Poleatewich lab research Snap-shot
Lab poster 2022 by Anissa Poleatewich
Current and recent research projects
Evaluation Of Disease Threats And Biofungicide Efficacy In Wood Byproduct Substrate Blends For Greenhouse Crops
Greenhouse growers produce plants in container systems using soilless substrates that provide suitable properties needed for optimal plant growth. With increasing annual greenhouse crop production and grower demand for economical and sustainable inputs, substrate manufacturers have identified wood byproducts to be promising alternatives to less-sustainable raw materials used in substrate formulations. What is becoming evident is that processed wood components vary chemically and physically due to material sourcing and differing manufacturing processes. These differences not only affect substrate properties and plant growth but also the persistence and activity of both plant-pathogenic and beneficial microbes with implications for greenhouse IPM. One of the most under-emphasized and poorly understood areas needing investigation is how wood components affect soilborne plant diseases and efficacy of microbial biofungicides.
In this research we are working to (1) survey numerous commercial wood components for their impacts on soilborne disease severity, (2) evaluate effects of wood processing methods and preconditioning treatments on disease severity, and (3) determine impacts of different wood containing substrates on microbial biofungicide efficacy.
Learn more about this research in the summer 2022 issue of INSPIRED.
Greenhouse growers produce plants in container systems using soilless substrates that provide suitable properties needed for optimal plant growth. With increasing annual greenhouse crop production and grower demand for economical and sustainable inputs, substrate manufacturers have identified wood byproducts to be promising alternatives to less-sustainable raw materials used in substrate formulations. What is becoming evident is that processed wood components vary chemically and physically due to material sourcing and differing manufacturing processes. These differences not only affect substrate properties and plant growth but also the persistence and activity of both plant-pathogenic and beneficial microbes with implications for greenhouse IPM. One of the most under-emphasized and poorly understood areas needing investigation is how wood components affect soilborne plant diseases and efficacy of microbial biofungicides.
In this research we are working to (1) survey numerous commercial wood components for their impacts on soilborne disease severity, (2) evaluate effects of wood processing methods and preconditioning treatments on disease severity, and (3) determine impacts of different wood containing substrates on microbial biofungicide efficacy.
Learn more about this research in the summer 2022 issue of INSPIRED.
Improving Biopesticide Efficacy Through Co-application with Natural Products
The success of IPM is only as good as the tools available and our knowledge of how to use them most effectively. One strategy is to harness the power of beneficial microbes (biopesticides) to suppress disease. Many growers have incorporated biopesticides into their spray programs with mixed success. These inconsistencies in performance remain a barrier to grower adoption. In this project, we are investigating a strategy to increase biopesticide efficacy through synergisms with natural compounds. Chitosan is a promising natural compound documented to have antifungal and disease suppressive effects. Chitosan has antimicrobial properties and has been documented to induce plant defense. Chitosan may also act as a food source for beneficial microbes and stimulate production of antifungal enzymes thereby enhancing efficacy. Finding synergisms between biopesticides and chitosan will allow us to develop best practices for disease management that capitalize on these synergisms.
Find out more about Liza's research here:lizadegenring.weebly.com/phd-research.html