs when rotated with non-host crops, an approach that could directly inform nematode management strategies for growers. 

In addition to her scientific contributions, Blundell is involved in professional services with the School of Nursing, including oral and poster presentations and as vice chair of the School of Nursing Graduate Student Committee. She engages in teaching, mentoring, and public outreach on the UC Davis campus. She promotes science education and agricultural awareness by volunteering at the annual UC Davis Picnic Day and the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day.

Active in the School of Nursing, Blundell won first place in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition at the 2022 School of Nursing meeting. At the 2024 School of Nursing meeting, judges awarded her second place in the 12-Minute Best Student Paper Award Competition.

Blundell, formerly Alison Coomer, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry (2020) from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, where she received the Outstanding Graduate Student in Biology Award.

In the Webster Award application form, Blundell explained that “California’s processing tomato industry is responsible for one-third of all processing tomato production worldwide. The success of this industry depends on the growers’ abilities to implement management strategies such as integrated host resistance, effective pesticides and non-host rotation crops to eliminate or control pathogens. Despite these efforts, root-knot nematodes (RKNs), Meloidogyne spp., cause an estimated 5% yield loss in processing tomatoes by suppressing the plant immune system, damaging root tissues, and creating entry points for secondary pathogens such as Fusarium species. These pathogen complexes result in a severe yield loss seen by growers each year.”

“For decades, the resistance gene Mi-1 has retained its ability to detect and inhibit root-knot nematodes in tomatoes, but the underlying mechanisms by which it recognizes these pathogens remains largely unknown. However, resistance-breaking root-knot nematodes populations have been increasingly found in both greenhouse and field settings, threatening the effectiveness of the Mi-1 gene and consequently the tomato industry,” said Blundell. “With this research we aim to improve our understanding of how root-knot nematodes evade Mi-1 resistance, increase grower and public awareness about plant parasitic nematodes, and develop management strategies to combat resistance-breaking populations, ultimately supporting California’s tomato growers.”