Mizuho Nita

Research/Extension Grape Pathologist 595 Laurel Grove Road Winchester, VA 22602 Phone: Phone: 540-869-2560 ext. 23 Fax: (757) 363-3950 E-Mail: nita24 at vt.edu

Research Interests| Extension Interests| Awards| Experience| Selected Publications

Education

• 2005 Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, the Ohio State University
• 2002 M.S. in Plant Pathology, the Ohio State University
• 1994 B.A. in Geography (minor in Computer Information Sciences), Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Research Interests

• Plant (Grape) disease epidemiology
  • Development of grape disease forecasting system and it's delivery as an online map-based grape disease information system
  • Plant disease assessments
  • Spatio-temporal changes of plant disease
  • Modeling of pathosystems (both empirical and theoretical)
  • Assessment of chemical (fungicide), biological (variety), cultural practices.
  • Evaluation of grape disease management strategies, including low input and organic production
• Diseases of interest
  • I am interested in many diseases on grape, but my research focus for the next few years will be on
    • Powdery mildew
    • Pierce's Disease and other decline diseases
    • Grape leaf roll associated viruses

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Extension Interests

• Management of grape diseases in VA vineyards
  • Reports on chemical (fungicide), biological (variety), cultural practices.
  • Development of integrated grape disease management strategies, including low input and organic production
• Delivery of information to VA grape growers
  • Development of a web-based grape disease information system
  • Extension factsheets
  • Fungicide application recommendations
  • Meetings, Newsletters, etc

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Awards

• 2005 APS foundation student travel award for 5th I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium, American Phytopathological Society

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Experience

• 2009- Research/Extension plant pathologist (focus on grape) at Virginia Tech Alson H. Smith Jr. AREC at Winchester, VA.
• 2007-2008 A research associate at the department of Plant Pathology at the Kansas State University (KSU). Principal investigator: Dr. Erick De Wolf.
• 2005-2007 A post-doctoral scholar at the department of Plant Pathology at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU). Principal investigator: Dr. Erick De Wolf.
• 1999-2005 A graduate research associate at the department of Plant Pathology at the Ohio State University (OSU). Principal investigators: Drs. Laurence V. Madden and Mike A. Ellis.

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Selected Publications

• Peer-reviewed journal articles
  1. Nita, M., Ellis, M. A., Wilson, L. L., and Madden, L. V. (2008). "Disease incidence of Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape in Ohio vineyard: a state-wide survey" Plant Disease: 92:1053-1061.
  2. Nita, M., Ellis, M. A. and Madden, L. V. (2007). "Evaluation of the curative and protectant activity of fungicides and fungicide-adjuvant mixtures on Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape: a controlled environment study." Crop Protection 26: 1377-1384.
  3. Nita, M., Ellis, M. A., Wilson, L. L., and Madden, L. V. (2007). "Evaluations of new and current management strategies to control Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape" online Plant Health Progress: doi:10.1094/PHP-2007-0726-06-RS.
  4. Mideros, S., Nita, M. and Dorrance, A. E., (2007) "Characterization of components of partial resistance, Rps2, and root resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean." Phytopathology: 97:655-662
  5. Nita, M., Ellis, M. A. and Madden, L. V. (2006). "Application of fungicide during the dormant period and its effects on Phomopsis cane and leaf spot on grape disease intensity and inoculum production." Plant Disease 90: 1195-1200.
  6. Nita, M., Ellis, M. A., Wilson, L. L., and Madden, L. V. (2006). "Evaluation of a disease warning system for Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape: a field study." Plant Disease 90:1239-1246.
  7. Nita, M., Ellis, M. A. and Madden, L. V. (2003). "Effects of temperature, wetness duration, and leaflet age on infection of strawberry foliage by Phomopsis obscurans." Plant Disease 87: 579-584.
  8. Nita, M., Ellis, M. A. and Madden, L. V. (2003). "Reliability and accuracy of visual estimation of Phomopsis leaf blight of strawberry." Phytopathology 93: 995-1005.
  9. Madden, L. V., Turechek, W. W. and Nita, M. (2002). "Evaluation of generalized linear mixed models for analyzing disease incidence data obtained in designed experiments." Plant Disease 86: 316-325.
• Technical, Non-refereed Journal Articles
  1. Rebollar-Alviter, A., Nita, M., and Ellis, M. A. (2006). "Evaluation of fungicides for control of black rot and downy mildew of grape, 2005." Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 61:SMF047
  2. Rebollar-Alviter, A., Nita, M., Wilson, L.L., and Ellis, M. A. (2006). "Evaluation of fungicides for control of Botrytis gray mold, anthracnose fruit rot, and leather rot in strawberries, 2005." Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 61:SMF048
  3. Nita, M., Rebollar-Alviter, A., Wilson, L. L. and. Ellis, M. A (2005). "Evaluation of fungicides for control of grape black rot and powdery mildew, 2004." Fungicide and Nematicide Tests 60: SMF030.
• Extension articles
  1. Ellis, M. A. and Nita, M. (2004). Disease management guidelines for organic bramble production in the Midwest. Plant Pathology Department Series. Wooster, OH, The Ohio State University OARDC/OSUE. 123: 40.
  2. Ellis, M. A. and Nita, M. (2004). Disease management guidelines for organic grape production in the Midwest. Plant Pathology Department Series. Wooster, OH, The Ohio State University OARDC/OSUE. 121: 35.
  3. Ellis, M. A. and Nita, M. (2004). Disease management guidelines for organic strawberry production in the Midwest. Plant Pathology Department Series. Wooster, OH, The Ohio State University, OARDC/OSUE. 122: 33.
  4. Ellis, M. A. and Nita, M. (2004). Small Fruit Disease Resources at the Ohio State University [World Wide Web] (http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/fruitpathology/).

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