THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Record of the Year 2016 - 2017 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, founded in 1875, was the first state 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, the Valley Laboratory and farm on Cook Hill Road, Windsor 06095, and a research center in Griswold and Voluntown. Station Research is conducted by members of the following departments: Analytical Chemistry, Entomology, Environmental Sciences, Forestry and Horticulture, Plant Pathology and Ecology, and the Valley Laboratory. The Station is chartered by the Connecticut General Statutes to experiment with plants and their pests, insects, soil and water and to perform analyses. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – Record of the Year 2016-2017 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS BOARD OF CONTROL 5 STATION STAFF 6 Retirements 9 PLANT SCIENCE DAY 10 EVENTS HELD AT THE STATION Forest Health Workshop 23 Pollinator Workshop 23 2017 Connecticut State AgriScience Fair 23 EVENTS HELD AT LOCKWOOD FARM 2016 Connecticut-FFA Forestry Career Development Event 25 EVENTS HELD AT THE VALLEY LABORATORY Nursery & Landscape Research Tour in 2016 26 THE STATION IN THE COMMUNITY New Haven Public Schools Science Fair at Yale University 27 DONATIONS MADE TO THE COMMUNITY Lockwood Farm 28 Valley Laboratory 28 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION RECEIVED BY STATION STAFF 29 THE PUBLIC SPEAKS 30 SCIENTIFIC OFFICERSHIPS AND MEMBERSHIPS ON STATE, NATIONAL, OR REGIONAL COMMITTEES Administration 33 Department of Analytical Chemistry 33 Department of Entomology 34 Department of Environmental Sciences 35 Department of Forestry and Horticulture 36 Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology 36 Valley Laboratory 37 LECTURES, SEMINARS, AND INTERVIEWS 39 ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE Department of Analytical Chemistry 82 3 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – Record of the Year 2016-2017 Department of Entomology 92 Department of Environmental Sciences 107 Department of Forestry and Horticulture 129 Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology 144 Valley Laboratory 160 SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL ARTICLES PUBLISHED BY STAFF DURING 2016-2017 191 BULLETINS AND FACT SHEETS PUBLISHED BY STAFF DURING 2016-2017 199 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – Record of the Year 2016-2017 4 BOARD OF CONTROL The management of The Station is vested in a Board of Control as specified in section 22-79 of the General Statutes of Connecticut. The members of the Board of Control as of June 30, 2017 were: Governor Dannel P. Malloy, President Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky Terry Jones, Vice President Dr. Erol Fikrig Paul C. Larson, Secretary Ms. Joan Nichols Dr. Theodore G. Andreadis, Director Dr. Dana Royer Ms. Patti J. Maroney The Board of Control met on August 3, 2016, October 19, 2016, January 18, 2017, and April 12, 2017. 5 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – Record of the Year 2016-2017 STATION STAFF The Experiment Station exists to advance scientific knowledge, and that advance depends completely upon the quality and dedication of its staff. The following was the staff of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station as of June 30, 2017. ADMINISTRATION Dr. Theodore G. Andreadis, Director Dr. Jason C. White, Vice Director Michael P. Last, Chief of Services Dianne F. Albertini Vickie M. Bomba-Lewandoski Sandra E. Carney Lisa L. Kaczenski Kathryn K. Soleski Jennifer L. Stevens ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Dr. Jason C. White, Vice Director, Department Head Michael A. Ammirata Terri Arsenault Michael J. Cavadini Dr. Roberto De La Torre-Roche Dr. Brian D. Eitzer Dr. Walter J. Krol Dr. Chuanxin Ma Dr. MaryJane Incorvia Mattina, Emeritus Craig L. Musante Kitty Prapayotin-Riveros John F. Ranciato Dr. Christina S. Robb Dr. Nubia Zuverza-Mena ENTOMOLOGY Dr. Kirby C. Stafford III, Department Head Dr. John F. Anderson, Emeritus Tia Blevins Mark H. Creighton Katherine Dugas Jeffrey M. Fengler Megan A. Linske Eliza A.H. Little Morgan F. Lowry Dr. Chris T. Maier Dr. Gale E. Ridge Dr. Claire E. Rutledge Dr. Victoria L. Smith Dr. Kimberly A. Stoner Heidi R. Stuber Tracy A. Zarrillo The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – Record of the Year 2016-2017 6 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Dr. Joseph J. Pignatello, Department Head Dr. Philip M. Armstrong Dr. Douglas E. Brackney Angela B. Bransfield Gregory J. Bugbee Maria A. Correa Michael J. Misencik Dr. Goudarz Molaei Dr. Brij L. Sawhney, Emeritus John J. Shepard Dr. John S. Soghigian Dr. Blaire T. Steven Michael Thomas Michael Vasil Dr. Charles R. Vossbrinck FORESTRY AND HORTICULTURE Dr. Jeffrey S. Ward, Department Head