Karla Addesso

Karla Addesso is a Research Professor and Director of the Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center at Tennessee State University's College of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Her work focuses on sustainable pest management solutions for Tennessee's woody ornamental nursery industry.

• B.S. in Biology, The College of New Jersey, 2002
• Ph.D. in Entomology, University of Florida, 2007
• Postdoctoral Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS, 2010-2012

Research interests include:

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Insect Chemical Ecology and Behavior
• Plant-Insect Interactions
• Behaviorally-Based Pest Control Techniques
• Management of pests in nursery production systems

Her recent publications (2024-2022) highlight advancements in:

• Borer beetle resistance in maple species
• Herbicide-induced stress effects on pest oviposition
• Parasitoid discovery for exotic scale control
• Cover crop applications for soilborne disease suppression
• Trap design optimization for Coleopteran pests
• Fire ant venom applications in pathogen control

Grants exceeding $7.7 million from USDA-NIFA, Southern SARE, and industry collaborations fund her research. The Addesso Lab maintains a dedicated laboratory website detailing ongoing projects and pest management resources.