George N. Agrios - CV

100% Administration: 50% Research, 20% Extension, 30% Teaching

Education:

University of Thesaloniki, Greece, (Horticulture), 1957
Ph.D. Iowa State University (Plant Pathology), 1960

Employment:

Assistant Professor (1963-1969), University of Massachusetts
Associate Professor (1969-1976), University of Massachusetts
Professor (1976-1988), University of Massachusetts
Professor and Chairman (1988-present) University of Florida

Responsibilities:

Responsible for administration of teaching, research and extension functions of 18 faculty, 30 full-time staff, and about 35 graduate students in Gainesville. Provide coordination and disciplinary support for 29 plant pathology faculty at 13 Research and Education Centers statewide. Represent the discipline to state and federal agencies, commodity groups, and the general public.

Accomplishments:

General

  • Authored the textbook "Plant Pathology," Academic Press, Inc. Since 1969, the standard plant pathology textbook in colleges and universities around the world. Numerous translations.
  • As chairman of the APS Books Committee, I was instrumental in forming the APS Press and was its first Editor-in-Chief (1984-1987). Numerous plant pathology books published by APS Press benefit the profession, crop production worldwide and the APS.
  • Formed the Florida Phytopathological Society which, through its regular biennial meetings, has increased awareness, contacts and collaborations among all Florida plant pathologists.
  • Have improved communication and increased inclusiveness between the departmental faculty at Gainesville and of faculty at the Research and Education Centers statewide.
  • Produced departmental promotional and recruiting color brochures for the UF Plant Pathology Department and for our graduate and undergraduate programs.

Teaching

  • Completely renovated our teaching laboratory and purchased new teaching equipment. Added auxiliary teaching lab and greenhouse.
  • Added multimedia capability-TV monitor, microscope, cameras, videodisc player, computer, etc.
  • Drastically renovated and expanded our undergraduate and graduate teaching programs. Many courses were revised and added credits and laboratories. Several new courses were also added: Plant Pathogenic Fungi, Tropical Plant Pathology, Plant Disease Diagnosis, Biocontrol of Plant Diseases & Weeds, and two: Plants,Plagues and People (PLP 2000 ), and: Molds, Mildews, Mushrooms and Man (PLP 2060) aimed at university-wide freshmen and sophomores.
  • Provided computers, printers, slide makers, scanners and all needed software for our faculty and graduate students to use in preparation of publications and presentations. Laptop computers were purchased for use by our teaching faculty in lecture preparation and presentation.
  • Purchased books for departmental library and the library in the teaching lab for easy access by instructors and students.
  • Established committee and procedures for evaluating and admitting graduate student applicants.
  • Assisted the reorganization of our undergraduate major as a specialization within the Plant Science major. Helped increase the number of our undergraduate majors from 4 or 5 to 17. Prepared and submitted a proposal for the Doctor of Plant Medicine Professional degree.
  • Encouraged Distance Teaching by our faculty.
  • Supported travel by our graduate students to meetings.

Research

  • Through acquisition of additional space and reapportionment of existing space, laboratory space of most of our faculty has been doubled.
  • Promoted interaction of our faculty at Gainesville and at the Research and Education Centers.
  • Have cooperated extensively with relevant Research Center Directors in hiring, evaluation and promotion of Center Plant Pathology faculty.
  • Have appointed and/or worked closely with several Task Forces dealing with various plant disease outbreaks.

Extension

Have been coordinating the Plant Pathology Extension program in the state. This is carried out by 12 statewide faculty, each having 0.3 to 0.8 FTEs extension, and by four Plant Disease Clinics. Worked towards and succeeded in establishing "sample charges" by the Plant Disease Clinics. Supported the teaching of Plant Disease Diagnosis course and IPM of Landscape Ornamentals in Florida by one of our Extension Plant Pathologists. Have tried to increase IPM activities and funding for our faculty.

Graduate students graduated

M.S.: 11; Ph.D.: 8

Career Publications

Books: 4; Book Chapters: 12

Refereed: 31; Non-refereed: 25

Professional offices held

  • President, Northeastern Division of the American Phytopathological Society (1981)
  • Editor-in-Chief, APS Press (1984-1987)
  • President, The American Phytopathological Society (1990-1991)
  • Chair, IFAS Department Chairmen (1992-1993)

Honors

Fellow, The American Phytopathological Society (1983)

Selected Publications

  • Lei, J. D., and G. N. Agrios. 1986. Detection of virus infection and spread by immunofluorescent staining of enzyme treated leaves. Phytopathology 76:1031-1033.
  • Lei, J. D. and G. N. Agrios. 1986. Mechanisms of resistance in corn to maize dwarf mosaic virus. Phytopathology 76:1034-1040.
  • Li, X. H., G. N. Agrios, and M. E. Walker. 1987. Infection of apple protoplasts with tobacco mosaic virus. Phytopathology 77:1616.
  • Agrios, G. N. 1988. PLANT PATHOLOGY, 3rd Ed. Academic Press, San Diego. 803 p. Agrios, G. N. 1989. Apple scar skin. Pp. 63-68. In "Virus and Virus-like Diseases of Pome Fruits and Simulating Noninfectious Disorders". P. E. Fridlund (ed.). Washington State Univ.Cooperative Extension. Pullman. WA 330p.
  • Agrios, G. N. 1990. Economic Importance of Plant Virus Diseases. Pp. 1-22, In "Plant Viruses,Vol: II., Pathology". C. L. Mandahar (ed.) CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
  • Agrios, G. N. 1992. Plant Pathology. Pp. 1665. In "Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology". Academic Press, San Diego.
  • Agrios, G. N. 1994. Plant Pathology. Pp. 315-331 In"Encyclopedia of Agricultural Science". Academic Press, San Diego.
  • Agrios, G. N. 1995. Development of Plant Pathology and Current Trends. Pp. 19-48. In "The Literature of Crop Science". Cornell University Press. Olsen, W. L. (ed).
  • Agrios, G. N. 1997. General overview of plant pathogenic organisms. In "Handbook of Pest Management". J. R. Ruberson, ed. CRC Press. (46 Ms. pages, 5 Figures, 2 Tables).

In Press

  • Agrios, G. N. 1997. PLANT PATHOLOGY, 4th Ed. Academic Press. 616 p.