@article{reeves_strayer-scherer_panthee_gardner_meadows_2023, title={Variable Yield Responses among Grafted and Nongrafted Late blight-resistant Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Hybrids in North Carolina}, volume={58}, ISSN={["2327-9834"]}, DOI={10.21273/HORTSCI17145-23}, abstractNote={Host resistance is an environmentally and economically sustainable disease management strategy that may be especially beneficial to small-scale and organic growers for whom other management tools such as synthetic pesticides are too costly or not permitted. In western North Carolina, the demand for vine-ripened tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) from local and organic farms has led to the development of cultivars bred for resistance to geographically relevant diseases, including late blight of tomato, which causes rapid defoliation and lesions on fruit. Grafting tomato plants has the potential to increase plant vigor and yield; however, this effect is known to be dependent on multiple factors, including scion and geographic location. In this study, we evaluated the yield response of one determinate (‘Mountain Gem’) and four indeterminate (‘Mountain Heritage’, ‘Mountain Girl’, ‘Mountain Rouge’, and ‘NC10291’) late blight–resistant tomato cultivars, grafted on tomato rootstock ‘Maxifort’ or nongrafted, on a commercial farm and at two research facilities in western North Carolina. Yield of marketable fruit from grafted plants was greater than that from nongrafted plants at one location (P = 0.008); however, yield response of each cultivar, grafted or not grafted, differed by location. Yield was consistently greater from ‘Mountain Gem’ plants than other cultivars, and grafted ‘Mountain Gem’ plants had greater yields later in the season at two locations than nongrafted plants. Because of the late planting date intended to expose cultivars to the late blight pathogen, the full yield potential of the indeterminate cultivars was not realized at all locations. Disease severity caused by Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae Kleb., Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Berthold) was lowest for cultivar Mountain Heritage at two of three locations. Results from this study emphasize the importance of conducting evaluations of grafted tomato plants at multiple locations, including on farm, to optimize the benefits associated with their use.}, number={8}, journal={HORTSCIENCE}, author={Reeves, Ella R. and Strayer-Scherer, Amanda and Panthee, Dilip R. and Gardner, Randolph and Meadows, Inga M.}, year={2023}, month={Aug}, pages={943–948} }
 @article{daniel-gomez_reeves_meadows_2022, title={Practical and Comprehensive Diagnostic Guide for Black Rot of Brassicas}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1535-1025"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-08-21-0109-DG}, DOI={10.1094/PHP-08-21-0109-DG}, abstractNote={Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Pammel 1895; Dowson 1939) is the bacterial pathogen responsible for black rot of brassicas that affects all cultivated brassicas worldwide. Black rot is considered the most devastating disease of brassica, affecting crops such as cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and rapeseed (Brassica napus subsp. napus). Working with X. campestris pv. campestris can pose challenges due to the complex taxonomical race division and similarities to other species of Xanthomonas. As such, this diagnostic guide aims to provide information about the importance, taxonomy, geographic and host ranges, and best methods for pathogen isolation, identification, storage and pathogenicity testing for the successful diagnosis of this pathogen.}, journal={PLANT HEALTH PROGRESS}, author={Daniel-Gomez, Mario and Reeves, Ella and Meadows, Inga M.}, year={2022}, month={Sep} }
 @article{reeves_kerns_cowger_shew_2021, title={Pythium spp. Associated with Root Rot and Stunting of Winter Crops in North Carolina}, volume={105}, ISSN={["1943-7692"]}, DOI={10.1094/PDIS-11-20-2403-RE}, abstractNote={Annual double-crop rotation systems that incorporate winter wheat, clary sage, or a cover crop are common in eastern North Carolina. Stunting and root rot of clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) reduce yields of this crop, especially in wet soils. Stunting and reduced stand establishment also afflict winter cover crops, including rye, rapeseed, and winter pea. Pythium spp. are causal agents of root rot of winter wheat in this region, but their role in root rot and stunting of other winter crops is not understood. During the growing seasons of 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 samples of clary sage, rye, rapeseed, and winter pea displaying symptoms of stunting were collected across eastern NC, resulting in the recovery of 420 isolates of Pythium from the roots of all hosts. P. irregulare, P. spinosum, and the complex Pythium sp. cluster B2A were the most frequently isolated species from clary sage. P. irregulare and P. spinosum were aggressive pathogens of clary sage at 18°C, and caused moderate root rot at 28°C. Koch's postulates confirmed that isolates belonging to Pythium sp. cluster B2A, P. sylvaticum, P. pachycaule, P aphanidermatum, P. myriotylum, and P. oopapillum are pathogens of clary sage. P. irregulare (37% of all isolates) and members of the species complex Pythium sp. cluster B2A (28% of all isolates) comprised the majority of isolates collected from all hosts and were the most frequently isolated species from rye, rapeseed, and winter pea. In pathogenicity assays, isolates representing P. irregulare and P. spinosum caused slight to moderate root necrosis on rye, rapeseed, and winter pea. Isolates representing Pythium sp. cluster B2A caused slight to moderate root necrosis on rapeseed and clary sage, but no symptoms on rye or winter pea.}, number={11}, journal={PLANT DISEASE}, author={Reeves, Ella R. and Kerns, James P. and Cowger, Christina and Shew, Barbara B.}, year={2021}, month={Nov}, pages={3433–3442} }
 @article{reeves_kerns_cowger_shew_2021, title={Pythium spp. Associated with Root Rot and Stunting of Winter Wheat in North Carolina}, volume={105}, ISSN={["1943-7692"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-20-2022-RE}, DOI={10.1094/PDIS-09-20-2022-RE}, abstractNote={In eastern North Carolina, mild to severe stunting and root rot have reduced yields of winter wheat, especially during years with abundant rainfall. Causal agents of root rot of wheat in this region were previously identified as Pythium irregulare, P. vanterpoolii, and P. spinosum. To investigate species prevalence, 114 isolates of Pythium were obtained from symptomatic wheat plants collected in 8 counties. Twelve species were recovered, with P. irregulare (32%), P. vanterpoolii (17%), and P. spinosum (16%) the most common. Pathogenicity screens were performed with selected isolates of each species, and slight to severe necrosis of young roots was observed. The aggressiveness of five isolates each of P. irregulare, P. vanterpoolii, and P. spinosum was compared on a single cultivar of wheat at 14°C, and very aggressive isolates were found within all species. In vitro growth of these isolates was measured at 14°C and 20°C, and all isolates grew faster at the warmer temperature. The effects of varying temperatures and rates of nitrogen on root rot caused by Pythium species alone or in combination were investigated. All inoculation treatments caused severe root rot under all conditions tested, and disease was more severe at 12/14°C compared to 18/20°C, but there was no effect of nitrogen application.}, number={4}, journal={PLANT DISEASE}, author={Reeves, Ella R. and Kerns, James P. and Cowger, Christina and Shew, Barbara B.}, year={2021}, month={Apr}, pages={986–996} }