Topics - Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University

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BOTANY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY

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Purdue Agriculture > Botany and Plant Pathology > Extension > Topics

Select a topic from the list for more information:

Asian Soybean Rust
Diagnosis and Management of Fruit Diseases
Diagnosis and Management of Ornamental Diseases
Diagnosis and Management of Vegetable Diseases
Disease Management for Agronomic Crops
Disease Resistance for Agronomic Crops
Enhancing Surveillance Capabilities through the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) Training Program for First Detectors
Invasive Plants, Introduction, Establishment and Control
Managing Vegetable Diseases in the Greenhouse
Mycotoxins
Phytophthora ramorum Educate to Detect (PRED) Program
Toxic Plants to Watch Out for in Pastures
Turfgrass Disease Management
Using Foliar Fungicides on Agronomic Crops
Weed Management for Agronomic Crops

TOPIC:	Asian Soybean Rust
AUDIENCE:	Agricultural Industry Reps, County Educators, Commercial Farmers
TIME:	1 to 2 hours (flexible)
DESCRIPTION:	Asian soybean rust reached the U.S. in November of 2004. It has not yet caused major damage to soybean anywhere in the country, but this may be mainly because dry summers in southern states during the past two growing seasons inhibited its spread. Rust did reach Indiana in October of 2006. Although this was much too late to do any damage to the state’s soybean crop, this event shows that viable spores of the rust fungus can be carried more than 500 miles by wind over 2 or 3 days. If rust moves into the Mississippi Delta region during July or August, Indiana's soybean crop could be at risk. This presentation will discuss epidemiology and management of soybean rust, and show people how they can keep abreast of current developments.
CONTACT:	Kiersten Wise

TOPIC:	Diagnosis and Management of Fruit Diseases
AUDIENCE:	Commercial Growers and/or Homeowners
TIME:	1 hour (flexible)
DESCRIPTION:	This subject should be scheduled in conjunction with Horticulture and/or Entomology specialists. Emphasis will be on symptom recognition, biology and management of major fruit diseases. Such meetings are frequently held in conjunction with an orchard field tour during the late spring or early summer months
CONTACT:	Janna Beckerman

TOPIC:	Diagnosis and Management of Ornamental Diseases
AUDIENCE:	Commercial Growers and/or Homeowners
TIME:	1 hour (flexible)
DESCRIPTION:	Emphasis will be on symptom recognition, biology and management of shade and ornamental tree and shrub diseases. Topics can be structured according to audience preferences (Diagnosing Plant Health Problems; Managing Plant Health Problems, People Pressure Diseases; Rose Diseases; Perennial Disappointments, Hosta diseases, etc). This subject can be scheduled in conjunction with Horticulture and/or Entomology specialists.
CONTACT:	Janna Beckerman

TOPIC:	Diagnosis and Management of Vegetable Diseases
AUDIENCE:	Commercial Growers and Ag-Industry Representatives
TIME:	30 minutes to 1 hour
DESCRIPTION:	Presentations address the disease management concerns of commercial vegetable growers with emphasis on major Indiana vegetable crops including melons, tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins. Extension educators are invited and encouraged to attend because contemporary topics in vegetable disease control in the Midwest will be discussed. The program can be conducted alone or as part of a comprehensive vegetable production and management program with counterparts in entomology and horticulture. Disease symptoms, disease cycles, and specific control options such as resistant varieties, cultural control methods and fungicides are part of each discussion. Presentations can be tailored to fit the needs of specific clientele groups (e.g. melon growers, pepper growers, tomato growers, etc.).
CONTACT:	Dan Egel Kiersten Wise

TOPIC:	Disease Resistance for Agronomic Crops
AUDIENCE:	Agricultural Industry Representatives, County Educators, Commercial Farmers
TIME:	1 to 2 hours
DESCRIPTION:	Genetic resistance is a mainstay for managing diseases in corn, soybeans, and small grains. Presentations consider the various types of resistance, how resistance interferes with disease development, how resistance may interact with other disease management practices, and how pathogen variability impacts the use of resistance.
CONTACT:	Kiersten Wise

TOPIC:	Enhancing Surveillance Capabilities through the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) Training Program for First Detectors
AUDIENCE:	Educators, Commercial growers, Agribusiness, Consultants, Industry reps, Homeowners, etc.
TIME:	Minimum of 2 hours (IP Video scheduling required)
DESCRIPTION:	This IP Video presentation covers the following topics: 1) The mission and objectives of the National Plant Diagnostic Network National and plant bio-security issues 2) Monitoring for High Risk Pests 3) Proper sampling and response protocols for suspect high risk pests or pathogens Optional topics offered include: 1) The art and science of diagnosis and 2) Epidemiology and diagnosis of specific plant diseases such as Soybean rust, Ramorum blight, Ralstonia solanacearum Completion of a pre-test and post test (First Detector Core tests) and completion of a registration form are required.
CONTACT:	Gail Ruhl Tom Creswell

TOPIC:	Invasive Plants, Introduction, Establishment and Control
AUDIENCE:	Educators, Homeowners, Master Gardeners, Schools
TIME:	1 to 1.5 hours
DESCRIPTION:	Invasive species have been estimated to cost land owners and managers over a billion dollars a year. This presentation focuses on Invasive Plants. It delivers information of theories as to why some plants become invasive and others do not and why there is often a lag phase from introduction to invasion. It then covers several of the invasive plant in Indiana such as kudzu, garlic mustard, and purple loosestrife and their control measures.
CONTACT:	Glenn Nice

