About
I am a PhD student advised by Dr. Matthew Smith since 2019. My research interests include: ecology and systematics of Pezizomycete truffle fungi, phylogenomics, truffle production, ectomycorrhizal fungi, fungal dispersal and populations, and fungaria curation and management.
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Education
B.A.&Sc., International Studies and Environmental Science (2009). The Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA)
M.S., Plant Biology, Field Naturalist concentration (2016). University of Vermont (Burlington, VT). -
Research
My thesis work is focused on the systematics and ecology of North American native truffles, in particular Pezizomycete truffle genera such as Tuber, Leucangium, and Imaia. My research includes basic science topics such as diversity of North American Tuber truffles, mating type biology of Tuber species, and trophic ecology of Morchellaceae truffles, as well as applied work directly related to truffle cultivation. Since beginning my PhD studies in 2019, I have become more involved in the community of truffle growers, truffle dog trainers and handlers, and work to provide this community with greater access and understanding to the molecular biology tools that are essential to our understanding of truffle biology and diversity. I have been an active member of the Mycological Society of America since 2020, the North American Truffle Growers Association (NATGA) since 2021, and the Truffle Research and Production Initiative (TRAPI) since 2022.
In addition to my work on edible truffles, I have been involved in a collaborative NSF-funded study of Pezizomycete systematics and ecology (NSF-DEB #1946445). More information on this project including aims, publications, and contacts are here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1946445
My thesis research is supported by an NSF-GRFP Fellowship (#2019277707). -
Publications
Recent publications:
Lemmond, B., Healy, R., Bonito, G., Smith, M. (2022). Tuber eburneum and Tuber mujicii: New pine-associated Tuber species from Eastern North America. Mycologia 114(3):575–586. DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2022.2037338
Healy, R., Arnold, AE., Bonito, G., Huang, Y-L., Lemmond, B., Pfister, D., Smith, M. (2022). Endophytism and endolichenism in Pezizomycetes: the exception or the rule? New Phytologist 233:1974–1983 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17886
Lemmond, B., VanWyk, J., Bonito, G., Healy, R., Smith, M. (2022). Searching for Pezizales diversity in Appalachia. Inoculum. https://msafungi.org/searching-for-pezizales-diversity-in-appalachia/
Posters and presentations:
Lemmond, B. Bonito, G., Healy, R., Smith, ME. Orchard oddities: a wide diversity of native truffles in samples sent by growers, harvesters, and truffle enthusiasts. Poster presentation. North American Truffle Growers Association (NATGA) annual congress. Roanoke, VA. November 12, 2022.
Moderator, “The natives are growing restless”: panel discussion on native truffle cultivation in North America. North American Truffle Growers Association (NATGA) annual congress. Roanoke, VA. November 12, 2022.
Hidden treasures: An updated taxonomic and ecological review of Morchellaceae truffles. Invited research talk. North American Truffling Society (NATS). Corvallis, OR and online. November 8, 2022.
Population genetics in the truffle orchard: insights, questions, and management tools. Webinar talk. Webinar title: “Having the right tools is half the battle”. North American Truffle Growers Association (NATGA) webinar series. October 17, 2022. Available online: https://trufflegrowers.com/event/having-the-right-tools-is-half-the-battle-trapi/
Hidden treasures: An updated taxonomic and ecological review of Morchellaceae truffles. Invited symposium talk. Symposium title: “Living in the dark with microbes and beasts: unearthing the ecology and evolution of truffles”. Mycological Society of America (MSA) annual meeting. Gainesville, FL. July 11, 2022.
Gourmet truffles in pecan orchards. Research talk. Southeastern Pecan Growers Association (SEPGA) annual conference. Miramar Beach, FL. February 26, 2022.
Hall, K., Lemmond, B., Smith, M. Investigating the Diversity and Distribution of Chanterelles (Cantharellaceae) in Florida. Poster presentation, Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Florida, November 2021.
Lemmond, B., Rollins, J., Bonito, G., Smith, M. Characterizing the mating type loci of the ‘Pecan Truffle’ (Tuber lyonii) species complex. Poster presentation, Mycological Society of America (MSA) annual meeting, July 2021.