![[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]](http://njaes.rutgers.edu/_common/images/subheads/plantbiopath.gif "[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]"){kind=small}
The 16th annual “A Celebration of Excellence” Awards were announced. Many departmental staff & faculty received the 2009 Excellence Award for a team. For "Rediscovering the Jersey Tomato—Revitalizing a Signature Crop for New Jersey," award recepients include our deparment's own. Dr. Tom Orton. For "Partnership for Sustainable Economic Growth in Africa through Natural Products Development" award recepients include our department's own Diane Ducceschi, Barbara Fitzgerald, H. Rodolfo Juliani, Adolfina Koroch, Chung Park, James Simon, Pierre Tannous, and Qing-Li Wu.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Ida A. Leone. - posted April 30, 2009Dr. Leone was employed by Rutgers University, Cook College, as a professor of Plant Pathology and Environmental Science from 1944 to 1988. Dr. Leone was a 1944 graduate of Douglass College in New Brunswick, receiving her B.S. degree in science. She received her master's and doctorate degrees at Rutgers University. Dr. Leone, and her associate, the late Dr. Eileen Brennan, were pioneers in the field of air pollution. She became a highly respected consultant to industry throughout the world. Dr. Leone was a member of the National Academy of Sciences. She was also a member of the AMITA, and was honored in 1966, as "Woman of the Year." Dr. Leone was commissioner of air pollution for the City of Rahway, and an active member of St. John the Apostle R.C. Church, Clark, where she had served on the parish council and was a longtime member of its choir. Dr. Leone was listed in Who's Who in American Woman and Science.
GIBEX visited the Kingdom of Bhutan - posted February 5, 2009A GIBEX-U.S. delegation led by Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment member Ilya Raskin visited the Kingdom of Bhutan in December. Accompanying Raskin were colleagues Mary Ann Lila (North Carolina State University) and Preston Scott (executive director of the World Foundation for Environment and Development). The visit was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture of Bhutan and involved meetings with government officials as well as members of Bhutan’s royal family. As a result of these meetings, a plan for the establishment of GIBEX-Bhutan was drafted. The plan involves a speedy signing of the memorandum of understanding followed by a GIBEX training course in Bhutan as early as spring of 2009. The plan envisions Bhutan’s Institute of Traditional Medicine Services and National Biodiversity Centre working together to establish GIBEX-Bhutan. GIBEX-Bhutan will concentrate on the bioexploration of Bhutanese flora for new sources of medicines, validation of existing traditional medicines, and the use of GIBEX technologies to advance scientific education within the country. GIBEX-Bhutan is poised to become a model for future international scientific programs and exchanges between Bhutan and US universities that can bring important sustainable economic and educational opportunities to the Bhutanese people. (
Department faculty receive awards from the New Jersey Turfgrass Association - posted February 5, 2009Jim Murphy (specialist in turf management) was awarded the 2008 Hall of Fame Award for outstanding achievements, service, and contributions to the turfgrass industry, and Bingru Huang received the 2008 Recognition Award for her research and extension efforts by the New Jersey Turfgrass Association on December 10 at the 33rd Annual New Jersey Green Expo in Atlantic City.
Rutgers to begin development of plant biosecurity certificate program - posted October 28, 2008
A memorandum of understanding between Rutgers University and USDA APHIS-PPQ concerning the development of a new plant biosecurity certificate program was signed by Executive Dean Robert M. Goodman and Victor Harabin (Eastern Regional Director of USDA APHIS-PPQ) on September 24. Present at the signing were Rong Di (Plant Biology and Pathology), Jim White (Plant Biology and Pathology), George Hamilton (Entomology), and Gordon Gordh (USDA APHIS National Science Advisor). Rong Di is developing a new course titled "Plant biosecurity issues and technologies" to be offered in spring 2009. This course will be part of the new certificate program.
