Central Oregon is a major vegetable seed-producing area and supplies up to 65% of the hybrid carrot seed that is planted in the United States. Other crops grown in the region include Kentucky bluegrass seed, garlic and onion seed, alfalfa seed, flower seed, specialized potato seed, mint for oil and tea, and wheat. Research conducted in the plant pathology lab at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center aims to advance our understanding of diseases impacting high-value specialty crops grown in this region, with the ultimate goal of improved and sustainable plant disease management. Research is focused on the following areas: 1) population biology and molecular epidemiology of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens; 2) identifying factors that contribute to spatial and temporal dynamics of plant disease epidemics; and 3) the etiology, detection and control of plant pathogens in high-value seed and other crops in central Oregon.