Jesse L MacDonald

Image Jesse L MacDonald
Biologist, Knowledge and Technology Transfer Officer & Peace Region Living Lab Science Coordinator

Making our science accessible to the end user.

Coordinator for Peace Regional Living Lab Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada science team; co-coordinator for the British Columbia Living Lab.

Current research and/or projects

J-002199 Identifying the cause(s) of two emerging Fruit Tree Decline Diseases in Canada

J-00226 Understanding Indigenous food systems and revitalizing key Indigenous food plants in Interior and Coastal regions of British Columbia

Education and awards

B.Sc., Life and Earth Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2009

M.P.M., Plant Pathology, Simon Fraser University, 2017 

 

University of British Columbia Co-op Supervisor Recognition Award, 2017

Key publications

  1. MacDonald JL, Franklin MT, Hann S, Makela K. 2023. A more inclusive biovigilance approach to pest management: Case study of the strawberry blossom weevil and implications for plant disease monitoring strategies. The Canadian Tri-Societies Meeting: Agroecosystem Resiliency Under a Changing Climate. Ottawa ON, Canada. 20 June 2023.

    2023 - View publication details

  2. MacDonald JL, Hannam KD, Xu H, D O'Gorman. 2023. Sudden apple decline in British Columbia: a potential link between fungal cankers, invasive Sesiidae moths, and abrupt hydraulic failure. The Canadian Tri-Societies Meeting: Agroecosystem Resiliency Under a Changing Climate. Ottawa ON, Canada. 20 June 2023.

    2023 - View publication details

  3. 2023. Annual meeting, the Canadian phytopathological society, 2022/Réunion annuelle, la société canadienne de phytopathologie, 2022, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 45:3, 210-235, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2023.2202486

    2023 - View publication details

  4. 2023. Annual meeting, the Canadian phytopathological society, 2022/Réunion annuelle, la société canadienne de phytopathologie, 2022, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 45:3, 210-235, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2023.2202486

    2023 - View publication details

  5. Sharifi, M., C Moffat, D. Ensing, S. Debnath, J. MacDonald, J. Pollard-Flamand, K. Fong, L. Malunga, S. Joseph, V. Marshall, B. Rabie, T. Nelson, C. Harlton, and D. Martin. 2022. Revitalizing knowledge of scwicw’s growing conditions, propagation and preservation. Report to Neskonlith Indian Band.

    2022 - View publication details

  6. MacDonald JL, Judd GJR, Zurowski-Tiffin K. 2022. Efficacy of 4 mil polypropylene netting for management of Synanthedon myopaeformis in British Columbian apple orchards. Joint Annual Meeting: Entomological Society of America, Entomological Society of Canada, Entomological Society of British Columbia. Vancouver, BC, Canada. 16 November 2022. Poster.

    2022 - View publication details

  7. MacDonald JL, Franklin M, Hann S. 2022. A more inclusive biovigilance approach to pest management: Case study of the strawberry blossom weevil. Joint Annual Meeting: Entomological Society of America, Entomological Society of Canada, Entomological Society of British Columbia. 6 Nov 2022. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

    2022 - View publication details

  8. MacDonald JL, Hannam KD, Xu H. 2022. Signs and symptoms of sudden apple decline in British Columbia: Impacts on tree physiology, and the potential role of environmental stressors. Canadian Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. Virtual. 4 July 2022. Oral Presentation

    2022 - View publication details

  9. Xu H, MacDonald JL, Singh A, Pagliocchini C, Ediger D. 2022. Apple
    rootstock vigor and production: effects of rootstock on Honeycrisp.
    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC, Canada. 11p.

    2022 - View publication details

  10. Increased frequency and severity of heat waves and drought are becoming a major challenge for Okanagan fruit growers. These events can reduce fruit quality and compromise tree health, and may be an important trigger for sudden apple decline. A toolbox to help fruit growers mitigate the impacts of heat- and drought-related stress on fruit quality and tree health is urgently needed. Sprayable nanoparticle calcium carbonate is a potential tool for protecting fruit from sunburn and mitigating water stress, and is less expensive than shade cloth and/or evaporative cooling. This tool was tested on an experimental apple block at the Summerland Research and Development Centre over the summer of 2021. An initial spray was applied to test trees in early June, with a second spray applied immediately prior to the ‘heat dome’ event in late June, and a third spray in late July. Throughout the growing season, stem water potential, leaf transpiration and photosynthesis rates were monitored. At harvest, yield and fruit quality were assessed (e.g., sun burn [Schrader-McPherson scale], fruit size and weight, titratable acidity, and Brix. The calcium carbonate spray reduced the incidence of severe sun burn, but caused no other significant differences in fruit quality. When drought stress was applied, by temporarily cutting off the irrigation supply to both treatments, sprayed trees showed lower water stress than un-sprayed trees. Although just a preliminary study, this work suggests that sprayable protectants, such as nanoparticle calcium carbonate sprays, have potential for protecting fruit quality and mitigating drought stress during extreme heat or drought and may be an important, low-cost tool to include in Okanagan fruit growers’ climate change toolbox.

