Philip F. Harmon
Education
Ph.D, Purdue University
Rapid Turfgrass Diagnostic Service
Research and Extension Areas: Turfgrass, Ornamental Plant, and Small Fruit Diseases – diagnosis, management, and epidemiology of fungal diseases
Background: Dr. Philip Harmon is a native Hoosier; he pursued a turfgrass pathology research project at Purdue University where he earned a Ph.D. Dr. Harmon joined the faculty of the University of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology in 2003, when he accepted an extension and research appointment. Responsibilities of his appointment include plant pathology of turfgrass, ornamental plants, and small fruits.
Employment and Assistantship Opportunities: Please contact Dr. Harmon via e-mail at pfharmon@ifas.ufl.edu, with questions regarding current research and employment opportunities.
Research and Extension Programs
Dr. Harmon’s research program centers around needs identified by interactions with county faculty and commodity-specific clientele groups through extension activities.
From left to right: Large patch of St. Augustinegrass on UF campus; lesions caused by Rhizoctonia on Perennial ryegrass; Hyphopodia of the bermudagrass decline pathogen
Turfgrass Pathology
Current research efforts focus on disease diagnosis and management of golf course, athletic field, and landscape turfgrass. A survey of fungicide sensitivities of the dollar spot pathogen on Florida golf courses is one turfgrass pathology research project being investigated.
A new rapid diagnostic service is now available from the University of Florida for turfgrass managers. For more information visit http://turf.ufl.edu/ and click on Rapid Turf Diagnostics.
From left to right: Black Spot of Rose; Powdery Mildew on Mahonia; Cercospora leaf spot of Crinum Lily
Ornamental Plant Pathology
The recent introduction of sudden oak death, caused by Phytophthora ramorum, posed many questions concerning threats exotic pathogens pose to Florida’s ornamental plant commerce, agriculture industry, and fragile ecology. Research efforts in this area focus on detection, diagnosis, and management of new, introduced, and economically important pathogens of ornamental plants.
Botrytis blossom blight of Blueberry
Blueberry Pathology
The blueberry pathology research program focuses on providing disease management solutions for Florida producers. Specific projects include fungicide timing and chemistry evaluation for disease control and the evaluation of southern high bush blueberry cultivars for resistance to fungal pathogens.
Dr. Harmon develops and delivers cross-commodity extension programs in addition to presenting results of his research programs.
Florida Plant Diagnostic Network First Detector Training Program
The program seeks to educate county faculty, crop advisors, and Florida’s growers how to detect, identify, and report new and introduced high consequence pathogens. The program is supported by the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) and the Florida Plant Diagnostic Network (FPDN). Dr. Harmon co-leads the Education and Training action team of the FPDN, whose goal is to educate those intimately associated with plant production in Florida of potential risks and appropriate actions to minimize economical and environmental impacts of new and introduced plant pathogens.
Extension Publications:
- Sudden Oak Death: html or pdf
- Botrytis Blossom Blight: html or pdf
- Pythium Blight on Overseeded Turf: html or pdf
- Disease Management Guide for Ornamental Plants: html or pdf
Web Links of Interest:
- UF Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS): http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu
- UF Plant Pathology Department: http://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu
- UF Distance Diagnostic and Identification System (DDIS): http://ddis.ifas.ufl.edu
- Florida Nurseryman and Growers Association (FNGA): http://www.fnga.org/
- Florida Turfgrass Association: http://www.ftga.org/
- Florida Blueberry Grower's Association: http://www.hos.ufl.edu/jgwweb/BBNews_index.htm
- Southern Plant Diagnostic Network: http://spdn.ifas.ufl.edu