Last year, we began a statewide program to survey and characterize pecan diseases in Oklahoma. As part of his studies, Usman Rabiu Bello, led a Pecan South article to detail progress and expectations. To read more : pecansouthmagazine.com/magazine/artic… (subscription required).

Plants take "drips" too: setting our fungicide tree injection trials for disease control.

Editor’s Pick! Copper failing against bacterial spot in Florida tomatoes? Ketsira Pierre et al. show that two small molecules—piperidine and pyrrolidine—outperform or enhance standard treatments in lab, greenhouse, and field. 🍅 Dr. Mustafa O. Jibrin HorticulturePathology@OSU Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-0…

Next week on Advances in Phytobacteriology, Nian Wang will talk on "Citrus Huanglongbing is a Pathogen-Triggered Immune Disease and CRISPR Genome Editing in Improving Disease Resistance" Register here: bit.ly/4jhM3cV

Getting ready for the OPGA Annual Convention in Glenpool. "Three days of learning, networking and fun". Our Lab involvement: Introducing a "new" pecan problem, Progress on the Southern IPM Pecan PIPE website and statewide disease survey Registration: okpecangrowers.com/annual-convent…

An update on berry splitting in grape clusters observed in some vineyards recently. extension.okstate.edu/e-pest-alerts/…

Grateful to APS Plant Disease for awarding me the 2025 Dr. ​​Lafayette Frederick Diversity in Mentoring Award. Last week, with support from the fund that comes with the award, we welcomed Daviona Jackson, recent Langston University graduate, as an intern in the Lab.

First look: Thanks to Dr. Chen Jianchi (USDA, California) for the collaboration. First report of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex associated with bacterial leaf scorch on American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.) in Oklahoma | Plant Disease apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PD…

PlantHealth2025#. Congratulations to PhD Student in the Lab, Usman Rabiu who got the E.S. Saari Student Travel Fund. He will be giving an oral presentation on his effector-informed drug discovery work and a poster presentation on pecan disease characterization.

The APPB Research Symposium in Chicago. Learning and interacting with everyone.

For the second year running, our Lab participated in the annual 4H Round Up. Our workshop focused on "Becoming a Plant Detective "...great presentations from all Lab members.

If you are in Hawaii, join us at our presentations. Many thanks to the all those who contributed to the presentations from our Lab. #PlantHealth2025

Memorable meeting in Hawaii. Great talks and connections for potential collaborations. #PlantHealth2025

Many cucurbit (watermelon, pumpkin, summer squash, winter squash, cantaloupe, and most other melon) growers are reporting squash bugs at economical injury levels on their farms. For more information on this problem and how to manage it, please see extension.okstate.edu/e-pest-alerts/…

TOMATO TUESDAY: Bacterial wilt of tomato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. The disease is favored by hot temperatures & wet soils. The Bacterium clogs the vascular tissue causing wilt & death of plants. A cut stem shows a brown discoloration of the pith #Bacteria #Disease #APS

New publication on bacterial spot of tomato from the Lab highlights: 1. Rapid population changes in successive seasons 2. A new bacterial species which we have named Xanthomonas oklahomensis 3. Variable sensitivities to copper bactericide apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PD…

PSI upcoming Test dates available for Lawton. test-takers.psiexams.com/okpest #okstate #extension #pested

The pecan scab pathogen, Venturia effusa, is a very slow growing fungus and difficult to isolate. One of our major progress this year was establishing the right protocol for pathogen isolation, thanks to efforts by PhD student Usman Rabiu Bello. Part of #PlantHealth2025 poster.

Editor’s Pick! Allison Coomber, David A. Rasmussen, and Jean Beagle Ristaino uncovered significant variation within the RXLR genome of isolates of the US-23 lineage of Phytophthora infestans collected from various tomato cultivars. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-…

The weather was just too favorable for Pecan scab this year. Powdery mildew may also be seen on scab lesions as secondary disease. Typically resistant varieties like Kanza were not left out. Trees with more fungicide sprays have less disease pressure but they were not spared too.