Dr. Alexander Dimitri Pavlista

Department of Agronomy & Horticulture
Panhandle Research & Extension Center
Associate Professor and Extension Potato Specialist

Email: apavlista1@unl.edu

Degrees:

• B.S., Biology/Chemistry, Manhattan College, NYC, NY. 1968.
• Ph.D., Biological Sci. (Plant Physiology), City Univ. of NY, NY. 1977.

Background:

• 1988-present - Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Scottsbluff, NE.
• 1979-88 - Research Biologist, Amer. Cyanamid Co., Princeton, NJ.
• 1977-79 - USDA Research Associate, No. Carolina St. Univ., Raleigh, NC.
• 1971-77 - Lecturer, H.H. Lehman College, the Bronx, NY.
• 1968-71 - NIH Research Trainee, Oak Ridge Nat'l Lab, Oak Ridge, TN.

Nebraska Potato Industry: Nebraska has a growing potato industry ranked 11^th in total production and 10^th for fall production. Potato production reached  new levels in 1997 and yield records broken since 1992. The potato industry is divided into four segments - fresh market, potato chips, fry processing, and seed production.

Extension Activities (75% FTE): Nebraska Potato Eyes (NPE) is a newsletter published five times per year specifically for potato growers and, in general, for  the potato industry. The latest issue of NPE is available on-line. Articles cover a  broad range of potato topics from recognizing pests and disorders to fertilization to profiles of new cultivars. In addition to NPE, Several Extension Circulars, teaching articles, and workshops and seminars on potato production and utilization have been developed. On-farm evaluations of new potato clones for the  fresh market and processing are conducted around the State. Pest alerts and diagnosis are integral parts of the extension program. Late and early blight forecasts are communicated weekly. Diagnostic analysis of problems are done in the laboratory and in the field during on-site visits with growers.

Research Activities (25% FTE): The main foci on potato research are early and late blight control, and plant growth regulators (PGRs) for yield and quality. PGR research in tissue culture is done in cooperation with Dr. Paul Read. Field testing is conducted at the PREC in Scottsbluff. Studies continue on common  scab and black scurf control, use of ammonium sulfate, and vine desiccation. New or potential products are continually being evaluated for seed decay and insect control.

Service: Dr. Pavlista is an Editor for the Am. Jour. Potato Research and is on several committees of the Potato Assn. Amer. (PAA). He also is a member of the European Assn. Potato Researchers (EAPR), Amer. Soc. Horticultural Sci. (ASHS), Plant Growth Regulator Soc. Amer., Agronomy Soc. Amer. (ASA), and Czechoslovak Soc. Arts Sci. in Amer (SVU). In 1999, he was presented with the Certificate of Appreciation award by the USDA for work on potato pesticide assessment.