Check out the recent article about Dr. Jurat-Fuentes at: https://news.utk.edu/2019/04/05/jurat-fuentes-destroying-insects-from-the-inside-out/ Also, see a related video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glbbYa7MB-8
This exhibit showcases the variety of insects that damage ornamental plants in landscape and nursery settings in Tennessee. If you want to know what that “bug” on your azaleas is or what borer is killing your dogwoods, Frank will show you what it looks like, as well as offer advice on how to control it. Please drop by to look at his specimens or to ask him specific control questions!! Whatever the reason, drop by on Friday and say “hi”! Presented by: Dr. Frank Hale, Professor, Extension Entomology Specialist (Soil, Plant and Pest Center, Nashville) Location: Hollingsworth Auditorium, Ellington Plant Sciences Building Date & Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Friday, April 12, 2019 Sponsored by: EPP 410 [Diseases and
Since 2011, Biltmore Estate has run international rose trials where rose breeders and growers submit new roses for a two-year trial. Winning roses from the trials are considered to be some of the best roses in the world. Dr. Mark Windham has been invited to become a permanent judge for the International Jury for the Biltmore International Rose Trials competition. Additionally, he has been selected to participate in the annual formal international judging, which is attended by rose enthusiasts from across the globe. These invitations are a very big honor in the “rose world.” Dr. Windham was not chosen for his ability to grow roses (very modest skills at best), but for his ongoing research on rose diseases and for
The Entomology and Plant Pathology Department was saddened by the news of the passing of Dr. Carroll J. Southards on January 2, 2019. Dr. Southards joined the department (previously called Ag Biology) in 1965 as an assistant professor in Nematology. In 1974, Dr. Southards became head of the department of Ag Biology and under his leadership, the departmental name was changed to the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. During Dr. Southards 20+ year tenure as department head, the department grew and flourished. Among his achievements were increasing diversity within the department and the development of departmental programs that assisted the citizenry of Tennessee. He also served as counselor to the President of the UT System from 1979-1981. Faculty, staff
Ratnasri Mallipeddi took first place in the student competition for President’s Prize for her presentation in the Physiology Biochemistry and Toxicology section 2 at the 2018 ESA, ESC, and ESBC Joint Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada. The title of her talk was “Biochemical and transcriptome characterization of the cellulolytic system in Thermobia domestica for identification of novel enzymes with industrial applications.” The presentation was co-authored by Brian Johnson, William Klingeman, Margaret Staton, and Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes. According to Dr. Jurat-Fuentes, “Ratnasri’s research has not only resulted in the discovery of a wide array of new plant cell wall degrading enzyme (PCWDE) genes from very primitive insects that may have applications to increase efficacy of ethanol biofuel production, but more importantly
Dr. Sean Ryan, a postdoctoral researcher in the EPP Department, Dr. DeWayne Shoemaker, and an international team of more than three dozen researchers published a paper highlighting the potential of citizen science to address pressing research challenges in agriculture and food systems. One key to capitalizing on such efforts, the researchers find, may be to build stronger ties between citizen science and agricultural extension efforts. A press article summarizing the article is here and a free copy (open access) of the original paper can be downloaded from the journal web site.
Dr. Zach Hansen published an article in the November 2018 National Plant Diagnostic Network newsletter. Grapevine leaf rust was observed for the first time in Tennessee in September 2018. The disease was found on grape seedlings at large box stores in several counties in middle and east Tennessee. Dr. Hansen suggests that growers, industry professionals, diagnosticians and extension personnel should be aware of the disease and should be on the lookout for it. For the full article, click here.
Emily Camfield is an undergraduate in Herbert College and works on a research project with Dr. Kimberly Gwinn. Emily started in the Gwinn lab as a high school junior. Congratulations, Emily!
Dr. Frank Hale, Alan Windham, and Mark Windham recently weighed in on the devastating effects of rose rosette disease in Knock Out roses in a recent article published in the Washington Post. See the full article here.
The Cookeville Rose Society and Cumberland County Master Gardeners took a twilight tour with Drs. Alan and Mark Windham through the rose rosette resistant trials at the Plateau Research and Education Center near Crossville, TN. While in the plots, they learned about how to recognize rose rosette, rose rosette management strategies, and research results concerning disease resistance. After the tour, everyone ate homemade ice cream while learning more about growing roses and how to control rose diseases and insect pests.