The Hudson Valley Research Laboratory has hired tree fruit plant pathologist Dr. Srdjan Acimovic.

Acimovic earned his doctorate in plant pathology from the Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.

His research centered on disease management in apples through trunk injection of plant protective compounds, including control of apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) and fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) with systemic acquired resistance (SAR) inducers and fungicides.

The Hudson Valley Research Laboratory partners with Cornell University and is a part of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York.

Acimovic begins his new role in early April. He replaces Dr. Dave Rosenberger, who retired in February 2014.