Frank J. Louws

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Appointment: 70% Extension, 30% Research

Education

• Ph.D., Plant Pathology, 1994. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824.
• M.Sc., Plant Pathology, 1987. University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont, Canada NIG 2WI.
• B.Sc., Horticulture (With Distinction), 1984. University of Guelph (1982-1984); Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA (1980-1982).

Professional Experiences

• January 15, 1996 - present. Assistant Professor. Develop extension and research programs that emphasize IPM and sustainable agricultural principles and practices for the small fruit and vegetable agricultural sector.
• November 1993 - December 1995. PostDoctoral Fellow, Center for Microbial Ecology/MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, East Lansing, MI. Design and conduct experiments and technology applications for assessing microbial diversity of plant pathogens and soil microbes.
• September 1989-November 1993. Graduate Assistant. Dept. Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Was a C.S. Mott Predoctoral Fellow for Sustainable Agriculture and designed integrated production systems for tomato and cucumbers emphasizing reduced tillage, use of green manure crops, and disease forecasting models.
• April 1987 - September 1989. Horticultural Crop Advisor, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. Provided extension production and IPM information and services for a four county area with an emphasis on apple, small fruit and vegetable crops.
• January 1985 - March 1987. Graduate research Assistant, Dept. Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph Ontario, Canada.

Scholarly and Professional Honors

• Extension Publication Award. D.C. Sanders et al. (Team member: F.J. Louws). American Society for Horticultural Science-Southern Region. For: 2001 Vegetable Crop Guidelines for the Southeastern U.S.
• College's Faculty and Student Organization Resource Development Award. Center for Environmental Farming Systems Research Team (Team member: F.J. Louws). April 4, 2000.
• Extension Publication Award. D.C. Sanders et al. (Team member: F.J. Louws). American Society for Horticultural Science-Southern Region. For: 1999 North Carolina Commercial Vegetable Recommendations.
• Listed in Marquis' "Who's Who in Science and Engineering" 1996-97; 3rd edition.
• Postdoctoral Fellow, NSF-Center for Microbial Ecology. Michigan State Univ. 1993-1995.
• Mott Predoctoral Fellowship for Sustainable Agriculture. Michigan State Univ. (1991-1993).
• Initiated into the Honor Society of PHI KAPPA PHI, Michigan State University 1992.
• Initiated into the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars, MSU 1991
• Sigma Xi Graduate Student Research Grant, Michigan State University. 1990
• Natural Science and Engineering Res. Council Of Canada Scholarships; 1985-1987 (MSc.);1989-1991 (Ph.D).
• OAC Centennial Graduate Fellowship; University Graduate Scholarship
• Natural Science and Engineering Research Council Of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Research Competitive Scholarship, University of Guelph, 1984.
• Monsanto Canada Inc. Scholarship; Major James Rattray Scholarship, University of Guelph, 1984.

Professional Society Memberships

• The American Phytopathology Society
• Canadian Phytopathology Society
• Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
• Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
• Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture

