[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_font=”||||||||” header_font_size=”36px” header_2_font=”Arial|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_font_size_tablet=”20px” header_2_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Plant Pathology<\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
Contact<\/h2>\nJane Stewart<\/h3>\n
Associate Professor – Plant Pathology<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#1E4D2B” open_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_text_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_background_color=”#1E4D2B” icon_color=”#F15625″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” toggle_text_color=”#1E4D2B” body_text_color=”#414141″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Are canopy sprays an effective management tool for Cytospora canker? ” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Canopy sprays are typically used in Colorado to limit foliar and fruit pathogens, like <\/span>Coryneum<\/span> blight and powdery mildew, however, their efficacy in canker pathogens has not been well explored in fruit crops. <\/span>Cytospora<\/span> canker, caused by the fungal pathogen <\/span><\/span>Cytospora<\/span> plurivora<\/span><\/span>, is the most damaging disease to peaches in Colorado. We have also detected <\/span>Cytospora<\/span> canker in cherry and apple, although the impact is typically less severe. We build on <\/span>previous<\/span> research that examined targeted sprays of pruning wounds to reduce <\/span>Cytospora<\/span> canker incidence. <\/span>Canopy sprays, rather than targeted sprays, are more cost and time effective, which is vitally important to growers especially as the cost of labor has increased.<\/span> The aim of this work is to <\/span>determine<\/span> if canopy sprays are effective against <\/span>Cytospora<\/span> canker and other fungal diseases in <\/span>peach<\/span>, cherry, and <\/span>apple<\/span>. <\/span>This work is funded by the NIFA Specialty Block Crop Grant Program.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Are other fruit crops a green bridge for harboring Cytospora peach pathogens, and what is the species variety of Cytospora within Colorado fruit orchards? ” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Several <\/span>Cytospora<\/span><\/i> spp. are documented to cause disease on peach, apple and cherry, yet management for Cytospora canker occurs mainly in peach. The importance of host specificity and the role apple and cherry orchards play in the epidemiological cycle has not been demonstrated. The goals of this research are to: 1. Survey peach, cherry, and apple orchards in Colorado to estimate <\/span>Cytospora<\/span><\/i> spp. incidence and severity, 2. Delineate <\/span>Cytospora<\/span><\/i> species distribution in fruit orchards with molecular and morphological techniques and elucidate movement within and among fruit orchards, 3. Perform pathogenicity assays to determine fruit crop host range of each <\/span>Cytospora<\/span><\/i> species. This work is funded by the NIFA CARE program.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”What are the methods of dissemination of Cytospora spores? ” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n We are investigating how <\/span><\/span>Cytospora<\/span><\/span> spores move or <\/span>disseminate<\/span> through the orchard using several different trapping techniques and molecular detection approaches. We are also investing<\/span> sporulation rates throughout the year and pathogen virulence over a 12-month period<\/span> and how this is tied to environmental conditions<\/span>. Water dissemination, through irrigation systems, has been documented as the primary dispersal mechanism of<\/span><\/span> Cyotspora<\/span><\/span> species; <\/span>few studies have reported evidence<\/span> of non-water borne release of conidia spores. <\/span>We are testing whether spores move through irrigation (<\/span>microsprinker<\/span> vs. drip), insects, and through air <\/span>and testing nursery stock <\/span>using a newly developed digital droplet PCR tool for <\/span><\/span>Cytospora<\/span> plurivora<\/span><\/span>, the main peach pathogen in Colorado. <\/span>The study will <\/span>improve integrated pest management programs for stone-fruit growers by providing epidemiological data for targeted management practices.<\/span> The work is funded by <\/span>the NIFA<\/span> Specialty Block Crop Grant Program<\/span>, the Farm Bill, and<\/span> Mesa County Pest District.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/aes.colostate.edu\/wcrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/147\/2024\/03\/plant-pathology-researcher-1080×700-1.jpg” custom_padding=”7%|6%|7%|6%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/aes.colostate.edu\/wcrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/147\/2024\/03\/branch-sample-1080×700-1.jpg” custom_padding=”7%|6%|7%|6%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/aes.colostate.edu\/wcrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/147\/2024\/03\/plant-pathology-tree-2-1080×700-1.jpg” custom_padding=”7%|6%|7%|6%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \t\t
\nDepartment of Agricultural Biology<\/a>
\nCollege of Agricultural Sciences<\/a>
\njane.stewart@colostate.edu<\/a>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Visit the Stewart Lab \u2013 Plant Pathology Website” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#1E4D2B” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”squiggle” _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_module=”23370″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\t\tPlant Pathology Research Questions and Answers<\/h2>\n