Light for Plant Health
This program is dedicated to developing sustainable disease management solutions using the latest lighting technologies to educate stakeholders on using light and other forms of optical energy to control plant diseases.
In the News
Exploring Alternative Treatment for Apple Fire Blight Disease
May 2023
Fire blight of apple and pear trees is a bacterial disease which has been a concern since the colonial period in North America. We are studying the use of natural UV with titanium dioxide (TiO2) as an alternative to conventional treatments. Field studies are underway for the 2023 and planned for the 2024 growing seasons.
March 2023
Field trials at Kinderhook Creek Farm in Stephentown, New York, investigated the use of UV-C to treat powdery mildew on summer squash, specifically to discover whether leaf canopy agitation increases the efficacy of the UV treatments.
Learn More About Light for Plant Health
Our team is dedicated to learning about the impacts light has on plant health. Learn more about:
