Thomas Forge, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Applied Soil Ecology / Nematology

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Summerland Research & Development Centre

Current research and/or projects

General area of research is applied soil ecology, with an emphasis on: (1) Ecology and management of plant-parasitic nematodes; and (2) Integrated root health management for perennial horticulture crops.

Current projects:

  • Impacts of plant-parasitic nematodes on perennial fruit production in British Columbia
  • Comparative tolerance and resistance of new cherry and apple rootstocks to plant-parasitic nematodes
  • Identification and distribution of plant-parasitic nematode species of concern to agriculture in western Canada
  • Pre-plant soil and water management practices to suppress plant-parasitic nematodes and improve replant establishment of perennial fruit crops
  • Interactive influences of organic amendments, mulches and alternative irrigation practices on nematode population dynamics in orchards and vineyards

Education and awards

  • Ph.D. (Plant Pathology), University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • B.Sc. (Biology), Kansas State University

Key publications

  1. Elmhirst, J.F., Forge, T.A. (2021). Winter cover crops as reservoirs of tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and hosts of root-lesion, root knot and stubby-root nematodes. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 43(4), 631-640. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2020.1867898

    2021 - View publication details

  2. Midwood, A.J., Hannam, K.D., Forge, T.A., Neilsen, D., Emde, D., Jones, M.D. (2020). Importance of drive-row vegetation for soil carbon storage in woody perennial crops: A regional study. Geoderma, [online] 377 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114591

    2020 - View publication details

  3. Munro, P., Forge, T.A., Jones, M.D., Nelson, L.M. (2020). Soil biota from newly established orchards are more beneficial to early growth of cherry trees than biota from older orchards. Applied Soil Ecology, [online] 155 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2020.103658

    2020 - View publication details

  4. Kuchta, S., Neilsen, D., Forge, T., Zebarth, B.J., Nichol, C. 2020. Nitrogen, irrigation and alley management affects raspberry crop response and soil nitrogen and root‐lesion nematode dynamics. Soil Science Society of America Journal. Published online:01 November 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20190.

    2020 - View publication details

  5. Forge, T., Smit, R., Neilsen, D., and Neilsen, G. 2020. Potential impacts of the ring nematode, Mesocriconema xenoplax, on grapevines in British Columbia: a microplot study. Journal of Nematology 52: e2020-086. DOI: 10.21307/jofnem-2020-086

    2020 - View publication details

  6. Forge, T., Ehret, D., Messiga, A., Dorais, M. (2020). Influences of nitrogen inputs on nematode populations under highbush blueberry. Journal of Nematology, [online] 52 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2020-056

    2020 - View publication details

  7. Forge, T.A., P. Munro, T. Watson, S. Kuchta. 2020. Irrigation and soil organic matter management practices affect population development of the ring nematode, Mesocriconema xenoplax, on sweet cherry. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 42:3, 459, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2020.1767385.

    2020 - View publication details

  8. MacDonald JL, Forge T, Hannam K, Judd G, Moffat C, O'Gorman D, Sanfacon H, Xu H. 2020. 'Apple Decline' in the Okanagan Valley. Summerland Research and Development Centre via Instagram and Facebook.

    2020 - View publication details

  9. Larney, F.J., Catton, H.A. Geddes, C.M., Lupwayi, N.Z., Forge, T.A., Lemke, R.L., and Helgason, B.L. 2020. Cover cropping for organic carrot production. Oral presentation. Organic Alberta and Holistic Management Canada Conference, January 31-February 2, 2020, Camrose, AB.

    2020 - View publication details

  10. Kuchta, S., Neilsen, D., Forge, T., Zebarth, B.J., Nichol, C. (2020). Nitrogen, irrigation, and alley management effects on nitrate leaching from raspberry. Vadose Zone Journal, [online] 19(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/vzj2.20054

    2020 - View publication details

  11. Forge, T. J. Broatch, M.W. Harding, P. Reid, G.C. Daniles, L. Reid, A. Chan, and M. Cutts. 2019. Survey of plant-parasitic nematodes in horticultural crops in Alberta, 2014 and 2015. Pp. 13-16 in: The Canadian Phytopathological Society Canadian Plant Disease Survey: Disease Highlights 2019. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 41 (sup1): 1-197, DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2019.1619270.

    2019 - View publication details

  12. Hannam, K.D., Midwood, A.J., Neilsen, D., Forge, T.A., Jones, M.D. (2019). Bicarbonates dissolved in irrigation water contribute to soil CO2 efflux. Geoderma, [online] 337 1097-1104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.040

    2019 - View publication details

  13. Forge, T., Hannam, K., Neilsen, D., Neilsen, G. (2019). Nitrogen inputs and irrigation frequency influence population dynamics of Mesocriconema xenoplax under grapevines. Journal of Nematology, [online] 51(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2019-084

    2019 - View publication details

  14. Loo, S.E., Zebarth, B.J., Ryan, M.C., Forge, T.A., Cey, E.E. (2019). Quantifying nitrate leaching under commercial red raspberry using passive capillary wick samplers. Vadose Zone Journal, [online] 18(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/vzj2018.08.0152

    2019 - View publication details

  15. Loo, S.E., Zebarth, B.J., Ryan, M.C., Malekani, F., Cey, E.E., Suchy, M., Forge, T.A. (2019). Quantification of groundwater nitrate loading after raspberry field renovation using high-resolution passive diffusion sampling. Journal of Environmental Quality, [online] 48(6), 1722-1731. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jeq2019.01.0022

    2019 - View publication details

  16. Neilsen, D., Neilsen, G., Forge, T. 2018. Building resilience: future directions in mineral nutrition of woody perennial crops. Acta Horticulturae 1217:1-11. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1217.1

    2018 - View publication details

  17. Watson, T.T., Nelson, L.M., Forge, T.A. (2018). Preplant Soil Incorporation of Compost to Mitigate Replant Disease: Soil Biological Factors Associated with Plant Growth Promotion in Orchard Soil. Compost Science & Utilization, [online] 26(4), 286-296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1065657X.2018.1540953

    2018 - View publication details

  18. Watson, T.T., Nelson, L.M., Neilsen, D., Neilsen, G.H., Forge, T.A. (2018). Low-volume irrigation systems influence Pratylenchus penetrans populations, root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and replant establishment of sweet cherry. Scientia Horticulturae, [online] 239 50-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.05.013

    2018 - View publication details

  19. Watson, T.T., Forge, T.A., Nelson, L.M. (2018). Pseudomonads contribute to regulation of Pratylenchus penetrans (Nematoda) populations on apple. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, [online] 64(11), 775-785. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjm-2018-0040

    2018 - View publication details

  20. Zasada, I., Peetz, A., Forge, T. (2017). Pratylenchus species associated with blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and weed species in the Pacific North-west of North America. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, [online] 39(4), 497-502. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2017.1367724

    2017 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Summerland Research and Development Centre
4200 Highway #97
Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Nematology
Agriculture›Pathology›Plant pathology
Agriculture›Pest management›Minor use pesticides
Plant›Nematology›Cyst
Plant›Nematology›Vermiform

Affiliations

  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, University of British Columbia-Okanagan
  • Test Site Manager, AAFC Minor Use Pesticides Program
  • Society of Nematologists
  • Canadian Phytopathological Society
  • American Phytopathological Society
  • Soil Ecology Society
  • BC Agricultural Climate Adaptation Research Network

Language

English