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Symposia
All Symposia will take place in the Garden Room at Reiman Gardens.



Implications of Climate Change on Plant Pathogens
Monday, June 22, 8:15 to 10:15 am
Speakers:
  Len Coop, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Or
  Jerry Hatfield, USDA-ARS, Ames, IA
  Lewis Ziska, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD
  Joe Russo, ZedX Inc., Bellefonte, PA

Climate change is affecting all disciplines including agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. There is ample evidence from credible scientists that ecosystems will continue to change. A recent USDA- sponsored report from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program stated that “Ecosystems are likely to be pushed increasingly into alternate states with the possible breakdown of traditional species relationships, such as pollinator/plant and predator/prey interactions, adding additional stresses and potential for system failures.” Moreover, agricultural and forest systems could likely experience near-term productivity increases, but over the long term, many such agroecosystems are likely to experience overall decreases in productivity that could result in economic losses, and/or diminished agroecosystems services, due to emerging threats from plant pathogens and their vectors. Thus, climate change will be a driving force for the need to develop new, integrated disease management programs and delivery systems to address emerging threats.

Nematode Pests of the North Central Region
Monday, June 22, 10:30 to 11:30 am
Speakers:
  Tarek Hewezi, Iowa State University
  Tamra Jackson, University of Nebraska
  Ann MacGuidwin, University of Wisconsin

Nematodes are major pests of many crops grown in the
North Central region. This symposium will focus on
nematodes that affect corn, soybean and potato production.
Nematologists from three land-grant universities in the
Midwest will discuss highlights of their research efforts that
range from molecular analysis of parasitism genes to developing
sustainable management strategies of these economically
important pests.



Implications of Plant Diseases in Biofuel
Production
Monday, June 22, 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Speakers:
  Emily Heaton, Dept. of Agronomy, Iowa State University
  Gary Munkvold, Seed Science Center, Iowa State University
  Victor Limay-Rios, Ridgetown College, Univ. of Guelph
  Michael Lehman, USDA-ARS, Brookings, SD

Grain-based ethanol production and ligno-cellulosic ethanol production involve pathogen risks that differ from those encountered in grain production for other uses.
Many of these risks are not widely recognized. The speakers in this session will describe some unique impacts of plant pathogens in both of these biofuel production approaches, highlighting the need for biofuel-focused plant pathology and microbiology research.



Potential Crop Biosecurity Risks that Threaten Agriculture in the North Central Region: Staying Ahead of the Curve
Tuesday, June 23, 8:00 to 10:00 am
Speakers:
  Ray Hammerschidt, Michigan State University
  James Stack, Kansas State University
  William Dolezal, Pioneer Hi-Bred International

Throughout history, plant pathogens have dramatically
affected global food security and/or have severely impacted
local, state, regional, national, and global agricultural
economics. This symposium addresses the potential vulnerabilities
and negative impacts of selected agents that threaten
agricultural biosecurity in the North Central US, should such
threatening pathogens be introduced accidentally, deliberately,
or by naturally-occurring events. National plans for responding
to such threats will also be addressed.

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