Faculty and graduate students in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences illustrated how their research touches every corner of the world during the inaugural Global Gallery, a symposium hosted by the International Agriculture and Development dual-title graduate program and its student association.
Seogchan Kang, professor of plant pathology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society, an honor given to members in recognition of distinguished contributions to the discipline of plant pathology.
Sara Getson came to Penn State and developed an unexpected academic passion — fungi.
Years ago, young Sara Getson ventured into the woods with her father, hunting for the stout, honey-colored mushroom that is her family's favorite. They searched for the aptly named honey mushroom (Armillaria mellea) not just for fun, but to pick, can and sauté them with butter and onions for dinner. Now, that tradition has spawned her studies and career ambitions at Penn State.
Beetles with unusual "green thumbs" for growing fungi are threatening avocado crops and could transform into a more destructive pest, according to an international team of researchers.
"Healthy Plants for a Healthy World: 50 Years of Plant Pathology at Penn State,” an exhibit, will be on display June 5 to Sept. 17, in The Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library, Penn State University Park. General exhibit hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. The exhibit also will be open during the special events times. Call 814-865-1793 to confirm times.
Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has honored six of its graduates with 2012 Outstanding Alumni Awards. The awards recognize alumni for their achievements and provide opportunities for recipients to interact with the college's faculty, students and other alumni.
Late blight, the same disease that caused Ireland's potato famine in the 19th century, was confirmed in three Pennsylvania counties last week. Potatoes and tomatoes in commercial production fields in Blair, Franklin and Mifflin counties have been hit, according to Beth Gugino, assistant professor of plant pathology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. She added that while late blight has been found only in commercial fields so far, home gardeners should be vigilant for symptoms in their plants as well.
The disease known as Elm yellows threatens the health of over 200 majestic American elms on the Penn State campus. Elm yellows is just one of many tree diseases that contribute to the decline and death of trees in the United States. What are the main causes of American tree diseases and have we made progress in preventing and treating them?
A study examining the prevalence of the fungus Fusarium in bathroom sink drains suggests that plumbing systems may be a common source of human infections. In the first extensive survey of its kind, researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences sampled nearly 500 sink drains from 131 buildings -- businesses, homes, university dormitories and public facilities -- in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and California. They analyzed fungal DNA to compare the spectrum of Fusarium species and sequence types found in drains with those recovered from human infections.
Determining how to save Penn State's elm trees is an ongoing collaboration between University researchers and groundskeepers. Capturing disease-carrying insects to study them has been an elusive task, but researchers believe existing efforts to prevent Dutch elm disease may be a clue to keeping the landmark trees safe from elm yellows.
A Web-based resource developed by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is helping crop producers manage insects, diseases and weeds, often while reducing the need for pesticides.
Last year an epidemic of late blight disease on tomatoes not only forced many home gardeners to throw out their plants but also threatened the crops of thousands of growers throughout the state. Along with cool, wet weather, the distribution of infected plants through big-box stores spurred along the widespread outbreak. With springtime approaching, Beth Gugino, assistant professor of plant pathology, offers some tips that home gardeners can start thinking about now.
Across the northeast, home gardeners expecting the usual bumper crop of tomatoes this season were dismayed to find their plants affected by late blight, the same fungus that caused Ireland's potato famine in the 19th century. According to Beth Gugino, assistant professor of plant pathology at Penn State, late blight is a fungus that primarily affects tomatoes, potatoes and certain solanaceous weeds such as bittersweet nightshade.
Members of Penn State's Plant Pathology Department recently presented a copy of the "History of the Department of Plant Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 1956 to 1976" to the Penn State University Archives in the University Libraries.
