Linda Elizabeth Jewell, PhD

• Northern agriculture and season extension are critically important fields of research to improve access to fresh, healthy, and culturally desirable food for all Canadians. Which plant pathogens, if any, limit food production in Northern regions? How does the prevalence and severity of plant pathogens in Northern regions change as a result of season extension techniques such as the use of low tunnels and mulches?
• High quality and nutritious forage and silage are essential for the health of dairy cows. Plant diseases in the field limit the yield and nutritional value of forages, and spoilage of stored silage may further reduce nutritional value and decrease palatability. To what extent to plant diseases limit yield and quality? How frequently are fungal contaminants detected from silage collected on Canadian dairy farms?
• The genus Vaccinium includes many commercially and culturally important berries, including but not limited to lowbush blueberries (V. angustifolium), redberry/ partridgeberry/ lingonberry (V. vitis-idaea; also known by many other local names), and cranberry (V. oxycoccos, among other species). Understanding which plant diseases limit yield and are present in both wild and managed harvesting areas is necessary to ensure ongoing access to these prized Canadian fruits.