I See Dead Plants

Ed Zaworski
  • 4.9 (11)
  • Education
  • Weekly

Plant Science Stories Rooted in the Everyday The I See Dead Plants podcast shares the stories of people and plants, pests and pathogens, and the conflicts among them. Join us as we speak to the folks who are helping the rest of us live healthier, more productive lives through pest management research and education. We strive to make science accessible.

  1. 18h ago ·  Video

    (S5:E21) When the Grass is Browner on the Other Side: Pasture Mealybug

    In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Stephen Biles of Texas A&M University and Dr. Isaac Esquivel of University of Florida. They talk the new insect pest pasture mealybug and how it affects pasturelands in the southern united states. Additional Resources https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/pasture-mealybug/ https://midcoastipm.blogspot.com/?m=1 https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/pasture-mealybugs/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv0wfKprSZE https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/pasture-mealybugs Chapters 00:42 Introduction to the Pasture Mealybug 03:03 Expert Insights on Insect Pests 05:50 Understanding the Pasture Mealybug 08:17 Geographical Spread and Impact 11:01 Damage and Effects on Pasture Lands 13:14 Plant Preferences and Susceptibility 15:58 Management Strategies for Control 18:32 Challenges in Pest Management 26:52 Challenges in Pasture Management 28:53 Impact of Mealybugs on Grass Health 30:25 Effects on Livestock Industry 32:43 Mealybug Concerns in Lawn Care 35:06 Optimal Conditions for Mealybug Growth 37:04 Scouting and Early Detection 39:42 Research Directions for 2027 43:16 Advice for Landowners and Cattle Operations 44:38 Future Implications of Mealybug Infestation Zaworski, E. (Host), Biles, S. and Esquivel, I. (Interviewees). S5:E21 (Podcast). When the Grass is Browner on the Other Side: Pasture Mealybug. 11/4/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.   Transcript

  2. Oct 21 ·  Video

    (S5:E20) Cloudy with a Chance of Sclerotia: Disease Forecasting and White Mold

    In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Wade Webster of North Dakota State University. They discuss soybean white mold, disease forecasting models and the use of AI in agriculture. Additional Resources https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/crop-disease-forecasting Chapters 00:42 Introduction to Plant Pathology and White Mold Research 03:13 Diversity of Crops in North Dakota 05:40 Wade's Journey into Plant Pathology 08:32 Understanding White Mold and Its Impact 11:14 Management Strategies for White Mold 14:06 Predictive Modeling in Plant Pathology 16:33 Research on Soybean Varieties and Resistance 19:41 The Role of Machine Learning in Predictive Modeling 31:24 Understanding Data in Predictive Modeling 34:00 Ground Truthing and Data Collection Challenges 36:38 The Evolution of Machine Learning in Agriculture 39:19 Bottlenecks in Processing and User Experience 41:58 Farmer Engagement with Predictive Tools 43:59 The Role of Financial Stakeholders in Agriculture 46:40 Time Sensitivity in Predictive Modeling 51:53 Future Directions in Predictive Modeling 56:18 The Integration of Multiple Models 01:01:47 The Impact of Technology on Agriculture Zaworski, E. (Host) and Webster, R. (Interviewees). S5:E20 (Podcast). Cloudy with a Chance of Sclerotia: Disease Forecasting and White Mold. 10/21/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.   Transcript

  3. Oct 14 ·  Video

    (S5:E19) From the Field to the Phone Lines: Montana Ag Live

    In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Jack Reisselman of Montana State University. They discuss the longtime Montana PBS program Montana Ag live. Additional Resources https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFz2HaLWoSAOxqr4NdtypRyirvYZAK895   Chapters Zaworski, E. (Host) and Riesselman, J. (Interviewees). S5:E19 (Podcast). From the Field to the Phone Lines: Montana Ag Live. 10/14/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.   Transcript

    (S5:E19) From the Field to the Phone Lines: Montana Ag Live

  4. Oct 7 ·  Video

    (S5:E18) The Crimson Crown: Soybean Red Crown Rot Uncovered

    In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Boris Camiletti of the University of Illinois. The topic is red crown rot of soybeans, new research findings, updated distributions and more. Additional Resources https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.11.744294v1.full.pdf https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/epdf/10.1094/PDIS-04-26-0811-RE https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-07-25-1424-SC https://camiletti.web.illinois.edu/   Chapters 00:42 Introduction to Red Crown Rot and Guest Background 03:03 Understanding Red Crown Rot: Overview and History 05:59 Symptoms and Identification of Red Crown Rot 08:46 Differentiating Red Crown Rot from Other Diseases 11:43 Recent Advancements in Red Crown Rot Research 14:32 Scouting Techniques for Red Crown Rot 17:33 Modeling and Predicting Red Crown Rot Outbreaks 20:12 Rating Systems for Red Crown Rot Severity 23:09 Final Thoughts and Future Directions 32:27 Understanding Red Crown Rot Symptoms and Effects 38:24 Genetic Variability and Pathogen Spread 41:35 Management Strategies for Red Crown Rot 48:14 Future Directions in Research and Collaboration 54:45 Implications for Farmers and the General Public Zaworski, E. (Host) and Camilletti, B. (Interviewees). S5:E18 (Podcast). The Crimson Crown: Soybean Red Crown Rot Uncovered. 10/7/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.   Transcript

