Key Research

Plant Disease Editor’s Pick. Leaves floated in streams in southwestern Oregon and cultured or tested with multiplex PCR revealed the continued presence of Phytophthora ramorum up to 5 years after infected trees within certain watersheds were removed. In addition, newly infected trees were detected with ground surveys after positive baits appeared in streams that flowed through areas at risk for spread of P. ramorum. Read the details in the November Plant Disease Editor’s Pick by W. Sutton, E. Hansen, and colleagues.

Phytopathology Editor’s Pick. The plant pathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora, causing fire blight on apple and pear, produces the pathogenicity factor amylovoran and the virulence factor levan. Sundin and colleagues use amylovoran and levan deletion mutants to show that the factors are involved in biofilm formation. This work elegantly demonstrates that E. amylovora forms a biofilm and that this biofilm in turn plays a critical role in disease development.

MPMI Editor's Pick. In the November issue of MPMI, Abbà et al. report the cloning and disruption of a gene encoding superoxide dismutase in the mycorrhizal fungus Oidiodendron maius. The mutant had reduced conidiation and lower capacity to interact symbiotically with its host. The authors conclude that the proper redox balance is necessary for successful colonization. Read more in the MPMI Editor’s Pick.
 

Member News

Make Your Council Nomination Online. There is less than one month left to nominate fellow APS members for the positions of APS vice president and councilor-at-large. This week, you should have received an online officer nomination form. Nominees should express a willingness to serve APS in these leadership positions and also have a vision for the future of APS. All nominations must be received on or before December 15, 2009.

Last Chance to Preregister for the 2009 National Soybean Rust Symposium. The 2009 National Soybean Rust Symposium is just three weeks away! Online registration ends November 30, but you can register onsite once you arrive in New Orleans.
 

Annual Meeting

Nearly 97% of 2009 Annual Meeting Attendees Would Recommend It to Others. How many 2009 attendees will likely attend the 2010 annual meeting? How many were satisfied with the technical content provided? What did 2009 attendees have to say about the meeting? To find out this information and more, visit the 2010 APS Annual Meeting website.

Plan an Event During the 2010 Annual Meeting. If you’re thinking about planning an event or meeting during the 2010 APS Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN, you can do so now. Submit your application by January 15, 2010, for inclusion in the registration brochure and other premeeting promotional material.  
 

Online Resources

Three New Partners Join the Plant Management Network. Decagon Devices, American Peat Technology, and AC Diagnostics recently became partners of the Plant Management Network (PMN). These and 67 other organizations in the industry, nonprofit, and university sectors support PMN’s nonprofit mission and the development of its applied, peer-reviewed resources. Not yet a partner? Learn more.

Last Call! PDMR Volume 4 Call for Submissions. As in the past, Plant Disease Management Reports (PDMR) will be published in two installments, allowing authors to submit reports twice a year. Submissions to the first installment are due to the editor-in-chief for assignment by December 7, 2009. Publication charges are $40 per report and are payable with submission of the final approved report by February 22, 2010. Instructions for submission preparation and procedures can be found on APSnet.

Fescue Toxicosis Proceedings Published on PMN. The Plant Management Network (PMN) has published Fescue Toxicosis, its latest peer-reviewed symposium proceedings, in its Forage & Grazinglands journal. The purpose of the symposium was to provide updated information on toxic and nontoxic endophyte interactions with herbivores, present new technologies used in studying fescue toxicosis, and discuss technologies developed to alleviate toxicosis. 
 

Updates from APS PRESS

Members: Save on All Mycology Titles for a Limited Time! Receive 10% off mycology titles when you spend $99, that’s in addition to your 10% member discount. To receive this special discount, enter the coupon code MycologyPK in the first “Coupon Code or Promotional Code” field at checkout. Browse more than 60 mycology titles in the APS PRESS Online Bookstore.
 

In the News

Wet brazil soy belt may face more Asian rust [more]

Pesticide levels decline in corn belt rivers [more]

Disease-proof chickpea created [more]

Gene that controls seed size identified [more]

Iowa State University researcher discovers key to vital DNA, protein interaction [more]

UCR plant scientist's research spawns new discoveries showing how crops survive drought [more]

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Important Dates

March 2010
2   — Schroth Faces of the Future in Virology Symposium applications due
24-26  — APS Potomac Division Meeting
 

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