I respond to the needs of Texas growers with research and educational efforts aimed at solving their plant disease problems. I specialize in diseases of watermelons, cotton, corn, and sorghum. My initial emphasis on watermelon research was on the epidemiology of bacterial fruit blotch, but recently, gummy stem blight of watermelon, caused by strains of Didymella bryoniae resistant to strobilurin fungicides have become a problem. I am studying fungicide management of this disease and the use of weather information to optimize fungicide applications. With cotton, I am evaluating fungicides for seedling disease control, as well as fungicides for control of Phymatotrichopsis root rot. My emphasis on corn diseases has been aflatoxin control through host resistance and I am working with a corn breeder, Dr. Javier Betrán. In 2004, I am initiating research on the biological control of aflatoxin in corn. With sorghum, I am studying the epidemiology of sorghum ergot, with emphasis on the survival of this pathogen in Texas.

While it is essential to respond to disease problems as they arise, I strive to anticipate how changes in agriculture in the future will affect plant diseases and approaches for their control. For example, sorghum monoculture in the Upper Coast area is associated with the re-emergence of sorghum downy mildew. The pathogen is now insensitive to metalaxyl seed treatments. I am involved in research and extension efforts to devise and promote a management strategy. The decreased availability of chemicals for disease control is another trend, so I collaborate with plant breeders and agronomists to explore options such as resistant varieties and cultural control practices. Information resulting from all these efforts is useless unless it is communicated to the clientele that need it, which is the key component of my job. The ultimate purpose of my activities is to help maintain the viability of agriculture in Texas.