Ed Sikora
@alabamaed1.bsky.social
530 followers 130 following 330 posts
Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist. I work with corn, soybeans, fruit and vegetables. I am also a freelance photographer.
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Reposted by Ed Sikora
vegplotter.bsky.social
Protect your precious crops from frost! ❄️ Our latest blog post reveals the top 5 ways to keep them safe and sound. Read it here: vegplotter.com/blog/top-5-w... Don't miss out! #gardening #frostprotection #gardeningtips #allotmentlife
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Symptoms of a virus disease on pumpkin. Leaf mosaic and distortion in new growth. Likely one or more aphid-transmitted viruses common in Alabama including Papaya ring-spot, watermelon mosaic, zucchini yellow mosaic and/or Cucumber mosaic virus. 🧪
Mosaic virus symptoms on pumpkin Mosaic virus symptoms on pumpkin
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease of squash that causes a white powdery growth on leaves and stems. Fruit are not directly effected but growth may be stunted. Warm dry periods with high relative humidity favor disease development. Manage by using resistant varieties, fungicides & sanitation 🧪
Powdery mildew disease on squash Powdery mildew disease on squash
Reposted by Ed Sikora
tlowepower.bsky.social
Please repost -- The Univ. California Davis dept of Plant Pathology is hiring a Fungal biologist / Mycologist

Applications due Dec 1

Application portal: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07339

Screenshot shows part of the job posting (with alt-text of the same text)
he Department of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis is seeking applications for a fulltime, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Mycology, with a focus on plant pathogenic, symbiotic, 
or mycotoxigenic fungi and fungal-like organisms (e.g., oomycetes). We are looking for a highly 
motivated and creative scientist with a strong background in mycology and/or the biology of fungi and 
fungal-like organisms that interact with plants. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a 
world-class, externally funded research program that integrates both fundamental and applied aspects 
of fungal biology within the context of plant pathology. We welcome applicants pursuing a wide range 
of research topics related to plant-associated fungi, including but not limited to mechanisms of fungal 
pathogenesis or symbiosis with plants, population genomics and evolution of fungal plant pathogens, 
plant-associated fungal microbiomes and plant-microbe interactions, and/or one health approaches to 
fungal diseases and antifungal resistance. Applicants working in other relevant research areas involving 
pathogenic, symbiotic, or mycotoxigenic fungi or fungal-like organisms that affect plant health are also 
encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have significant opportunities for collaboration with 
faculty in plant pathology, microbiology, genomics, and agricultural sciences, and to contribute to 
addressing issues of importance to California’s agricultural and natural ecosystems.
The appointee primary teaching responsibilities will be teaching Introductory Mycology, an upperdivision lab class, and SAS 30, Mushroom, Molds & Society, a general education class for non-majors. 
Additional graduate and undergraduate teaching responsibilities may be assigned based on 
departmental needs and the candidate’s expertise. The department offers modern instructional 
facilities, including a newly renovated teaching laboratory.
Reposted by Ed Sikora
lperepol.bsky.social
A nematode extracted from the Slocan River, British Columbia, Canada
Reposted by Ed Sikora
lperepol.bsky.social
West Kootenay Tripyla sp. with annotations.

I try to key out a species using Howard Ferris' keys on Nemaplex.
nemaplex.ucdavis.edu/Taxadata/G62...
Reposted by Ed Sikora
lperepol.bsky.social
Bleeding-edge state of the Art
NemRec -- Automatic nematode recognition by image
Site: 168.138.167.251:8080
Needs more images for training. Great effort so far!!!
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Nice boot. How is Norwich this time of year? I may visit soon
Reposted by Ed Sikora
fengzhou10.bsky.social
This discovery traces back to the spring of 2018, when I was a postdoc in nikogeldner.bsky.social 's lab. After shifting Arabidopsis seedlings from solid to liquid culture, I observed that the root commensal bacterium CHA0 rapidly colonized Casparian strip–defective mutants.
science.org
Using precise spatial and temporal analysis, researchers in Science provide insight into how bacteria around the root interact both with the plant and with each other.

Learn more in this week's issue: https://scim.ag/3WgNajk
A confocal microscopy image shows root-colonizing bacteria clustering around an emerging lateral root, where localized glutamine leakage induces spatially confined reporter activity.
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Symptoms caused by Soybean vein necrosis  virus (SVNV) are common in Alabama. SVNV often begins as yellowing near leaf veins that develops into reddish-brown lesions that spread along leaf veins the disease does not cause yield loss spread by thrips insects especially during dry periods #Virus 🧪
Soybean vein necrosis virus Soybean vein necrosis virus
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Butterflies-R-Free Saturday: #Butterfly #Nature photography 📷 🧪
Butterfly
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Symptoms of Soybean vein necrosis is showing up in Alabama soybean fields. The virus is spread mainly by soybean thrips. It is more common during drier summers late in season. A 3 year study suggested it was not a yield reducer in Alabama; more of a cosmetic disease 🧪 #Disease #Virus
Symptoms of soybean vein, necrosis disease on soybean leaves Symptoms of soybean vein, necrosis disease on soybean leaves
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Bald Eagle on the move 🦉
Bald eagle
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Practiced by George Washington a few years ago on his plantation
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Cast-iron plants affected by drought & sooty mold. The brown patches on leaves likely a result of a September drought in Alabama. The blacked leaves are due to a type of mold that grows in the honeydew secreted by insects such as aphids and scale. Removing the pest will alleviate the problem 🧪
Sooty mold on cast-iron plants Sooty mold on cast-iron plants
Reposted by Ed Sikora
cidrap.bsky.social
South Carolina announces new measles case, NY notes wastewater detection

Elsewhere, Israel has now reported 6 child deaths from measles, 4 of them over the past week.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Taproot decline caused by the fungus Xylaria necrophora results in yellowed leaves, wilting & premature death of soybean. Foliar symptoms appear as an interveinal yellowing/necrosis. The taproot and lateral sections turn black due to the fungal infection. Control involves crop rotation 🧪
Taproot decline of soybean Taproot decline of soybean
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Butterflies-R-Free Saturday: #Butterfly #Insect #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography #Nature #Saturday 🧪
Butterfly
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Fungi from “Up North” in Wisconsin. Appears to be an old and new family of puffballs. #Fungi #Mushroom ⁦ 🧪
Puffball Puffball
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Tomato spotted wilt symptoms on tomato in North Alabama. A plant viral disease. Upper leaves are distorted & turn pale green. Dark spots are often visible on infected leaves. Plants infected early are stunted & produce poorly. Thrips, an insect, transmit the virus #virus #tomato 🧪
alabamaed1.bsky.social
Cercospora leaf blight is a late-season fungal disease of soybean which appears as a purplish-bronze discoloration on the upper leaves, progressing to leathery necrotic areas. It also causes purple seed stain which impacts seed quality/marketability. Cultural practices can reduce disease severity 🧪
Cercospora leaf blight of soybeans Cercospora leaf blight of soybeans