Professor Fruit Pathology Fruit Pathology web site Lab web site - Diseases of fruit crops, primarily apples, peaches, strawberries, raspberries and grapes - Development and implementation of Integrated Disease Management programs for Ohio fruit crops - Epidemiology of fruit crop diseases and disease forecasting

View highlight piece on Mike Ellis' work with Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grapes > pdf

Who am I?

I was born in Seattle, Washington while my father was stationed there in the Navy. Because my father was in the Navy, we moved a great deal. I went to grade school in California, Hawaii, Texas and Illinois. We settled in Illinois, where I graduated from high school in 1967. I attended Eastern Illinois University where I obtained my B.S. in Education and my M.S. in Botany. While working on my Master's degree, I developed an intense appreciation for plants. As I continued my graduate education at the University of Illinois, I viewed the science of Plant Pathology as a specialization within the science of botany. To me, Plant Pathology is the study of plant health or plant "medicine." After receiving my Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at the University of Illinois in 1976, I accepted a position at the University of Puerto Rico where I taught introductory Plant Pathology and conducted seed pathology research on grain legumes, such as beans, pigeon peas, cow peas and soybeans. I left Puerto Rico and accepted my current position as fruit pathologist at The Ohio State University in 1979. At Ohio State, I conduct research on the epidemiology and control of fruit crop diseases. I also work very closely with fruit growers and other people in the fruit industry to deliver up- to-date information on disease management for fruit crops.

Teaching Interests

I teach half of the Plant Pathology 615 (Diseases of Fruit and Vegetable Crops). I teach the fruit disease portion of this course and Dr. Sally Miller teaches the vegetable portion. I also teach the chemical control section of one of our team taught courses, Plant Disease Management (Plant Pathology 603). I also enjoy working with and advising graduate students and I coordinate the Mentored Extension Experience for our graduate program.

Research Area

Much of my research is directed toward developing various components of integrated disease management programs for Ohio fruit crops. Most of the research involves studies on the epidemiology, etiology and ecology of the major fungal pathogens on strawberries, grapes and apples. On strawberries, much of the research has focused on epidemiology and control of the major fruit rot diseases (gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea; anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum; and leather rot, caused by Phytophthora cactorum). Working with graduate students and my colleague Dr. Larry Madden, we have developed disease predictive models for all of these fruit rot diseases. Also of major interest are the effects of various cultural practices on disease development and spread. On grapes, we have developed predictive models for black rot, caused by Guignardia bidwellii and downy mildew, caused by Plasmopora viticola. We also conduct annual evaluations to determine the efficacy of experimental and nonregistered fungicides for controlling the major fungal pathogens on Ohio's fruit crops.

Extension/Outreach Activities

In addition to responsibilities in research and teaching, I am a State Extension Specialist with Ohio State University Extension. It is my duty to provide the most reliable and current information available on diagnosis and control of fruit crop diseases to Ohio fruit growers and other interested clientele. There are two major groups of clientele; commercial fruit producers and backyard fruit growers and gardeners. I have implemented educational programs to address the needs of each group. A separate series of bulletins and fact sheets have been prepared for each group and educational programs have been designed and implemented to address their specific needs. A major emphasis has been placed on the development and implementation of integrated disease management programs for the various fruit crops grown in Ohio. Helping fruit growers in Ohio to effectively control their major disease problems is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.

Selected Publications

• Ellis, M. A., Welty, C., Miller, D., and Doohan, D.  2008.  Ohio Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide.  Bulletin 506-A2 (revised).  OSUE/OSU.  62 pp.

• Ellis, M. A., Welty, C., Williams, R. N., Doohan, D., Wright, S, and Dami, I.  2008.  Ohio Commercial Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide.  Bulletin 506-B2 (revised).  OSUE/OSU.  75 pp.

• Ellis,M.A. 2008. Cultural practices for disease control in Grapes. Massachusetts Berry Notes, Vol. 20: No.7, 6-8.

• Ellis, M.A. 2008. Fungicides in organic production systems. Massachusetts Berry Notes, Vol.20: No. 7, 8-11.

• Ellis,M.A. 2008. Using fungicides to control strawberry fruit rots in matted row production in Ohio, 2008. Massachusetts Berry Notes. Vol. 20: No.8, 2-5.

• Ellis, M.A. 2008. Using fungicides to control strawberry fruit rots in Ohio. Today, winter issue: 9-12.

• Ellis, M.A. 2008. Fire Blight of Apple- A Tough Disease to Control. Today, spring issue: 3-7.

• Ellis, M. A., Madden, L. V., Wright, S. R., Madden, L. V., and Wilson, L. L. 2008.  Efficacy of pre-harvest fungicide applications and cold storage for post-harvest control of botrytis fruit rot (gray mold) on red raspberry. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2008-1015-01-RS.

• Inclan, D. J, Bermudez, F.J., Alvarado, E., Ellis, M. A., Williams, R. N. And Acosta, N. 2008. Comparison of biological and conventional insecticides treatments for the management of the pineapple fruit borer, Strymon megarus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Costa Rica. Ecological Engineering (2008), doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2008.07.005

• Nita, M., Ellis, M.A., and Madden, L.V. 2008. Variation in disease incidence of Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape in commercial vineyards in Ohio. Plant Disease 92: 1053- 1062.Madden, L.V., Ellis, M.A., Lalancette, N., Hughes, G., and Wilson, L.L.  2000. Evaluation of a disease warning system for downy mildew of grapes.  Plant Disease 84:549-554.

• Nita, M., Ellis, M.A., Wilson, L.L., and Madden, L.V. 2007.  Evaluation of curative and protectant activity of fungicides and fungicide-adjuvant mixtures on Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape: a controlled environment study.  Crop Protection 26 (2007) 1377-1384.

• Rebollar-Alviter, A., Madden, L.V., and Ellis, M.A. 2007.  Pre- and post-infection activity of azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, mefenoxam, and phosphite against leather rot of strawberry, caused by Phytophthora cactorum.  Plant Disease 91: 559-564.

• Nita, M., Ellis, M.A., Wilson, L.L., and L.V. Madden. 2007. Evaluations of new and current management strategies to control Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape. Online . Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2007-0726-06-RS.

• Demerutis,C., Quiros, L, Martinuz, A., Alvarado, E., Williams, R.N., and Ellis, M.A. 2007. Evaluation of an organic treatment for post-harvest control of crown rot of banana. Ecological Engineering (2007) Doi:10,1016/j. ecoleng. 2007.02.004.

• Rebollar-Alviter, A., Madden, L.V., Jeffers, S.N., and Ellis, M.A., 2007. Differential sensitivity to two QoI fungicides among isolates of Phytophthora cactorum that cause leather rot and crown rot on strawberry plants. Plant Disease 91: 1625-1637.

• Nita, M., Ellis, M.A., Wilson, L.L., and Madden, L.V. 2006.  Evaluation of a disease warning system for Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape: a field study.  Plant Disease 90: 1239-1246.

• Nita, M., Ellis, M.A., Wilson, L.L., and Madden, L.V. 2006.  Effects of application of fungicide during the dormant period on Phomopsis cane and leaf spot of grape disease intensity and inoculum production.  Plant Disease 90: 1195-1200.

> More Publications

Contact Information

Michael A. Ellis

OARDC-Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University

224 Selby Hall

1680 Madison Avenue

Wooster, OH 44691

Phone: (330) 263-3849

FAX: (330) 263-3841

Email: ellis.7@osu.edu