General information for guest researchers
Contact
General information, Outreach and Grants:
Karen Suslow
NORS-DUC Program Manager
Dept. of Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Dominican University of California
530-681-5538
415-482-1803
Permits and regulations:
Kathleen Kosta
Plant Pathologist/Liaison with USDA and CDFA
916-798-8385
On-going research and co-operations:
Wolfgang Schweigkofler, Ph.D.
Plant pathologist
415-257-1366
415-361-5104
Nursery and plants:
Vernon Huffman
Nursery manager
415-259-7749
Location
Dominican University of California is located in San Rafael, Marin Co., CA. The postal address is 50 Acacia Avenue. The elevation of the campus is 82 ft. (25 m), and the global position: Latitude: 37-58’49” N (37.980201), longitude: 122-30’52” W (-122.5144199).
Directions
From the North Take Highway 101 South to the Central San Rafael exit. Turn left on Mission Avenue. Turn left on Grand Avenue and travel approximately one mile to Acacia Avenue.
From the East Take Interstate 580 to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Follow signs to Highway 101 North and take the Central San Rafael exit. Turn right on Second Street. Turn left on Grand Avenue and travel approximately one mile to Acacia Avenue.
From the South Take Highway 101 North across Golden Gate Bridge to the Central San Rafael exit. Turn right on Second Street. Turn left on Grand Avenue and travel approximately one mile to Acacia Avenue.
The general campus parking lot is located to the west of the corner Grand Avenue/Acacia Avenue in front of the Conlan Center.
A campus map with the locations of NORS-DUC facilities is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Dominican Campus map
Permits and Regulations
The National Ornamental Research Site at Dominican University of California (NORS-DUC) operates under a State Plant Pest Permit issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), held by CDFA Plant Pathologist, Kathleen Kosta. Each researcher approved for studies at NORS-DUC is required to submit a completed Plant Pest Permit application to CDFA which briefly describes the study and a copy of the research plan or standard operating procedures of the study. Additionally, NORS-DUC maintains a permit issued by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (PDR). If fungicides or other pesticides or chemicals are to be used, the researcher shall contact Karen Suslow.
Plants for Studies at NORS-DUC
Based on the project purpose and needs, NORS-DUC allows the use of a wide variety of ornamental host plants; specific rules and regulations for plant transport must be followed. Plants are inspected upon entry to CA and upon entry to NORS-DUC by regulatory officials. The guest researchers are responsible for the purchase and the transport of the host plants to NORS-DUC at their expense, however NORS-DUC staff can provide logistical support.
All plants used for studies at NORS-DUC are required to go through a six-week quarantine period upon arrival at the facility. Because fungicides can mask the appearance of symptoms, plants shipped to NORS-DUC will be held in a quarantine hold area to be monitored for the presence of disease. If plants are infested with any quarantine pest, the plants will be destroyed. Upon completion of the quarantine period, the material may be moved into the research plot or to the clean plant holding area until research begins.
Alternative arrangements can be made, on a case by case basis, to enable plants to go through quarantine in another facility. Please contact Kathy Kosta at CDFA for details.
Research Nursery Site SOUTH and NORTH
NORS-DUC is composed of two research nurseries, called Site SOUTH and Site NORTH (Figures 2 and 3). Each site contains individually fenced-in research plots enclosed within a secured perimeter fence with a single-point entry. The access to the sites is through a small office building which is equipped with a small refrigerator and wireless internet. As part of our quarantine requirements, the shoes must be changed in the office before entering the nursery area (boots and overshoes are provided). Guest scientists will be provided with unlimited access to their designated research plot.
Site SOUTH contains six research plots labeled 1-6. The plots 1 to 4 contain a 12 x 30 ft. (approx. 3.66 x 9.14 m) nursery bed that is subdivided into two 12 x 15 ft. half-beds (approx. 3.66 x 4.57 m). The half-beds are labeled A (closer to the entrance) and B(Figure 4A). The half-beds are lined with water-proof pond liners and have separate water drainage and water sampling areas as well as options for well or municipal water source.
Plot 5 contains a single, un-divided nursery bed which is shaped as a trapezoid (dimensions: N 33’; W 32’; S 37’5”; E 16 ,Figure 4B). Plot 6 is especially designed for in-soil experiments. The research plot is lined with a water-proof pond liner, then alayer of filter fabric and filled with a 1.5 m (5 feet) thick layer of native soil from DUC. The plot is shaped as a trapezoid with the dimensions: N 49’4”, W 60’; S 53’3”; E 37’5”. (Figure 4C).
The research nursery Site NORTH contains six research plots (7-12), fiveof them (8-12) contain 12 x 30 ft. (approx. 3.66 x 9.14 m) nursery beds that are subdivided into two 12 x 15 ft. half-beds (approx. 3.66 x 4.57 m) and one plot (7) may be used for water disinfection studies.
The cross section of a typical plot is shown in Figure 5. The research plots 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 are covered with shade cloth (Gemblers, Inc.) with a shading factor of 50%, fixed approx. 9 ft (3 m) above ground.
Figure 2: Map of Research Nursery Site SOUTH
Figure 3: Map of Research Site NORTH
Figure 4 site South A) Nursery plot 4 is composed of two half-beds and lined with water-proof fabrics.
