Richard Latin

Professor

Department: Botany and Plant Pathology
Phone: 765.494.4639
Fax: 765.494.0363
Office: Lilly Hall, Room 1-317
E-mail: rlatin@purdue.edu

Area of Expertise: Turfgrass Diseases - Epidemiology and management of turfgrass diseases with emphasis on fungicide resistance and factors that influence fungicide performance

Graduate Research Assistant: Turfgrass Pathology

A research assistantship is available at the M.S. or Ph.D. level. The research project is in the area of turf disease epidemiology. Specifically, the project involves quantifying the influence of temperature and moisture on infection of creeping bentgrass by Rhizoctonia solani and using such information to develop a decision tool for scheduling modern fungicides for disease control. Applicants should have a strong quantitative background and an interest in field research. Experience or course work in turf management and plant pathology is desirable.

Current research efforts in the area of turfgrass pathology focus on the management of diseases on golf course, sports turf, and professional landscapes. Specific research projects include the following:

Factors that affect fungicide performance
Fungicide resistant pathogen strains
Epidemiology of dollar spot on creeping bentgrass
Weather-based systems for scheduling fungicide applications

The turfgrass pathology extension effort focuses on educational programs for professional turf managers. Part of the educational process involves field demonstrations that address the efficacy of various disease management practices. Another component involves formal educational presentations and workshops on turfgrass disease identification and control. The extension effort also involves turf disease diagnosis and the investigation of factors that contribute to disease outbreaks. The extension activities provide an educational opportunity for those of us in turf pathology, raising our awareness to the concerns of turf managers so that we may target our research accordingly. Turf Pathology

- Recent Publications

Stewart, J., R. X. Latin, z. Reicher, & S. Hallett (2008). Influence of trinexapac ethyl on the efficacy of chlorothalonil and propiconazole for control of dollar spot on creeping bentgrass. Applied Turfgrass Science, doi:10.1094/ATS-2008-0319-01-RS. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/ats

Burpee, L. L., & R. X. Latin (2008). Reassessment of fungicide synergism for control of dollar spot. Plant Disease, 92, 601-606.

Latin, R. (2006). Residual efficacy of fungicides for control of dollar spot on creeping bentgrass. Plant Disease, 90, 571-575.

Harmon, P. F., & R. Latin (2005). Winter survival of the perennial ryegrass pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae in north central Indiana. Plant Disease, 89, 412-418.

Hardebeck, G. A., Z. J. Reicher, R. F. Turco, & R. Latin (2004). Application of Pseudomonas aureofaciens strain Tx-1 for control of dollar spot and brown patch on fairway height turfgrass. HortScience, 39, 1750-1753.

Latin, R. X., P. F. Harmon, & L. D. Dunkle (2003). A rapid PCR-based method for the detection of Magnaporthe oryzae from infected perennial ryegrass. Plant Disease.

Harmon, P. F., & R. Latin (2003). Gray Leaf Spot of Perennial Ryegrass. Plant Health Progress, 1223-01-DG. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/php/diagnosticguide/2003/ryegrass/