Moyer Wins Research and Education Award
Dr. James Moyer, head of North Carolina State University's Department of Plant Pathology, received the Society of American Florists' 2007 Alex Laurie Award for Research and Education at the during the society's 123rd annual convention in Palm Springs, Calif.
Moyer is active in both teaching and research on viruses affecting floral and vegetable crops, In the 1980s, Moyer discovered the existence of a new virus, the impatiens necrotic tospovirus (INSV), which others had assumed to be merely a strain of the tomato spotted wilt virus.
INSV became extraordinarily important to the floriculture industry because it is spread by the difficult-to-manage Western flower thrips.
The Alex Laurie Award, established in 1948, is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to research and education in the floriculture industry.