    2021 - View publication details

  11. Apple clearwing moth, Synanthedon myopaeformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is an invasive pest of apple trees of European origin, first detected in 2005 in British Columbia. Infestations have increased and become more severe since its initial detection; there has been an increased interest in ACM due to its potential link to Sudden Apple Decline in the region. ACM pupae have been observed primarily – although not always – infesting
    apple tree graft unions, often opportunistically infesting burr knots, canker, or otherwise damaged or vulnerable tissue. Larvae infest the cambium layer for 1-2 years before emerging. During the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons, we evaluated insect netting (1/6″ square mesh polypropylene) applied over entire apple trees for management of ACM by assessing pupal casing counts near the graft union.. No effect was detected after one
    season; however, this is likely due to ACM lifecycle and infestation from the year prior, when there was no netting applied. A reduction to 0% infestation with netting application was observed in a second season of use, while infestation increased in the un-netted treatments. Woolly aphid infestations were observed to be more severe in tree canopies under netting than in non-netted trees. It should be noted that this appeared to bean abnormal year for woolly aphid. Field evaluations will continue for at least one more season (2022); apple quality under netting vs under nonnetted, and spray pattern when applied through netting vs non-netted will be assessed in the final season.

    2021 - View publication details

  12. Franklin, M.T. and J. MacDonald. 2021. Developing a biovigilance framework to address the new invasive strawberry blossom weevil. Federal Provincial Territorial Plant Health Committee Meeting. Virtual Meeting. Nov 10, 2021.

    2021 - View publication details

  13. Franklin, M.T. and J. MacDonald. 2021. Developing a biovigilance framework to address the new invasive strawberry blossom weevil. Federal Provincial Territorial Plant Health Committee Meeting. Virtual Meeting. Nov 10, 2021.

    2021 - View publication details

  14. Makela, K., et al. (2021). Biovigilance: A Modern Approach to Plant Pest Management (Vision Statement), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Science and Technology Branch: 29 pp.

    2021 - View publication details

  15. MacDonald JL, Ensing DE. 2021. Erythronium grandiflorum Phenological Stages Reference Guide. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC. Version 2.0

    2021 - View publication details

  16. MacDonald JL, Moffat C, Abram P. 2021. "On Demand: Spotted Wing Drosophila." Canadian Fruit & Vegetable Summit. March 10, 2021. https://www.fruitandveggie.com/ve-agenda/spotted-wing-drosophila-jesse-macdonald-aafc/

    2021 - View publication details

  17. Proper balanced nutrition is important in all crops; however, knowing what the right nutrient needed at the right time for the right reasons with the right product can be very different between commodities, orchards, and seasons. There are several different sampling methods that can be utilized to assess the nutrient status of a block and help aid in nutrient management decisions. The main assessment methods are leaf, fruitlet, and soil analysis. There are some other techniques, such as sap analysis, that are being tested and may be more available in the future.

    2021 - View publication details

  18. MacDonald J, Cooey L, Telford G, Abrams P, Alton G, Dudzic J, Ellis T, Girod P, Hueppelsheuser T, McFarlene J, Moffat C, Pogoda M, Thistlewood H. 2021. "Spotted Wing Drosophila: A Regional Research Users’ Meeting." Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC. 13 pp.

    2021 - View publication details

  19. MacDonald JL, Toivonen PMA. 2020. "Improving Blueberry Postharvest Quality: Managing the Atmosphere of Shipped Berries." Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC. 13023E/F.

    2020 - View publication details

  20. MacDonald JL, Toivonen PMA. 2020. "Improving Blueberry Postharvest Quality: Utilizing Temperature Management for Packers." Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC. AAFC No. 13022E/F.

    2020 - View publication details

Research facility

4200 Highway #97
Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0
Canada

Affiliations

Canadian Phytopathological Society

Entomological Society of British Columbia

Entomological Society of Canada

Language

English