Hello, Wisconsin Cranberry Growers and Industry Members!

Leslie Holland here—your new extension fruit pathologist! I wanted to make an official introduction as I start up my research and extension program. I look forward to working with you to understand the unique challenges of this industry and to provide management solutions for current and emerging diseases.

So far, I have had the opportunity to visit several marshes and speak with growers about production practices, disease challenges, and future directions for cranberry production. For those of you I have not met I look forward to meeting soon, and perhaps I’ll see you in a few weeks during my first cranberry harvest experience!

Goals of the UW Fruit Pathology program for cranberry disease management:

• Study the epidemiology of cranberry fruit rot pathogens to develop a disease forecasting system to aid in management decisions
• Re-investigate older diseases such as cranberry false blossom and upright dieback
• Determine the impacts of changing weather conditions on disease incidence
• Optimize fungicide programs for new and established marshes

I am excited to visit your marsh and collect/receive samples for diagnosis. Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Email: laholland@wisc.edu

Office: 608-265-2047

Mailing address:

Leslie Holland

Department of Plant Pathology
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Russell Labs 374
1630 Linden Drive
Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1598

I look forward to meeting with everyone (hopefully in person) this winter at Cranberry School.

Happy Harvesting!

Leslie

This article was posted in Cranberry, Disease, Other News and Resources and tagged Cranberries, cranberry, disease, diseases, fruit pathologist, Leslie Holland, pathology.