DETROIT, Mich. (WXYZ) — A University of Michigan researcher was back in federal court Thursday, days after being criminally charged over smuggling what the FBI says is “a potential agroterrorism weapon” that can be damaging to food crops.

Yungqing Jian, a researcher at U-M, is accused of helping to smuggle fusarium graminearum through Detroit Metro Airport last July with the help of her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu.

The pathogen can cause “head blight,” a disease that can be devastating to crops.

“It certainly is smuggling, it certainly is lying, it certainly is obstruction,” said Matthew Schneider, a former US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

“But whether or not it’s agroterrorism, that hasn’t been shown yet in court.”

Dr. Martin Chilvers is a field crops pathologist at Michi

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