Find out the latest information on plant diseases and issues that are significantly affecting California's economy, agriculture, and environment at a news conference to be held Monday, July 30, 2007 at 11 a.m. PST. The news conference will be held during the joint meeting of The American Phytopathological Society (APS) and the Society of Nematologists (SON) in San Diego, California.

Leading plant disease experts will provide an update on the following topics:

• Food Safety/Preventing Contamination of Fresh Produce with Bacteria

• Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus

• Sudden Oak Death

• Pierce's Disease of Grapes

• Citrus Greening

Reporters and editors will have an opportunity to address the speakers during a Q&A session at the end of the news conference.

Time/Date: Today, Monday, July 30, at 11 a.m. PST (12 p.m. MST, 1 p.m. CST, 2 p.m. EST)

Location: Garden Salon 1 of the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, California 92108

To participate by telephone, call 866.814.7512 and enter code 2082906#.

Please call a few minutes ahead.

Interview Opportunities: The following plant disease experts will participate in the event.

• Jeri D. Barak, USDA Agricultural Research Service - speaking on food safety

• Robert Gilbertson, University of California, Davis - speaking on tomato yellow leaf curl virus

• Susan Frankel, USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station - speaking on sudden oak death

• Bruce Kirkpatrick, University of California - speaking on Pierce's disease of grapes

• Ronald Brlansky, University of Florida, Citrus Research and Education Center - speaking on citrus greening