Recent Publications

Original Research Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

• Butler, L.M., G.E. Femandez and F.J. Louws. 2002. Strawberry Plant Growth Parameters and Yield among Transplants of Different Types and from Different Geographic Sources, Grown in a Plasticulture System. HortTechnology 12:6-9.
• Mueller,J.P., Barbercheck M.E,M. Bell, C. Brownie, N.G. Creamer, S. Hu, L.King, H.M. Linker, F.J. Louws, M. Marra, C.W. Raczkowski, D. Susko, and M.G. Wagger. 2001. Development and Implementation of Long-Term Agricultural Systems Studies: Challenges and Opportunities. HortTechnology: (in press).
• Louws, F.J., M. Wilson, H.L. Campbell, D.A. Cuppels, J.B. Jones, P.B. Shoemaker, F. Sahin and S.A. Miller. 2001. Field control of bacterial spot and bacterial speck of tomato using a plant activator. Plant Disease 85:481-488.
• Fernandez, G.E., L.M. Butler, and F.J. Louws. 2001. Strawberry growth and development in annual plasticulture strawberry systems in eastern North Carolina. HortScience 36: 1219-1223.
• Creamer, N.G., K.R. Baldwin, and F.J. Louws. 2000. Organic Horticulture: A training series for Cooperative Extension agents in organic farming systems. HortTechnology 10:675-681.
• Stamen, K., U. Blum, F.J. Louws, and D. Robertson. 2000. Can simultaneous inhibition of seedling growth and stimulation of rhizosphere bacterial populations provide evidence for phytotoxin transfer from plant residues in the bulk soil to the rhizosphere of sensitive species? J. Chem. Ecology. 27:807-829.
• Rademaker, J.L.W., B., Hoste, F.J. Louws, K., Kersters, J. Swings, L. Vauterin, P.Vauterin, and F.J. de Bruijn. 2000. Comparison of AFLP and rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting with DNA-DNA homology studies: Xanthomonas as a model system, mt J System. Evol. Microbiol. 50: 665-677.
• Tuang, F. N., Rademaker, J. L. W., Louws, F. J., Alocilja, E. C., de Bruijn, F. J. 1999. Classification of bacterial rep-PCR genomic fingerprints using a backpropagation neural network. FEMS Microbiology 177:249-256.
• Bouzar, H., J.B. Jones, R.E. Stall, F.J. Louws, M. Schneider, J.L.W. Rademaker, F.J. de Bruijn and L.E. Jackson. 1999. Multiphasic taxonomy of bacteria causing spot disease on tomato and pepper plants in the Caribbean and Central America reveals distinct predominance of Xanthomonas axonopodis vesicatoria strains. Phytopathology 89:328-335.
• Louws, F.J., J. Bell, C.M. Medina,-Mora, C.D. Smart, D. Opgennorth, C.A. Ishimaru, M.K. Hausbeck, F. J. de Bruijn and D. W. Fulbright. 1998. Rep-PCR mediated genomic fingerprinting: A rapid and effective method to identify Clavibacter michiganensis. Phytopathology 88:862-868.
• Louws, F.J., M.K. Hausbeck, J.F. Kelly and C.T. Stephens. 1996. Impact of reduced tillage on foliar blight, fruit rot, and yield of processing tomatoes. Plant Disease 80:1251-1256.
• Vera Cruz, C.M., E. Y. Ardales, D. Z. Skinner, J. Talag, R.J Nelson, F.J. Louws, H. Leung, T. M. Mew, and J. E. Leach. 1996. Measurement of haplotypic variation in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae within a single field by Rep-PCR and RFLP analyses. Phytopathology 86:1352-1359.
• Opgenorth, D.C., C.D. Smart, F.J. Louws, F.J. de Bruijn and B.C. Kirkpatrick. 1996. Identification of Xanthomonas fragariae field isolates using rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting versus ELISA and pathogenicity assays. Plant Disease: 80:868-873.
• Louws, F.J., D.W. Fulbright, C.T. Stephens and F.J. de Bruijn. 1995. Differentiation of genomic structure by rep-PCR fingerprinting to rapidly classify Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria. Phytopathology 85:528-536.
• Vera Cruz, C.M., L. Halda Alija, F.J. Louws, M.L. George, R.J. Nelson, F.J. de Bruijn and J.E. Leach. 1995. Repetitive sequence-based PCR of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and Pseudomonas species. Int. Rice Res. Inst. Newsl. 20: 23-24.
• Louws, F.J., D.W. Fulbright, C.T. Stephens and F.J. de Bruijn. 1994. Specific genomic fingerprints of phytopatho genie Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas pathovars and strains generated with repetitive sequences and PCR. Appl. and Env. Microbiol. 60:2286-2295.

