UW Vegetable Pathology

Vegetable Disease Control Laboratory of Amanda J. Gevens

Welcome to the Gevens lab!

My research program investigates the ecology of fungus and fungus-like plant pathogens for enhanced and integrated disease management to support commercial agriculture in Wisconsin. We have three main areas of focus: management of Phytophthora species pathogenic on potato and vegetable crops in field and storage, investigating species distribution and occurrence of pathogenic Alternaria affecting potato, and development of integrated disease management programming in potato systems to reduce reliance upon soil fumigation in managing key soilborne diseases. As the University of Wisconsin Extension Potato and Vegetable Pathologist, my program supports vegetable growers by providing research-based recommendations for controlling diseases during production and in storage. My research program directly feeds into my extension work.

Vegetable Crop Update Newsletter

Articles and Resources

  • Internal potato tuber defects: Hollow heart and heat necrosis

    Hollow heart, depending on its severity, is also called brown center. Hollow heart is characterized by the formation of an irregular cavity in the flesh of the tuber, usually surrounded by dark brown tissues. Heat necrosis is also referred to as internal brown and internal necrosis, which is characterized by small, brown, necrotic lesions or spots inside the vascular ring of the tuber.

    September 22, 2025

  • Pink eye of potato

    Pink eye is a disorder of potato tubers that can cause costly storage losses for potato growers and can reduce tuber quality to the point where tubers will be rejected by potato processors. Pink eye not only directly affects tubers, but also makes tubers more susceptible to diseases such as Pythium leak, bacterial soft rot, pink rot, and Fusarium dry rot. These diseases cause additional storage losses and reduction in quality.

    September 22, 2025

  • Management of water molds and bacterial diseases of potato tubers in the post-harvest space

    While every growing season typically offers a few weather hiccups, some years offer a few more extreme disruptions than typical. Extreme temperatures, in concert with moisture stress, exacerbate disease risk at the time of harvest and beyond.

    September 15, 2025
  • More Resources posts

Upcoming Events

  • Dec
    02

    2025 MWFPA Processing Crops Conference - Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, 1305 Kalahari Dr, Baraboo, WI 53913
    Google Maps link

    The Midwest Food Products Association’s Annual Convention & Expo, hosted at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center from December 2-4, 2025, is your great opportunity to make meaningful connections with others in the food processing …

  • Jan
    12

    2026 Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic - Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI
    Google Maps link

    The Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic is Wisconsin’s premier agribusiness industry event drawing interest and participation from all confluences of the industry from throughout the Midwestern states. The program is held at the Alliant Energy Center each …

  • Feb
    03

    2026 WPVGA and UW Extension Grower Education Conference - Stevens Point Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center
    Google Maps link

    The 2026 Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and UW Extension Grower Education Conference will be held Tuesday, Feb 3, through Thursday, Feb 5, 2026, at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center in …

More events

Site Resources

Vegetable Crop Updates

Get the latest information about disease management in vegetable crop production in Wisconsin. To be added to the email listserv and receive this newsletter in your inbox, please contact Amanda Gevens.

Vegetable Disease Resources

Learn more about common vegetable diseases, disease risk prediction tools, and other online and print resources.

Interactive Weather and Risk Charts

View weather data and disease severity values in interactive charts for managing the risk of early blight and late blight of potato from a select set of locations in Wisconsin.

Vegetable Disease Forecasting Network

This map tool helps you visualize disease and insect pressure across Wisconsin based on degree-day models and NOAA meteorological data.

Field Trials

Here you can find reports on our annual fungicide and disease management evaluations.

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