The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
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THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Record of the Year 2004-2005 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, founded in 1875, was the first agricultural experiment station in the United States. The Station has laboratories, offices, and greenhouses at 123 Huntington Street, New Haven 06511, Lockwood Farm for experiments on Evergreen Avenue in Hamden 06518, and the Valley Laboratory and farm on Cook Hill Road, Windsor 06095. Station Research is conducted by members of the following departments: Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Genetics, Entomology, Forestry and Horticulture, Plant Pathology and Ecology, and Soil and Water. The Station is chartered by the Connecticut General Statutes to experiment with plants and their pests, insects, soil and water and to perform analyses. 1 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station—Record of the Year 2004-2005 RECORD OF THE YEAR THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 2004-2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 BOARD OF CONTROL 5 STATION STAFF 6 PLANT SCIENCE DAY 2004 9 EVENTS HELD AT THE STATION 13 Hosting of Summer Program on Plants and Animals 13 Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association Winter Meeting 13 Plant Science Day in the Spring 13 Lockwood Lectures: 14 Dr. Christopher D. Collins 14 Dr. Kerry O’Donnell 14 Dr. Robert B. Tesh 14 Seminars: 14 Dr. Jennifer A. J. Feighny 14 Dr. Ronald J. Sarno 14 EVENTS HELD AT THE VALLEY LABORATORY 15 Christmas Tree Growers Twilight Meeting 15 Nursery and Landscape Research Tour 15 Private Applicator Pesticide License Review Class 15 Annual Tobacco Research Meeting 15 Springfield College Students’ Tour 16 EVENTS HELD AT LOCKWOOD FARM 16 Farm City 2005 16 EVENTS HELD AROUND THE STATE 17 Connecticut Public Television Family Science Expo 17 THE STATION IN THE COMMUNITY 17 Visit to Albertus Magnus College 17 Food Donations 17 2 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station—Record of the Year 2004-2005 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION RECEIVED BY STATION STAFF 18 EXPERIMENT STATION ASSOCIATES 19 THE PUBLIC SPEAKS 20 THE PRESS SPEAKS 33 SCIENTIFIC OFFICERSHIPS AND MEMBERSHIPS ON STATE, NATIONAL, OR REGIONAL COMMITTEES 38 Department of Biochemistry and Genetics 38 Department of Entomology 38 Department of Forestry and Horticulture 39 Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology 40 Department of Soil and Water 41 Valley Laboratory 42 LECTURES, SEMINARS AND INTERVIEWS 44 ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE 83 Department of Analytical Chemistry 83 Department of Biochemistry and Genetics 91 Department of Entomology 96 Department of Forestry and Horticulture 112 Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology 124 Department of Soil and Water 142 Valley Laboratory 153 STATION BULLETINS PUBLISHED DURING 2004-2005 176 SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL ARTICLES PUBLISHED BY STATION STAFF DURING 2004-2005 177 Department of Analytical Chemistry 177 Department of Biochemistry and Genetics 177 Department of Entomology 178 Department of Forestry and Horticulture 179 Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology 179 Department of Soil and Water 180 Valley Laboratory 182 3 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station—Record of the Year 2004-2005 INTRODUCTION The Experiment Station had another great year. Good progress was made in research, and strong efforts continued in outreach. Thousands of residents received answers to their questions, reporters published articles on new discoveries, and the Station received assistance from the Governor and legislators. Governor Rell facilitated the appropriation of special state funds to increase the ability of plant pathologists to diagnose Ramorum blight (formerly known as Sudden Oak Death). Funds were provided for technical help, equipment, and supplies. Three laboratories have been renovated to meet the increased needs of diagnostic testing, including the use of molecular techniques. Governor Rell also appointed F. Philip Prelli to be Commissioner of Agriculture, a post which also carries the assignment to be a member of the Station’s Board of Control. Public interest in Station research programs remains high. There were numerous inquiries on mosquitoes and encephalitis viruses, ticks and tick-borne pathogens, invasive plants, forest pest problems, food safety issues, and plant diseases. Three Station publications: Identification Guide to the Mosquitoes of Connecticut, Tick Management Handbook, and a Guide to Aquatic Invasive Plants have attracted national attention and are in great demand. This Record of the Year reports on scientific advancements, staff member interactions with the public, and comments received from residents of Connecticut. Louis A. Magnarelli Director 4 