Healthy Plants and Bilingual Education

WELCOME!

The Healthy Plants and Bilingual Education Program combines a passion for supporting and educating people with a curiosity and desire to explore the microbial world present all around us. We are dedicated to serving the nursery industry by engaging growers through personalized nursery visits, listening to their concerns and questions, and presenting science-based information on identifying and managing plant diseases. We also offer various plant health workshops and trainings throughout the year. Additionally, we conduct applied research on topics related to the industry’s needs. Our research and extension interests include the biology and management of many pathogens of concern. In particular, we focus on foliar pathogens such as Boxwood blight and Botrytis gray mold. But in addition, we study soilborne pathogens, such as the destructive Phytophthora species. Finally, we are fascinated by the biology and unique abilities of cyanobacteria and other microalgae that live in nursery recycling ponds. See below for a list of current projects!

We are thrilled to expand our outreach beyond the nursery industry. In 2012, we partnered with the berry commissions and the Oregon Department of Agriculture to begin offering training in Food Safety for growers, contractors, and anyone responsible for teaching harvest workers about minimizing the risk of contamination in the field. We have produced educational tools, found below, that provide support for this important endeavor. The emphasis on excellent hygiene, cleaning, and sanitation to prevent the spread of human pathogens complements our same emphasis for plant disease management!

Let us know how we can support you and your organization in producing healthy plants! Be sure to follow us on Facebook:    

Contact us today by emailing sarah.doane@oregonstate.edu or luisa.santamaria@oregonstate.edu. Our services are available in English and Spanish.

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