During his time as a graduate student at Louisiana State University, José co-authored a magazine article about taproot decline, an emerging fungal disease of soybean caused by the fungus Xylaria necrophora, a recently described species. Co-authors include Vinson P. Doyle, Teddy Garcia-Aroca, and Trey Price.
The article emphasizes the biosecurity threat of fungal diseases such as taproot decline, and the importance of identifying causal agents and understanding the pathogen’s life cycle, among other priorities. It also highlights taproot decline current management practices, which center on yearly crop rotations with selected crops, and emphasizes the need for further research to find resistant cultivars and examine seed treatment and at-planting fungicides as management options.
Read the full article via LSU
Learn about Xylaria necrophora
Photos by José E. Solorzano.