Dr. Kathryne Everts Professor and Extension Specialist Email: keverts@umd.edu Office: Lower Eastern Shore Research & Education Center Phone: 410.742.8780 Fax: 410.742.1922

Education and Experience:

• B.S. (with Distinction) in Plant Pathology from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1981.
• M.S. in Plant Pathology from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1984.
• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 1989.
• Postdoctoral research associate, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC, 1989-1991.
• Manager Cereal Pathology, Busch Agricultural Resources, Inc. (subsidiary of Anheuser Busch) Fort Collins, CO, 1992-1995.
• University of Maryland, College Park (joint appointment with University of Delaware) 1996- present.

Area of Specialization:

I am the Research and Extension specialist for vegetable plant pathology in Maryland and Delaware. My research focuses on the epidemiology of vegetable diseases and changes in plant pathogen populations in response to disease management and cultural practices. The objective of my program is to increase our knowledge of the impact of host resistance, fungicides, biological controls and cultural practices (such as no-tillage cover crops and rotation) on vegetable diseases. I am especially interested in the cumulative effect of multiple practices that are used in sustainable and organic production systems. Dr. Xin-Gen Zhou (Faculty Research Associate) and I are examining the impact of green manure of a Vicia villosa cover crop, host resistance and fungicides on Fusarium wilt of watermelon (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum). Jennifer Himmelstein (graduate student) is examining the impact of several green manure cover crops on suppression of soilborne disease.

Our research on epidemiology and population change supports my extension responsibilities, which include the development of effective and sustainable management for important vegetable diseases in both Maryland and Delaware.

Current Research Projects:

• Enhancing Induced Host Resistance to Diseases of Vegetables on Organic Farms
• Managing Fusarium wilt on Watermelon: New solutions to a reemerging problem
• Adopting New IPM Methods for Cucurbit Virus Management
• Expanding ipmPIPE for Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting (Maryland)
  

Extension and Education Projects:

• Forecasting Fungicide Applications for Watermelon and Muskmelon
• Commercial Production Recommendations for Vegetables
• Resistance Management Guidelines for Vegetable Crops
• Disease Management Trials for Vegetables

Current Graduate Students:

• Jennifer Himmelstein, University of Maryland

Previous Graduate Students

• Mbisin Diagne, University of Maryland, M.S., 2003
• Alyssa Collins, University of Delaware, Ph.D., 2006

Selected Publications:

• Zhou, X.G. and Everts, K.L. 2008. First report of Alternaria alternate f.sp. cucurbitae causing Alternaria leaf spot of melon in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Plant Dis. 92:652. (DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-92-4-0652B)
• Zhou, X.G. and Everts, K.L. 2007. Effects of host resistance and inoculum density on the suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon induced by hairy vetch. Plant Dis. 91:92-96.
• Keinath, A.P., Holmes, G.J., Everts, K.L., Egel, D.S., and Langston, D.B., Jr. 2007. Evaluation of combinations of chlorothalonil with azoxystrobin, harpin and disease forecasting for control of downy mildew and gummy stem blight on melon. Crop Protection. 26:83-88.
• Zhou, X.G. and Everts, K.L. 2007. Characterization of a regional population of F.O.N. by race, cross pathogenicity and vegetative compatibility. Phytopathology. 97:461-469.
• Keinath, A.P., Everts, K.L., Langston Jr., D.B., Egel, D.S., and Holmes, G.J. 2007.  Multi-state evaluation of reduced-risk fungicides and Melcast against Alternaria leaf blight and gummy stem blight on muskmelon. Crop Protection 26:1251-1258.
• Everts, K.L., Sardanelli, S., Kratochvil, R.J., Armentrout, D.K., and Gallagher, L.E. 2006.  Root-knot and root-lesion nematode suppression by cover crops, poultry litter and poultry   litter compost. Plant Dis. 90:457-492. Zhou, X.G., and
• Everts, K.L. 2006. Suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon enhanced by hairy vetch green manure and partial cultivar resistance. Online Plant Health Progress DOI:10.1094/PHP-2006-0405-01-RS.
• Kratochvil, R. J., Sardanelli, S. Everts, K. L., and Gallagher, L. E. 2004. Evaluation of crop rotation and other cultural practices for management of root-knot and lesion nematodes. Agronomy J. 96:1419-1426.
• Zhou, X.G., and Everts, K.L. 2004. Quantification of roots and stem colonization of watermelon by Fusarium and its use in evaluating resistance. Plant Dis. 88:834-841.
• Zhou, X.G., and Everts, K.L. 2004. Suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon by soil amendment with hairy vetch. Plant Dis. 88:1357-1365.
• Zhou, X. G. and Everts, K. L. 2003. Races and inoculum density of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum in commercial watermelon fields in Maryland and Delaware. Plant Dis. 87:692-698.
• Everts, K. L. 2002. Reduced fungicide applications and host resistance for managing three diseases in pumpkin grown on a no-till cover crop. Plant Dis. 86:1134-1141.
• Mills, D. J., Coffman, C. B., Teasdale, J. R., Everts, K. L., Abdul-Baki, A. A., Lydon, J., and Anderson, J. D. 2002. Foliar disease in fresh market tomato grown in differing bed strategies and fungicide spray programs. Plant Dis. 86:955-959.
• Mills, D.J., Coffman, C.B., Teasdale, J.R., Everts, K.L., and Anderson, J.D. 2002. Factors Associated With Foliar Disease of Staked Fresh Market Tomatoes Grown Under Differing Bed Strategies. Plant Dis. 86:356-361.
• Everts, K.L., Leath. S., and Finney, P.L. 2001. Impact of powdery mildew and leaf rust on milling and baking quality of soft red winter wheat. Plant Dis. 85:423-429.
• Beste, C.E., Everts, K.L. and Linduska, J.J. 2001. Pesticide Use and Practices for Processing Cucumbers in Maryland and Delaware. J. of Veg. Crop. Prod. 7:33-44.
• Zhou, X. G., and Everts, K. L. 2001. First report of the occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2 in commercial watermelon production areas of Maryland and Delaware. Plant Dis. 85:1291(Disease Note).
• Everts, K. L., and Armentrout, D. K. 2001. Report of leaf spot of spinach caused by Stemphylium botryosum in Maryland and Delaware. Plant Dis. 85:1209 (Disease Note).
• Sankula, S., VanGessel, M.J., Kee, W.E., Jr., Beste, C.E., and Everts, K.L. 2001. Narrow row spacing does not affect lima bean yield or management of weeds or other pests. Hort Sci. 36(5):884-888.