GPDN Hosts Web-Seminar Series on Plant Diagnostics

 

From January 23 through March 26, the Great Plains Diagnostic Network conducted a weekly web-seminar series on diagnostics featuring topics in both plant pathology and entomology.  Each state in the GPDN selected one seminar topic and speaker for the series.  The individual seminars were available for viewing live with an interactive question and answer session conducted using instant messaging and phone conferencing. All seminars were recorded and are available on the web using the links below.

 

Speaker

State

Seminar Title (Web-Link to recorded seminars)

Dr. Don Mathre

MT

Dwarf Bunt and Karnal Bunt  http://extn-breeze.msu.montana.edu/p39949617/

Gary Adams, APHIS

MT

Regulatory Issues for Karnal Bunt

Gerry Snyder

KS

Online First Detector Modules http://connect.oznet.ksu.edu/p98849376/

Dr. Eric Rebek

OK

Emerald Ash http://connect.oznet.ksu.edu/p45458304/

Dr. Tom Isakeit

TX

Soybean Rust - The Texas Experience http://connect.oznet.ksu.edu/p47804272/

Ronda Koski

CO

White Pine Blister Rust http://connect.oznet.ksu.edu/p72956787/

Dr. Marie Langham

SD

Legume viruses: 
Identification and laboratory practices http://connect.oznet.ksu.edu/p30952587/

Jim Kalisch

NE

Pyemotes Itch Mite (web-link available in April)

James Obuya

WY


Rapid Diagnostics for Detecting Fungicide Resistance in Cercospora beticola
http://connect.oznet.ksu.edu/p69296421/

Neil Gudmestad

ND

Diagnostics for Potato Viruses http://connect.oznet.ksu.edu/p33137538/

 

A survey was conducted at the end of the seminar series to assess the value of the seminar to diagnosticians.  48% strongly agreed and 43% agreed that the seminars provided valuable information on diagnostics.  62% strongly agreed and 33% agreed that they would attend another GPDN seminar series conducted via the web.  55% strongly agreed and 32% agreed that the information presented in the GPDN seminar series would be valuable to a national audience.  Recordings of all seminars are available through web-links listed above and at http://www.gpdn.org/.  91% of respondents indicated that the seminars are valuable resources for other education programs.  The GPDN is planning to make the series an annual program and there is consideration of developing an NPDN seminar series which would be available to members from all states.  If you have questions about the seminar series, ideas about the prospects of an NPDN seminar series, or would like logistical information on how to conduct a series for your region, contact Nina Zidack (nzidack@montana.edu) from Montana State University or Marietta Ryba-White at Kansas State University (mrwhite@ksu.edu).