Research Review Articles, Book Chapters, Selected Proceedings

• Louws, F.J., J.L.W. Rademaker, and F.J. de Bruijn. 1999. The three Ds of PCR-based genomic analysis of phytobacteria: Diversity, detection and disease diagnosis. Annual Review of Phytopathology 37:81-125.
• Alvarez, A. and F.J. Louws. Xanthomonas. 2000. In O.C. Maloy and T.D. Murray, eds. Encyclopedia of Plant Pathology. John Wiley and Sons, me. p. 1208-1210.
• Louws, F.J., D.F. Ritchie, and P.B. Shoemaker. 2001. Genetic Diversity of selected bacterial populations in North Carolina. IN: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. Kluwer Academic Pub, Dordrecht, NL. p.124-127.
• Louws, F.J., M.A. Grabowski, G.E. Femandez, and J. & B. Vollmer. 2000. Compost as an alternative to methyl bromide in plasticulture strawberry production. Proceedings of the International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 33/1 - 33/2.
• Femandez, G.E., Z.G. Abad, and F.J. Louws. 2000. Chemical Alternatives to Methyl Bromide for Strawberry Production in North Carolina. Proceedings of the International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 35/1 - 35/2.
• Louws, F.J., G.E. Femandez and M. Grabowski. 1998. Compost as an alternative to methyl bromide and as a means for nutrient management for strawberry production. In: Proceedings of the International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 21/1 - 21/2.
• Louws, F.J., G.E. Fernandez, G. Miner, D. Monks, E. Bish, B. Poling, and K. Sorensen. 1998. Methyl bromide alternatives research for strawberry production in North Carolina. In: Proceedings of the International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 22/1 - 22/2.
• Louws F.J. and D.A. Cuppels. 2000. Molecular Techniques. In: N.W. Schaad, J.B. Jones and W. Chun, eds. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, p321-333.
• Louws F.J. 2000. DNA Isolation Procedure. In: N.W. Schaad, J.B. Jones and W. Chun, eds. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, p334-337.
• Rademaker, J.L.W., F.J. Louws, and F.J. de Bruijn. 1999. Computer assisted pattern analysis of electrophoretic fingerprints and database construction, m: Akkermans, A.D.L., J.D. van Elsas and F.J. de Bruijn. (eds). Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Suppl. 4 Chapter 7.1.3. pp.1-33.
• Rademaker, J.L.W., F.J. Louws, and F.J. de Bruijn. 1998a. Characterization of the diversity of ecologically important microbes by rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting, In: Akkermans, A.D.L., J.D. van Elsas and F.J. de Bruijn. (eds). Molecular Microbial Ecology Manual. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. Suppl. 3 Chapter 3.4.3. pp. 1-26.
• F.J. Louws, M. Schneider, and F.J. de Bruijn. 1996. Assessing genetic diversity of microbes using repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR). IN: Nucleic acid amplification methods for the analysis of environmental microbes. G. Toronzos, ed. TechnomicPublishing Co., Inc., Lancaster, PA. p. 5-30.

Recent Research Abstracts

• Collins, A.A. and F.J. Louws. 2001. Characterization of bacterial communities isolated from soils under diverse management practices. Phytopathology 91: S18.
• Abad, Z.G., J.A. Abad, and F.J. Louws. 2001. Morphological and molecular characterization of P. bisheria sp. nov., from strawberries. Phytopathology 91: Sl.
• Barbercheck, M., M. Bell, C. Brownie, N. Creamer, F. Louws, L. King, S. Koenning, S.Hu, M. Linker, P. Mueller, C. Raczkowski, and M. Wagger. 2001. Soil ecology research at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. Soil Ecology Society Conference.(May 20-23). pg. 33.
• Louws, F.J. and A. M. Alvarez. 2000. Genetic diversity of xanthomonads isolated from aroids as determined by rep-PCR. Phytopathology 90:S47.
• Louws, F.J. and P.B. Shoemaker. 2000. Characterization of Pseudomonas strains associated with widespread incidence of tomato bacterial speck in western North Carolina. Phytopathology 90:S47.
• Grabowski, M.A., F.J. Louws, and G.E. Fernandez. 2000. A controlled microbial compost system as an alternative to fumigation with methyl bromide in annual strawberry production. Phytopathology 90:S30.
• Shakya, D.D., F.J. Louws, and A. M. Alvarez. 2000. Diversity of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) populations in Nepal. Phytopathology 90:S71.
• Bell, M.C., M.E. Barbercheck, F.J. Louws, and M.G. Wagger. 2000. Qualitative and quantitative indicators of soil quality. Agronomy Abstracts. ASA, MN p. 316.
• Rademaker, J.L.W., B. Hoste, F.J. Louws, K. Kersters, J. Swings , L. Vauterin, P. Vauterin and F.J. de Bruijn. Comparison of AFLP and rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting with DNA-DNA homology studies: Xanthomonas as a model system. "Voorjaarsvergadering NVMM/NVvM" Veldhoven, The Netherlands, April 17-19, 2000.
• Abad, Z.G., F.J. Louws, and G.E. Fernandez. 1999. Rhizoctonia and Pythium species associated with black root rot of strawberries in North Carolina. Phytopathology 89:S1.
• Grabowski, M.A., F.J. Louws, and G.E. Fernandez. 1999. Use of VA mycorrhizae in annual strawberry production systems. Phytopathology 88:S29.

