Ep. 154 Spooky plant diseases: Diseases that have changed the course of history | #GoodGrowing
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Ep. 154 Spooky plant diseases: Diseases that have changed the course of history | #GoodGrowing

We’re all dressed up for this week’s Good Growing podcast because it’s our Halloween Spooktacular! This year, we are joined by Dr. Chelsea Harbach to talk about some spooky plant diseases that have had some significant historical impacts. Learn about ergot, late blight, and coffee rust and how they’ve changed the course of history.
 
Watch us, and see our costumes on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oEzbf1LuLLg 
 
Skip to what you want to know:  
  00:15 – Welcome, Ken and Chelsea, and what are we dressed up as this year?
  04:40 – Ergot and the Salem Witch Trials
  11:10 – Ergot in current times
  15:35 – The Irish Potato Famine
  23:20 – The start of plant pathology
  24:40 – Diagnosing diseases in current times
  28:00 – How did late blight get to Ireland? 
  30:00 – Are modern-day crops at risk?
  32:33 – Coffee leaf rust
  39:34 – Why do the British drink tea instead of coffee?
  41:00 - Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye!
  
 

 
Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu 
 
 
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Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
 
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Creators and Guests

Chris Enroth
Host
Chris Enroth
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties
Ken Johnson
Host
Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties
person
Guest
Chelsea Harbach
Plant Disease Diagnostician, Iowa State University Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic