Oral History Interview: Christian Upper (1512)

Abstract

This interview summarizes the early and professional life of Emeritus Professor Christian Upper. Chris reviews his education and the influence of his family life on his interest in plants and their biochemistry which lead up to his appointment as an Assistant Professor at UW-Madison Department of Plant Pathology and USDA, ARS Plant Disease Resistance Research Unit. There he studied biochemical aspects of plant tissue culture growth and later a frost damage phenomenon in plants that was thought to be caused by a fungal blight pathogen. However, detailed studies by his student Steven Lindow revealed that bacteria caused this frost damage and that a single gene was causal. WARF patented some of the findings. These bacteria are used to make artificial snow. A significant part of the last phase of Chris' research was to take the laboratory observations to the field to study them in a real life context. He notes the importance of the Arlington Experiment Station in his research. Some discussion of the history of the department was made and its premier stature in the world. Chris's contributions to developing and teaching a rigorous seminar course were outlined.