Meet Our Rutgers Professors
Dr. Jim Simon
Plant Biologist
Dr. Simon leads the Rutgers University program on New Use Agriculture and Natural Plant Products Program, and works cooperatively with research groups around the world and in New Jersey seeking to develop standardized botanical products for health and nutrition. Research projects focus on culinary herbs (selection and breeding), Asian and African botanicals and medicinal plants, the nutraceutical components in fruits and vegetables and quality control for herbs and botanical products. Simon’s research is supported by NIH, USDA, USAID, and BARD as well as other public and private funding.
Dr. Andy Wyenandt
Plant Pathologist
Dr. Andy Wyenandt is an Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology located at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) in Bridgeton, NJ. Recent research by the vegetable pathology lab includes examining the effects of various fungicide programs on phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici) and anthracnose fruit rot (Collectotrichum spp.) control in bell pepper. Our lab is currently evaluating fungicides for the control of basil downy mildew (Peronospora belbahrii), a new and important disease of basil in the United States. In collaboration with Dr. James Simon’s lab, a breeding program has been developed to locate sources of resistance to basil downy mildew.