March 5, 1998
by John Zakour
Geneva, NY - Wayne Wilcox has been promoted to full professor of Plant Pathology at Cornell University at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, in Geneva, NY.
"From having hired Wayne originally and then following his career closely, I know how well deserved this promotion is," said Herb Aldwinckle, who was chairman of the department when Wilcox was hired. "What distinguishes Wayne from most extension professors is that he has always carried on a very appropriate and productive, cutting-edge and, yet, practically useful research program. He has always handled extension responsibilities in a truly exemplary way, first with tree and small fruits, and, now, also with grapes. Wayne's performance is the strongest I know of for a professor with an appointment split 50/50 between extension and research."
Wilcox's main research goal is finding new information about what makes specific fruit diseases 'tick', and using this information to design practical, improved control programs that growers will use. Since coming to the Station, he has concentrated on fungal diseases of fruit crops, with emphasis on pathogen biology, horticultural practices that influence disease development, and improving commercial control strategies. His current program concentration is on the biology and control of important grape diseases in New York State. In addition, he is maintaining some effort on what he calls his "pet diseases": root and crown rots of various tree and berry crops caused by Phytophthora fungi on which he has worked for over 20 years.
When asked to highlight his most significant accomplishments, Wilcox pointed to his work on Phytophthora root rot of raspberries.
"Shortly after arriving at the Experiment Station, my program identified this disease as the cause of an unexplained decline of raspberries in eastern North America," said Wilcox. "Cooperating with colleagues in Oregon and Britain, we clarified the taxonomy of the primary causal agent and renamed it as a new subspecies. In cooperation with horticulturists in Geneva and Ithaca, we developed an integrated program for controlling the disease which utilizes a raised bed planting system, moderately resistant varieties, Ridomil fungicide, and a biological control organism (Trichoderma virens)." Raised beds have been particularly useful, and, based largely on the results of successful experiments undertaken in Geneva and Ithaca, this technique is seeing growing adoption in the Pacific Northwest, Scotland, continental Europe, and Australia.
In January, Wilcox was invited to chair a half-day workshop on this disease at an international raspberry symposium in Australia that was attended by delegates from 17 different countries. Phytophthora root rot is the most important disease of red raspberries in the world today.
Three years ago, Wilcox assumed responsibility for the Station's program in grape pathology. Now, he says, "I finally know enough to be dangerous."
When asked about the future, Wilcox said, "My goal is to continue expanding my knowledge in this position so that I can use my remaining career to help grape growers in New York and other regions improve the efficiency and profitability of their disease control programs."
Wilcox is emphatic in his support of Station programs. "I hope we never forget why this Station exists. If we maintain our focus on New York agriculture and the science that supports it, we'll survive and, hopefully, prosper. If not, we don't deserve to be here."
Wilcox received his B.S. in Plant Science (Pomology) in 1977, his M.S. in Plant Pathology in 1978, and his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 1983, all from the University of California, Davis. From 1982 until 1984, Wilcox served as Assistant Extension Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Kentucky. He was appointed Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at Cornell University in 1984, and promoted to Associate Professor in 1990. His promotion to professor was effective January 1, 1998.
Wilcox's faculty page is at www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/faculty/wilcox/
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Contact: Linda McCandless, Communications Services
Telephone: (315) 787-2417
e-mail: llm3@cornell.edu
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