Understanding Plant Diseases Using Art and Technology

Abstract

ABSTRACT Gray mold and anthracnose fruit rot are two of the most important diseases threatening strawberry production in the United States. Managing these diseases is critical, but difficult without understanding how the fungus causing each disease operates. Improvements in design technology and computer processing power have enabled us to create a new generation of informational resources that explain disease development in a new and exciting way. High-definition photos and time-lapse videos help us recognize and diagnose diseases from their first appearance in the field. Through illustrations and animations, concepts, such as disease cycles, can be explained more effectively. Free availability of these materials on websites and social media makes them accessible to growers, agents, and specialists. Through these materials we can clarify and justify current management practices so that growers can more effectively combat diseases in the field. Using gray mold and anthracnose fruit rot as an example, we created photo galleries and updated, visually stimulating disease cycles for continued and improved grower training.