Itsuhiro Ko

Ph.D in Molecular Plant Sciences, who knows how to grow plants, bacteria, and nematodes.

[Peter Ly @PeterLyLab]

Excited to share our latest paper, out today @CellCellPress. We found that large pieces of the human genome can transfer between cells upon direct contact, endowing recipient cells with heritable phenotypic changes. (1/7)

https://t.co/SbshGhofN0

[Sophien Kamoun @KamounLab]

🆕 🔥 @biorxiv_plants A conserved structural logic underlies sensor-helper NLR communication in the NRC immune receptor network https://t.co/K0wQ3CJ9BD

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

I successfully defend my PhD degree and remove “candidate” in my email signature! Thanks to my families and friends. Specially thanks to my PI @CynthiaGleason9 and my graduate committee members @ADSteinbrenner, @FicklinStephen, Kiwamu Tanaka, and Frank Zhao!

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

1. Probiotic capsules that enhance plant immunity against RKNs

2. Identification of a unique NLR network in the RKN trap crop, litchi tomato

3. Using LCM/RNA-seq to uncover distinct immune states in root cells infected by RKN.

Zoom link available upon request.

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

After four and a half years studying plant- root-knot nematodes (RKNs) interaction, I am excited to announce that I will be defending my PhD on April 16, 2026!

My defense seminar will highlight three chapters from my dissertation research⬇️

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

Using an example from published data and simulation analyses, we show how small sample sizes can easily produce results that appear statistically significant but fail to reproduce.

Welcome any feedback and discussion!

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

Sharing my recent review published in JON!

https://t.co/lpHAEMQX78

When a study reports a “significant result” based on just a few replicates, I can’t help but ask myself:

-Does p < 0.05 really mean a significant difference?
-Is this result even reproducible?

(cont.)

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

@ShirasuLab Thank you Dr. Shirasu!

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

What a amazing experience at the 64th Society of Nematologists Annual Conference in Victoria, Canada this summer!
I am honored to have won the second place in the Student Presentation Competition and connected with industry people who showed interest in my research! #SON2025

[WSU CAHNRS @wsucahnrs]

#WSU doctoral students published a scientific review that evaluates the state of knowledge about the effects of heat & drought on grain development, & points to areas of that development that could be targeted to develop a “Climate Smart” wheat. #GoCougs https://t.co/UCXurViBSE

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

Here is the review article published in @ThePlantJournal that I co-first authored!
https://t.co/SaOJ4zsmKb

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

Our heat stress review paper is highlighted in the WSU Insider news! A behind-the-scenes story of how we turned a journal club discussion into a review article!

Grad students across disciplines study climate’s effect on grain https://t.co/ZgXE6yUpZ4

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

These unique plants take decades to bloom, but their populations have been severely reduced by the introduction of cattles. Fortunately, scientists have used tissue culture to restore silversword populations. We were lucky to witness the results of these conservation efforts…

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

Plant Biologists on Vacation (2/n)
We went searching for one of the region’s most iconic and rare plants in Hawai’i: the silversword. Three species of silversword grow in isolated habitats on three of the world’s tallest mountains (measured from base to peak)

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

If you’re in Hawaiʻi for a conference and will visit the Big Island, I highly recommend joining this program — it's held every Saturday https://t.co/Cjy3shKOVL

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

Plant Biologists on Vacation (1/n)
My wife and I had a memorable conservation experience at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. We helped cut down Himalayan ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum), an invasive species threatening native plant habitats.

[Huiting Zhang @Yannian120]

Our @thecosmiccrisp genome made it to the #CoverStory of #G3journal!
Co-first authors (@ItsuhiroKo @ashtonEaker) and corresponding author (@FicklinStephen) celebrating at @thebcpullman
Thanks #ACTG, especially @aeharkess, and the @wtfrc @USDA_ARS for support!

[Genetics Society of America @GeneticsGSA]

The #G3journal December cover features the "mother tree" of all 'WA 38' apples. A relatively new apple cultivar produced as a cross between Enterprise & Honeycrisp, 'WA 38' was bred by Kate Evans & Bruce Barritt of the WSU Apple Breeding Program.

📸: Robert W. Hubner

🔗⬇️

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

We welcomed Dr. Shahid Siddique (@NemaPlant) from UC Davis to WSU Pullman for a fantastic seminar on Plant Parasitic Nematodes and their impact on plants!

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

and guess who I have invited to come giving a seminar next week?😁

[Itsuhiro Ko @ItsuhiroKo]

It is our pleasure to invite Dr. Nathan Schroeder
from UIUC, to come to Pullman last Monday! He gave us a fascinating seminar of soybean cyst nematode muscle and nerve system development!