Dr. David Rizzo, one of the world’s experts on Sudden Oak Death, will be giving a talk on “Emerging plant diseases in natural ecosystems: biological invasions and microbial diversity” on Tuesday, May 19 at 3 p.m. Dr. Rizzo, who is in the University of California-Davis Department of Plant Biology, focuses his research on forest pathology, with the current major focus on the study of Sudden Oak Death in coastal areas of California.

His research projects range from basic studies on the biology and ecology of the pathogen to numerous management related issues. Another project Dr. Rizzo is working on is looking at the spatial distribution of pathogens and insects and their impact on plant community development in mixed-conifer forests in the Sierra Nevada as part of the Teakettle Ecosystem Experiment.

Dr. Rizzo’s lecture is set for Room 2401 in the Miller Plant Sciences Building.