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Research Program
Professor DiTommaso's major research interests are in the areas of weed biology/ecology, invasive plant ecology, biological weed control, and integrated weed management. He is particularly interested in the way in which biotic factors (disease, herbivory, competition) and abiotic factors (nutrients, salinity, tillage) affect weed population and community dynamics within both cropland (i.e. conventional, reduce tillage and organic systems) and natural areas. Research focuses on the effect of light quantity and quality and soil resources on seed dormancy and seedling vigor in important annual weed species such as velvetleaf, pigweeds, common lambsquarters, giant foxtail and common ragweed. Understanding the seed biology and population dynamics of the non-native invasive species pale and black swallow-wort, Vincetoxicum rossicum and V. nigrum (Asclepiadaceae) as well as its impact on Monarch butterflies and the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in
this invasion process are other active areas of research. The effect of biotechnology (e.g. Bt-corn, glyphosate-resistant crops) on non-target organisms such as weed seed predators (e.g. carabid beetles) is another focus of research. The biological control program is centered on assessing the effects of selective fungal diseases such as Colletotrichum coccodes and insect herbivores on host plant growth and fitness under different competitive environments. For more information on Prof. DiTommaso's research program visit his HomePage: http://www.css.cornell.edu/WeedEco/.
Courses Taught
CSS 315 - Weed Science - (Fall term) 4 credits, undergraduate
course.
ENTOM/CSS 444 - Integrated Pest Management - (Fall term) 4 credits; undergraduate course. Co-taught with Dr. J.E. Losey
CSS 614 - Weed Ecology and Management - (offered Spring term odd years) 3 credits; graduate course
For more information on these courses visit: http://www.css.cornell.edu/WeedEco/.
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Selected Publications
Barney, J.N., A. DiTommaso, H. A. Baloch, and A.K. Watson. 2006. Fungal infection and soybean competition induce plastic responses in velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) growth and reproductive output. Weed Science 54(5): 000-000 [In press].
Barney, J.N., N. Tharayil, A. DiTommaso, and P.C. Bhowmik. 2006. The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 5. Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc> [=Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr.]. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 86(3): 887-905.
Brainard, D.C., A. DiTommaso, and C.L. Mohler. 2006. Intrasecific variation in germination response to ammonium nitrate of Powell amaranth ( Amaranthus powelli) seeds originating from organic versus conventional vegetable farms. Weed Science 54(3):435-442.
Kumar, V., and A. DiTommaso. 2005. Mile-a minute (Ploygonum perfoliatum L.): An increasingly problematic invasive species. Weed Technology 19(4):1071-1077.
Saint-Louis, S., A. DiTommas, and A.K. Watson. 2005. A common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) biotype in Southwestern Qučbec resistant to linuron. Weed Technology 19(3):737-743.
Major, J., A. DiTommaso, J. Lehmann, and N.P.S. Falcao. 2005. Weed dynamics on Amazonian dark earth and adjacent soils of Brazil. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environments 111(1-4): 1-12.
Nurse, R.E. and A. DiTommaso. 2005. Corn competition alters the germinability of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) seeds. Weed Science 53(4): 479-488.
Barney, J.N., A. DiTommaso, and L.A. Weston. 2005. Differences in invasibility of two contrasting habitats and invasiveness of two mugwort Artemmisia vulgaris populations. Journal of Applied Ecology 42(3):567-576.
Brainard, D.C., R.R. Bellinder, and A. DiTommaso. 2005. Effects of canopy shade on the morphology, phenology, and seeds characteristics of Powell amaranth (Amaranthus powellii). Weed Science 53(2):175-186.
DiTommaso, A., F.M. Lawlor and S.J. Darbyshire. 2005. The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 2. Cynanchum rossicum(Kleopow) Borhidi(=Vincetoxicum rossicum(Kleopow) Barbar>) and Cynanchum louiseae (L.) Kartesz & Gandhi(=Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench). Canadian Journal of Plant Science 85(1):243-263.
DiTommaso, A., D.C. Brainard, and B.R. Webster. 2005. Seed characteristics of the invasive alien vine Vincetoxicum rossicum are affected by site, harvest date and storage duration. Canadian Journal of Botany 83(1):102-110.
Clements, D.R., A. DiTommaso, N. Jordan, B. Booth, J. Cardina, D. Doohan, C.L. Mohler, S.P. Murphy, and C.J. Swanton. 2004. Adaptability of plants invading North American cropland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 104:379-398.
DiTommaso, A. 2004. Germination behavior of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) populations across a range of salinities. Weed Science 52:1002-1009.
Teshler, M.P., S.A. Dernovici, A. DiTommaso, D. Coderre, and A.K. Watson. 2004. A novel device for the collection, storage, transport, and delivery of beneficial insects, and its application to Ophraella communa(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Biocontrol Science & Technology 14:347-357.
DiTommaso, A. and J.E. Losey. 2003. Oviposition preference and larval performance of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) on two invasive swallow-wort species. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 108:205-209.
For a complete list of publications visit: http://www.css.cornell.edu/WeedEco/.
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