Podcast: Dr. Tree Fruit and Don - Thinning Is on Our Minds!

May 19, 2022

The fourth Fruit Bite episode talks about caution during chemical thinning in response to the weather, especially after looking at models in previous weeks, fire blight and apple scab, and plum curculio.

Plant pathology professor remembered for impact on turfgrass industry, students

May 16, 2022

Wakar Uddin, professor of plant pathology and turfgrass disease specialist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is being remembered as a respected mentor and friend who had a profound impact on plant pathology and the turfgrass industry.

2022 Department awards and scholarships recipients announced

May 11, 2022

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology announced its 2022 awards and scholarships recipients during their annual celebration on May 2 at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center in State College.

Podcast: Dr. Tree Fruit and Don - Say NO to Fireblight!

May 10, 2022

The third Fruit Bite episode talks about fire blight, caution during chemical thinning in response to the weather, plum curculio, and white peach scale.

Graduate student receives Alumni Association Dissertation Award

May 6, 2022

Laura Kaminsky, a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, has been selected as a recipient of the 2021-22 Alumni Association Dissertation Award.

Podcast: Dr. Tree Fruit and Don - Fire Blight, Apple Scab, and Mating Disruption, Oh My!

May 4, 2022

The second Fruit Bite highlights early-season issues with an emphasis on some disease pressure and insect reproduction prevention.

Plant pathology graduate student receives NSF award

April 29, 2022

Jamie Spychalla, a graduate student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been awarded the 2022 National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Penn State’s Mushroom Research Center helps spawn East African farm

April 25, 2022

A scientist from the Mushroom Research Center in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences provided guidance to a mushroom grower in East Africa that helped the grower to overcome infrastructure and production challenges.  

Fautt passes Ph.D. comprehensive exam

April 22, 2022

Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Chad Fautt for passing their comprehensive examination.

Postdoctoral scholar joins Hockett lab

April 20, 2022

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology welcomes new postdoctoral scholar, Eoin O'Connor, who joined the Hockett lab earlier this month.

Podcast: Dr. Tree Fruit and Don - Early season disease update

April 18, 2022

In this 1-on-1 episode, Dr. Kari Peter provides an update on fire blight, apple scab, and several other diseases. Don Seifrit also highlights upcoming in-person Penn State Extension events.

Good Fruit Grower Interview: Johanny Castro Chinchilla, a young grower from San José, Costa Rica

April 18, 2022

Johanny grew up working on a coffee farm and earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a master’s degree in crop protection from the University of Costa Rica. He’s the son of Marea Elisa Chinchilla and Gerardo Castro.

2022 Graduate Exhibition Award winners announced

April 6, 2022

Sixty-eight Penn State graduate students received awards for their research and creative scholarship in the 37th annual Graduate Exhibition. A complete list of winners is available below.

Gamma Sigma Delta lauds outstanding College of Ag Sciences faculty, students

April 5, 2022

The Penn State chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the agricultural honor society, recognized Penn State faculty and students during its annual meeting, which was held March 31.

Interdisciplinary Penn State team awarded SOM Foundation Research Prize

March 31, 2022

An interdisciplinary team of Penn State researchers was awarded $40,000 as a recipient of the Skidmore Owings & Merrill Foundation 2021 Research Prize for a project that explores mycelium-based and knitted textiles to form a sustainable building material.

Luong passes Ph.D. comprehensive exam

March 28, 2022

Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Karen Luong for passing their comprehensive examination.

DePriest successfully defends thesis

March 21, 2022

Miranda DePriest successfully defended their thesis on March 18, 2022.

Microbiome Center to host ‘Changing Microbiomes’ symposium in early June

March 18, 2022

The inaugural Penn State microbiome symposium, titled “Changing Microbiomes Symposium,” will be held from May 31 to June 3 at the Mountain View Country Club at the Wyndham Garden Inn, 310 Elks Club Road, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.

Alliance between College of Ag Sciences, University of Pretoria yields benefits

March 18, 2022

Developing solutions to address threats to plant health is the centerpiece of a partnership between Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

Podcast: Dr. Tree Fruit and Don - New Herbicides and Lorsban Ban

March 18, 2022

Dr. Crassweller talks about herbicides that were released after the editing of the new tree fruit production guide, and Greg highlights the chlorpyrifos ban and what that means for growers with some still in their pesticide shed.

Penn State-developed genome-editing technology licensed to Inscripta

March 17, 2022

A technology patented by a Penn State researcher to enhance the capabilities of the genome-editing tool known as CRISPR/Cas will have potential commercial applications as the result of a recently signed licensing agreement.

Varaksa successfully defends thesis

February 16, 2022

Alexander Varaksa successfully defended their thesis on February 15, 2022.

McFeaters successfully defends thesis

February 14, 2022

Tyler McFeaters successfully defended their thesis on February 14, 2022.

Ag. Sciences students top all US universities with $1.1M in USDA funding

February 14, 2022

Seven students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have received predoctoral fellowships from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The students received a combined total of nearly $1.1 million — the most received for this year's fellowships among U.S. universities.

Department welcomes new biological technician

January 31, 2022

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology is pleased to announce the addition of Chad Moore to its staff as he assumes the position of biological technician.

Podcast: Dr. Tree Fruit and Don - Post-Harvest Rots with Johanny Castro

January 28, 2022

Don Seifrit and Kari Peter discuss post-harvest rot with Kari’s Ph.D. student Johanny Castro. Originally from Costa Rica, Johanny currently works with Kari to look at post-harvest rots and diseases in Pennsylvania’s packhouses.

USDA grant to support study at Penn State on antimicrobial tolerance in plants

January 19, 2022

Kevin Hockett, assistant professor of microbial ecology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, recently received a $682,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study bacterial control methods and their implications for disease prevention in plants.

Research suggests foliar fungicides help increase soybean yield in some regions

January 6, 2022

While previous studies have shown little economic benefit associated with using foliar fungicides in soybean as a preventive measure, new research aided by a Penn State plant pathologist suggests otherwise, especially in southern regions.

Penn State seeks assistant professor of global change pathology

December 18, 2021

The Department of Plant Pathology & Environmental Microbiology in the College of Agricultural Sciences is in search of a tenure-line faculty member at the rank of assistant professor.

Kaminsky receives College of Agricultural Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award

December 17, 2021

Laura Kaminsky, a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, has been selected as a recipient of the 2021 College of Agricultural Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award.