In this episode Ed interviews Fernando Garcia-Bastidas, also known as Dr. banana. They discuss banana production and the very destructive disease known as banana wilt.

Additional Resources

https://www.keygene.com/banana-research-and-breeding-keygene/

https://linktr.ee/DrBananaGarcia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhPEErJnErU

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction to Bananas and Fernando's Journey

00:42 Introductions

03:28 The Fascinating World of Bananas

06:12 KeyGene and Banana Breeding Innovations

09:07 Understanding Panama Disease and Its History

12:09 The Impact of Fusarium Wilt on Banana Cultivation

15:00 Banana Propagation and Monoculture Risks

18:17 Challenges in Banana Production

20:56 Fusarium Wilt: Transmission and Biosecurity Measures

23:48 The Global Spread of Fusarium Wilt

27:05 Social Implications of Fusarium Wilt

29:31 Future of Banana Cultivation and Breeding

39:30 The Impact of Fusarium on Banana Production

39:44 Understanding Banana Races and Their Threats

41:43 Geographical Spread of Fusarium Race 4

43:38 Banana Production: Global Insights

45:41 Management Strategies Against Fusarium

49:38 Symptoms and Effects of Fusarium Wilt

53:33 Breeding for Resistance: The Future of Bananas

57:55 Consumer Acceptance and Market Challenges

01:00:29 Exploring Banana Diversity and Flavor Profiles

01:04:38 The Future of Banana Production

01:08:38 Public Awareness and the Importance of Bananas

01:16:25 Outro

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Garcia-Bastidas, F. (Interviewee). S5:E6 (Podcast). Dr. Banana vs. Tropical Race 4. 4/15/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Brian Kelley of the Gathering Growth foundation. They discuss Brian's mission to photograph and document some of the nation's oldest and largest trees to raise awareness and preserve their legacy.

Additional Resources

https://www.gatheringgrowth.org/

https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/

https://nationalchampiontree.org

https://soundcloud.com/user-954267106

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to Gathering Growth Foundation

(01:12) Adventures in Tree Photography

(15:02) The Importance of Documenting Trees

(25:05) Future Projects and Aspirations

(35:03) Engaging the Public with Tree Awareness

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Kelley, B. (Interviewee). S5:E5 (Podcast). Documenting the Nations Grandest Trees: The Gathering Growth Foundation Part 2. 3/25/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Brian Kelley of the Gathering Growth foundation. They discuss Brian's mission to photograph and document some of the nation's oldest and largest trees to raise awareness and preserve their legacy.

Additional Resources

https://www.gatheringgrowth.org/

https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/

https://nationalchampiontree.org

https://soundcloud.com/user-954267106

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to I See Dead Plants Podcast

(01:34) Brian Kelly and the Gathering Growth Foundation

(05:32) The Journey from Skateboarding to Tree Photography

(12:54) The Importance of Documenting Trees

(16:01) Understanding Champion Trees

(25:30) The Role of State and Global Tree Registries

(27:49) Why Documenting Trees Matters

(33:55) Documenting Trees: The Process and Outputs

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Kelley, B. (Interviewee). S5:E4 (Podcast). Documenting the Nations Grandest Trees: The Gathering Growth Foundation Part 1. 3/18/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Sam Markell of North Dakota State University. They discuss the emerging threat of SCN in North Dakota and how the SCN coalition aims to combat this ever-present threat.

Additional Resources

https://www.thescncoalition.com/

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to the ICDeadPlants Podcast
(05:57) Understanding Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN)
(12:08) The Impact of SCN in North Dakota
(17:59) The SCN Coalition: A Public-Private Partnership
(23:58) Reviving the SCN Coalition and Its Strategies
(31:18) Building Partnerships for Agricultural Success
(41:06) Advice for Future Public-Private Partnerships
(46:09) Recognizing Achievements and Future Directions
(51:01) The Impact of the SCN Coalition on Farmers

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Markell, S. (Interviewee). S5:E3 (Podcast). Silent Yield Killer: Soybean Cyst Nematode and the SCN Coalition. 3/11/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Lauren Diepenbrock, Entomologist from University of Florida. They discuss the devastating and complicated insect/plant disease complex, citrus greening.

Additional Resources

https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/research/citrus-production/disease-identification/citrus-greening-huanglongbing/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261219424002990

Time Stamps

(00:00) Understanding Citrus Greening and Its Impact

(03:03) The Role of Alternate Hosts and Landscape Changes

(06:03) Geographical Spread of Citrus Greening

(09:13) Global Challenges in Citrus Production

(11:50) Management Strategies for Citrus Greening

(15:03) Innovative Approaches to Pest Management

(23:11) Managing Citrus Pests and Diseases

(27:51) Innovative Approaches in Citrus Research

(30:43) International Collaboration in Citrus Management

(35:10) Future Research Directions in Citrus Greening

(42:38) Understanding Citrus Greening's Complexity

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Diepenbrock, L. (Interviewee). S5:E2 (Podcast). When Life Doesn't Give you Lemons: Citrus Greening Part 2. 3/4/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Lauren Diepenbrock, Entomologist from University of Florida. They discuss the devastating and complicated insect/plant disease complex, citrus greening.

Additional Resources

https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/research/citrus-production/disease-identification/citrus-greening-huanglongbing/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261219424002990

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to Citrus Greening and Guest Background

(14:03) Understanding the Citrus Industry and Its Challenges

(20:07) Innovative Solutions in Citrus Growing

(25:34) Challenges in Citrus Production

(31:14) Understanding Citrus Greening

(39:42) The Role of Psyllids in Citrus Health

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Diepenbrock, L. (Interviewee). S5:E1 (Podcast). When Life Doesn't Give you Lemons: Citrus Greening Part 1. 2/25/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Danielle Mikolajewski a postdoctoral candidate in the plant pathology department at the University of Florida. Ed and Danielle discuss some of Danielle's Ph.D. research on chestnut blight and one of the methods being studied in attempt to bring back the American Chestnut; hypovirulence.

Additional Resources

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/13033/

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to ICDeadPlants Podcast
(10:04) Journey into Plant Pathology
(19:52) Understanding Chestnut Blight
(30:01) Exploring Hypovirulence and Its Implications
(30:30) The Super Donor Concept
(34:25) Challenges and Limitations of the Super Donor
(38:47) Potential Environmental Impacts of Hypoviruses
(42:57) The Importance of American Chestnut
(45:47) Future of American Chestnut Research
(49:33) Exploring Hypovirulence in Other Pathogens
(52:44) Summarizing the Research Impact

Zaworski, E. (Host) Mikolajewski, D. (Interviewee). S4:E45 (Podcast). Blights Get Sick Too: Chestnut Blight and Hypovirulence. 12/31/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Adam Varenhorst of South Dakota State University. They discuss Adam's work with an emerging insect problem in soybeans, Sunflowers and other plants the dectes stem borer.

Additional Resources

https://academic.oup.com/jee/article/118/5/2338/8177282

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to I See Dead Plants Podcast
(01:24) Understanding the Dectes Stem Borer
(03:29) Historical Context and Pest Management Challenges
(05:27) Larvae Behavior and Infestation Indicators
(12:25) Crop Rotation and Trap Cropping Strategies
(16:33) Non-Chemical Management Strategies
(20:39) Future Research Directions
(31:42) Key Takeaways for Growers
(37:34) Acknowledgments and Resources

Zaworski, E. (Host) Varenhorst, A. (Interviewee). S4:E44 (Podcast). Boring Problems?: Managing the Dectes Stem Borer Part 2. 12/24/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript