Recent News
Team members attend APS Pacific Division Meeting & Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens
Apr 8, 2025
Last week, members of our team attended the APS Pacific Division Meeting & Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens at UC Davis!
Marina Gutierrez (2nd year, M.S.) gave a presentation on the "effect of abiotic stresses on Macrophomina root rot in California strawberry", while Maria Arrendondo (1st year, M.S.) showcased her research in a poster session on "evaluating field sanitation practices to mitigate the spread of strawberry soilborne pathogens".
Congratulations to Marina and Maria on this milestone in their graduate degrees!
Rain or shine, our team is out in the fields!
Apr 1, 2025
Rain or shine, our team is out in the fields! Pictured here are some of our staff members and undergraduate students harvesting fruit in the rain for a research trial evaluating the effects of fungicide applications for control of Botrytis fruit rot. Research doesn't stop for the weather!
Karina Li wins Ventura CAPCA scholarship
Apr 1, 2025
Congratulations to Karina Li who recently won a $2,000 Ventura CAPCA scholarship! This was used to cover tuition, notebooks and computer repairs. As a third year Plant Science major, Karina's been a valuable part of the Strawberry Center for nearly two years, working in both the pathology and entomology labs. This summer, Karina will be interning with the Betteravia/Bonipak soil lab. Way to go!
26 Hours of Science & Technology in Agriculture
Mar 21, 2025
The Cal Poly Latinos in Agriculture Club, in collaboration with the Plant Science Department, hosted over 100 California high school students for this year's "26 Hours of Science & Technology in Agriculture" event, which provides students with a 26-hour tour of Cal Poly's diverse agricultural offerings, centers and departments. Plant pathology program leader Shashika Hewavitharana and several master's students provided instructional demonstrations and hands-on activities focusing on basic strawberry plant diseases and diagnostic tests. It was wonderful showing these students some of the great opportunities Cal Poly can offer!
Leopards don't change their spots, but these mites will!
Mar 11, 2025
Leopards don't change their spots, but these mites will! Dr. Mohammad Amir Aghaee just published a blog post on Lewis mites and their seeming ability to "transform" into two-spotted spider mites (TSSM). This illusion of changing spots is due to the movement of the organelles and food within the body of the mite, shown in the video above. Lewis mite is a serious pest because it can outpace TSSM and predatory mites during winter months when temperatures are below 15 °C. Learn more about distinguishing these mites and their impact here:
https://strawberrycenterblog.com/2025/03/11/a-leopard-doesnt-change-its-spots-but-these-mites-will/
Marina Gutierrez's research project: using citrus oils for pathogen control
Mar 4, 2025
Marina Gutierrez, one of our graduate students, is currently evaluating the efficacy of using nanoencapsulated citrus oils to control strawberry pathogens that cause Botrytis fruit rot and powdery mildew. Pictured is the detached fruit assay process in which berries are dipped into various citrus oil treatments, artificially inoculated with Botrytis cinerea, and then incubated for four days. These berries are then visually assessed to determine disease severity.
The start of our 2025 strawberry harvest season!
Feb 28, 2025
This week marked the start of our 2025 strawberry harvest season! It's always exciting when those first fruit ripen up. While some berries are being harvested now, it will take a few weeks for harvest to ramp up enough for commercial sales. Sales are mostly on campus until the quarter ends in June when you'll be able to purchase in stores like Vons in San Luis Obispo. Until then, they will be sold on campus at Campus Market, Village Market, Grand Ave Market and Cal Poly Meats.
Sampling a biological control trial with BioBee
Feb 26, 2025
Exciting collaboration in action! BioBee CSO emeritus Shimon Steinberg and Technical Sales Rep Saul Alba joined Mohammad and grad student Taylor to sample a large biological control trial, examining the rates and timing of predatory mite (Neoseiulus californicus) releases on Eotetranychus lewisi (lewis mite) and Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite). Biological control in the central and northern districts can be a serious challenge due to cold weather reducing the efficacy of predatory mites. We are currently in week 9 of a 16-week trial. Dr. Steinberg was visiting us as part of a larger tour through Central California for meetings and international symposia. Along with field tours, Mohammad and Taylor discussed the technical aspects and data from the trial!
NEW BLOG POST: Entomology Roadmap 2025
Feb 19, 2025
NEW BLOG POST ALERT! Entomology Program Leader Dr. Mohammad Aghaee is gearing up for a very exciting and busy 2025. In this post, he reveals a roadmap for the program's seven different research projects. From pesticide efficacy to UV-C treatments, there is a lot on the horizon. Click here to read the full blog post and stay informed on our latest happenings:
https://strawberrycenterblog.com/2025/02/19/entomology-roadmap-2025/
Hosting a CAFES Career Counseling Workshop
Feb 12, 2025
Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting a career counseling workshop for our undergraduate students! Led by CAFES Career Counselor Monica Contreras, this workshop touched on exploring career paths through various databases and building professional networks. A huge thank you to Monica for sharing her expertise! Events like these are a vital part of the Strawberry Academy, our workforce readiness program, which helps our students develop the skills and confidence needed to thrive in their future careers. 
