- Author: Florent Trouillas
- Editor: Laura J. Van der Staay
Jennifer Randall, Research Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science at New Mexico State University provided a presentation on “Pistachio Bushy Top Syndrome: Disease etiology and diagnosis procedures" on April 7, 2015 at Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center (KARE).
The presentation was followed by a Q&A session conducted by Randall; Florent Trouillas, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist at KARE and in the Department of Plant Pathology at UC Davis specializing in fruit and nut crops; Craig Kallsen, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Kern County, specializing in citrus, subtropical horticulture and pistachios; Robert Beede, UC Cooperative Extension advisor, emeritus, in Kings County, specializing in horticulture: tree fruit, nuts and grapes; and Elizabeth Fichtner, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Tulare County, specializing in orchard systems.
Background: In the last few years, a new disease affecting UCB1 rootstocks emerged in CA, AZ, and NM. This disease was named Pistachio Bushy Top Syndrome (PBTS). Scientific evidence in 2014 demonstrated that PBTS is caused by the bacterium, Rhodococcus fascians (Rf). The percentage of rootstock exhibiting symptoms varies widely among plantings. At least 20,000 acres in CA have been affected to some extent. Two strains of Rf have been identified. Each is pathogenic, and they act synergistically to cause more severe disease symptoms. Pistachio growers in CA need to test for the pathogen in their newly planted orchards. This workshop attempted to bring academic, private and governmental diagnosis labs up to date on this new disease. Dr. Jennifer Randall from NMSU presented her group's latest research on the disease biology and detection methodologies.
- Author: Ana Toste
UC ANR Lindcove Research and Extension Center will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about citrus varieties on March 20, 2015, from 1-3 PM. Visitors will be able to tour the demonstration orchard that contains nearly 200 of the most common varieties of citrus. Attendees can view tree growth characteristics, ask questions about varieties, and taste the fruit.
Contact:
Ana Toste: 559-592-2408 ext 151
Directions:
22963 Carson Ave., Exeter, CA 93221
http://lrec.ucanr.edu/About_Us/Directions_Map/
Once you arrive at LREC, follow the signs to the parking area.
- Author: Sean Hogan
The UC ANR Informatics and GIS (IGIS) program is offering two new agriculturally focused GIS and mobile data collection workshops at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, on March 19th and 20th. If you have any interest in contemporary applications of GIS or mobile data collection for agricultural use, these workshops may be for you. The workshops run from 11 to 4 pm and include lunch. They are open to ANR affiliates for $30 and non-ANR public for $60.
The first workshop, on March 19th, will include a one hour lecture on practical applications of GIS for crop agricultural, followed by a three hour exercise that will explore practical techniques for analyzing and mapping local agricultural concerns with readily available software and online data. The second workshop, on March 20th, will also start with a one hour lecture and will be followed by a three hour practical exercise, which together will explore the development of customized mobile SmartPhones GPS apps, applications of GPS and mobile data collection for agriculture, and practical ways of viewing and sharing your data. For more information regarding the workshops please go to: http://igis.ucanr.edu/IGISTraining/GISforCropAgKARE/ and http://igis.ucanr.edu/IGISTraining/GPSworkshopKARE/
Note - Both of these workshops are designed for participants with little to no GIS or GPS experience. However, more advanced GIS and GPS users are equally welcome, and may likewise find these workshops to be quite beneficial due to their practicality.
- Author: Laura J. Van der Staay
UC ANR Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center is providing fun learning opportunities to Fresno Unified School District 4th grade students and W.E.B. DuBois & Carter G. Woodson Public Charter Schools' students.
The teachers get lesson plans on experimental design and integrated pest management strategies prior to the students coming for their field trip. Each field trip has a tour where students learn about different crops, issues, and experimental designs. After the field trip, the students learn about how UC helps people and the environment. They are also exposed to “the more you learn, the more you earn” concept and given examples of great local STEM related career opportunities.
Elementary students finish their visit with role playing scenarios that demonstrate the importance of integrated pest management strategies, as well as why pesticide runoff should be prevented.
High school students finish their visit with more advanced experimental activities including a tour of the post-harvest lab and hands-on study of fruit samples using refractometer, penetrometer, and sensory evaluation techniques.
- Author: Andreas Westphal
- Editor: Laura J. Van der Staay
Andreas Westphal, UC Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Nematology at UC Riverside and UC ANR Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center started January 15, 2015. Westphal obtained his first two degrees from the University of Göttingen. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside under the supervision of J. Ole Becker. After some postdoctoral experience at UC Davis, and some faculty experience with Texas A&M University and Purdue University, he moved back to Germany. He was recruited by UC after Mike McKenry retired.
Westphal's research program will focus on nematode problems of tree and vine crops. He will explore a multitude of cultural, biological and chemical strategies for managing nematodes in almond, grape, peach, walnut and other crops. Westphal moved here from the Julius Kühn-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany where he researched nematode management on field crops, and was responsible for determining plant resistance to plant-parasitic nematodes in the official cultivar release program.