GPDN Hosts Web-Seminar Series on Plant Diagnostics

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 link 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://www.gpdn.org/
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 aNPDN 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 Mariettay Ryba- White at Kansas State University (mrwhite@ksu.edu)