BATON ROUGE, La. – The 30th Annual Tomato Disease Workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss all aspects of tomato pathogens and disease management, said LSU AgCenter extension plant pathologist Melanie Lewis Ivey.

All members of the plant health community are invited to share ongoing research, disease management tactics and strategies, and address emerging issues during the Oct. 5-7 event, which will be held at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capital Center in downtown Baton Rouge.

“The workshop will be of interest to researchers and students, tomato breeders, extension educators, crop consultants, tomato producers, processors, industry representatives, government regulators and anyone involved in or interested in the successful production of field or greenhouse tomatoes, Ivey said.

Topics to be discussed include disease etiology, pathogen epidemiology, breeding for disease resistance, chemical, cultural, and biological management strategies, disease diagnostics, and food safety of both field and greenhouse tomatoes, Ivey said.

“We are excited to be hosting the workshop in Baton Rouge,” she said. “Representatives of vendors, suppliers, and crop protection and seed companies are encouraged to attend and should contact me if they are interested in sponsoring a session or activity.”

Registration fees will cover the meeting sessions, the welcome reception, breakfast, lunch and refreshments daily.

Registration is on-line only through Sept. 30, and the cost is $140 for the general public and $95 for students. The fee for members of the Louisiana Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is $95.

The general on-site registration is $155 and $130 for students. Only cash and checks will be accepted on-site, Ivey said.

Contact Ivey at 225-578-8537 or mivey@agcenter.lsu.edu if a formal invitation is required to attend the workshop.

Johnny Morgan