Rice is an important crop in the Texas Gulf Coast and is seriously impacted by plant diseases. I conduct an active educational program for rice producers and rice industry personnel. Much of the educational material is generated by continuing on-farm research addressing critical plant disease issues facing the rice farmer. Because of the financial difficulties facing Texas rice producers, my efforts have emphasized improving the economics of rice disease management. Dynamic changes in rice production practices include increased use of minimum tillage, early planting, and increased emphasis on second (ratoon) crop production create new plant disease management challenges.

The turfgrass industry in Texas is big business in Texas with annual maintenance expenditures of over $6 billion. Turfgrass diseases are a serious problem, especially in high-management turfgrasses. I conduct research and educational programs on the management of turfgrass diseases, especially Rhizoctonia brown patch, take-all root rot of St. Augustinegrass and bermudagrass decline, both caused by the soil-borne fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis. Integrated disease management practices are emphasized in my turfgrass disease research and educational program.