Plant Pathology

James Strandberg, Ph.D.
Professor of Plant Pathology

This program emphasizes plant improvement and plant protection to solve plant disease problems related to vegetable crops, landscape ornamentals, and cut green foliage plants.

Goals are to develop new approaches to disease management and the implementation and integration of new technology to improve plant performance and minimize the impacts of plant disease on plants and plant production systems.

Both basic and applied research are employed. Applied research involves practical approaches to disease management such as pathogen detection, investigating fungicide efficacy, and developing better application methods, cultural controls, and other strategies for managing diseases.

When appropriate, more basic studies into biological processes and life systems of organisms may be carried out including elucidating ecological factors which can be used to better manage diseases. This involves investigating the nature and application of disease resistance and genetics of both pathogens and host species. Biotechnology is frequently employed to develop better research methods to accomplish these goals.