Meet the Team!
Elizabeth (Betsy) Beers has studied a broad range of tree fruit pests, but woolly apple aphid has been a major focus area. She has enhanced our understanding of WAA dispersal, overwintering, phenology, chemical control, natural enemies and conservation biological control. In addition, she has done several projects screening rootstocks from the Geneva breeding program to confirm the efficacy of the ‘Robusta 5’ gene against Washington strains of WAA.
Genarro Fazio has focused on breeding improved apple rootstocks resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses that feature genetic resistance to wooly apple aphids. He works on the development of genetic models for root traits including novel sources of resistance to pests and diseases and applies them to the development of molecular tools for marker aided breeding.
Grzegorz (Greg) Krawczyk has focused on research assisting the fruit industry in implementing insect pest management for sustainable production. His applied research program uses integrated pest management and arthropod monitoring with a special emphasis on insecticide resistance management and conservation of beneficial insects in the fruit ecosystem.
Julianna Wilson focuses on applied research that results in healthy, marketable tree fruit through the monitoring and management of dynamic pest complexes, pollinator health, and the impacts of climate on orchard systems.
Karin Winkler works closely with stakeholders to support sustainable fruit production in orchards. She focuses on optimizing biological control, monitoring for invasive species, and the development of pest resistant cultivars.
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Paul Nabity began working on WAA genetics, especially related to Er-based resistance, a few years ago. He has been characterizing candidate genes linked to plant manipulation (also called effectors) in this and other aphid-like systems to better understand how quickly and by what means adaptation occurs.
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