Marina Rondon

Areas of Expertise

• Integrated Plant Disease and Nematode Management
• Plant Phenotyping
• Field Crops

Professional Summary

Marina N. Rondon, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at Texas
A&M AgriLife Extension, based at the Research & Extension Center in Lubbock, TX.
Her program focuses on managing plant pathogens and plant-parasitic nematodes
affecting cotton, peanuts, and other field crops. With expertise in plant phenotyping, Dr.
Rondon integrates chemical, biological, and cultural control strategies to develop
sustainable disease management solutions.
She earned her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Auburn University, where she
investigated fungicide resistance, nematicidal activity, and the genetic diversity of
Corynespora cassiicola in cotton and soybean. Before joining Texas A&M AgriLife, she
worked as a Soybean Pathology Scientist at Syngenta Seeds in Brazil, leading
phenotyping efforts in the soybean breeding pipeline to combat major diseases and
nematodes. She also served as a Pathologist Researcher at Tropical Breeding and
Genetics (TMG), leading phenotyping efforts in the cotton breeding pipeline against key
diseases in Brazil.
Dr. Rondon collaborates with growers, extension agents, and researchers to address
critical challenges in crop production and advance the adoption of integrated pest and
disease management strategies.