AIR

The Accreditation to Improve Restoration (AIR) program team from the Del Castillo Lab here at UC Davis recently presented two posters at this year’s American Phytopathological Society (APS) Pacific Division annual meeting, hosted from March 25th- March 27th at the UC Davis Conference Center. Conference attendees included plant pathology researchers, ecologists, growers, stakeholders, and professionals from various public and private sectors in academia, government, and industry.

We were delighted to host the workshop “Phytophthora Prevention in Habitat Restoration” on February 7th, 2025, at the beautiful California Botanic Garden in Claremont for a full-day workshop focused on critical plant pathogen issues. The session concentrated primarily on Phytophthora species impacting nursery production and ecological restoration efforts. Led by Dr. Johanna Del Castillo (UCCE Cooperative Extension Specialist, UC Davis), Dr. Sebastian Fajardo (Postdoctoral Researcher, UC Davis), and Dr.

Teaching, collaboration, and extension are crucial pillars to the Accreditation to Improve Restoration program. While nursery accreditation visits and audits are a large part of the program, our work does not end there. In support of our shared goal of increasing awareness of Phytophthora in the nursery and protecting our native habitats, our team members work with nurseries and communities to share information and recommendations while learning about the unique conditions of our diverse nursery landscape.