Pest Symposium Attracts Researchers From Around The World

More than 100 people from around the world attended the 11th annual Pierce’s Disease Research Symposium in Sacramento last week, giving top researchers the opportunity to meet and discuss the latest progress in the search for a solution to Pierce’s disease (PD).
 
“This symposium serves as an annual reminder and acknowledgement on our part that the key to the long-term success of Pierce’s disease control in California, and of many similar efforts to control and eradicate agricultural and environmental pests, is research,” said California’s Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross.
 
The symposium highlighted research projects in disease and insect management, biology, and ecology, as well as crop biology, and economics. A poster session held during the symposium allowed researchers to present their results and speak to attendees on a one-to-one basis and encourage further discussion in a more casual setting.
 
“As researchers unravel the mysteries of Pierce’s disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), they are better able to focus their future efforts on areas promising to yield practical approaches for managing this disease,” said Pete Downs of Jackson Family Wines and a member of the PD/GWSS Board. “This year’s symposium, from both a grower and board member’s perspective, showed that we have made significant progress towards reaching this goal.”
 
The annual two-day symposium is organized by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pierce’s Disease Control Program. The symposium provides the forum for Pierce’s disease researchers to meet as a group and share information, encouraging scientific collaboration and accelerating the progress of research.
 
The 2011 symposium proceedings are available online and can be downloaded from the CDFA website at www.cdfa.ca.gov/pdcp/. Printed copies are also available and can be requested from the Pierce’s Disease Control Program by calling 916-900-5024.