News from the WSU-Mount Vernon
Northwestern Washington Research & Extension Center
Summer/2005
Hello, from WSU-NWREC :
Welcome to the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter! Spring and summer have been busy times at our R&E Center . Groundbreaking festivities for the new Agricultural Research & Technology Building were held on June 1. Approximately, 125 guests and dignitaries attended the ceremony, signaling the beginning of the construction project. Congressman Rick Larsen, Rachelle Hein and Sally Hintz (representing Senators Murray and Cantwell, respectively), Dr. R. James Cook, Dr. Linda Kirk Fox, and Mr. Bob Hart spoke during the program. Community members and university personnel who have worked over the years on the vision for the center's revitalization were acknowledged. Shovels were manned by Sue Christianson (representing WSU-NWREC volunteers), Jim Cook (WSU CAHNRS), Linda Kirk Fox (WSU Extension), Bob Hart (local community), John Roozen (NARF), and Grace Sakuma and Ron Sakuma (Sakuma family). A historical display of the Center's history, and a reception followed. Summer 2006 is the expected opening date for the new facility to open.
The WSU Vegetable Seed Field Day, was on June 16 th, and was well attended by growers, field reps, consultants, students, and extension personnel. Results of field, lab, and greenhouse research trials were presented by Debra Inglis (organic pea seed treatments), Renee Priya-Prasad (biocontrol of cabbage maggot), Tim Miller (herbicide screening in beet & spinach; ultra-low herbicide rates in beet, chard, and spinach; organic weed control programs in spinach, broccoli, cucumbers, & potatoes; mustard cover crop biofumigation on spinach ground for Fusarium wilt & weed control) and Lindsey du Toit (carrot bacterial blight; seed transmission, seed treatment, fungicide efficacy, & epidemiology of leaf spot of spinach).
A Wine Sensory Evaluation Workshop, jointly sponsored by WSU-NWREC fruit horticulture department and WSU Skagit County Learning Center , was held June 16-17. The workshop featured Dr. Ann Noble, an internationally known expert in wine sensory evaluation at U.C. Davis. Classes included ‘Introduction to Wine Aroma Wheel’, and ‘Sensory Analysis of White and Red Wine’. A six-course banquet showcasing local food producers, vineyards & wineries, plus local culinary artists and the work of chef, Peter Belknap of Oyster Creek Inn, was a highlight. The workshop was presented in McIntyre Hall of Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon , WA .
We are especially excited that Dr. Tom Walters begins his position as new small fruits horticulturist scientist at the Center. His start date is August 1. Also starting on the same date as Dean of WSU-CAHNRS, is Dr. Dan Bernardo. We welcome them both!
-Debra Ann Inglis, Interim Director/Assistant Dean
-Tim Miller, Associate Weed Scientist
-Lindsey du Toit, Assistant Plant Pathologist
-Gary Moulton, Extension Fruit Horticulturist
Open Invitation:
WSU-Mount Vernon NWREC is pleased to extend an open invitation for you to join us, on Monday, August 1, at 10:00 AM under the Treehouse, for a special morning coffee break to welcome the Center’s new Small Fruits’ Horticulturist, Dr. Tom Walters.
Construction News
Impero Contracting Co., of Bellingham , WA has been named as the contractor for construction on the new Agricultural Research & Technology Building . More utility upgrades, demolition of the old plant path and horticulture labs, and site and foundation work are planned for the summer. Public access to our facilities will be limited (please use the east entrance). Please be prepared for dust, noise, and vibrations throughout the summer! Thank you for your patience.
Congratulations to WSU-NWREC Graduate Students!!!
Jaime Cummings , was recently accepted into the WSU Dept. of Plant Pathology. Jaime's master's thesis project is on evaluation of organic seed treatments for vegetable crops, under the supervision of Lindsey du Toit, Debra Inglis, Carol Miles, and Frank Dugan. Jaime will complete her thesis work at WSU-NWREC.
Jessica Gigot is the recipient of a WSU Graduate School Travel Grant to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society, and present a poster on "Sporulation of Phytophthora infestans on whole potato tubers." The meeting is being held in Austin , TX . Jessica is working towards her mater’s degree in plant pathology under Dr. Debra Inglis.
Pablo Hernandez recently completed all of the requirements for his master’s degree in plant pathology. Pablo’s major advisor was Dr. Lindsey du Toit.
