{"id":595,"date":"2026-08-13T15:27:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T21:27:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/?page_id=595"},"modified":"2026-09-09T12:38:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T18:38:01","slug":"cytospora-canker-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/cytospora-canker-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Cytospora Canker Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- block -->\n<div class=\"custom-block-wrappper text-block stylized lite top-spacing-default bottom-spacing-default\">\n\n    <p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Overview:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">A major focus of our lab is understanding and managing disease in Colorado&#8217;s fruit tree industry, particularly the peach orchards of the Western Slope. Our work centers on Cytospora canker, a perennial and economically damaging disease caused by <em>Cytospora plurivora<\/em>, which threatens the long-term productivity and survival of peach trees across the region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">Through a combination of field trials, population genetics, and applied management studies, we investigate the epidemiology of Cytospora canker and evaluate strategies, including canopy sprays and irrigation practices, to reduce disease incidence and severity. This research has spanned multiple graduate projects in the lab, building a growing body of knowledge aimed at giving growers practical, science-based tools to protect their orchards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\">Our goal is to support the resilience of Colorado&#8217;s fruit tree industry by bridging fundamental plant pathology research with real-world orchard management.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>People:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Cytospora Canker has been the focus of many projects in the Stewart Lab including current work by Dr Lexi Hager, Pavan Silva, and Dr. Shankar Gaire.\u00a0Past projects include work by Sal Greenburger, Dr. Stephan Miller, Dr. Sean Toperek, and Sean Wright.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u00a0\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-578\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_112-1-1-300x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_112-1-1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_112-1-1-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_112-1-1-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_112-1-1-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_112-1-1-640x640.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_112-1-1.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-574\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_119-1-2-300x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_119-1-2-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_119-1-2-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_119-1-2-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_119-1-2-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_119-1-2-640x640.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_20210814_232547_119-1-2.jpeg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-584\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-300x290.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-1024x990.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-768x743.jpg 768w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-1536x1486.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-2048x1981.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-640x619.jpg 640w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-1200x1161.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/peaches-1920x1857.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-586\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_3375-225x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"216\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_3375-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/08\/IMG_3375.jpeg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 216px\" \/><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- END block -->\n\n\n<!-- block -->\n<div class=\"custom-block-wrappper button-block\">\n\n    <!-- component -->\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/people\/dr-lexi-heger\/\" class=\"button\" >\n\n        Dr. Lexi Heger\n    <\/a>\n    <!-- END component -->\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- END block -->\n\n\n<!-- block -->\n<div class=\"custom-block-wrappper button-block\">\n\n    <!-- component -->\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/people\/pavan-silva\/\" class=\"button\" >\n\n        Pavan Silva\n    <\/a>\n    <!-- END component -->\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- END block -->\n\n\n<!-- block -->\n<div class=\"custom-block-wrappper button-block\">\n\n    <!-- component -->\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/labs.agsci.colostate.edu\/stewartlab\/people\/shankar-gaire\/\" class=\"button\" >\n\n        Dr. Shankar Gaire\n    <\/a>\n    <!-- END component -->\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- END block 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