Steven T. Koike

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Also in:
Santa Cruz County

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Education

Steven Koike joined the Monterey County office of UC Cooperative Extension in 1989. As Plant Pathology Farm Advisor, he is involved in educational programs and applied research in vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crop diseases. His research emphasizes diseases of vegetables and strawberry, epidemiology of disease systems, fungicide evaluations, identification of new diseases, ecology of fungi, and exploration of alternative disease control methods (alternative fungicides, biological agents, and organic agriculture disease management). He is also involved in applied research of foodborne pathogens (E. coli and Salmonella) as they occur in leafy greens field settings. Educational efforts consist of informing clientele of research results, tailoring results to commercial operations, and diagnosing problems found in field and greenhouse. Koike operates the UC Cooperative Extension plant pathology diagnostic lab located in Salinas. In 2007 he published his first book: A Color Handbook of Diseases of Vegetables (Manson Publishing, London). In 2011 Koike was given the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding research conducted by a UC Cooperative Extension academic.