Dr. Renee Pryia-Prasad is the recipient of the WSU Association for Faculty Women’s Harriet B. Rigas Award. Renee’s major advisor was Bill Snyder, Entomology, WSU-Pullman. Dr. Prasad recently completed her Ph.D. degree, and is now doing post-doctoral work at WSU-NWREC.
Recent Events
Botany students from Skagit Valley Community College in Mount Vernon enjoyed a tour of the WSU-NWREC. Babette Gunderson, and Jessica Gigot led the tour, held in February.
Lindsey du Toit led 15 horticulture students from Everett High School on a tour of the WSU-NWREC, in April.
Eight graduate students from the WSU Department of Plant pathology and an undergraduate senior doing a research project in that department, toured onion seed and bulb crops, in Quincy and Walla Walla, in April. They accompanied Lindsey du Toit, vegetable seed pathologist from WSU-NWREC, and Hanu Papu, virologist at WSU-Pullman. The group learned about iris yellow spot virus (IYSV), a new virus disease affecting the onion bulb and seed industry in WA and other western states.
Ellen Cooley and Jim Tholan gave a tour of the WSU Discovery Garden to the Seattle Women's Garden Club in May. The tour was arranged by Debbie Inglis, and Bob Rose of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland.
Many guests, including past employees, toured the WSU-NWREC history display at the June 1 st groundbreaking ceremony. If you would like to see these historical documents, contact Debbie Inglis at 360-848-6143 .
Twenty undergraduate students and faculty from Evergreen State College toured WSU-NWREC and the vegetable seed pathology program on June 28th, with discussions on seed production as well as plant pathology lab, field, and greenhouse research trials.
The WSU-Vegetable Pathology Team recently published the June 2005 issue of its newsletter. It can be viewed at http://mtvernon.wsu.edu/path_team/currentnewlet.htm#issue
This issue focuses on upcoming vegetable events, and resources. Lindsey du Toit and Debbie Inglis serve as co-team leaders.
People at WSU-NWREC
Congratulations to Dan Gorton on the birth of his second child, a boy born 5/5/05 !
Congratulations to Pat King, new Administrative Manager. She recently became grandmother to a new grandson!
Dr. Debra Inglis attended Phase III of the ESCOP/ACOP Leadership Training program in Washington D.C. During her visit, she joined the WSU-CAHNRS delegation, and spent a day “On the Hill”.
Farewell and best of luck to Bob Peterson and Hollis Spitler.
Thanks to Kathy Gleissner for her help in the front office during the absence of a permanent secretary/receptionist.
Welcome to Blair Baber , a biology senior at Western Washington University , is completing an internship in the vegetable seed pathology program at WSU-NWREC this summer as part of a senior biology class.
Welcome to Denise Briggs, hired as our new Secretary/Receptionist. Denise started June 20 th.
Welcome to Louise Brissey, hired as an Agricultural Research Technologist II in the Vegetable Seed Pathology program.
Presentations
Lindsey du Toit gave the following presentations:
- “Iris yellow spot virus of onion”, Melheur County Onion Growers’ Association in Ontario , OR . (February)
- “Iris yellow spot virus of onion”, Central Oregon Farm Fair & Trade Show, Madras OR . (February)
- “Disease management trials in vegetable seed crops in western WA: 2004 Research report”, Alf Christianson Seed Co. Seed Growers’ Meeting, Mount Vernon , WA . (March)
- “Disease-free carrot seed. Is it a concern? Is it possible?” and “Neck rot of onion: What’s the story?” both at, 54 th annual Muck Vegetable Growers’ Conference in Bradford , Ontario , Canada . (April)
Debbie Inglis gave the following presentations:
- "Verticillium on vegetable crops in Northwest Washington ". 23 rd Annual Western WA Potato Workshop in Mount Vernon (February).
- "In-furrow treatments for controlling water-mold diseases." 23 rd Annual Western WA Potato Workshop in Mount Vernon (February).
- "Verticillium wilt on vegetables in western WA, WSPC Research Review, Pullman (Feb).
- "Revitalization efforts underway at WSU-Mount Vernon NWREC", Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon . (April).
Tim Miller gave the following presentations:
- Tim Miller, Bob Peterson, and Carl Libbey gave four presentations on weed identification and control to WSU Island , King, Pierce, San Juan , Skagit , and Snohomish county Master Gardener trainees in Anacortes, Everett , Puyallup , and Seattle , WA (January and February).
- “Taming Wild Weeds”, Skagit Farmers Supply Growers Meeting, Mount Vernon , WA (February).
