Funded Projects
2025
Amin Joodaky | Advancing Sustainable Apple Packaging Design: Multi-Axis Vibration and Drop Testing with Machine Learning to Mitigate Post-Harvest Damage |
Martin Chilvers | Novel Strategies for Monitoring Fungicide Resistance in the Biotrophic Corn Pathogen Phyllachora maydis |
Christopher Long | Improving the economic sustainability of Michigan potato producers by determining the optimal in-row seed spacing and seed piece depth for three commercial chip processing varieties Bliss, Lamoka and Mackinaw. |
Mary Hausbeck | Practical solutions to manage powdery mildew of squash and pumpkins |
Julianna Wilson | Improved Management of Woolly Apple Aphids in Michigan |
Maninderpal Singh | Short- vs tall-stature corn: optimizing row spacing and seeding rate for Michigan growers |
Jaime Willbur | Characterization of postharvest potato pathogens to improve and inform management efforts |
Pratima Devkota | Investigating the Physiological and Molecular Responses of Prunus Rootstocks to Wounding and Armillaria solidipes |
David Douches | INTROGRESSION AND PYRAMIDING OF NOVEL GENES FOR DIPLOID POTATO BREEDING |
Randolph Beaudry | Understanding and Controlling Lenticel Breakdown in Apples |
Angela Chen | Enhancing microbial disease protection and value-added byproducts in cherries through plant-derived nanoparticles |
Younsuk Dong | Advancing Agricultural Innovation and Sustainability through the Testing Agricultural Performance Solutions (TAPS) Program |
Younsuk Dong | Optimizing Irrigation Techniques to Increase Climate Resilience of Blueberry Production |
Younsuk Dong | Strengthening MSU’s Irrigation Extension Program to Provide Improved Resources to Growers |
J Sirrine | Specialty Cropportunities: An online tool supporting Michigan producers' crop selection and diversification efforts |
Meghan Milbrath | Indoor overwintering as a practical and effective way to manage varroa mites and other honey bee diseases. |
Christine Sprunger | Redefining Sustainable Soil Management: Diversifying Soil Food Webs for Resilient Agroecosystems |
Yuzhen Lu | In-field, Non-destructive Detection of Spotted Wing Drosophila in Blueberry Fruit using Hyperspectral Imaging |
Mary Hausbeck | Protecting Michigan's Pickling Cucumber Industry Through Enhanced Pathogen Detection |
Jiyoon Yi | Integrating field sensor data with machine learning to model Phytophthora dynamics and optimize anaerobic soil disinfestation |
Rodney Fernandez | Commercial-scale woodchip bioreactors for agrochemical removal from recycled water for irrigation at a wholesale Michigan greenhouse |
Eric Patterson | CATS: A one-stop-shop for TSR mutation detection in all major herbicide resistance genes and weed species |
Olivia Smith | NESTS: Network for Evaluating System Tradeoffs of Songbirds |
Rufus Isaacs | Translating blueberry pollination research into changes in grower and beekeeper actions |
Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar | Michigan Grapevine Freezing Tolerance Prediction Model: Enhancing Sustainability in the Grape and Wine Industry |
Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar | Enhancing Michigan's Grape and Wine Industry: MSU Extension Education Programs for 2025–2026 |
Martin Chilvers | Enhanced Strategies for Managing White Mold: Integrating Remote Sensing, Optimal Fungicide Timing, and Resistance Monitoring |
Martin Chilvers | Advancing Oak Wilt Management: Outreach and Demonstration of Diagnostic Techniques |
Ryan Warner | Evaluating a potential novel regulator of vegetative development rate in petunia |
Maninderpal Singh | Sustainable intensification: Optimizing management decisions for profitable and resilient double cropping systems in Michigan |
Erik Runkle | Developing water vapor-pressure deficit guidelines for ornamental and vegetable transplant production |
Safa Alzohairy | Empowering Michigan Growers for Pesticide Changes and Application Compliance |
Christy Sprague | Integrating cultural practices for weed management in dry edible beans |
George Sundin | Fungicide sensitivity/resistance? Analysis of SDHI fungicide phenotype, genotype and alternate controls for the apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) and brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) pathogens |
Emily Lavely | Evaluation of potential new and economically viable apple varieties for use in Michigan commercial orchards |
Emily Merewitz Holm | Winter recovery management strategies for cool-season turfgrasses |
2024
Benbow, M. Eric | Understanding hemlock woolly adelgid and elongate hemlock scale microbiomes to identify novel bacterial symbionts for invasive species control |
