I respond to the needs of Texas growers with research and educational efforts aimed at solving their plant disease problems. I work on diseases of field crops, with emphasis on major diseases of cotton, corn, and sorghum in Texas.   I also work on diseases of some vegetables, with emphasis on watermelons.  With cotton, I am evaluating fungicides for control of Phymatotrichopsis root rot, in collaboration with agronomists, IPM agents and county agents throughout the state.  For corn, I’ve emphasized aflatoxin control,  through collaborative projects on host resistance with the corn breeder, Dr. Seth Murray and plant pathologist, Dr. Mike Kolomiets.  I also do field studies on the use of atoxigenic strains for biological control of aflatoxin.  My sorghum emphasis is management of metalaxyl-resistant sorghum downy mildew strains.  I also collaborate with USDA-ARS plant pathologist, Dr. Louis Prom, on sorghum anthracnose and grain mold research.

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. Information resulting from all these efforts is useless unless it is communicated to the clientele that need it- primarily farmers, which is the key component of my job. The ultimate purpose of my activities is to help maintain the viability of agriculture in Texas.

Mayfield, K., F. J. Betrán, T. Isakeit, G. Odvody, S. C. Murray, W.L.Rooney, and J.C. Landivar. 2012. Registration of maize germplasm lines Tx736, Tx739, Tx740, for reducing preharvest aflatoxin accumulations. Journal of Plant Registrations. doi: 10.3198/jpr2010.12.0675crg https://www.crops.org/files/publications/jpr/new-articles/6-1-c10-12-0675crg.pdf

Mayfield, K. L., S. C. Murray, W. L. Rooney, T. Isakeit, and G. A. Odvody. 2011. Confirmation of QTL Reducing Aflatoxin in Maize Testcrosses. Crop Science 51:2489-2498. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2011.02.0112

Radwan, G.L., T. Isakeit, C.W. Magill, R.Perumal, L.K. Prom, and C.R. Little. 2011. Screening exotic sorghum germplasm, hybrids and elite lines for resistance to a new virulent pathotype (P6) of Peronosclerospora sorghi causing downy mildew. Plant Health Progress, doi:10.1094/PHP-2011-0323-01-RS. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/php/research/2011/p6/

Ojiambo, P.S., G.J.Holmes, M.L. Adams, M. Babadoost, S.C. Bost, R. Boyles, M. Brooks, W. Britton, J. Damicone,  D.S.Egel, K.L. Everts, D.M. Ferrin, A.J. Given, B.K. Gugino, M.K. Hausbeck, D.M. Ingram, T. Isakeit, A.P. Keinath, T. Keever, D. Langston, M.T. McGrath, S.A. Miller, R. Mulrooney, S. Rideout, E. Roddy,K.W. Seebold, E.J. Sikora, A. Thornton, R.L.Wick, C.A. Wyenandt, C. A. 2011. Cucurbit downy mildew ipmPIPE: a next generation web-based interactive tool for disease management and extension outreach. Plant Health Progress, doi: 10.1094/PHP-2011-0411-01-RV.http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/php/review/2011/cucurbit/

Prom, L.K., T. Isakeit, R. Perumal, J.E. Erpelding, W. Rooney, and C. W. Magill. 2011.  Evaluation of the Ugandan sorghum accessions for grain mold and anthracnose resistance. Crop Protection, 30:566-571. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2010.12.025

Isakeit, T., S. Murray, and J. Wilborn. 2011. Efficacy of Afla-Guard (Aspergillus flavus NRRL 21882) to control mycotoxins on corn in Burleson County, Texas, 2010.  Plant Disease Management Reports 5:FC091.www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/trial/PDMR/reports/2011/FC091.pdf

Isakeit, T., S. Murray, and K. Mayfield. 2011. Aflatoxin and fumonisin in transgenic corn hybrids in Burleson County, Texas, 2009.  Plant Disease Management Reports 5:FC090.www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/trial/PDMR/reports/2011/FC090.pdf

Isakeit, T., D. Pietsch, and J.Blumenthal. 2011. Reaction of sorghum hybrids to grain mold and grain weathering in southern and central Texas, 2010.  Plant Disease Management Reports 5:FC089.www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/trial/PDMR/reports/2011/FC089.pdf

Isakeit, T., and A. Scott, Jr. 2010. Evaluation of fungicides for control of Asian soybean rust in Hidalgo County, Texas, 2008. Plant Disease Management Reports 4:FC082.www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/trial/PDMR/reports/2010/FC082.pdf

Isakeit, T., S. Murray, and K. Mayfield. 2010. Efficacy of Afla-Guard (Aspergillus flavus NRRL 21882) to control aflatoxin on corn in Burleson County, Texas, 2009.  Plant Disease Management Reports 4:FC081.www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/trial/PDMR/reports/2010/FC081.pdf

Hernandez-Zepeda, C., T. Isakeit, A. Scott, Jr., and J.K. Brown. 2010. First report of Okra yellow mosaic Mexico virus in okra in the United States. Plant Dis. 94:924.

Isakeit, T., J.E. Woodward, C. Niu, and R.J.Wright. 2010. First report of Sclerotinia stem rot of canola caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Texas. Plant Dis. 94:792.

Information on aflatoxin on corn
http://aflatoxin.tamu.edu

Information on watermelon diseases in Texas
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/watermelon

Sorghum downy mildew 
Sorghum downy mildew – control
Soil solarization for control of nematodes
Soybean Diseases
Sunflower Diseases
Flax Diseases
Orange Rust of Sugarcane
Best management practices for reducing aflatoxin in corn
Use of atoxigenic strains to manage aflatoxin in corn
Rhizoctonia canker and black scurf of potato
Southern Rust of Corn_2014