- “Nutsedge Management in Potatoes”, Western Washington Potato Workshop, Mount Vernon , WA (February). "
- Weed Management in Vegetable Seed”, Alf Christianson Seed Co. Seed Growers Meeting, Mount Vernon , WA (March).
- “Current Research in Noxious Weed Management” and “The Noxious Weed Listing Process”, Washington State Weed Coordinators Association Annual Meeting, Chelan, WA (March).
- “The Management of Several Noxious Weeds in Alaska ”, Alaska Pesticide Applicators Conference, Anchorage , AK (March).
- Washington State Weed Coordinators Assoc. Ann. Mtg., Chelan (March).
- “Where Have All the Herbicides Gone?” and “Weed Control in Small Fruits”, Small Fruit Growers Workshop, Vancouver , WA (March).
- “Herbicide Mode of Action” and “Herbicide Resistance”, WSU Recertification Workshop, Bellingham , WA (March).
- “Weed Control Principles”, WSU Pre-license trainees, Bellingham , WA (March).
- “Poisonous Plants of Northwest Pastures”, WSU Skagit County Livestock Advisor Training, Mount Vernon , WA (April).
- “Weed Control Research in Ornamental Bulbs”, WSU Bulb Growers Field Day, Puyallup , WA (May).
- “The Management of Noxious and Invasive Weeds in Wetlands”, Natural Resources Conservation Service National Wetland Restoration Conference, Bow, WA (May).
- “Herbicide Movement and Toxicity”, Weed Management Training, Mount Rainier National Park , WA (June).
- “Identification of Some Common Weeds”, Island County Advanced Master Gardener Training, Coupeville , WA (June).
Publications and Technical Reports (accepted/published)
Chilvers, M.I., du Toit, L.J., and Peever, T.L. 2005. The following gene sequences were determined and submitted to a national database for chintin synthase sequence of Botrytis allii (accession AY927693), B.aclada (accession AY927694), B.byssoidea (accession AY927695), Botryotinia fuckeliana (accession AY927696), and Botryotinia squamosa (accession AY927697). Released 9 March 2005 . http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/
Chilvers, M.I., du Toit, LJ, and Peever, T.L. 2005. RFLP differentiation of neck rot Botrytis spp. Present in onion seed crops in Washington State , and development of a real-time PCR assay for detection of these fungi in onion seed. 23 rd Fungal Genetics Conference, Pacific Grove , CA Mar. 15-20, 2005 .
du Toit, L.J., Crowe, F.J., Derie, M.L., Simmons, RB and Pelter, GQ, 2005. Bacterial blight of carrot seed crops in the Pacific Northwest . Plant Disease 89: in press.
du Toit, L.J., and Derie, M.L. 2005. Evaluation of Actigard, bactericides, and compost teas for control of bacterial blight in carrot seed crops, 2004. Fungicide & Nematicide Tests No. 60:V046.
du Toit, L.J., Derie, M.L., and Morrison, R.H. 2005. Evaluation of fungicide seed treatments for control of black leg of cauliflower, 2004. Fungicide & Nematicide Tests No. 60: STO 11
du Toit, L.J., and Derie, M.L. 2005. Evaluation of fungicides and compost teas for control of Botrytis scape and umbel blight in onion seed crops, 2004. Fungicide & Nematicide Tests No. 60:V045.
du Toit, L.J., Derie, M.L., and Hernandez-Perez, P. 2005. Evaluation of fungicides for control of leaf spot in spinach seed crops, 2004. Fungicide & Nematicide Tests No. 60:V044.
du Toit, L.J., Derie, M.L., and Hernandez-Perez, P. 2005. Evaluation of yield loss caused by leaf spot fungi in spinach seed crops, 2004. Fungicide & Nematicide Tests No.60:V047.
du Toit, L.J., and Hernandez-Perez, P. 200_. Efficacy of hot water and chlorine for eradication of Cladosporium variabile , Stemphylium botryosum, and Verticillium dahliae from spinach seed. Plant Disease: accepted June 2005.
Eastwell, K.C., du Toit, L.J., and Pike, K.S. 2006. Etiology of 'black death', a new disease of Helleborus species in North America . Appendix in: Helleborus. Timber Press, Portland , OR. To be published in 2006.
Gundersen, B. and Inglis, D.A. 2005. Evaluation of seed, in-furrow and foliar treatments for control of pink rot on potato, 2004. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests No. 60:V063.
