About

Adrienne Gorny is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Plant Nematology at North Carolina State University within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her research focuses on the biology and epidemiology of plant-parasitic nematodes, particularly root-knot nematodes such as Meloidogyne spp., including M. enterolobii. Her work encompasses developing integrated management tactics, improving nematode diagnostics, analyzing crop loss, and conducting spatiotemporal analysis to support sustainable nematode management in North Carolina and the southeastern United States. Gorny’s research primarily addresses the impact of nematodes on crops like sweetpotato, soybean, cotton, and tobacco, aiming to inform monitoring programs and management decisions that are both economically and environmentally sustainable.

Research topics

• Ecology
• Biology
• Agronomy
• Biotechnology
• Engineering
• Statistics
• Horticulture
• Mathematics
• Botany

Selected publications

• Evaluating Management Programs Utilizing Fumigation and Genetic Resistance for Control of Southern Root-Knot Nematode in a Pepper–Cucumber Rotation

  Plant Health Progress · 2026-01-01

  article

  Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.) are the most prevalent and damaging nematode taxa on solanaceous and cucurbit vegetable crops in the southeastern United States. An RKN-resistant pepper hybrid was evaluated for its effects on root galling, RKN population density, and yield in a pepper–cucumber double crop system, relative to a susceptible hybrid and compared with factorial treatments of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) fumigation in Kinston, NC. The effects of these treatments were also evaluated on the subsequently planted cucumber. These results guided the selection of seven different nematicide and pepper hybrid combinations, as management programs, for a 3-year study in Elm City, NC. Treatment effects on yield, root damage, and population densities of free-living and plant-parasitic nematode species were examined. In Kinston, both 1,3-D fumigation and the RKN-resistant hybrid significantly reduced root galling and RKN densities. Use of the RKN-resistant pepper hybrid was the only factor to significantly improve pepper and second crop cucumber yields ( P < 0.05). In Elm City, higher pepper and cucumber yields were observed in RKN management programs that included the RKN-resistant pepper hybrid combined with fluopyram application, regardless of fumigation application. No significant differences in the densities of free-living or plant-parasitic nematode species were observed across management programs, though RKN densities trended lower when using an RKN-resistant hybrid. These results highlight the potential for increasing yields and improving RKN management in pepper–cucumber rotations by using RKN-resistant pepper hybrids, combined with fluopyram application. Reducing dependence on 1,3-D fumigation improves both the economic and environmental sustainability of vegetable production.

  PublisherDOI

• Nematicide Efficacy for Control of Cotton Nematodes

  2026-04-03

  report
  PublisherDOI

• Relative Susceptibility of Common Cotton Cultivars to <i>Meloidogyne enterolobii</i> , <i>M. floridensis</i> , and <i>M. incognita</i> Isolates from Georgia, U.S.A.

  Phytopathology · 2026-02-23

  article

  Cotton is a major crop in the southern United States, where Meloidogyne incognita is the most damaging nematode pathogen. Recently, two emerging root-knot nematode species, M. floridensis and M. enterolobii, have been detected in Georgia, raising concerns about their impact on current cotton cultivars. To address this, we evaluated the susceptibility of 12 commercial cotton cultivars to M. enterolobii, M. floridensis, and M. incognita under greenhouse conditions. The susceptible tomato cultivar ‘Rutgers’ was included as a positive control. Three-week-old cotton plants were individually inoculated with 5,000 eggs of a single nematode species and arranged in a randomized complete block design with six replications. Shoot and root biomass, gall severity, total egg count, and reproduction factor (RF) were assessed. Seven cultivars were resistant (RF &lt; 1) to M. floridensis, and six were confirmed to be resistant to M. incognita. However, none was resistant to M. enterolobii. Among the three species, M. enterolobii caused the most severe galling and highest nematode reproduction, underscoring its aggressive nature and ability to overcome resistance mechanisms effective against other species. This is the first report to systematically compare and assess cotton cultivar responses to M. floridensis and M. enterolobii, providing critical insight into the species-specific susceptibility of these popular modern cultivars. These findings reveal a major vulnerability in current commercial cultivars and emphasize the urgent need to screen diverse genetic material for novel resistance to M. enterolobii, a rapidly emerging threat to cotton production in the southeastern United States.

  PublisherDOI

• Cotton Disease Loss Estimates from the United States — 2025

  2026-03-04

  report
  PublisherDOI

• Peanut response following soybean grown full‐season or double‐cropped after wheat in North Carolina

  Crop Forage & Turfgrass Management · 2026-01-30

  article

  Abstract Including soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in the previous cropping cycle can adversely affect peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) yield by increasing disease incidence and populations of plant‐parasitic nematodes in the soil. The impact of double‐cropping wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean versus full‐season soybean (referred to as the soybean planting system) has not been determined for peanut. Soybean and wheat yields were not affected by diverse crop sequences that included corn, cotton, peanut, and soybean under conventional tillage. Peanut, soybean, and wheat yields were greater at one of two locations when peanut followed a crop sequence that included tall fescue in previous years compared with a crop sequence without tall fescue. Peanut yield was greater at one of two locations when grown the year after double‐cropped wheat and soybean compared with full‐season soybean. Root galling of peanut caused by root‐knot nematode ( Meloidogyne spp.) was lower at one of two locations when tall fescue was included in the previous crop sequence. Results from these experiments indicate there is less risk for lower peanut yield when wheat and soybean are double‐cropped than when full‐season soybean is established the year prior to peanut.