B) Nursery bed 5 is shaped as a trapezoid and provided with overhead shadecloth. C) Nursery bed 6 is designed for in-soil experiments. D) Entrance to the research nursery Site SOUTH is through the office building.
Figure 5. Cross section of a research plot
Arrangement of plants in the nursery bed
Plants can be re-planted directly into the soil in plots 1,2, 6 and 12.. Any modification will be reviewed by NORS-DUC and installed at the researcher’s expense. In most cases, potted plants will be used. Plants are grown in a variety of sizes (1-gallon pot being the standard size); however pot and plant size has to be considered when determining your desired plant spacing. To keep potted plants from tipping over and coming in contact with infested water or soil, they are placed in receiver pots, which are screwed onto pallets (pot-in-pot design). Figure 6A shows the arrangements for a typical layout for 1-gallon pots (12 pots per pallet; six pallets per half-bed). Figure 6B shows a nursery bed filled with soil which can be used with or without plants.
Figure 6
Sentinel plants
The movement of P.ramorum into or out of the nursery is assessed using a sentinel plant system. Three layers of perimeter plants are used: outside the experimental area is located the first layer of host-plants (Rhododendron, Viburnum, Loropetalum), next is the middle layer of buffer plants (Campsis, Cupressocyparis) which are located next to the nursery fence-line (Figure 7A) and serve as a wind barrier, and lastly a grouping of host plants (Rhododendron, Camellia) are located within the research plot (Figure 7B). In addition to P. ramorum, other disease symptoms are monitored on a regular basis. The information aids in understanding the seasonal disease pressures associated with the local climatic conditions.
To monitor the possible movement of P. ramorum through the water and drainage system, samples are taken regularly using the leaf baiting method from seven locations: three inside Site SOUTH, three inside Site NORTH and one at Black Canyon Creek, running through DUC at a distance of approximately 100 m east of the research nurseries. Additionally, a seasonal creek on campus is monitored when water is present.
Figure 7. A) Double layer of host and buffer plants outside the nursery fence. B) The third layer of host-plants are within the research plot. Internal sentinel plants are arranged in clusters in order to increase moisture.
Weather information
Both research nurseries are equipped with weather stations (HOBO, Inc.) for measuring basic weather data (temperature, moisture, wind). The sensors are located at the top of the roofs of the small office buildings: data logging occurs every five minutes. The weather data are available on-line:
Site SOUTH:
Site NORTH:
At the researcher’s expense, individual weather stations can be installed within a plot if requested.
Quarantine site
Each plant used at the research nursery site shall be maintained in quarantine for a total time of six weeks. Because fungicides may mask the appearance of symptoms, plants shipped to DUC will be held in a quarantine holding area to be monitored for the presence of disease. If plants are infested with any quarantine pest, the plants will be destroyed at the guest researcher’s expense. Upon completion of the quarantine period, the material may be moved into the research plot or to the clean plant holding area until research begins. Researchers shall coordinate the arrival of the research plants with NORS-DUC staff to accommodate the six-week quarantine period.
The rationale is to detect P. ramorum symptoms masked by fungicides applied at the originating nursery. The plants will be inspected by NORS-DUC plant pathologists upon arrival and then once a week for the total of six weeks before they can be transferred into the research plot. The quarantine site is located at a safe distance from the research nurseries to prevent cross-contamination.
Holding site
The holding site (or clean plant site) is used to hold plants which were released from quarantine. The holding site is located a safe distance from both the research nurseries and the quarantine site to prevent contamination.
Irrigation and water management system
There are two sources of irrigation water available for use: municipal (treated) water and water from a well from the DUC (un-treated). In addition, each research plot has a water spigot and hose. Drip irrigation for potted plants is used as the default watering system, but other irrigation systems, like over-head irrigation, can be designed at the guest researcher’s request and at their expense. Water from the research bed can be drained and collected in a water tank located within the research plot (1500 Gallon capacity tank), Figure 8A and used for sampling and analyses. Alternatively, the water can be drained directly into the main mutual holding water tanks (5000 Gallons), Figure 8B; from there, the water passes through a particle filter (Pentair) before moving through an UV-filter (TrojanUVMax) for sanitation and subsequent release.
Figure 8. A) Water tank inside research plot 1 with 1500 gallon capacity; B) Two Water tanks (2500 gallons each) for collecting all the water from one site
Laboratory facilities
The NORS-DUC laboratories are located in the Joseph R. Fink Science Center at DUC (see Figure 1) These laboratories have standard microbiological equipment, including a laminar flow cabinet, chemical fume hood, incubators, refrigerators, freezers, confocal, light and dissecting microscopes with cameras and digital image software program. The laboratory may be used by the guest researchers for culturing, preparing of inoculums, sampling and similar project-related purposes in accordance with the NORS-DUC staff.
NORS-DUC staff will provide lab and field support for approved projects. This includes a nursery manager, three plant pathologists and work study students. The extent of support needed shall be defined in the final research proposal in the development of the work plan and coordinated with NORS-DUC staff.
Acknowledgement and co-authorship
Publications based on research carried out at NORS-DUC have to acknowledge the NORS-DUC team for technical, financial and logistic support. Co-authorship will depend upon the actual amount of support provided by NORS-DUC staff and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
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