N.C. PSI News

Jul 1, 2026

NC State Wages Multi-Front Fight Against Strawberry Disease

N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative affiliates, NC State Extension specialists and other researchers are working on multiple fronts in the fight against a new disease taking a big bite out of North Carolina’s strawberry producers’ livelihoods. 

Jun 18, 2026

Microbial partners may help plants respond to higher temperatures

New research suggests the microbiome near the surface of a plant’s roots, known as the rhizosphere microbiome, may play a role in helping crops respond to heat stress. The research team includes three N.C. PSI faculty affiliates: Alex Woodley, Mallory Choudoir and Joe Gage. 

Jun 5, 2026

Harvesting Data for Agriculture

New tech for better drone-based data collection and analysis is helping turn agricultural research stations into farms of the future, and an N.C. PSI team is intent on delivering even more solutions to help farmers put data to work. 

Jun 2, 2026

Mystery Beetle Unmasked

NC State researchers have identified a wood-boring beetle that could threaten the state's blueberry industry. With no insecticides labeled for use against this pest in blueberries, Lorena Lopez, an entomologist and N.C. PSI affiliate, has started trials to come up with solutions. 

Jun 1, 2026

‘Evolution, Not Revolution’

Executive Director Adrian Percy describes what’s next for the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative under a new strategic plan. 

May 27, 2026

Breeding Possibilities for Better Crops

From a young age, Caitlin Kestell learned to work hard, help other people and never quit. Now a crop science graduate student and N.C. PSI award-winner, she's putting a can-do attitude to work in research to benefit farmers and outreach efforts that inspire students. 

May 26, 2026

Conference Explores Intersection of Biology and Engineering

With N.C. PSI faculty playing key roles, the recent Green-G Conference brought together experts in disciplines ranging from electrical engineering to ecology to explore how cutting-edge biosensing, data science, imaging, signal processing and other technology can allow us to better observe natural processes and come up with practical concepts for telecommunications and data management. 

May 22, 2026

Lessons from Collard Greens

A project led by N.C. faculty affiliate Mallory Choudoir explores the ecological relationships between soil microbes and heirloom collard cultivation. 

May 14, 2026

From Unexpected Beginnings to the Future of Digital Ag

N.C. PSI faculty affiliate Jing Zhang breaks new ground using high-tech tools to gather and analyze data better and faster for improved plant breeding and crop production. 

May 13, 2026

Three from N.C. PSI Honored for Excellence

N.C. PSI staff members score awards for their work on behalf of team agriculture, with Sarah Dinger and Jie Pacelli honored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Lauren Maynard by NC State Research and Innovation.