Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
CPHST Lab, Fort Collins, Colorado |
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Location: Fort Collins, CO
Phone: (970) 494-7538
Fax: (970) 482-0924
Contact: Dr. Richard Zink
CPHST Ft. Collins Lab 2007 Annual Report (PDF; 11.65 Mb)
In 1987, the Bozeman Biological Control Laboratory (BBLC) was opened on the Montana State University (MSU) campus in Bozeman, MT as a satellite of the Mission, TX Biological Control Laboratory. The lab was initiated to direct a PPQ effort to release and distribute biological control agents for exotic rangeland weeds such as leafy spurge and knapweeds. With time, the BBLC expanded its mission to include the development and implementation of biocontrol strategies for a broad range of invasive exotic weeds infesting nonagricultural habitats in the United States. In 2000, the BBCL became an independent CPHST laboratory. In February 2003, the BBLC was closed and the remaining two scientists were moved to Fort Collins, CO to establish the Fort Collins Lab in close alignment with the PPQ Western Region Headquarters. The Fort Collins Lab became operational in late 2005.
Currently, the Fort Collins Lab develops and transfers scientifically-based methods, innovative tools, and state-of-the-art technologies to reduce levels of risk associated with new and established weed species to PPQ and other state and federal agencies. The Fort Collins Lab transfers these methodologies and tools to ensure efficient and effective detection, emergency response, eradication, identification, survey, and integrated pest management. The lab is the primary source for new technologies to support rapid, consistent, and accurate detection, survey, identification, and nomenclature of weed species. The Fort Collins Lab is the agency clearinghouse for invasive plants, federal noxious weed management and risk reduction methods. We provide engineering expertise in screening of biological materials and detection of alien species posing potential risk to agriculture and natural resources. The Fort Collins Lab provides support for PPQ in developing innovative integrated pest management technologies. The Fort Collins Lab collaborates and cooperates with PPQ programs that deal with noxious weeds, biological control, pest survey and detection, pest identification and trade; State Plant Health Directors and their associated state agencies and land managers; universities under cooperative agreements; nonprofit organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy and National Invasive Species Council; and other federal agencies including but not limited to Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
The Fort Collins Lab houses six scientists, one technician and one support assistant. In addition, we have one scientist located at New Mexico State University (NMSU) at Las Cruces, NM; one at the ARS facility in Albany, CA; and one term scientist at California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in Sacramento, CA. At Fort Collins, the facility is equipped with laboratory and greenhouse space. The Fort Collins Lab is well equipped and staffed to address a wide range of needs in plant pathology, entomology, ecology, botany, engineering and weed science. Equipment includes microscopes, balances, advanced imaging systems, HPLC and PCR machines, robotics, a state-of-the-art greenhouse, growth chambers and extensive resources for field studies.
Recent Accomplishments
- Established colonies of light brown apple moth to develop improved rearing systems in support of molecular diagnostics and biological control initiatives.
- Supported the CAPS community by developing risk assessment maps for the top 50 CAPS pests for distribution on the NAPPFAST website and completing soybean commodity-based survey guidelines and a grape commodity-based survey.
- Completed analysis of the effects of biological control on saltcedar infestations using remote sensing and hyperspectral imaging tools.
- Conducted hands-on training workshops on the use of electronic matrix-based Lucid tools at the Los Angeles, Seattle, JFK, and Miami Plant Inspection Stations, University of Florida, and Florida A&M University and published three internet-based Lucid tools; “Aquarium and Pond Plants of the World, Edition 2,” “Scale Insects – Identification Tools for Species of Quarantine Significance,” and “Identification Tool for Weevil Biological Control Agents.”
- Achieved significant progress in utilizing hyper-spectral imaging of taxonomically significant spectral patterns (from ultraviolet to infra-red) within and among pest taxa for counting, sorting, and classifying trap sample specimens.
- Demonstrated practical levels of suppression of two highly invasive weeds, common tansy and cogongrass with novel combinations of herbicide rate, spray additives and application timing.