Award Data

Although good textbooks on food mycology are available, a clear need exists for simpler and more visual identification systems. Because of ease of manufacture and use, interactive potential and ability to display color pictures, the CD is the ideal medium for such a system. However nothing of this sort is available. The proposed project aims to produce an interactive CD for the identification of f ...

Structural damage from termite infestation causes over $2 Billion in damage yearly within the U.S. In addition, current treatment methods are labor intensive and provide little feedback as to effectiveness. This effort will develop a prototype system for remote monitoring and detection of termites.

Insects are major pests of plant and animal food and fiber and also vector diseases causing millions of human deaths and untold suffering annually. Moreover, our efforts to control insect pests have caused massive environmental contamination and continue to cause human and animal fatalities annually. Biotechnology offers alternatives to conventional pest control that have great promise although, l ...

Root systems are critical to many important tree traits. Characterizing tree roots is difficult because they are hidden underground. This project will use digital x-rays to visualize and characterize tree root systems in order to develop enhanced root systems (and the resulting improved tree traits) in the future.

Foodborne bacterial disease is a major health concern in the United States. Five major bacterial pathogens cause an annual $6.9 billion in medical costs and productivity losses. New effective technologies related to the decontamination of meat are especially needed. This project will target two specific pathogenic bacteria; E. coli. 0157:H7 and Salmonella. It has been discovered recently that sodi ...

Farmers in Kentucky are looking for ways to diversify their production and marketing. High value crops, such as specialty peppers may provide one avenue for diversification. However, storability of certain specialty peppers has not been determined, and if the peppers can not be stored, the opportunities for shipping to distant markets may be serverely limited. Opportunities for diversification may ...