In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Deb Samac of the USDA-ARS. They discuss the long-overlooked disease of alfalfa, bacterial stem blight.

Additional Resources

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PHYTO-02-23-0059-R?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

Time Stamps

(0:00) Introductions

(4:06) Overview of alfalfa production

Skip to the main topic:

(16:30) Bacterial stem blight

(21:33) The role of frost

(25:00) Pathogen differentiation

(30:15) Pseudomonas and ice nucleation

(39:02) Disease management

(49:15) wrap-up

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) Samac, D.(Interviewee). S4:E38 (Podcast). Blightmare on Stem Street: Alfalfa Bacterial Stem Blight. 10/22/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript