Dillard, Helene R
Associate DeanThe primary focus of my research and extension program has been the biology, ecology and management of fungal and bacterial pathogens of vegetable crops. Current primary areas of study are the biology and sustainable management of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in vegetable cropping systems, quantitive epidemiology and management of rust on sweet corn, and identification of the causal agents of "spotty beans" and sustainable disease control strategies. As Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, I provide leadership for a complex organization that is a primary outreach unit of the university. Faculty, extension associates, professional educators, extension specialists, and staff located on and off campus provide educational programming that reaches citizens in every county in New York State.
research
research and scholarship focus
Overall program efforts concentrate on the biology, ecology, and management of fungal diseases of vegetables. Major projects have included studies on the epidemiology and management of anthracnose diseases with emphasis on Colletotrichum lindemuthianum on beans and Colletotrichum coccodes on tomatoes; biology and management of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on beans and cabbage with an emphasis on cultural practice management, and biological and chemical control strategies; biological control of Botrytis cinerea on greenhouse tomatoes; epidemiology and sustainable management of Alternaria leaf spot on crucifers caused by Alternaria brassicicola; quantitative epidemiology and management of rust caused by Puccinia sorghi on sweet corn; and epidemiology of Stewart`s bacterial wilt of corn caused by Erwinia stewartii.
primary investigator of
research areas
- adult and extension education | collaborative research area (CALS)
- biological control | collaborative research area (CALS)
- disease control | collaborative research area (CALS)
- fruit and vegetable production | collaborative research area (CALS)
- integrated pest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- international agriculture | collaborative research area (CALS)
- organic agriculture | collaborative research area (CALS)
- pesticide management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- pest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- plant pathology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- sustainable agriculture | collaborative research area (CALS)
- vegetables | collaborative research area (CALS)
submitted impact statement
- Managing pod molds on snap beans | 2007 Impact statement
- Cause and control of "spotty" snap bean pods | 2007 Impact statement
- Managing pod molds on snap beans | 2006 Impact statement
- Managing pod molds on snap beans | 2005 Impact statement
- Managing pod molds on snap beans | 2004 Impact statement
affiliations
head of
- Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) | extension division
faculty appointment in
- Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) | extension division
- Plant Pathology at Geneva | Geneva department
administrative appointment
- Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) | extension division
member of graduate field
- Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology | graduate field
- Plant Protection | graduate field
other Cornell affiliations
- Cornell Organic Working Group | working group
administrative responsibilities
Associate Dean, CALS and CHE
staff member in
- Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) | extension division
teaching
teaches
- PLPA 7990 - Graduate-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- PLPA 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- PLPA 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
service
outreach focus
current professional activities
- Fellow, American Phytopathological Society, 2006
- Panel Reviewer, Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships Program, 2000
background
educational background
- Ph.D. 1984. Plant Pathology University of California, Davis
- M.S. 1979. Soil Science, University of California, Davis
- B.A/B.S. 1977 Biology and Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley
awards and distinctions
- 2006, Elected a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society
- 1995-1997, National Extension Leadership Development, Class V
- 1992, Excellence in Extension Award, American Phytopathological Society
featured in
- 'Think statewide, act locally' is Cooperative Extension's focus for 2008 | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Cornell's agriculture and veterinary roles stressed by N.Y.'s new senator during campus visit | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Cornell receives nearly $850,000 to improve specialty crops | Cornell Chronicle feature
- New York's first lady partners with Cornell to improve health of state's children | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Program encourages home-cooked meals with local produce | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Sen. Clinton and Cornell help launch fund to aid New York's flood-devastated farmers | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Sustainability a key word for CU at New York State Fair | Cornell Chronicle feature
publications
selected publications (listing in progress)
Refereed Journal Articles
- Shah, D.A., and Dillard, H. R. 2006. Yield loss in sweet corn caused by Puccinia sorghi: a meta-analysis. Plant Disease 90:1413-1418.
- Shah, D.A., Dillard, H. R., Mazumdar-Leighton, S., Gonsalves, D., and Nault, B.A. 2006. Incidence, spatial patterns, and associations among viruses in snap bean and alfalfa in NewYork. Plant Disease 90:203-210.
- Shah, D.A., Dillard, H.R., and Nault, B.A. 2005. Sampling plans for the incidence of aphid-transmitted viruses in snap bean. Phytopathology 95: 1405-1411.