Students in the Plant Biology graduate program receive awards at the Annual Meeting of the Crop Science Society of America - posted October 28, 2008
Eight students in the Plant Biology graduate program received awards at the Annual Meeting of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) held in Houston, TX, October 5-9. Jo Anne Crouch received the Gerald O. Mott Scholarship Award from the CSSA. This scholarship is provided each year to a student who has demonstrated outstanding potential for leadership. In the Soils and Water Session, John C. Inguagiato took 1st place for his oral presentation entitled, "Topdressing incorporation and sand shape effects on anthracnose severity of annual bluegrass." Patrick McCullough was awarded 1st place and Robert Shortell received 2ndplace honors from the Industry Committee for their talks on "Bispyribac-sodium Metabolism in Annual Bluegrass, Creeping Bentgrass, and Perennial Ryegrass," and "The Influence of nitrogen fertility on the tolerance of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) to bispyribac-sodium herbicide," respectively. Emily Merewitz was awarded 2nd place for her poster entitled, "Physiological responses of drought stressed creeping bentgrass transgenic for an Ipt gene controlling cytokinin synthesis" from the Turfgrass Breeders Committee. Jon Bokmeyer received 2nd place and Matt Koch took 3rd place honors for their oral presentations entitled, "Combiniability of brown patch resistance in tall fescue" and "Greenhouse screening of perennial ryegrass cultivars for salinity tolerance," respectively. In the Physiology and Ecology Session, YaXu was awarded 2nd place for her talk on the "Effects of plant growth regulators and biostimulants on summer bentgrass decline." (Photo, l to r: Rob Shortell, Jo Anne Crouch, Yan Jon Bokmeyer, John Inguagiato, Emily Merewitz, Patrick McCullough, and Matt Koch)
Donald Walker receives Best Graduate Student Poster Presentation at the Mycological Society of America's Annual Meeting - posted October 28, 2008Donald Walker (Plant Biology graduate program) received an award for Best Graduate Student Poster Presentation at the Mycological So\ciety of America's Annual Meeting in State College, PA(August 2008). The title of his poster was "Assessing the Monophyly of Gnomoniopsis comari (Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales)."
Best presentation at the Botany 2008 conference awarded to department undergraduate, graduate student and faculty advisor - posted October 2, 2008During the Botany 2008 conference in Vancouver, Canada, Aug 26-31, recent Plant Science undergraduate Sarah Kelsey, Plant Biology graduate student Sasha Eisenman, and Lena Struwe (Plant Biology and Pathology) received the national annual award for best presentation in Historical Botany by the Botanical Society of America. The title of the poster is "The Establishment and Persistence of Plants Introduced to New Jersey by Solid Ballast on Ships" and an abstract is here.
Joel Flagler initiated a horticultural therapy program for the Bergen County Special Services School District - posted October 2, 2008Joel Flagler initiated a horticultural therapy program for the Bergen County Special Services School District. The classes are held in a commercial-grade greenhouse made available by the Garfield Housing Authority. The participants, ages 14-21, are developmentally challenged. Each session focuses on specific skill sets (cognitive, social, etc.). The program serves as an approved internship option for School of Environmental and Biological Sciences undergraduates.
Emily won the first place award in the graduate student oral competition of the Northeast American Society for Horticultural Science - posted October 2, 2008Emily Merewitz won the first place award in the graduate student oral competition of the Northeast American Society Hort Science for her presentation entitled "Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with drought tolerance of creeping bentgrass" at the Society's annual meeting, January 3-5.
Jim Murphy received the 2007 Recognition Award from the New Jersey Turfgrass Association - posted October 2, 2008Jim Murphy received the 2007 Recognition Award from the New Jersey Turfgrass Association at the Green Industry Expo in December for his research and extension efforts in support of the turf industry in New Jersey.
Ari Novy was awarded second place at the Northeast Region of the American Society for Horticultural Science meeting for his presentation - posted October 2, 2008Ari Novy (Landscape Architecture; Graduate Program in Plant Biology) was awarded second place at the recent Northeast Region of the American Society for Horticultural Science meeting for his paper with JeanMarie Hartman, Peter Smouse, Lena Struwe, C. Miller, W. Skaradek, and Stacy Bonos entitled "Can Population Genetics Studies of Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass) Affect March Restoration Horticultural Practices?"
Dr. Hillman named a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society - posted October 2, 2008Bradley Hillman was named a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society (APS). Fellows are chosen for their significant contributions to the science of plant pathology. The formal award will be given this summer at the annual meeting of the APS in Minneapolis, MN.
Dr. Clarke receives the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Graduate School-New Brunswick - posted October 2, 2008Bruce Clarke received the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Graduate School-New Brunswick for "distinguished contributions to the understanding of turfgrass pathology and his commitment to education and public service." The award was presented earlier this month at the fifth Annual Distinguished Alumni/-ae Awards Reception and Dinner.
Patricia Alvarez-Loayza receives a Rutgers University Bevier Fellowship. - posted October 2, 2008Patricia Alvarez-Loayza (graduate programs in Plant Biology and Pathology and Ecology and Evolution) was awarded a Rutgers University Bevier Fellowship for the 2008-2009 academic year. Her research is centered on understanding the roles of pathogenic and endophytic fungi in determining plant distribution and diversity in tropical forests. Alvarez-Loayza's unique research approach is a blend of the disciplines of plant pathology and community ecology. Her field research is conducted in the Manu National Forest of the Madre de Dios region of Peru.
Ann Gould elected to University Senate - posted October 2, 2008Ann Gould (extension specialist, Plant Biology) and Mark Miller (Environmental Sciences) have been elected to represent the school on the University Senate for terms ending in 2011.
Dr. Raskin eleected toEuropean Academy of Sciences and Arts - posted October 2, 2008Ilya Raskin was elected a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts in March. The Academy hosts about 1,300 of Europe's top scientists and artists as members (among them 15 Nobel laureates), who approach issues facing Europe and the globe in various colloquia and publications.
Jo Anne Crouch receives many graduate student honors - posted October 2, 2008Jo Anne Crouch was awarded the Rutgers Graduate School Research Award for 2007-2008. She will receive the award on April 24 at a ceremony at Zimmerli Museum. She was selected as the recipient of the Mycological Society of America (MSA) Memorial NAMA Graduate Fellowship ($2,000). The award will be presented at the MSA annual meeting at Penn State. She was also awarded the Gerald O. Mott Scholarship for Meritorious Graduate Students in Crop Science by the Crop Science Society of America. The honor is accompanied by a $2,500 honorarium. The award will be formally presented at the CSSA Awards Program at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting in Houston, TX, in early October.
Luis Mejia receives the Mycological Society of America Backus Award - posted October 2, 2008Luis Mejia (graduate program in Plant Biology) was selected as the recipient of the Mycological Society of America Backus Award ($1,000) for graduate students. The award will be presented at the MSA annual meeting at Penn State.
Luis Mejia and Tengbo Huang (graduate program in Plant Biology) were awarded the Spencer Davis Plant Biology Student Research Award for 2008.
Dr. Struwe named honorary research associate at The New York Botanical Garden - posted October 2, 2008Lena Struwe (Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources) has been appointed as a honorary research associate at The New York Botanical Garden in recognition of her close ties and productive research collaborations with the staff of their Institute of Systematic Botany.
Joe Florentine named chair of the Association of Education and Research Greenhouse Curators - posted October 2, 2008Joseph V. Florentine (Greenhouse Operations and Planning) has been named the chair of the Association of Education and Research Greenhouse Curators (AERGC), an organization composed primarily of university, botanical garden, and industry greenhouse managers. The organization serves to bring together greenhouse management professionals from all over the globe by sharing information and resources through an annual meeting, quarterly newsletter, and email forum. Florentine will be serving as chair for two years.
Patent awarded to Dr. Vorsa - posted October 2, 2008Nicholi Vorsa has received a patent award from the Research and Development Council of New Jersey for his most recent cranberry patent. The Office of Corporate Liaison and Technology Transfer nominated Vorsa for the award.
Dr. Zilinskas elected a Fellow of the AAAS - posted January 16, 2008Barbara Zilinskas (Plant Biology and Pathology) has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The official award will be made at the annual meeting of the AAAS to be held February 14-18, 2008, in Boston, MA.
Dr. Elwin Orton wins the 2007 Thomas A. Edison Patent Award for his patent on the Venus® dogwood - posted January 15, 2008Dr. Elwin Orton is the winner of the 2007 Thomas A. Edison Patent Award for his patent on the Venus® dogwood entitled "Interspecific Cornus Hybrid Designated KN30-8".
Dr. Orton's leadership in breeding of perennial ornamentals is well established within the horticulture industry and among his peers. This year's Edison Patent Award comes on the heels of the prestigious Luther Burbank Award to Dr. Orton last year. We at the Experiment Station, the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and within the Plant Biology and Pathology Department are gratified to see Dr. Orton receive the nationwide recognition that he has earned through years of focused effort in this field.
Nursery crops constitute the largest agricultural commodity in New Jersey, with industries including greenhouse and sod accounting for 42% (> $360 million) of total state agriculture. In addition to its visibility in New Jersey, the patent on the Venus® dogwood has already been licensed to 14 nurseries, including one in the European Union. Over the projected life of the patent and beyond, the Venus® dogwood tree and its trademark name have the potential to inject millions of dollars into the nursery industry and the economy of New Jersey. The invention honored here by the Edison Patent Award exemplifies the effective partnership between the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and its scientists in support of the agricultural industries of the state. Dr. Orton has shown what this partnership can achieve.
Chrysler Herbarium begins materials exchange with the Swedish Museum of Natural History - posted Jan. 14, 2008A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Rutgers University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History for yearly exchange of herbarium material between Chrysler Herbarium and the museum in Stockholm, Sweden. This was facilitated by Lena Struwe (Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources) and Executive Dean Robert Goodman. This new collaboration is a continuation of the nearly 400-year-old research connections between New Jersey and Sweden and is part of the 300-year jubilee of Carl Linnaeus that is being celebrated worldwide.
BioBiltz draws 20 volunteers - posted Jan. 14, 2008Lena Struwe arranged a BioBlitz at the Phillips Preserve in Old Bridge, NJ, on June 10, together with Richard Lear of the Middlesex County Parks Department. About 20 people helped identify a multitude of plants, insects, and birds. The complete species list will be available here.