    (S5:E18) The Crimson Crown: Soybean Red Crown Rot Uncovered

  5. Sep 16 ·  Video

    (S5:E17) The Return of the Jassid: New Insights on Cotton Jassid in 2026

    In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Issac Esquivel of the University of Florida, Dr. Phillip Roberts of the University of Georgia and Dr. Scott Graham of Auburn University. They discuss the ongoing surveillance and damage caused to cotton by the cotton jassid or two-spot cotton leafhopper. Additional Resources https://stop2scl.org/cotton/ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/alabama-cotton-jassid-update/ https://site.caes.uga.edu/entomologyresearch/2025/08/pest-alert-cotton-jassid-or-two-spot-cotton-leafhopper-on-hibiscus-in-ornamental-nurseries/   Time Stamps 00:42 Introduction to the Two Spot Cotton Leafhopper 03:03 Understanding the Cotton Leafhopper's Impact 06:13 Tracking the Spread of the Cotton Leafhopper 11:18 Current Status and Management Strategies 19:50 Overwintering and Migration Patterns 23:50 Geographical Spread and Host Preferences 31:13 Lessons Learned from the Cotton Leafhopper Crisis 33:45 Timely Management in Pest Control 37:46 Understanding Pest Interactions 41:45 Challenges in Targeting Multiple Pests 46:41 Evaluating the Impact of Cotton Jassid 53:06 Future Research Directions and Industry Response Zaworski, E. (Host) and Esquivel, I., Graham, S. and Roberts, P.(Interviewees). S5:E17 (Podcast). The Return of the Jassid: New Insights on Cotton Jassid in 2026. 9/16/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.   Transcript

    (S5:E17) The Return of the Jassid: New Insights on Cotton Jassid in 2026

  6. Sep 2 ·  Video

    (S5:E16) Bugging the Bugs: Inside the Insect Eavesdropper

    In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Emily Bick of the University of Wisconsin Madison. They discuss the work of Emily's lab with regards to the insect eavesdropper project. Tune in to learn how we can listen to insects inside of plants and how it might help farmers. Additional Resources https://www.bicklab.com/home https://www.npr.org/2024/09/02/nx-s1-5096781/short-wave-insect-eavesdropper   Time Stamps 00:42 Introduction to Insect Eavesdropper 03:42 Emily's Journey into Entomology 06:33 Understanding Digital Entomology 09:18 The Concept of Insect Eavesdropper 12:24 Mechanics of Listening to Plants 15:21 The Technology Behind Insect Detection 18:06 Machine Learning in Insect Sound Identification 21:02 Practical Applications and Future Directions 39:46 Understanding Plant Sounds and Insect Detection 44:06 The Role of Technology in Pest Management 47:21 Future Applications of Insect Eavesdropping 53:31 Challenges and Opportunities in Data Collection 58:39 Vision for the Future of Pest Management 01:06:55 The Future of Digital Entomology 01:12:32 Communicating the Value of Insect Eavesdropping   Zaworski, E. (Host) and Bick, E. (Interviewee). S5:E16 (Podcast). Bugging the Bugs: Inside the Insect Eavesdropper. 9/2/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.   Transcript

    (S5:E16) Bugging the Bugs: Inside the Insect Eavesdropper

  7. Jul 29 ·  Video

    (S5:E15) Aisles Under Attack: Food Distribution and Plant Pests

    In this episode Ed interviews Dr Sylvain Charlebois who studies food distribution at Dalhousie University. They discuss economics, logistics, the power of the consumer and more. Additional Resources   Time Stamps 00:00 – Introduction: Why Food Distribution Matters 03:45 – How the Modern Food Supply Chain Works 10:30 – What Drives the Price of Food? 17:20 – Plant Diseases Through the Eyes of a Food Economist 24:15 – Bananas, Cavendish, and the Perfect Supply Chain 34:30 – Grocery Stores: The Hidden Science of Selling Food 43:15 – Why Farmers Grow What They Grow 51:00 – When Plant Diseases Disrupt the Food System 59:15 – The Future of Food Distribution 1:07:00 – Final Thoughts: Feeding the Future   Zaworski, E. (Host) and Charlebois, S. (Interviewee). S5:E15 (Podcast). Aisles Under Attack: Food Distribution and Plant Pests. 7/29/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.   Transcript

    (S5:E15) Aisles Under Attack: Food Distribution and Plant Pests

  8. Jul 22

    (S5:E14) What's Lurking in the Lettuce?

    In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Jeri Barak of the University of Wisconsin. They discuss the work of Jeri and her lab on food safety and how in some instances plant pathogens can increase the chances that you encounter a human pathogen when eating fresh produce. Additional Resources https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/aem.01330-22 https://journals.asm.org/doi/epub/10.1128/aem.01311-24   Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction to Microbial Research and Background 06:34 Transition from Marine Biology to Plant Pathology 09:56 Understanding Enteric Human Pathogens 11:46 Overview of Current Research in Food Safety 16:37 The Role of Salmonella in Agriculture 22:01 Interaction Between Plant Pathogens and Human Pathogens 28:34 The Role of Plant Pathogens in Human Health 31:19 Management Strategies for Bacterial Diseases 35:08 Future Directions in Research 39:20 Consumer Awareness and Food Safety 42:30 The Importance of Research in Food Security 48:21 outro with logo.mp4 Zaworski, E. (Host) and Barak, J. (Interviewee). S5:E14 (Podcast). What's Lurking in the Lettuce?. 7/22/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.   Transcript

    (S5:E14) What's Lurking in the Lettuce?
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4.9
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About

Plant Science Stories Rooted in the Everyday The I See Dead Plants podcast shares the stories of people and plants, pests and pathogens, and the conflicts among them. Join us as we speak to the folks who are helping the rest of us live healthier, more productive lives through pest management research and education. We strive to make science accessible.

Information

  • Creator
    Ed Zaworski
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    I See Dead Plants

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