Entomology and Plant Pathology

A honey bee on the MBP apiary sign

Successful 2021 Tennessee Master Beekeeping Students Receive Apiary Sign

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    After several delays and supply issues (thank you for your patience!), the Master Beekeeping Program has sent out the first-ever MBP apiary signs to participants who successfully completed the 2021 class. If you earned your certificate, keep your eyes peeled. Those who did not earn a certificate were sent a copy of Beekeeping in TN and should keep their eyes peeled, too! Please note we are planning in-person classes for 2022 and are working with county Extension personnel to coordinate dates and locations. Until then, please hang tight and fill out the Interest Form on our website (tiny.utk.edu/apiculture) so we will know where there is interest and who to contact once the schedule is finalized. Do not be

Portrait of Rufus Akinrinlola

Rufus Akinrinlola Shares Hemp Research with the Cannabis Cultivation & Science Podcast

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  Ph.D. Candidate Rufus Akinrinlola, whose concentration is in Sustainable Diseases and Integrated Pest Management, was a recent guest on “Cannabis Cultivation & Science”, a KIS Organics’ podcast. This podcast is hosted by Tad Hussey, owner of KIS Organics – a business organization that offers organic farming supplies, natural pesticides, and more. During the podcast, Rufus discussed his research on hemp and recent publication with his mentor, Assistance Professor and Extension Specialist Dr. Zach Hansen, titled “Hemp Fungicide Efficacy Field Trial for Leaf Spot and Powdery Mild”. In recent years, the production of hemp has increased in Tennessee. Rufus stated this increase, as well as his interest in researching biological and organic pesticides, were the primary reasons for conducting a

Portrait of Katy Smith

Recent Article: Costs of Horn Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Control for Cow-calf Producers in Tennessee and Texas, 2016

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  Ph.D. student Katy Smith and Associate Professor Dr. Trout Fryxell collaborated with the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics and recently published an article titled “Costs of Horn Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Control for Cow-calf Producers in Tennessee and Texas, 2016” in the Journal of Economic Entomology. Horn flies (Haematobia irritans (L.)) are a common pests of livestock as they feed on the blood of their host 20 to 40 times per day. This article details the economic impact of managing this pest in both Southern states. To read the full article and find out more please visit here.      

Portrait Dr. Pat Parkman

Dr. Pat Parkman Announces Plans for Retirement

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  Entomology and Plant Pathology Research Assistant Professor Pat Parkman announced that he plans to retire effective December 31, 2021. Dr. Parkman joined the department in November 1996. Since joining EPP, Parkman conducted research on honey bee pests and developed extension materials for beekeepers; wrote several training manuals for the department’s Pesticide Safety Education Program; and served as UTIA’s IPM Coordinator, representing Tennessee in the USDA Southern Region. Parkman stated that one of his greatest achievements was serving as Director of Lindsay Young’s Beneficial Insects Laboratory. Dr. Parkman has served as Director for the last fifteen years. The focus of LYBIL is to mass rear predators of the hemlock wooly adelgid, an invasive and deadly pest of hemlock trees, which

Dr. Frank Hale and his wife posing for a photo at the 2021 Winter Banquet

Dr. Frank Hale Announces Plans for Retirement

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    Dr. Frank Hale grew up in Wilmington, Ohio. As the son of a general surgeon and naturalist, it was only “natural” for Frank to pursue science. He began on his entomology journey in the 1970s at the University of Cincinnati after meeting Dr. Tom Wood, an expert in Membracidae (treehoppers). He eventually accompanied Dr. Wood and his former classmate, Dr. Glenn Morris, who studied Tettigoniidae (katydids), to Costa Rica in 1976. During the day, he was learning treehoppers with Dr. Wood while at night, he was learning katydids with Dr. Morris. This is when Dr. Hale recalls he officially caught the “bug” of entomology. Dr. Frank Hale finds Extension entomology to be very gratifying. His co-workers and colleagues

Portrait of Dr. Sebe Brown

EPP Welcomes New Assistant Professor at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center

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    Please help welcome Dr. Sebe Brown to EPP. Dr. Brown joined the team this past Monday, December 13, 2021, as an Assistant Professor in Fields Crops Entomology at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee. In this role, Brown will deliver a comprehensive and dynamic extension program in IPM related to common field crops grown in Tennessee (cotton, soybean, corn, and wheat). This involves supporting county agents, crops consultants, and other stakeholder groups. Dr. Brown will also play a key role in the academic life of EPP graduate students by serving as a major advisor. Brown says “a complete extension program relies on three key components to be effective: research, teaching, and outreach. These three

Dr. Hadziabdic Guerry and Dr. Trigiano Lab Published in The American Phytopathological Society

Hadziabdic News, Publication, Trigiano NewsLeave a comment

  Sarah Boggess, Dr. Denita Hadziabdic, Dr. Robert Trigiano, and colleagues published an article this past November in The American Phytopathological Society (APS) journal. The article titled “Conventional Gel Electrophoresis and TaqMan Probes Enable Rapid Confirmation of Thousand Cankers Disease From Diagnostic Samples“, discusses thousand cankers disease (TCD) and improved and rapid detection protocols.  For the full article, click here.

a group of people in a conference room socializing

Social Committee Hosts the 2021 Winter Banquet

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                                    On Friday, December 10, 2021, the EPP Annual Winter Banquet was held. During this event, many students, staff, faculty, and their families celebrated the end of the year. During the banquet, a game of trivia began that featured questions on the subject of entomology, plant pathology, pop culture, and geography. However, in the end, the table featuring Dean Xin, Dr. Bonnie Ownley, Dr. Ernest Bernard, Dr. Windham, Sarah Collins, and their families won first place. Students Amira Cornish, Julian Cosner, Gary Edwards, Trinity Hamm, Kassie Hollabaugh, and Elias Zuchelli were acknowledged. These six students have graduated during the 2021 year and have achieved