Mid South Area Happenings

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I.             MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

Dr. Hamed K. Abbas (Crop Genetics and Production Research Unit, Stoneville) attended the 9^th International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP 2008) in Torino, Italy, with over 1000 participants from more than 50 countries. Dr. Abbas was author/co-author on five posters.   In addition, Dr. Abbas, presented two invited seminars at Bologna University and NOVMONT Spa Company on “Major Mycotoxins of Interest to Agriculture and Food Safety”; and “Approaches to Reduce Aflatoxin Production in Maize (Corn, Zea mays L.)”

Dr. Prakash R. Arelli (Crop Genetics and Production Research Unit, Jackson, TN worksite) participated in Southern Soybean Breeder’s Tour, hosted by the University of Georgia, and visited soybean breeding plots for Rust resistance in Albany, Attapulgus, Plains and Quincy in Florida. Dr. Arelli also visited field plots screening for Red crown rot, Stem canker and Frogeye leaf spot diseases.

Food Processing & Sensory Quality Unit (SRRC) scientist, Dr. John Beaulieu delivered three invited lectures in Lisbon and Alcobaça Portugal, emanating off a grant project through the FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnología). "Volatile Esters in Melon During Growth, Maturation and Fresh-cut (IV Gama) Storage" was delivered at the University of Lisbon, and “An Overview of the Fresh-cut Industry in the U.S.” & “Physiology of Fresh-cut Fruit: Data from Melon” were delivered at COTHN (Centro Operativo Tecnológico Hortofrutícola Nacional) in Alcobaça.

Sugarcane Research Unit scientist, Dr. Ryan Viator discussed harvesting practices that can be used to insure optimum cane and sugar yields in the year of harvest as well as in the subsequent ratoon crops harvested from that field at the annual St. James Grower Meeting.  The meeting, sponsored by the LSU AgCenter’s Cooperative Extension Service, is designed to provide growers with new research information that can be applied to the 2008 planting and harvesting seasons. 

Dr. V.C. Patil, Director of Post-Graduate Instruction at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Karnataka, India visited with Dr. Rich Johnson and other members of the Sugarcane Research Unit.            Dr. Patil is very interested in the utilization of remote sensing technologies for the production of sugarcane in India. 

Dr. Sam Lim of Tintoria Piana U.S., Inc., visited with Drs. Brian Condon and Dharnid Parikh of the Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research Unit of SRRC.  Dr. Lim gave a presentation titled “Tintoria Piana’s FR Technology” during his visit.

II.           AWARDS/RECOGNITION

Dr. Scott R. Baerson (NPURU, Oxford) was presented with the 2008 Grodzinsky Award by the International Allelopathy Society, at the recent congress held in Saratoga Springs, New York.  The award recognizes "The Best single publication or book relating to Allelopathy".  

Dr. H. Allen Torbert, (National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, AL) was selected as a 2008 Fellow in the American Society of America. Dr. Torbert will be recognized during the International American Society of America meeting at the Awards Program 2008 in Houston, TX.

III.         VISITORS TO ARS

Dr. Mary Torrence, the new National Program Leader for Food Safety, visited SRRC to become acquainted with their aflatoxin research program. During her visit she met individually with Food and Feed Safety Research Unit SYs and support staff. During the individual meetings scientists talked about their own work, as well as emphasized: (a) how their research is helping in solving the toxin problem; and (b) their interactions with others in the unit, as well as with other ARS and University/ Industry scientists. In addition, Dr. Torrence met with all the Research Leaders at SRRC, and was given a tour of the Center.

Visitors from LSU's Department of Human Ecology and China Hunan Agricultural University visited SRRC.  Dr. Jonathan (Yan) Chen, LSU, with Professors Xirong and Cui (China Hunan Agricultural University) gave a seminar entitled, “A Survey of Ramie Research and Industrialization in Hunan, China” in the Main Conference Room. They also were able to visit with SRRC staff after the seminar.

Twenty-seven ARS colleagues took part in an after hours tour of the SRRC while they were attending the Institute of Food Technologist annual meeting in New Orleans recently.  Dr. John Beaulieu hosted the visit. Among the visitors were the National Program Leader, Dr. Frank Flora, and former ERRC Center Director, Dr. John Cherry.  Dr. Deepak Bhatnagar presented an overview of the Center’s current research followed by a facilities tour where Drs. Alan Lax and Steve Boue described the termite and phytoestrogen programs, respectively.  Dr. Harmeet Guraya explained several pilot plant processes and equipment, and Dr. Beaulieu highlighted the sensory appraisal system in the sensory lab. Also participating were Drs. John Bland, Karen Bett-Garber, Elaine Champagne, Ed Cleveland, Alfred French and Isabel Lima.