Silicon soil amendments for enhancing disease resistance while improving overall crop health for cucurbits in organic farming systems

2006 Annual Report for LS06-187

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2006: $180,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2010
Region: Southern
State: Florida
Principal Investigator:
Co-Investigators:
Amanda Gevens
University of Florida

Silicon soil amendments for enhancing disease resistance while improving overall crop health for cucurbits in organic farming systems

Summary

Upon receiving notification in February 2006 that the SARE proposal was funded, the student assistantship was advertised with the American Phytopathological Society (APS). This position was posted with APS website and advertised in APS Phytopath Newsletter. Very few inquiries about this position were received. However, a former colleague from CIAT in Colombia informed me that he had an MS student with 10 years of field research interested in the position. After waiting about six months for the appropriate educational and professional materials to arrive, especially the TOEFL and GRE scores, this candidate did not pass the TOEFL or GRE tests. As consequence, the assistantship was re-advertised (see below). Recently, a student with appropriate edcational and professional credentials was located, and he officially started in May 2007.

Due to this unforseen setback, a year’s data was not available for Feb-Dec 2006 Annual Report. However, updated information and research data will be submitted with the Jan-Dec 2007 Annual Report due Spring 2008.

A Ph.D. research assistantship is available in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida-IFAS. The focus of the research is the interaction between plant disease and mineral nutrition in organic production systems. Organic growers are challenged to produce quality vegetables because environmental conditions are conducive for the development of plant diseases. Although cultural techniques are often integrated with other management tools, plant disease can still reduce vegetable yield and quality. As a consequence, other strategies must be developed for the control of plant pathogens and the diseases they cause. One component of such an integrated pest management (IPM) system is the potential use of silicon as a tool for disease control. Although silicon is not considered an essential element for plants, it has enhanced the growth and development of several monocot and dicot species, especially under poor soil and nutrient conditions. Silicon has also provided effective control of both soilborne and foliar fungal diseases. This project will investigate amending the soil with naturally mined silicon minerals to enhance disease resistance. The use of silicon as a soil amendment offers a potentially sustainable method of addressing plant disease control while improving soil health and crop quality. Applicants should have a B.S. or M.S. degree in agricultural, biological, or life science. Applications accepted: November 30, 2006 or until position is filled. Send letter describing experience and interests, along with CV, degrees and GPAs, GREs, and letter of reference. Contact: Lawrence Datnoff, University of Florida, (Department of Plant Pathology, 1453 Fifield Hall, Hull Rd., Gainesville, FL 32611 USA. E-mail: ledatnoff@ifas.ufl.edu; Phone: +1.352.392.3631 ext. 383; Web: http://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/.

Collaborators:

Rose Koenig

rlkoening@ifas.ufl.edu
Courtesy Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology
University of Florida
Family, Youth and Community Sciences
3026 McCarty Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611
Office Phone: 3523921987
Mickie Swisher

meswisher@ifas.ufl.edu
Associate Professor of Sustainable Agriculture
University of Florida
Family, Youth and Community Services
3041D McCarty Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611
Office Phone: 3523922201
Jose Alvarez

jalv@ifas.ufl.edu
Professor of Agricultural Economics
University of Florida
EREC
3200 E Palm Beach Rd
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Office Phone: 5619931528
Robert McGovern

rjmcgov@ufl.edu
Professor of Plant Pathology
University of Florida
1453 Fifield Hall
Department of Plant Pathology/IFAS
Gainesville, FL 32611
Office Phone: 3523923631
Website: www.dpm.ifas.ufl.edu/index.shtml
Lawrence Datnoff

ldatnoff@agcenter.lsu.edu
Professor & Department Head
Louisiana State University
Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology
302 Life Sciences Bldg.
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Office Phone: 2255781366
Website: www.lsuagcenter.com
Eric Simonne

esimonne@ifas.ufl.edu
Associate Professor of Horticulture
University of Florida
Department of Horticultural Sciences
Fifield Hall, Hull Rd.
Gainesville, FL 32611
Office Phone: 3523921928
Marty Mesh

fog@foginfo.org
Executive Director
Florida Certified Organic Growers & Consumers, Inc
PO Box 12311
Gainesville, FL 32604
Office Phone: 3523776345
Danielle Treadwell

ddtreadw@ufl.edu
Assistant Professor of Horticulture
University of Florida
Department of Horticultural Sciences
Fifield Hall, Hull Rd.
Gainesville, FL 32611
Office Phone: 3523921928
Charles Andrews

hammockhollowfarm@yahoo.com
Owner and Operator
Hammock Hollow Herb Farm
PO 130
Island Grove, FL 32654
Office Phone: 3524812522
Bala Rathinasabapathi

brath@ifas.ufl.edu
Associate Professor of Horticulture
University of Florida
Department of Horticultural Sciences
Fifield Hall, Hull Rd.
Gainesville, FL 32611
Office Phone: 3523921928