Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University

Tom Holtzer, Department Head

Thomas.Holtzer@ColoState.edu 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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