Virginia Tech Hosts the 2007 Potomac Division American Phytopathological Society Meeting

Assistant Professor David G. Schmale III
and graduate student Benjamin Dingus
get ready to demonstrate an autonomous
spore-sampling flight at Kentland Farm.

The 2007 APS Potomac Division Meeting was held at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center March 21-23. The program included three symposia: "Outstanding collaborations between basic and applied plant pathology programs," "Diagnostics and detection: New directions," and "Bridging engineering and agriculture." Sasha C. Marine, a graduate student in PPWS, placed first in the graduate student paper competition with her presentation, "Apple Scab Sensitivity to Myclobutanil (Nova) in Virginia." The meeting concluded with an enjoyable and educational "Bridging Engineering and Agriculture" field day at Kentland Farm coordinated by David G. Schmale III, assistant professor of PPWS. Highlights of the field day included demonstrations of an autonomous flight to collect plant pathogens in the atmosphere; operation of an autonomous lawn mower by Brandon J. Horvath., assistant professor of PPWS; and real-time PCR diagnostics by Norman Schaad, USDA-ARS. Kathryne L. Everts, University of Maryland and David G. Schmale III, Virginia Tech, were elected Potomac Division Councilor and Secretary Treasurer, respectively.