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

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/.

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