Department of Botany and Plant Pathology

My main goal is to develop educational programs based on the needs and priorities for the Oregon nursery industry.

Program Areas of Focus:

• Bilingual Education programs in plant health.
• Management practices to control plant diseases in Nursery crops and ornamentals.
• Applied research in soil-borne pathogens.

Description of Research /Extension program
Primary Audience(s) Served: Nursery growers and managers, Spanish speaking workers, High School and Community College students.

Key Programs in progress:

• Survey for “Nursery Industry Assessment of Hispanic Employee Training opportunities” (English and Spanish forms).
• Customized training in plant health for the Nursery Industry.
• Workshop: Introduction to plant pathology with hands-on experience, and demonstration of diagnostic tools (In Spanish).
• Training of High School students in different techniques of microbiology and plant pathology. Current research in this program: Isolation and identification of endophytes and potential pathogens of Himalayan blackberry, a noxious weed in the PNW.