Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University Tom Holtzer, Department Head [email protected] www.colostate.edu/Dept/bspm/
Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University
Tom Holtzer, Department Head
[email protected] www.colostate.edu/Dept/bspm/
BSPM: a Unique Department Among US Land Grant Universities
• Teaching, Research, and Engagement ▫ Entomology ▫ Plant Pathology ▫ Weed Science
• Multidisciplinary • Interdisciplinary
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Crosscutting Areas of Emphasis
• Genomics and Molecular Biology • Ecology and Biodiversity • Biology and Management of Invasive Species • Integrated Pest Management
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Bioag Sci & Pest Mgmt • Who are we?
▫ 20 Academic Faculty ▫ 3 “Faculty-like” part time volunteers ▫ 2 Office staff ▫ 11 Research Scientists/Postdoctoral Fellows
(grant supported) ▫ 15 Research Associates/Professional Staff
(grant supported) 21 MS students
▫ 27 PhD students ▫ 12 Undergraduate minors in Entomology
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Diverse Undergraduate Education Program
• Undergraduate students in agriculture and natural resources (300-400 level) ▫ Basic biology, ecology, and
management of pests of field crops horticultural crops range, pasture, and forage natural areas and forests livestock
▫ Pesticide use and safety ▫ “Capstone” pest
management theory and practice
Diverse Undergraduate Education Program
• Undergraduate students in agriculture and natural resources (300-400 level) ▫ Basic biology, ecology, and
management of pests of field crops horticultural crops range, pasture, and forage natural areas and forests livestock
▫ Pesticide use and safety ▫ “Capstone” pest
management theory and practice
• Undergraduate students from many areas of interest ▫ LIFE 102 Attributes of
Living Systems ▫ BSPM 102 Insects, Science
and Society ▫ AGRI/IE 116 Plants and
Civilizations ▫ LIFE 320 Ecology ▫ AGRI/PHIL 330
Agricultural Ethics ▫ Several insect biology and
taxonomy courses
Graduate Programs • Bioagricultural Sciences MS
and PhD with Specializations ▫ Entomology ▫ Plant Pathology ▫ Weed Science ▫ Pest Mgmt (MS only)
• Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
• Program in Molecular Plant Biology • Targeted strengths in graduate
course offerings
Departmental Research and Extension • Strong, continuing work related to our ▫ Disciplines Entomology Plant Pathology Weed Science
▫ Cross cutting areas of emphasis Genomics and Molecular Biology Ecology and Biodiversity Biology and Management of Invasive Species Integrated Pest Management
Research • Genomics and Molecular Biology ▫ pests and the plants and animals
with which they interact ▫ An important foundation for IPM ▫ BSPM strengths genomics bioinformatics biological control phytobacteriology gene expression
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Research • Ecology and Biodiversity ▫ Basic and applied insect ecology, chemical
ecology, weed ecology, and plant pathogen ecology ▫ Biodiversity – primarily insects and related
arthropods ▫ An important foundation for IPM
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Research and Extension • Biology and Management of Invasive Species ̶ mechanisms of invasion ̶ molecular and population genetics ̶ population and ecosystem ecology ̶ preventing invasions ̶ managing invasions ̶ restoring damaged environments
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Research and Extension • Integrated Pest Management ̶ production agricultural systems cropping systems crops
- wheat, dry beans, onions, and potatoes - corn, nurseries, shade trees, other commercial
vegetable crops range, pasture, and forage
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Research and Extension • Integrated Pest Management (cont.) ̶ natural resources and recreational
environments ̶ residential and public areas (including
community and school IPM)
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BSPM: Research and Extension Emerging Opportunities
• Biofuels ▫ genomes of crop plants to
enhance biomass • Drought tolerance (molecular
genetics, field evaluation) ▫ crops ▫ crop competitors (weeds)
• Molecular basis of herbicide resistance in kochia and other problem weeds
Many Opportunities for Cooperative Efforts – Some Examples
• Plant breeding for drought tolerance ▫ Short Course
• Plant breeding for pest resistance ▫ Graduate Training ▫ Research
• Pest management in dryland cropping systems (wheat and other crops) ▫ Short Course ▫ Graduate Training ▫ Research
• Management of invasive weeds and insects in non-crop areas ▫ Graduate Training ▫ Research
Questions?
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