Inglis, D.A. and Gundersen, B. 2005. Evaluation of seed, in-furrow and foliar treatments for control of root rot on peas, 2004. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests No. 60:V063.
Libbey, C.R., and T.W. Miller. 2005 (in press). Effect of mesotrione on Pacific Northwest sweet corn varieties. Proceedings, Western Society of Weed Science Annual Meeting,
Miller, T.W. and C.R. Libbey. 2005. Effect of reducing herbicide rates on the vegetative and reproductive growth of green pea and weeds. Weed Science Society of America Abstract no. 278 [CD-ROM computer file]. WSSA, Lawrence , KS . (Feb. 2005).
Miller, T.W. and R.K. Peterson. 2005. Herbicides for weed control in cabbage seed crops. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Report, pp. 28-30.
Miller, T.W. and R.K. Peterson. 2005. Post-bloom herbicide applications in tulip. Western Society of Weed Science Research Progress Report, pp. 50-51.
Novy, R. G. Love, S.L., Corsini, D. L., Pavek, J.J., Whitworth, J. L., Mosely, A. R., James, S. R. Hane, D. C., Shock, C. C., Rykbost, K. A., Brown, C. R., Thornton, R. E., Knowles, N. R., Pavek, M. J., Olsen, N., and Inglis, D. A. 2005. Defender: A high-yielding, processing cultivar with foliar and tuber resistance to late blight. Ann. Mtg. Potato Assoc. America .
Peterson, R.K., T.W. Miller, and C.R. Libbey. 2005 (in press). Herbicide testing in Apiaceae seed crops. Proceedings, Western Society of Weed Science Annual Meeting, Vancouver , BC , Canada .
Recent Research Grants Awarded (competitive )
$1,000 from Northwest Ag Research Foundation to Lindsey du Toit for " Mustard Biofumigants."
$2,500 from the Washington State Department of Agriculture to Tim Miller for “Testing Herbicides for Controlling Yellow Flag Iris”.
$3,000 from the Washington State Seed Potato Commission to Debbie Inglis for overseeing a
project on monitoring for potato tuber moth in Skagit and Whatcom counties.
$4,000 from the IR-4 National Pilot Performance Project to Tim Miller for testing several herbicides in leafy green vegetables.
$4,900 from NARF to Tim Miller for "Weed Control in Vegetable seed crops."
$5,000 from Northwest Ag Research Foundation to Pat Moore and Gary Moulton for "Evaluation of Small Fruits at WSU-Mount Vernon NWREC."
$5,570 from Northwest Ag Research Foundation to Tim Miller for "Weed Control in Peas."
$6,200 from WA State Potato Commission to Debbie Inglis for "Verticillium Wilt on Potatoes."
$9,810 from Northwest Ag Research Foundation to Tim Miller for Weed Control in Cucumbers."
$13,346 from Northwest Ag Research Foundation to Gary Moulton for "Alternative Fruit Crops."
Upcoming Events
July 6: Small Fruit Open House
WSU-Mount Vernon NWREC
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Dr. Pat Moore
253-445-4525
July 16: WWFRF Harvest Sample Day
WSU-Mount Vernon NWREC
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Gary Moulton
360-848-6131
August 13: WWFRF Harvest Sample Day
WSU-Mount Vernon NWREC
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Gary Moulton
360-848-6131
August 26: Onion Field Day
L & L Farms Connell, WA
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Dr. Lindsey du Toit
360-848-6140
Sep. 10: WWFRF Harvest Sample Day
WSU-Mount Vernon NWREC
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Gary Moulton
350-848-6131
October 8: Fall Field Day and Open House
WSU-Mount Vernon NWREC
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Gary Moulton
360-848-6131
SAVE THIS DATE!
‘Rally In the Valley’ is taking place October 29, 2005 , in McIntyre Hall, at Skagit Valley College , Mount Vernon . The evening will include a dinner, silent and live auction, Cougar personalities and lots of fun, friends and fellowship. The Bookie (WSU’s Bookstore from Pullman ) will be present to sell you the most up-to-date Cougar gear. All proceeds from the evening's event will be dedicated to the Rebuild Effort at the WSU-Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center . The planing committee is accepting donations of goods and services of all kinds. Items must be new and in original packaging or, of antique quality. For questions or to donate, please call Sue Christianson at 360-757-0209 . Sue can also assist in making your reservations for the evening event.
WE’RE ON THE WEB ! http://mtvernon.wsu.edu/