Hi! My name is Elisabeth G. Darling. I go by both Elisabeth or Ellie. I completed my Ph.D. in Entomology with Michigan State University in 2023, and currently am a postdoctoral research associate for University of California, Riverside.
September 3rd, 2020. A processing carrot field in Oceana Co., Michigan infested with above threshold levels of root lesion nematode species. I am holding two carrots that have been fed on by root lesion, causing the production of an unmarketable characteristic called ‘forking’. This character results in yield loss for the farmer.
My interests revolve around blending organic and conventional practices to manage pests and pathogens in order to fit the economic needs of individual farmers, protect their surrounding resources, and increase the quality for their consumers.
My research background is primarily in plant-parasitic nematode and arthropod management, but I also have some experience in working with viral pathogens that these organisms transmit.
My favorite plant to work with is hops, and I want to help the industry determine if plant-parasitic nematodes are impacting hop yields in Michigan. Back in 2016, I worked in the WA hop industry as a quality control scout. I think these plants are just beautiful.
(Right) A beautiful sunny day in Kent Co., Michigan, where we are harvesting the first nematicide efficacy trial in Michigan on hop (to our knowledge).