Note: This is just a very brief listing of some of the research interests of our key faculty. If there is a research issue not listed on these pages, contact Peter Landschoot for information relating to your interest area.

Mr. Borger’s areas of research include: weed control, plant control regulator use, and fertilizer and pesticide runoff in rain and irrigation water. After 14 years of working with Dr. Thomas Watschke, he has been promoted to Instructor in Turfgrass and Weed Managerment in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. Borger now has responsibity for the weed control and plant growth regulator field research program at Penn State, as well as teaching weed management to both two-and four-year students and team teaching in two other turfgrass classes.

Read Mr. Borger’s description of his duties and his thoughts on the future of the Center for Turfgrass Science

Contact Mr. Borger.

Dr. Fidanza’s research focus is turfgrass ecology, specifically turfgrass IPM and the evaluation of plant protection products (i.e., fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regulators) and cultural practices in turfgrass ecosystems, and the biology and ecology of fairy ring disease in turfgrass. Fidanza also investigates the benefits and uses of spent mushroom substrate for the lawn and landscape, crop production, and the environment. All research involves collaborations with scientists from many other academic institutions as well as industry

Contact Dr. Fidanza.

Dr. Heller works in the use of biorational management strategies for Christmas tree, turfgrass, and greenhouse pests; development of growing degree day models for pine needle midge and bluegrass billbug; mapping insect/mite field infestations for integrated pest management programs for Christmas trees and turfgrass.

Contact Dr. Heller.

As Penn State’s turfgrass breeder, Dr. Huff’s program performs basic and applied genetics on a wide range of grass species including many native to North America. His lab routinely uses DNA markers, flow-cytometry, and cytology as aids to sort through the complex genomes of these grasses during the breeding process. In addition, he also uses these techniques to identify genetic boundaries (either discrete or overlapping) at the level of populations for both commercial cultivars and endemic natives. In the area of crop improvement, his program focuses on enhancing tolerance or resistance to several biotic and abiotic stresses. For perennial grasses these include, wear tolerance, persistence, disease, and extreme temperatures (both heat and cold). Finally, his program is performing a range of genomic investigations on the reproductive biology of these grasses including such systems as apomixis and dioecy.

Contact Dr. Huff.

Dr. Kaminski’s research focuses on various biotic and abiotic stresses related to high maintenance turfgrass systems such as golf course putting greens. Areas of research include cultural and chemical management of turfgrass pests including summer-induced abiotic stress, select diseases of golf courses, and annual bluegrass management/suppression on golf course putting greens. These studies involve the evaluation of plant protectant products (i.e., fungicide, herbicides, and plant growth regulators) in conjunction with various fertility and cultural management programs. Recent projects have included pesticide resistance management, enhanced fungicide efficacy through advanced application technology, and the interaction among select herbicides/PGRs and turfgrass diseases or summer stress. Research emphasis focuses on balancing environmental stewardship with the desire to produce quality performance conditions on golf courses. He also serves as Director of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program.

Contact Dr. Kaminski.

Dr. Landschoot’s research program focuses on integrated pest management with emphasis in disease and weed management, turfgrass species and cultivar evaluation, use of composts as soil amendments in turf, and soil fertility. He is also the resident extension turfgrass management specialist in Pennsylvania. This assignment involves organizing and implementing extension education programs and is accomplished through organizing large regional conferences; development of extension publications, contribution to newsletters and trade magazines; and participation in media events. Dr. Landschoot provides current management information to clientele through presentations at meetings, seminars, workshops, field demonstrations, and via the Internet.

Contact Dr. Landschoot.

Dr. McNitt’s research interests include maximizing the safety and playability of athletic field playing surfaces through development of improved construction and maintenance techniques. Current projects include: Maximizing the surface stability of sand rootzones through manipulation of maintenance practices; Evaluation of bentgrass root morphology and water use in rootzones of varying depths; Evaluation of playing surface characteristics of infilled synthetic turf systems; Evaluation of sand topdressing procedures for varying bentgrass varieties. Dr. McNitt helped develop and teach the turfgrass curriculum offered via the internet as part of Penn State's World Campus. He also conducts research relating to athletic field and golf green construction.

Read Dr. McNitt’s report on “Evaluation of Playing Surface Characteristics of Various In-Filled Systems”. This research was supported by PTC.

Contact Dr. McNitt.

Dr. Schlossberg’s current research objective is to maximize fertilizer use efficiency in turfgrass systems. Current projects include evaluation of cultural practices for accelerated treatment of acid soil complex, characterization of organic and inorganic soil amendment of turfgrass root zones, and development of soil sampling, analysis, and interpretation protocol on the basis of site and management-specific parameters. Future research directions include soil hydrophobicity causes, identification, and remediation, and transport modeling of nutrients in natural and constructed turfgrass soil systems. He also teachs Turfgrass Nutrition in the 2 and 4-year programs.

Contact Dr. Schlossberg.

Dr. Turgeon’s specific research interests encompass turfgrass morphogenesis, edaphology and management systems. Additionally, he is interested in the development and assessment of computer-based instructional learning resources for use in resident and distance educational programs.

He teaches both resident and on-line courses and administers the Turfgrass Management Programs offered through the Penn State World Campus.

Contact Dr. Turgeon.

Dr. Uddin’s research program involves management of blast disease of perennial ryegrass turf caused by Pyricularia grisea, through applications of the principles of plant disease epidemiology, biology of the pathogen, and host-parasite interactions. The epidemiological research focuses on the influence of environmental conditions on development of blast disease epidemics under various turfgrass management practices, including fertility, alternative and new turfgrass mixtures/blends, pesticides/plant growth regulators, soil properties and plant residue management. Research on biology of the pathogen entails characterization of population structure of P. grisea in various geographic regions. A second component of his research program encompasses biology of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa and management of dollar spot. Evaluation of fungicides for various root and foliar diseases of turfgrass is also a significant part of his research program. Dr. Uddin maintains collaborative work with the fungicide industry in development of an integrated turfgrass disease management system.

Anthracnose report for 2005

Contact Dr. Uddin.