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station—Record of the Year 2004-2005 BOARD OF CONTROL The management of The Station is vested in a Board of Control as specified in Section 22-79 of the General Statues of Connecticut As of June 30, 2005, the members of the Board of Control are: Governor M. Jodi Rell, President Commissioner F. Philip Prelli Norma O’Leary, Vice President Dr. Stephen L. Dellaporta Leon Zapadka, Secretary John Lyman, III Dr. Louis A. Magnarelli, Director Dr. Donald Oliver The Board of Control met on August 4, 2004, October 20, 2004, January 18, 2005, and April, 20 2005 On November 12, 2004 Dr. John F. Anderson retired as Director of the Station to concentrate full time on his research. He was named Distinguished Scientist. Dr. Louis A. Magnarelli was named the Station’s new Director and took over on November 12, 2004. 5 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station—Record of the Year 2004-2005 STATION STAFF An experiment station exists to advance the frontiers of knowledge for mankind, and that advance depends completely upon the quality of its staff. The following was the staff of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station as of June 30, 2005. ADMINISTRATION Dr. Louis A. Magnarelli, Director Dr. Kirby C. Stafford, III, Vice Director Michael Last, Chief of Services Dianne Albertini Vickie Bomba-Lewandoski Joan Bravo Joan Ives-Parisi Lisa Kaczenski Roberta Milano-Ottenbreit Kathryn Soleski ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Dr. MaryJane Incorvia Mattina, Department Head Terri Arsenault Dr. Brian D. Eitzer Dr. Lester Hankin, Emeritus William Iannucci-Berger Dr. Walter J. Krol Craig L. Musante Mamie O. Pyles Dr. David E. Stilwell BIOCHEMISTRY & GENETICS Dr. Neil A. McHale, Department Head Carol R. Clark Dr. Douglas W. Dingman Regan Huntley Cynthia Musante Dr. Richard B. Peterson Dr. Neil P. Schultes Dr. Israel Zelitch, Emeritus BUILDINGS AND MAINTENANCE Bancroft Nicholson, Supervisor Kareem Dixon Alfred Gagliardi Gloria Mach Ralph Russell Michael Scott 6 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station—Record of the Year 2004-2005 ENTOMOLOGY Dr. Kirby C. Stafford, III, Department Head Elizabeth E. Alves Dr. John F. Anderson, Distinguished Scientist Erin S. Amezzane Dr. Anuja Bharadwaj Rosemarie J. Bonito Dr. Carole Cheah Terrill D. Goodman Bonnie L. Hamid Ira J. Kettle Morgan F. Lowry Dr. Chris T. Maier Tia M. Mastrone Tanya Petruff Gale E. Ridge Dr. Claire E. Rutledge Stephen J. Sandrey Eleanor Clare Secker-Walker Dr. Victoria L. Smith Dr. Kimberly A. Stoner Heidi Stuber Peter W. Trenchard Michael P. Vasil Kenneth A. Welch Tracy Zarillo FORESTRY & HORTICULTURE Dr. Jeffrey S. Ward, Department Head Joseph P. Barsky Dr. Martin P. N. Gent Dr. Abigail A. Maynard Dr. William R. Nail Michael R. Short Dr. Paul E. Waggoner, Distinguished Scientist Scott C. Williams LOCKWOOD FARM Richard M. Cecarelli, Farm Manager Rollin J. Hannan, Jr. PLANT PATHOLOGY & ECOLOGY Dr. Donald E. Aylor, Department Head Dr. Sandra L. Anagnostakis Dr. Matthew T. Boehm Mary K. Boucher Sandra E. Carney Dr. Sharon M. Douglas Dr. Wade H. Elmer Dr. Francis J. Ferrandino 7 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station—Record of the Year 2004-2005 Evan M. Lowery Dr. Robert E. Marra Brian T. Skelly Pamela Sletten Peter W. Thiel SOIL & WATER Dr. Theodore G. Andreadis, Department Head Dr. Phillip M. Armstrong Gregory J. Bugbee Dr. Robert S. Capers Kirsten Deeds Shannon L. Finan Dr. Seokjoon Kwon Dr. Goudarz Molaei Dr. Joseph J. Pignatello Roslyn S. Selsky John J. Shepard Michael C. Thomas Dr. Charles R. Vossbrinck Dr. Jason C. White VALLEY LABORATORY Dr. James A. LaMondia, Department Head Timothy M. Abbey Jane Canepa-Morrison Dr. Richard Cowles Jeffrey M. Fengler Rose T. Hiskes Richard W. Horvath Dr. Dewei Li Dr. Todd L. Mervosh James Preste Thomas M. Rathier John S. Winiarski 8 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station—Record of the Year 2004-2005 PLANT SCIENCE DAY A mild, partly sunny day was on tap for the 794 visitors to Lockwood Farm on Plant Science Day 2004. The following short talks and demonstrations were all well attended: Victoria L. Smith …………………………Sudden Oak Death – A Potential New Threat …………………………………………………to Connecticut Forests Kenneth A. Welch ………Diagnosis, Identification, and Processing of Insect Specimens Theodore G. Andreadis …………Learning to Live With West Nile Virus in Connecticut Thomas M. Rathier ………….The Wonders Beneath Our Feet – Simple Explanations of …………………………………..How Healthy Soil Works Douglas W. Dingman ………………Grub Diseases: What’s Going on Under the Grass? Richard C. Cowles …………………………………Managing Hemlock Woolly Adelgid The barn exhibits displayed were: Emerging Plant Diseases Caused by New Strains of a Common Pathogen …………………………………………………..…..Wade H Elmer Micro RNA Molecules: Resisting Viruses and Regulating Development ……………………………………………………………Neil A. McHale Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid ……..Carole A. Cheah, Mary Kay Frost ………………………………………………….……………………………..Jason