Dr. Adriana L. Arango-Velez Joseph P. Barsky Joan L. Bravo Dr. Martin P.N. Gent, Emeritus Dr. David E. Hill, Emeritus Dr. Abigail A. Maynard Michael R. Short Dr. Paul E. Waggoner, Emeritus Dr. Scott C. Williams GRISWOLD RESEARCH CENTER Robert J. Durgy, Research Farm Manager LOCKWOOD FARM Richard M. Cecarelli, Research Farm Manager Rollin J. Hannan Michael M. McHill MAINTENANCE Bancroft C. Nicholson, Lead Maintainer Isaac K. Bildad Eric J. Flores Brian Hart Ronald A. LaFrazier Miguel Roman Michael A. Scott PLANT PATHOLOGY AND ECOLOGY Dr. Wade H. Elmer, Department Head Dr. Sandra L. Anagnostakis, Emeritus Dr. Donald E. Aylor, Emeritus Dr. Sharon M. Douglas, Emeritus 7 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – Record of the Year 2016-2017 Dr. Francis J. Ferrandino Regan B. Huntley Dr. Yonghao Li Dr. Robert E. Marra Dr. Neil A. McHale, Emeritus Lindsay A. Patrick Dr. Richard B. Peterson, Emeritus Dr. Neil P. Schultes Dr. Teja S. Shidore Peter W. Thiel Dr. Lindsay R. Triplett Dr. Israel Zelitch, Emeritus Dr. Quan Zeng VALLEY LABORATORY Dr. James A. LaMondia, Department Head Dr. Jatinder S. Aulakh Jane Canepa-Morrison Dr. Carole A. Cheah Nathaniel R. Child Dr. Richard S. Cowles Jeffrey M. Fengler Rose T. Hiskes Dr. DeWei Li Dr. Katja Maurer James J. Preste, Research Farm Manager Thomas M. Rathier, Emeritus Diane Riddle Michelle R. Salvas The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – Record of the Year 2016-2017 8 RETIREMENTS Dr. Douglas W. Dingman Dr. Douglas W. Dingman joined the staff of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in April 1987 as an Assistant Scientist in the Department of Entomology and was promoted to Associate Scientist in 2001, serving in both the Department of Entomology and the Department of Biochemistry and Genetics. As a microbiologist and molecular biologist, Dr. Dingman contributed to a better understanding of gene expression, identification, and pathogenicity of various strains of milky spore disease for the control of the white grubs of Japanese beetles and related bacteria. He advanced molecular diagnostic techniques for studying and differentiating different bacterial isolates and conducted research on issues related to honey bee health and the pathogens that cause American foulbrood and nosemosis. He educated Connecticut beekeepers on how to diagnose honey bee diseases and studied the genetics of Connecticut honey bees. Dr. Dingman further studied the genomics, antibiotic resistance, and prevalence of American foulbrood in Connecticut apiaries advancing molecular knowledge of honey bee diseases, and over his career provided science- based support for the understanding of microbial biological control and honey bee health. For thirty years, Dr. Douglas Dingman ably served The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the citizens of Connecticut. His research truly exemplified the motto of the Experiment Station: “Putting Science to Work for Society.” We honor Dr. Dingman and his contributions on the occasion of his retirement. Ms. Pamela Sletten Ms. Pamela Sletten joined the staff of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in May 1985 as an Aide II and was assigned to work under the supervision of Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis where she was promptly promoted to Aide III in October 1987. In recognition of her work assisting with Chestnut blight research, she was promoted to the rank of Technician I in October 1995. In 2014, Ms. Sletten began assisting in the Plant Disease Information Office and was subsequently trained and certified to conduct the state-mandated seed analysis where she ensured the citizenry that vegetable, lawn, and crop seed companies met state-mandated regulations on seed quality and purity. Ms. Sletten was consistently rated as an excellent assistant who had passion and dedication to the research in which she was engaged. Her tireless efforts in the laboratory and in the field provided the consistency necessary to ensure a high level of research quality. Over her tenure at the Station, Ms. Sletten was always willing to learn new techniques, master new equipment, and help to navigate Station projects on chestnut and butternut trees. She always maintained a cheerful outlook leading Dr. Anagnostakis to say “A cheerful assistant is a value beyond pearls!” Ms. Sletten continued to project her positive outlook in the Plant Disease Information Office where she painstakingly assisted in the daily activities of the Station’s flagship office along with her seed testing duties. For thirty-two years, Pam Sletten ably served the Station and the citizens of Connecticut, ensuring quality research. Her service truly exemplified the motto of the Experiment Station: “Putting Science to Work for Society.” We honor Ms. Pamela Sletten for her contributions on the occasion of her retirement. 9 The Connecticut