Ed Sikora

Edward J. Sikora

Professor

153 ALFA Building
(334) 844-5502

Areas of Interest:

I have a 100% extension appointment with responsibilities for soybeans, vegetables, tree fruit, small fruit and nut (pecan) crops in both commercial and home garden production. My program emphasis is directed at developing, evaluating, demonstrating and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in commercial production systems. Most recently, I have been responsible for monitoring Asian soybean rust movement within Alabama.

Education:

Ph.D., 1992, Plant Pathology, University of Illinois

M.S., 1988, Plant Pathology, University of Illinois

B.S., 1982, Zoology, Eastern Illinois University

Professional Experience:

  • 2003-present, Professor, Dept. of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University
  • 1997-2002, Associate Professor, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Auburn University
  • 1992-1996, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Auburn University
  • 1990-1991, Post Doctoral Extension Specialist, University of Illinois
  • 1985-1990, Extension Graduate Assistant, University of Illinois
  • 1996-present, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
  • 1992-1996, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology
  • 1990-1992, Post Doctoral Extension Specialist, University of Illinois
  • 1985-1990, Extension Graduate Assistant, University of Illinois Plant Disease Clinic

Honors and Awards:

  • Alabama Cooperative Extension System Extramural Funding Award, 2003
  • Professional Excellence Award, Alabama Extension Specialist Association, 2002
  • Superior Service Award, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, 2000
  • Achievement Award, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, 2000
  • Distinguished Service Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi, National Honorary Extension Fraternity Alpha Pi Chapter, 1999
  • Alabama Cooperative Extension System Extramural Funding Award, 1999
  • Achievement Award, Alabama Association of County Agricultural Agents, 2000
  • Distinguished Service Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi, National Honorary Extension Fraternity Alpha Pi Chapter, 1999
  • Alabama Cooperative Extension System Extramural Funding Award, 1999
  • Awarded a Blue Ribbon by the American Society of Horticultural Science for the extension publication Common diseases of snap and lima beans, 1999
  • Awarded a Blue Ribbon by the American Society of Horticultural Science for the publication Guide to commercial pumpkin and winter squash production, 1999
  • Awarded a Blue Ribbon by the American Society of Horticultural Science for the publication Guide to commercial summer squash production, 1998
  • Excellence in Research Award from the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, 1993

Publications:

Books

  • McVay, J. R., J. F. Walgenbach, E. J. Sikora, and T. Sutton. 1994. A Grower's Guide to Apple Insects and Diseases in the Southeast. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, Auburn, AL.

Book Chapters

  • Sikora, E.J.and J.F. Murphy. 2005. Identification and Management of Cucumber Mosaic Virus in Alabama. p. 191-194. In: M.T. Momol., P. Ji and J. B. Jones (eds.), Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Tomato Disease. Acta Horticulturae 695, International Society for Horticultural Science.
  • Zehnder, G.W., Yao, C., Murphy, J.F., Sikora, E., Kloepper, J.W., Schuster, D., and Polston, J. 1999. Microbe-induced resistance against pathogens and herbivores: Evidence for effectiveness in agriculture. In: Induced Plant Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores: Biochemistry, Ecology, and Agriculture. APS Press, St. Paul, MN
  • Zehnder, G.W., C. Yao, J.F. Murphy, E.J. Sikora, J.W.Kloepper, D.J. Schuster, and J. Polston. 1998. Microbe-induced resistance: A novel strategy for control of insect transmitted diseases in vegetables. In: E.B. Radcliffe and W.D. Hutchinson (eds.), Radcliffe's IPM World Textbook, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Refereed Journal Articles:

  • Sikora, E.J., J.F. Murphy & J. Burkett. 2006. Performance of Virus Resistant Transgenic Squash in Alabama. Journal of Vegetable Science (in press).

