Anna Testen

Anna Testen, Ph.D.

1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Ohio 44691

(330) 641-2862

 

Anna Testen works to develop environmentally safe and economically viable disease management strategies in horticultural crops, with an emphasis on controlled environment agriculture (CEA). New detection technologies and cultural practices are being developed to enhance disease management, encourage grower adoption of ecologically-based disease management practices, and to assist plant diagnosticians, extension personnel, and other scientists in the identification and study of plant pathogens. Ongoing objectives of Dr. Testen’s research program include:

1) identifying and quantifying pathogens associated with diseases in CEA;

2) studying the biology, ecology, and epidemiology of plant pathogens to assess disease risk and develop synthetic pesticide-free disease management strategies;

3) assessing the impact of environmental factors on management efficacy;

4) evaluating effects of management on soil or substrate microbial populations and disease severity; and

5) developing systems to detect and manage oomycete pathogens in hydroponic and irrigation systems.

The goal of this research is to reduce the effects of diseases in horticultural crop production and maximize grower returns through reduced pesticide use, increased productivity, and decreased crop losses. This research is conducted in support of National Program 305.

Current projects include 1) optimizing anaerobic soil disinfestation for managing soilborne diseases in high tunnel vegetable production and cut flower production, 2) assessing non-chemical methods to manage Pythium root rot in hydroponic production and 3) developing diagnostics assays to improve detection of pathogens in protected culture.

 

Anna Testen: Google Scholar,  LinkedIn

 

Research Experience:

2020-present  Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit, Wooster, OH

2019-2020      Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station Ames, IA

2017-2018      Post-Doctoral Researcher, The Ohio State University, Department of Plant Pathology, Wooster, OH

 

 

Education:  

2017    PhD, The Ohio State University, Plant Pathology

2012    MS The Pennsylvania State University, Plant Pathology and International Agriculture and Development

2009    BS University of Minnesota, Microbiology and Environmental Horticulture