Crop protection of root, bulb and leafy vegetable crops and crucifer crops with emphasis on plant pathology and integrated crop management.

Research Interests:

The overall approach is research that will contribute to integrated crop management of vegetable crops, with the focus on crop protection of vegetable crops. The crops of interest are root, bulb, leafy vegetables and crucifer crops, including onions, carrots, lettuce, celery, cabbage, Asian crucifer crops and some minor crops such as artichokes and chives. Plant pathology and disease management are major areas of interest. Collaborative work involving plant physiology, plant nutrition, plant breeding and entomology is also part of the approach.

Specific research projects investigate biological, cultural and chemical means of crop protection to discover the best approaches to crop management and how they interact with host resistance, plant nutrition, production practices, and other insect pests and diseases. Current projects include integrated crop management of Allium white rot on onion, with the emphasis on mycorrhizae as biological controls; biology and management of onion smut and interactions with onion maggot, nutrient management of carrot as part of an integrated crop management program with the focus on nitrogen utilization and the relationship to carrot leaf blight, epidemiology and management of sclerotinia rot of carrot, and soil amendments for the management of clubroot of crucifer crops. Efficacy testing of specific crop protection materials is conducted at the request of the industry. This program is GLP certified to do residue trials.

For further information please visit:

http://www.uoguelph.ca/muckcrop/index.html

Selected Publications:

McDonald, M.R. (2006). Advances in conventional methods of disease management. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 28:S239-S246.

Westerveld, S.M., M.R. McDonald, and A.W. McKeown. (2006). Carrot Yield, Quality, and Storability in Relation to Preplant and Residual Nitrogen on Mineral and Organic Soils.  HortTechnology. 16(2): 286-293

Kora, C., M.R. McDonald and G.J. Boland. (2005). Lateral trimming of carrot foliage for the management of sclerotinia rot of carrot.  Plant Disease. 89: 549-557. 

Kora, C., M.R. McDonald, and G.J. Boland. (2005). Characterization of the epidemiology of Sclerotinia rot of carrot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Can. J.  Plant Pathol. 27: 1-14

McKeown, A.W., J. Warland and M.R. McDonald. (2005). Impacts of climate change on horticultural crop yields in southern Ontario.  Can. J. Plant Science 85: 431-438

McDonald, M.R. and G.J. Boland.  (2004). Forecasting diseases caused by Sclerotinia spp.  in eastern Canada.  Can J. Plant Pathol. 26:480-488.

Westerveld, S.M., A.W. McKeown, C.D. Scott-Dupree and M.R. McDonald. (2004). Chlorophyll and nitrate meters as nitrogen monitoring tools for onions, carrots and cabbage in southern Ontario. HortTechnology. 14: 9-18.

McDonald, M.R., M.D.L.A. Jaime and M.H.Y. Hovius. (2003).  Management of Diseases of Onions and Garlic. pp. 149-200  in  Diseases of  Fruits and Vegetables: Management and Diagnosis Vol. II. Edited by S.A.M.H. Naqvi and K.G. Mukerji. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.

McDonald, M.R.  (2002).  Vegetable Crop Pest Management (Plant Pathogens) p.875-877.  in Encyclopedia of Pest Management.  Editor David Pimentel. Published by Marcel Dekker Inc., New York. (internet version www.dekker.com)