October 17, 2007
Plant pathologist earns distinction of Sharvelle Award
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Daniel Egel, a Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service plant pathologist, received the 2007 Eric G. Sharvelle Distinguished Extension Specialist Award. Egel was honored Tuesday (Oct. 16) during the annual Purdue Extension Development Conference banquet for his research in melon diseases and his outreach with the Melon Disease Forecaster, or Melcast.Melcast is a weather-based system that forecasts foliar diseases in muskmelon and watermelon.
Egel's work in promoting this system has helped growers eliminate two to three fungicide applications annually. It's estimated that this reduction in applications has saved more than 12,187 pounds of fungicide over a two-year period, which totaled a savings of $60,303 for muskmelon and watermelon growers in Indiana and Illinois.
"Dan, through his work in constantly helping vegetable growers improve their operations, exemplifies what Purdue Extension is all about," said Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. "His efforts have saved growers countless valuable hours, resources and dollars."
In addition to his work with Melcast, Egel has spent time researching several vegetable-borne diseases that can reduce plant survival. He has used his research to work directly with vegetable growers to diagnose diseases and to reduce the amount of infected seedlings planted each year.
In this way he serves as a liaison between the university and Indiana's fruit and vegetable crop sector, and he is involved in planning, developing and maintaining field plots and several programs through the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center.
"Growers have praised Dan very highly," Woodson said. "And his value to the economy of Southern Indiana is enormous."
Egel also spends time writing and editing several publications that provide current information for vegetable producers. These include the disease section of the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, Vegetable Crops Hotline, Melcast Update and several Purdue Extension bulletins.
Egel has been at Purdue since 1995, and in that time has gained statewide and national attention for his efforts.
The Sharvelle Award is given annually in memory of Eric G. Sharvelle, a Purdue professor of botany and plant pathology from 1946-75. Derek and Sybil Sharvelle of Battle Ground, Ind., established the award in 1985.Writer: Jennifer Stewart Cummins, (765) 494-6682, cumminsjs@purdue.edu
Source: Randy Woodson, (765) 494-8391, woodson@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page
Note to Journalists: Photos of the award winners will be available on the Web at https://www.ces.purdue.edu/awards/ at 10 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 18)
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