People

Anders has several interests in sustainable vegetable production with an emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Insect Resistance Management (IRM). His research concentration focuses upon coupling emerging geospatial techniques and primary research to further develop effective pest management strategies. Using Colorado potato beetle as a model, Anders's project works to document variable overwintering biology and crop colonization of the pest in Wisconsin.

Ken is interested in the ecology and epidemiology of plant diseases. More specifically, he is interested in insect-vectored pathogens and modeling the movement of both the insect and pathogen in the environment. His project is directed at further enhancing our present understanding of the epidemiology and biogeography of the aster yellows phytoplasma with a focus on factors that influence the pathogen's geographical distribution and spread in the state. More about Ken here.

Shahideh Nouri is a PhD student in the Department of Plant Pathology. Her work focuses the recent emergence of several nonpersistent plant viruses impacting Wisconsin's processing vegetable crop industry. Her project builds on previous research by accurately determining where vectors acquire the viral pathogens, when they move into fields, and when they spread the pathogen to snap beans. Shahideh is currently working on a component of her project at the University of California, Davis CA with Dr. Bryce Falk, Professor of Virology and support for her project comes from Hatch McIntire-Stennis and from the Midwest Food Processors Association.

David is an M.S. student who joined the lab in Fall 2009. He is interested in efforts to record how the decline of wild and managed bees will impact the viability of crops requiring insect-mediated pollination. His project will examine how spatial heterogeneity and planting date affect the abundance and diversity of the native pollinator community in pickling cucumber. More about David here.

Natalie's primary interest is in taxonomy. Her research focus is on correlating which species of aphid are in potato fields when potato virus Y (PVY) is first detected. By determing which species are actually spreading the virus, PVY management practices can be improved.

The research that Scott conducts continues to provide needed information for the development, registration, and use of novel pest management tools.

Sarah's focus is on helping to generate extension materials, such as the Vegetable Entomology website and fact sheets.