Recent Articles in Extension Publications or Industry Publications

• L. Ferguson, F.J. Louws, G.E. Fernande, Z. Pesic-Van Ezbrock, B. Poling, D. Sanders, D Monks and G. Miner. 2001. Methyl Bromide Transition in the Southeastern Unite States. The Strawberry Grower, Vol 8:(8).
• F.J. Louws. 2001. Disease Management Considerations for Producing Strawberry Plug Plants. The Strawberry Grower, Vol 8:(8).
• F.J. Louws. 2001. Strawberry Disease Management in Certified Nurseries. Micropropagation Unit Newsletter Vol 2: 1. pg 2-3.
• F.J. Louws. 2001. Managing Greenhouse Tomato Diseases. NC-Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association Newsletter. Spring 2001:4-10.
• F.J. Louws. 2001. NC-Plasticulture Advisory-February 9. Vol 2 (3).
• F.J. Louws and G.E. Fernandez. 2000. Strawberries, Ozone depletion, and methyl bromide alternatives research. The Strawberry Grower, Vol 8:(1).
• F.J. Louws. 2000. Current Strawberry disease problems and integrated management strategies. Southeast Strawberry Expo Proceedings 2000. pg. 25-28.
• F.J. Louws. 2000. Uncommon disease problems prevalent this year. The Strawberry Grower, Vol 7:(5).
• F.J. Louws. 2000. Strawberry Disease Management Considerations for Spring 2000. The Strawberry Grower, Vol 7: (3).
• F.J. Louws, M.A. Grabowski and G.E. Fernandez. 1999. Disease suppressive compost. Southeast Strawberry Expo Proceedings 1999. pg. 24-25.
• G.E. Fernandez, F.J. Louws, G. Miner, E.B. Bish, and Barclay Poling. 1999. Methyl bromide alternatives studies 1997-1999. Southeast Strawberry Expo Proceedings 1999. pg. 21-23.
• F.J. Louws. Report on IR-4 plant pathology working group 1999. VEGINEWS September 1999.

Extension Presentations: Over 150 presentations to grower clientele have been delivered in vegetable disease management, strawberry disease management, greenhouse vegetable disease management, sustainable agriculture, and organic disease management.

Instructional Development

2000-2001: HS 512/PP 590. Alternative Research Strategies For Sustainable Farming Systems. 3 cr. Co-taught with K.R. Baldwin, S. Marlow, N.G Creamer and N. Ranells.

Attendance included 21 agents or other professionals. Course was designed under a train-the trainer model. Participants learned how to plan, design, implement, and evaluate locally relevant, farmer initiated, participatory on-farm research (OFR) projects that address sustainable agriculture practices, issues and concerns in their community. Each agent designed and will report (fall 2001) on an implemented OFR project. My contribution included being co-PI on the grant, structuring the content and direction of the course, and presenting several topics or facilitating discussions. 1998: HS 590G/ PP 590G Organic Farming Systems. 4 cr. Co-taught with Dr. N.Creamer. This course was designed for Cooperative Extension field faculty to enhance NC CES advisory capabilities that relate to organic farming and sustainable agriculture.

This course took a unique approach that capitalized on seasonal training opportunities from April to September (six 2-day sessions) and combined formal lectures, hands-on exercises, field trips, and many guest lecturers/workshop leaders including nationally recognized leaders, farmers, NGO personnel and university faculty. Attendance fluctuated from 50 to 70 people, depending on the session. My contribution included being co-PI on the grant, structuring the content and direction of the course, co-supervising course coordinator, setting up several field trials and demonstrations, giving lectures/presentations in 5 of the 6 sessions.

I have given 11 invited lectures in a number of courses including cross-disciplinary invitations such as HS 590, May 3 2001; HS 590, April 19 2001; HS 590, March 8 2001; HS 590C, Jan 30 2001; PP 503, Nov 24 1999; PP 504, Mar 23 1998; PP 519, Nov 24 1997; PP 318 , April 21 1997; PP Nov 26 1996; PP 504, Nov 4 1996.

Graduate Students

• Laura (Butler) Carver. Commenced January 1997. M.S. graduate. (G. Fernandez, Co-advisor). Thesis topic: Biology and Ecology of Botrytis cinerea in plasticulture strawberry production. Thesis completed March 1999.
• Michelle Grabowski. Commenced August 1998. M.S. graduate. (G. Fernandez, Co-advisor). Thesis topic: Biologically- and Chemically-Based Alternatives to Methyl
  Bromide Fumigation in Strawberry Production. Thesis completed January 5, 2001.
• Alyssa Collins. Commenced August 1999. M.S. candidate. Characterization of bacterial communities in soil during transition to organic agriculture. Thesis completed April 2001.

My students have consecutively won the Plant Pathology Masters Symposium first prize for their presentations in 1998 (Ms. Carver); 1999 (Ms. Grabowski); and 2000 and 2001 (Ms. Collins).

Contact Information

2411 Gardner Hall
Campus Box 7616
Raleigh, NC 27695-7616

Tel: (919) 515-6689
FAX: (919) 515-7716
Email: frank_louws@ncsu.edu