TOPIC:	Managing Vegetable Diseases in the Greenhouse
AUDIENCE:	Commercial Vegetable Growers and Transplant Producers
TIME:	30 minutes to 1 hour
DESCRIPTION:	This presentation will discuss vegetable diseases one might expect to find in a greenhouse situation. The discussion can focus on transplant growers or greenhouse production of vegetables. Time will be spent on how to recognize plant diseases and differentiate diseases from environmental problems. Since many common fungicides are not labeled for greenhouse use, this presentation will emphasize prevention. Greenhouse sanitation and resistant varieties will also be discussed.
CONTACT:	Dan Egel

TOPIC:	Mycotoxins
AUDIENCE:	Farmers, Elevator Managers, Feed Mill Operators
TIME:	30 minutes to 1 hour. This is a good program as a joint presentation with other programs that cover management of stored grain.
DESCRIPTION:	The presentation covers the following topics: 1) what are mycotoxins and why are they important, 2) toxicity to animals and potential threat to human health, 3) government regulations and trade issues, 4) how mycotoxin get into grain (preharvest and post harvest), 5) management practices to prevent mycotoxin contamination, and 6) methods for detecting and measuring mycotoxins in grain. One additional goal of the presentation is to provide the rationale for drying grain for storage and to put this information into the context of controlling mold growth and mycotoxin production.
CONTACT:	Charles Woloshuk

TOPIC:	Phytophthora ramorum Educate to Detect (PRED) Program
AUDIENCE:	Nurserymen, arborists, landscape professionals, extension educators, master gardeners and other interested groups
TIME:	1.5 hours (90 minutes)
DESCRIPTION:	Several nurseries on the West Coast unknowingly shipped Phytophthora ramorum-infected plants across the country in 2004. This fungus-like pathogen causes a destructive disease known as Ramorum blight, previously referred to as "sudden oak death" (SOD). To date, state and national survey efforts have detected Ramorum blight in 22 states. Thus far, Ramorum blight has NOT been detected in Indiana nor in any bordering state. Additional information about Ramorum blight can be obtained at the APHIS website http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/pramorum/ This 90 minute IP video training session will be used to detail Phytophthora ramorum hosts, symptoms, and epidemiology, as well as the detection and response protocol for Indiana. Program dates must be scheduled through Gail or Tom, and will depend on the availability of Purdue IP video conferencing personnel. The 90 minute program may be offered simultaneously at multiple locations throughout Indiana.
CONTACT:	Gail Ruhl Tom Creswell

TOPIC:	Toxic Plants to Watch Out for in Pastures
AUDIENCE:	Forage producers and livestock owners
TIME:	1 hour to 1.5 hours
DESCRIPTION:	There are several plants that are toxic to our livestock and find their way into our pastures and ultimately into the hay produced. This presentation focuses on the identification of these plants that can be detrimental to the health of our livestock and their management. It is based on of the publication “Indiana Plants Poisonous to Livestock and Pets – John W. McCain, Rebecca J. Goetz, and Thomas N. Jordan.
CONTACT:	Glenn Nice

TOPIC:	Turfgrass Disease Management
AUDIENCE:	Golf Course Superintendents and Professional Turf Managers
TIME:	30 minutes to 1 hour
DESCRIPTION:	Presentations address the disease management concerns of the golf course and commercial turf grass industry. Disease symptoms, disease cycles, and specific control options (cultural, chemical and biological) are part of each discussion. The program can be conducted alone or as part of a comprehensive turf grass management program with counterparts in agronomy and entomology.
CONTACT:	Rick Latin

TOPIC:	Using Foliar Fungicides on Agronomic Crops
AUDIENCE:	Agricultural Industry Reps, County Educators, Commercial Farmers
TIME:	1 to 2 hours (flexible)
DESCRIPTION:	Foliar fungicides have not traditionally been used on corn and soybean, mainly for economic reasons. However, some recently registered products are being strongly promoted for use on these crops. Many growers of these crops have had little experience with fungicides. This presentation will include trial data from Purdue and elsewhere on performance of these products and discuss how weather, genetic resistance of a variety or hybrid, and crop cultural practices can influence the performance of and economic return from fungicide application. Direct and indirect benefits of disease control will be illustrated. The concept of disease thresholds and the importance of proper timing of applications will be discussed.
CONTACT:	Kiersten Wise

TOPIC:	Weed Management for Agronomic Crops - weed control in no-tillage systems; perennial weed control - identification and management of herbicide resistant weeds - new herbicide product update - management of weeds in corn and soybean - management of weeds in forage - management of weeds in pasture - new weeds to watch for in 2009 - weed identification hands -on workshop - how do herbicides work: soil-vs. post-applied herbicides, contact vs. systemic - diagnosing herbicide injury on corn and soybeans - electronic information on herbicides and weeds (Indiana Herbicide Selector, etc.) - general principles of weed science
AUDIENCE:	Educators, Producers, Agribusiness, Consultants, Industry Agronomists, Public, etc.
TIME:	1 to 4 hours. Variable depending on topics selected.
DESCRIPTION:	One or more of the above topics may be selected for an individual program, or combined with programs offered by other departments as part of an all day program. Specific topics may also be selected for the Interdepartmental Insect, Weed and Disease Management for Agronomic Crops program.
CONTACT:	Tom Bauman Glenn Nice Bill Johnson