Completed or Ongoing Research
The main objective of this research were to generate information on small fruit and grape virus diversity in the Pacific Northwest focusing on viruses transmitted by nematodes. The $840 million small fruit industry in the PNW faces several phytosanitary risk scenarios, one of these is the emergent or re-emergent viruses transmitted by nematodes.
Oregon and Washington are the fourth and fifth leading producers of cranberry in the US. Cranberry is a perennial crop with production and harvest practices unique among the small fruits. Some of the cranberry beds in the PNW are decades old. As expected with older cranberry beds, a portion of the cranberry crop is routinely lost to various fruit rots.
Powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator, formerly known as Uncinula necator) is one of the most significant fungal diseases affecting grapevines worldwide and especially prevalent in Oregon spring weather conditions in vineyards. Powdery mildew impacts grape yields and quality through reduced photosynthesis in infected leaves, leading to decreased sugar accumulation
This study was initiated to better understand the evolution of polyphenolics (focus being proanthocyanidins, also known as tannins). Wine phenolics (tannins, anthocyanins, etc)
Grapevine trunk disease (GTD) is a disease complex that consists of the largest group of fungal pathogens causing disease and progressive vine decline. Due to the complex nature of GTD pathogens, understanding the disease as a phenomenon of single species or multiple species infection is always challenging. In addition, the environmental variables play a greater role in the dominance of one species over another. It is important to understand the species that are predominant in a region and their causal role in GTD development so that targeted disease management programs can be developed. In this research project, we study the diversity of GTD pathogens in grapevines of Northern and Southern Oregon; as well as to compare the different disease management practices including vineyard floor management and pruning wound protection.
