Jayesh Samtani

Small Fruit Extension Specialist; Extension Team

Jayesh Samtani

Dr. Samtani has been working in berry research and outreach for over 10 years. He has done considerable research and outreach in California as a post-doctoral researcher and in his current position in the mid-Atlantic region. His research focus has been on evaluating alternatives to preplant methyl bromide fumigation for strawberry particularly looking at steam, soil solarization, biosolarization and anaerobic soil disinfestation strategies to assist both conventional and organic berry growers. Since starting as the Small Fruit Production Specialist with Virginia Tech. in 2013, Samtani’s program has evaluated new strawberry cultivars in varied geographic regions of Virginia. His extension program has influenced the grower adoption of strawberry cultivars. As a result, most Virginia growers now grow 2 to 6 cultivars, reducing risks that come with relying on a single cultivar. His outreach program has reached out to growers, master gardeners, agriculture extension agents, and in communities located in geographic areas considered food deserts.  Dr. Samtani holds a Ph.D. and M.S. degree from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his B.S. degree is in Horticulture from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, College of Horticulture, Pune, India.

Department Profile