Experts Head to Providence to Share Plant Disease Research Innovations

July 30, 2012

ST. PAUL (July 30, 2012)—Plant health scientists from around the globe will gather August 4–8 at the Annual Meeting of The American Phytopathological Society (APS) at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. The 2012 APS Annual Meeting with the theme of "Communicating Science" will provide the platform for plant pathologists, dedicated to the science of plant disease, to unveil new research and technologies for keeping plants healthy.

This event is expected to attract 1,500 of the world's top plant health scientists, representing a breadth of expertise. Arriving from more than 35 countries worldwide, attendees will come from academia, government, industry, and private practice and will have the opportunity to participate in scientific and technical sessions, present research results, attend special events, learn about new products and services, and connect with colleagues who share their interests. This yearly meeting is often the place where plant pathologists introduce their cutting-edge research for the very first time.

The 2012 APS President, Carol Ishimaru, Program Committee Chair Mike Boehm, and the Scientific Planning Board have put together an outstanding scientific program that includes 25 special sessions on today’s most relevant plant disease topics and critical issues. Pre-meeting activities provide a mix of broad and local focus including:

A workshop on fungicide resistance development and its impending implications on our world food.
Another scientific workshop will delve into a variety of innovative approaches for managing turfgrass diseases, vital to Providence area golf courses and athletic fields.
Field trips will focus on a variety of local plants, including one on local cranberry crops and the array of diseases that threaten this New England industry.

The scientific program includes 190 oral technical presentations and more than 700 posters presenting research on a variety of other plant pathology subjects.

Members of the media will receive complimentary registration to the Annual Meeting.

The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a non-profit, professional scientific organization. The research of the organization’s more than 5,000 worldwide members advances the understanding of the science of plant pathology and its application to plant health.