  • Sconyers, L.E., Kemerait, R.C. Brock, J. Phillips, D.V., Jost, P.H., Sikora, E. J., Gutierrez-Estrada, A., Mueller, J.D. Marois, J.J., Wright, D.L., and Harmon, C.L. 2006. Asian Soybean Rust Development in 2005: A perspective from the Southeastern United States. APSnet Feature Story. Online publication: http://apsnet.org/online/feature/sbr/
  • Mullen, J.M., E.J. Sikora, J.M. McKemy, M.E. Palm, L. Levy and R. Devries-Paterson. 2006. First Report of bean pod mottle virus in soybean in Alabama. Plant Disease (Plant Disease Note) 88:000.
  • Sikora, E.J., J.M. Kemble, G.W. Zehnder, W.R. Goodman, M. Andrianifahanana, E.M. Bauske and J.F. Murphy. 2002. Using on-farm demonstrations to promote integrated pest management practices in tomato production. HortTechnology 12:485-488.
  • Sikora, E.J., E.A. Guertal and KL.2001. Plant-parasitic nematodes associated with hybrid bermuda grass and creeping bentgrass putting greens in Alabama. Nematropica 31;303-305.
  • Sikora, E.J., G.W. Zehnder, J.M. Kemble, R. Goodman, M. Andrianifahanana, E.M. Bauske and J.F. Murphy. 2001. Tomato IPM Field Demonstrations in Alabama. Journal of Extension http:joe/2001april/iw6html..
  • Murphy, J.F., E.J. Sikora, S. Slack and M. Guerini. 2000. Six viruses identified in potato plants grown in Alabama, U.S.A. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 22:315-318.
  • Kloepper, J.W., R. Rodriguez-Kabana, G.W. Zehnder, J.F. Murphy, E. Sikora and C. Fernandez. 1999. Plant root-bacterial interactions in biological control of soilborne diseases and potential extension to systemic and foliar diseases. Australian Plant Pathology 28:21-26.
  • Sikora, E.J., R.T. Gudauskas, J.F. Murphy, D.W. Porch, M. Andrianifahanana, G.W. Zehnder, E.M. Bauske, J.M. Kemble, and D.F. Lester. 1998. A Multivirus Epidemic of Tomatoes in Alabama. Plant Disease 82:117-120.

Recent Experiment Station Articles

  • Sikora, E.J.and D.P. Delaney. 2005. Evaluation of non-GMO soybean varieties in west-central Alabama. 2004 Soybean Research Report 27, pg. 12.
  • Sikora, E.J., D.P. Delaney and K.S. Lawrence. 2005. Evaluation of Quadris for frogeye leaf spot control on soybeans, Tallassee, Alabama, 2004. 2004 Soybean Research Report 27, pg. 14.
  • Sikora, E.J. and J. Burkett. 2002. Evaluation of fungicides for pecan scab control. 2001-2002 Fruit and Vegetable Research Report No. 23:19.
  • Sikora, E.J., R. Ebel, S.L. Burchett and M. Nesbitt. 2002. Satsuma disease survey of Alabama. 2001-2002 Fruit and Vegetable Research Report No. 23:20-21.
  • Sikora, E.J., J. Pitts and R. Boozer. 2002. Evaluation of fungicide tank-mixes for scab control on peach. Highlights of Agriculture 49:10-11.
  • Sikora, E.J., E. Guertal and K.L. Bowen. 1999. Golf Course nematodes - the hidden enemy. Highlights of Agricultural Research 46:10-11.
  • Murphy, J.F., E. Sikora, S. Slack, M. Guerini, L. Tapley and E. Tunnell. 1999. Know thy enemies: Irish potato viruses identifies. Highlights of Agricultural Research 46:3-4.
  • Sikora, E.J., R. Rodriguez-Kabana and W. Goff. 1999. Plant-parasitic nematodes and pecans. 1999 Fruit and Vegetable Research Report No. 17:14-15.
  • Sikora, E., G. Zehnder, J. Kemble, M. Andrianifahanana, and Patterson. 1998. Tomato IPM Program a success in Alabama in 1998. 1998 Fruit and Vegetable Research Report No. 15:23.

Left: Scouting for insects and diseases in a tomato IPM
demonstration field. Right: An outbreak of Southern blight,
Sclerotium rolfsii, in a commercial tomato field.

Left: Late blight and Buckeye rot, two common fruit rots of tomato
in Alabama. Right: E. J. Sikora with a 23 lb/44 inch musky (released)
on the Chippewa Flowage, Hayward Wisconsin, 6/21/97.

Tomato leaf (left) & Photo's (above)
Photos courtesy of Dr. Edward J. Sikora.

For additional information esikora@acesag.auburn.edu


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