A Focus on Sustainable Agriculture Day

Many of the symposia, papers, and posters dealing with topics of sustainable agriculture will culminate on Tuesday, August 3, with a day devoted to the discussion of new developments in sustainable agriculture. This one-day event will bring into sharp focus the role and accomplishments of APS members in sustainable agriculture. Topics for the one-day Focus on Sustainable Agriculture include:

Symposia

The Nature and Application of Biocontrol Microbes II: Trichoderma spp.
Sponsoring Committees: Biological Control, Soil Microbiology and Root Diseases
Organizer: Barry Jacobsen, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

While diverse microbes may contribute to the biological control of plant pathogens, most research and development efforts have focused on isolates of three genera, Bacillus, Trichoderma, and Pseudomonas. The 2003 symposium on the nature and application of biocontrol microbes covered the genus Bacillus. This symposium will cover the taxonomy, genomics, mechanisms of action, and practical use of Trichoderma spp. in biocontrol of plant disease, plant growth and yield enhancement and related topics. This symposium should advance our understanding of the nature of biological control by members of the genus Trichoderma and improve our ability to successfully integrate Trichoderma mediated biological control into agricultural management and similar systems. A third symposium covering the genus Pseudomonas is planned for 2005.

• Overview of new insights into mechanisms and uses of Trichoderma-based products. G. Harman, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Changes in taxonomy, occurrence of the sexual stage and ecology of Trichoderma spp. G. Samuels, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD
• Systemic resistance induced by Trichoderma hamatum 382: Interactions between the host, the biocontrol agent and soil organic matter quality. H. Hoitink, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH
• Understanding the mechanisms employed by Trichoderma virens to effect biological control. C. Howell, USDA-ARS, College Station, TX
• The molecular biology of the interaction between Trichoderma, phytopathogenic fungi, and plants. M. Lorito, University of Naples, Portici, Italy

Food Safety as Influenced by Phyllosphere Microflora
Sponsoring Committee: Phyllosphere Microbiology
Organizer: Walter Mahaffee, USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR

This symposium will focus on the role of preharvest microflora on the establishment of human pathogens and subsequent food safety risks. Individual speakers will address factors that influence establishment and persistence of human pathogens on fruit and edible foliage from preharest through processing and storage.

• Putting science to work: Separating the possible from the plausible. T. Suslow, University of California, Davis, CA
• Going from compost to compost tea: Weighing plant health benefits against human pathogen uncertainties. S. Scheuerell, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
• Use of non-composted bovine manure as fertilizer: An evaluation of vegetable contamination risk. S. Ingham, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
• Biofilms and other strategies exploited by Salmonella and friends on plants. J. Barak, USDA-ARS, Albany, CA
• Fitness of Salmonella enterica in the phyllosphere. M. Brandl, USDA-ARS, Albany, CA
• Influence of indigenous bacteria on survival of human pathogens on plants. C. Poza-Carrión, University of California, Davis, CA
• Infective dose of enteric pathogens: Influence of postharvest processing and storage practices. A. Bhagwat, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD

Organic Foods—From Production to Market
Sponsoring Committee: Scientific Program Board
Organizer: Monica Elliott, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Organic farming is one of the fastest-growing segments of U.S. agriculture, with organic food sales reaching $9.3 billion in 2002. Standards for organic food established by the USDA were fully implemented in October 2002 and include the creation of National Organic Program Standards. The latter requires producers to use a planned systems approach to crop protection. This session will examine organic agriculture from a plant pathology perspective. Questions to be addressed include: Why is farming systems research important for organic agriculture? Are plant diseases a problem? If they are, what are the major pathogens and what are the controls? What is the function of the National Organic Standards Board? What are the funding sources for organic agricultural research?

• Organic farming and plant disease research by the University of California 1987–2004. J.C. Broome, SAREP, University of California, Davis, CA
• Best management practices on organic farms provide opportunities and challenges for applied and research plant pathology. D. O’Brien, Doug O’Brien Agricultural Consulting, Santa Cruz, CA
• Farming systems research and extension in organic agriculture: A plant pathology perspective. F. Louws, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
• Compost teas: A tool for rhizosphere + phyllosphere agriculture. S. Diver, ATTRA, NCAT, Fayetteville, AR
• Role of the National Organic Standards Board. R. Koenig, Rosie’s Organic Farm, NOSB, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
• Funding opportunities for research, extension and education from CSREES. T. Bewick, USDA-CSREES, Washington, DC

Active Management of Soil Microorganisms for Plant Root Disease Control
Sponsoring Committees: Soil Microbiology and Root Disease, Biological Control
Organizer: Brantlee Richter, BBC Laboratories, Inc., Tempe, AZ

Research over the past several decades has yielded new insights into soil microbial community structures and the interactions between plant pathogens and other microorganisms in the environment. As this body of knowledge grows, there have been increased attempts in the field to manage soil microorganisms in order to decrease disease pressure through use of single-species biocontrol products, multi-species biological inoculants, and cultural techniques designed to maintain or increase certain components of soil microbial communities. This session will explore the impact of cultural techniques and biological amendments on soil microbial communities and, in turn, the impact of the managed soil communities on plant root disease occurrence.

• Disease suppressive soils: Mechanisms and indicators based on microbial responses and soil chemical/physical properties. R.P. Dick, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• Crop rotation and amendment effects on soil microbial communities and soilborne diseases. R. Larkin, USDA-ARS, Orono, ME
• Significance of host genotype in exploitation of resident disease suppressive soil microbial communities. M. Mazzola, USDA-ARS, Wenatchee, WA
• Management of soil microorganisms for the control of Phytophthora root rot of avocado and citrus. J. Menge, University of California, Riverside, CA
• Effect of cover crop decomposition on soil microbial and plant pathogen dynamics. N. Grunwald, USDA-ARS, Prosser, WA
• Role and use of arbuscular mycorrhizae in root disease management. R.G. Linderman, USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR
• Perspectives from the field: A grower’s trials and tribulations. S. Pavich, Pavich Agricultural Consulting, Dateland, AZ

Challenges at the Urban/Ag Interface
Sponsoring Committees: Extension, Integrated Pest Management, Regulatory Plant Pathology
Organizer: George Leavitt, University of California, Madera, CA

This symposium will look at problems associated with a large urban population encroaching upon production agriculture. California, with its large population centers (Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay area) and highly productive agriculture industry, experiences many problems. Border inspection stations are manned on all major highways coming into California. In southern California alone there are five international airports and two major harbors where foreign visitors and returning citizens enter the United States from hundreds of foreign countries, increasing the possibility of bringing in some unwanted disease or insect. Mexican fruit fly, glassy winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Mediterranian fruit fly and Newscastles’ disease are only recent examples of infestations into California that have occured in the past few years. In short, protecting the environment, the people and the great diverse agricultural industry of California.

• Pest exclusion – Preventing, controlling and eradication of med fruit fly. Presenter to be announced
• Regulation at the ag/urban interface. J. Prieto
• Networking at the grower/home owner interface. J. Browde
• How production agriculture affects urban horticulture and visa versa. Speaker to be announced
• Interdiction of foreign pests at airports and ports. Speaker to be announced

Oral Papers

• Diseases of Turfgrasses
• Diseases of Vegetables

Poster Sessions

• Postharvest Pathology
• Disease Detection and Diagnosis
• Diseases of Fruit and Nut Crops
• Diseases of Ornamentals
• Diseases of Turfgrasses
• Diseases of Vegetables
• Rhizosphere Microbiology and Ecology
• Biological Control
• Host Resistance
• Integrated Pest Management