To meet the crisis that elimination of methyl bromide will impose on U.S. agriculture, the Agricultural Research Service has redirected funds from other research programs to create five new full-time positions for developing viable alternatives. Patterson recently transferred from the ARS Plant Physiology Research Unit at Raleigh, North Carolina, to the Fort Pierce, Florida, future site of the ARS Horticultural Research Laboratory at Orlando. He received his undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and master's and Ph.D. degrees from Duke University. Patterson's assignment involves the biology and control of nutsedges, weeds that are rampant wherever vegetables are grown. Methyl bromide is currently the most effective control for yellow and purple nutsedge.
Purple nutsedge is known as the world's worst weed.
We'll study the biology and epidemiology of these pernicious weeds, hoping to find ways to slow their spread in the field and reduce their emergence. He expects to evaluate cultural practices, composting, and different types of mulches that might offer weed control. After receiving a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, she held postdoctoral positions at the University of Florida and the ARS Crop Quality and Fruit Insects Research Unit in Weslaco, Texas. Now assigned to the ARS Postharvest Quality and Genetics Research Unit at Fresno, California, Eayre will work on biologically based alternatives to methyl bromide as a soil fumigant for strawberries and stone fruits. She plans to work with the ARS Water Management Unit to try drip-trickle irrigation as a delivery system for this and other control agents.