Episode 3

Ep. 3. Basil Downy Mildew, Crown Shyness and Hating on Bradford Pears

Mr. Stanton Gill wrote an article in GrowerTalks (https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=24625) entitled Basil Downy Mildew Field Observations. We'll discuss some of is main discussion points there, from when it first showed up in the USA, symptoms, and resistant cultivars.

In some forests, tree canopies exhibit an interesting behavior in which the leaves and branches will form a 'jigsaw'-like pattern, with leaves and branches avoiding actually touching. Several hypotheses have been expressed for why this happens which is explored in a JSTOR Daily article that we discuss together (https://daily.jstor.org/the-mysteries-of-crown-shyness/?fbclid=IwAR1zcGk5tY5_EK8TXVeKMGgb51K7WWaVa6GuQipKD-xheR4rNMxlHbW7rSw)

Lastly, Vikram and Erfan have a heart-to-heart about why horticulturalists hate on Bradford pears so much!

About the Podcast

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Jolly Green Scientists
Digesting scientific research relevant to the green industry

About your hosts

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Erfan Vafaie

I'm an entomologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, based out of Overton, Texas (U.S.A.). I conduct research and educational programming on integrative pest management of ornamental and nursery crops, working mainly with producers and other green industry professionals. My online 'pseudonym' is the SixLeggedAggie.
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Vikram Baliga

I'm the manager of the University Teaching and Research Greenhouse and Horticultural Gardens at Texas Tech University. I also serve as an instructor of horticulture in the Department of Plant and Soil Science and I'm a long-time and active science communicator. I'm also a thunderous plant nerd.