Brainard, Daniel | Integrating chemical, physical and robotic technologies to address critical weed problems in vegetable crops |
Bunting, Erin | Fruit Abundance Mapping using Lidar Collection and Machine Learning Classification Models to Support Site-Specific Management and Harvesting Activities: A Case Study in MI Vineyards |
Burns, Erin | Investigating weed control in short-statured corn |
Burrack, Hannah | Broadening the buzz: Assessing sustainable intensification and arthropod-mediated ecosystem services in row crops |
Chilvers, Martin | Enhancing Wheat Seedling Health: Pathogen Characterization and Seed Treatment Trials for Effective Root Rot Disease Management |
Chilvers, Martin | Enhancing dry bean production through improved identification and management of diseases |
Cregg, Bert | Improving plantation establishment and managing cone formation for Christmas tree production in Michigan |
Dong, Younsuk | Improving Irrigation Management in High Density Apple Production Using a Climate-Smart Irrigation Technology |
Dong, Younsuk | Assessing groundwater recharge on irrigated lands using advanced geological survey techniques and a mathematical model |
Dong, Younsuk | Providing growers a user-friendly mobile app for climate-smart irrigation scheduling |
Douches, David | Modifying Key Traits for Potato Tuber Size Profile and Bruise Reduction in Potato |
Douches, David | Developing and deploying new host plant resistance to potato insects in diploid potato varieties |
Haus, Miranda | Developing recommendations for pH soil amendment and addition of beneficial microbes to combat blueberry replant disease |
Hausbeck, Mary | Molecular characterization of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii can provide needed answers to celery “meltdown” |
Hayden, Zachary | Understanding and Mitigating Variability in Field Uptake of Heavy Metals in Processing Carrots and Winter Wheat |
Huang, Zachary | Construction of a queen tracker to study honey bee queen movement |
Hulin, Michelle | Understanding the evolution of pathogenicity in epiphytic Pseudomonas on sweet cherry |
Hulin, Michelle | Evaluating novel control measures for Pseudomonas cherry canker and identifying new pathogen targets for future management |
Isaacs, Rufus | Understanding insect vectors and rot pathogens to improve Michigan grape quality |
Isaacs, Rufus | Updating MSU's blueberry extension program to improve resources for growers |
Lebeis, Sarah | The impact of commercial microbial inoculants on the physiological and microbial dynamics in soybean root during drought stress |
Lopez, Roberto | Developing Strategies to Prevent Undesirable Purple Pigmentation on Cuttings Rooted under LED Supplemental Lighting |
McCullough, Deborah | Are Systemic Insecticides a Viable Option for Spotted Lanternfly Control in Maples? |
Noh, Yoorae | Evaluating the formation and accumulation of microplastics and plastics-derived contaminants in vegetable production |
Patterson, Eric | High-throughput protein folding of weed proteomes to lay the groundwork for new discoveries in weed science. |
Perkins, Jacquelyn | Creating a digital decision aid tool to improve apple pesticide programs |
Rojas-Flechas, J. Alejandro | Insights into the diversity and genome complexity of the bean root rot complex |
Singh, Maninderpal | Optimizing planting practices in winter wheat: role of precision planting, row spacing, seeding rate, and varietal canopy |
Sprague, Christy and Singh, Maninderapal | Optimizing harvest strategies to improve soybean yield and quality |
Sundin, George | Tolerance to the last resort bactericide kasugamycin in the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora: assessment and mitigation |
Sundin, George | Bacteriophage:pathogen dynamics -- unraveling the critical factors necessary to making phage biocontrol a reality |
Vanderweide, Josh | Characterizing the role of pollination quality on blueberry flavor volatile biosynthesis |
Vannocker, Steven | Developing the native apple as a model for understanding spring frost resistance in commercial apples |
Vannocker, Steven | Increasing Apple Production Profitability by Optimizing Pollinizer Efficiency in Single-Variety Blocks |
Wessel, Barret M. | Establishing Soil and Plant Nutrient Laboratory legacy data as a research resource |
Willbur, Jaime | Development of web-based Extension resources for potato and sugar beet diseases |
Wilson, Julianna | Using historical pest, crop, and weather data to develop and improve forecasting models in Michigan orchards |