  PublisherDOI

• Reflectance and interactance spectroscopy for detecting root knot nematode galls in harvested sweetpotatoes

  Postharvest Biology and Technology · 2026-05-09

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Recombinase polymerase amplification combined with FTA cards for detection of Meloidogyne enterolobii on sweet potato

  Nematology · 2025-07-18 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  Summary The Guava root-knot nematode (GRKN; Meloidogyne enterolobii ), first detected in North Carolina, USA, in 2011, poses a serious threat to sweet potato production by overcoming host resistance in cultivars like’Covington’ and raising regulatory concerns in European markets. Developing a field-deployable, species-specific test for GRKN would significantly improve detection, quarantine measures, and the quality of sweet potatoes for domestic and international markets. This study evaluated the effectiveness of detecting GRKN using Whatman FTA cards for DNA isolation followed by recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), and visualisation of amplification products using lateral flow assay (LFA) devices. The LFA devices demonstrated high accuracy and sensitivity compared to traditional agarose gel electrophoresis. The protocol effectively detected M. enterolobii DNA, with RPA showing slightly higher sensitivity than standard PCR when using longer incubation times, making it a promising tool for early pest management. Combining the protocol with FTA cards for in situ DNA extraction further increases its utility for M. enterolobii diagnostics in the field, packing house, or import inspection facility.

  PublisherDOI

• Recovery Plan for the Guava Root-Knot Nematode, <i>Meloidogyne enterolobii</i>

  Plant Health Progress · 2025-08-27

  articleOpen access

  Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) in the genus Meloidogyne have long been considered one of the most destructive plant pathogens on earth. Meloidogyne enterolobii is an emergent species that is highly virulent and has arisen as a serious agricultural threat that has spread across tropical and subtropical growing regions around the world. As of 2024, M. enterolobii has been reported in 28 countries on 5 continents, and its distribution now includes 4 states in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. Due to the cryptic nature of this species, it is likely to be even more widespread than is currently known. M. enterolobii has raised concerns among growers and regulatory agencies in recent years due to its high rate of reproduction and its ability to infect many RKN-resistant crop varieties and hybrids. With a broad host range that rivals the most damaging RKN species, M. enterolobii is likely to continue to spread and cause significant damage on an extensive list of horticultural and agricultural crops. Indeed, M. enterolobii has already become one of the most prevalent RKN species in some crop growing regions. There is a great need for additional research and management research to help growers manage this nematode. This National Plant Disease Recovery Plan is meant to provide a detailed overview of what is currently known about the biology, distribution, and management of M. enterolobii and provide a reference for those seeking more information or resources regarding this nematode species.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Influence of crop sequence, cultivar, and metam sodium on plant‐parasitic nematode population and peanut

  Crop Forage & Turfgrass Management · 2025-07-09

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Prior cropping sequence can have a major effect on populations of plant parasitic nematodes (PPN), peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) yield, and financial return at the farm level. Effective crop rotation sequences can reduce PPN populations and reduce grower reliance on nematicides or fumigant. Recently, the root‐knot nematode‐resistant cultivar TifNV‐High O/L was released. To determine the performance of this cultivar to PPNs in North Carolina, a cropping system trial that included 10 diverse rotation sequences from 2013–2020 was used that included rotation sequences that were favorable or unfavorable for maximum peanut yield. Peanut was planted in 2021 to determine the residual effects of the previous cropping sequence. Cropping sequence, cultivar, and metam sodium impacted peanut yield and population of PPN in soil. Fewer root‐knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) and less root injury from nematode feeding were observed for the cultivar TifNV‐High O/L than Bailey II. Metam sodium decreased populations of lesion ( Pratylenchus brachyurus Filipjev &amp; Schuurmans‐Stekhoven), ring ( Mesocriconema ornatum Raski), root‐knot, and soybean cyst ( Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) nematodes in soil. With the exception of lesion nematode, response of nematodes and peanut to crop sequence, cultivar, and metam sodium was independent.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Knowledge and Opportunities for Managing Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Using Decision Intelligence

  PhytoFrontiers™ · 2025-04-09 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Plant-parasitic nematodes cause significant yield losses and economic damage to crops worldwide. Traditional management strategies are costly and environmentally unsustainable. This study introduces decision intelligence (DI) to enhance nematode management in sweetpotato cultivation. DI integrates decision analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to support decision-making in complex environments. Through expert elicitations with researchers and extension agents, causal decision diagrams and causal decision models were developed for nematode management. These models were refined and tested at a field day event, revealing critical actions, intermediates, and external factors that influence outcomes, with profitability identified as the key outcome. Key intermediates included nematode soil populations in subsequent years, influenced by actions such as fumigation, planting a susceptible target crop (sweetpotatoes), or planting a non-susceptible rotational crop. External factors included soil temperature, moisture, and the costs associated with different management choices. Development of the causal decision model highlighted gaps in existing studies, particularly the need for data linking pesticide soil concentrations to nematode reduction under varying soil conditions. This research demonstrates the potential benefits of DI in plant pathology, including the ability to (i) engage stakeholders early in the modeling process, (ii) visualize complex domain-specific problems for interdisciplinary teams, and (iii) provide immediate value in understanding decision-making processes to both stakeholders and researchers. Overall, DI offers a promising approach to enhancing agricultural decision-making and has potential applications in plant pathology. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Sarah J. Pethybridge

  Cornell University

  26 shared

• Frank S. Hay

  Cornell University

  14 shared

• Xiaohong Wang

  Huazhong Agricultural University

  12 shared

• Tanner Schwarz

  North Carolina State University

  8 shared

• G. Craig Yencho

  North Carolina State University

  7 shared

• Simon Fraher

  North Carolina State University

  6 shared

• Julie R. Kikkert

  Cornell University

  5 shared

• Weimin Ye

  North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

  5 shared

Labs

• Structural Pest Management Training & Research FacilityPI

Education

• Ph.D., Entomology

  University of California, Berkeley

  2005

• M.S., Entomology

  University of California, Berkeley

  2001

• B.S., Entomology

  University of California, Davis

  1999