Naidu Rayapati

Virus Fighters, Research Vineyard, Wine Tasting, Auction

Iraq War Vet Comes Home to Wine Country “The U.S. Army is a 200-plus-year-old organization,” said WSU viticulture and enology student Andrew Schultz. “They know something about leadership and teamwork. That’s why I served.” The former radar operations sergeant served in the Army for four years, including 16 months in Iraq, before returning to civilian […]

WSU Virologist Honored

PULLMAN, Wash. – Naidu Rayapati, a plant virologist at the Washington State University Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, and his colleagues from other institutions received a team award for international work at the 6th International IPM Symposium in Portland, OR, on March 24. Rayapati, a member of the Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research […]

Virus Fighters, Disease Detectors, Go North!

Seeking Answers for Grape Diseases Gardeners may prize ornamental grapes that turn crimson in late summer, but that’s not something wine grape growers want to see in their vineyards. Crimson leaves are a characteristic symptom of a complex virus-associated disease called grapevine leafroll. The untreatable disease delays ripening, causes a significant drop off in yield […]

WSU Grad Student Selected as APS Student Fellow

PULLMAN, Wash. — Olufemi J. Alabi, a doctoral graduate student in Washington State University’s plant pathology department, has been selected as a Student Fellow by the American Phytopathological Society. Alabi, a native of Nigeria, will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March to participate in a national summit on The Future of Education […]

International Collaboration Leads to Important Plant Virus Discovery

PROSSER, Wash. – Tri Asmira Damayanti, a lecturer and researcher at Bogor Agricultural University in Indonesia, came to Washington State University’s Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center three months ago to learn the latest techniques in detection of plant viruses. What she may not have counted on discovering was a plant virus in sample […]

Wine Grape Growers Must Face Reality

PROSSER, Wash. – In order to grapple with one of the wine grape industry’s rising concerns–how to deal with grapevine leafroll virus disease–a small group of wine grape growers, certified nurserymen, representatives from the Washington, Oregon and Idaho state departments of agriculture and Washington State University faculty recently gathered at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and […]

WSU Faculty Member Honored for International Work

PULLMAN, Wash. – Naidu Rayapati, a plant virologist at the Washington State University Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, has received the International Service Award from the American Phytopathological Society. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to plant pathology by international members for countries other than their own. Rayapati was honored for accomplishments in solving […]

WSU Virologist to Participate in U.S.-India Ag Initiative

PROSSER, Wash. — Naidu Rayapati, a virologist at Washington State University’s Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, will help train Indian scientists as part of the of the U.S.-India Agricultural Knowledge Initiative. The AKI is a public-private partnership intended to facilitate technology transfer; bolster agricultural research, education and extension; and strengthen trade and regulatory […]