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Department of Pathology
Michigan State University
Joseph M. Vargas, Professor
 
Contact Information:Joseph M. Vargas
517-353-9082

Education:

B.S., University of Rhode Island
M.S., Oklahoma State University, Plant Pathology
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Plant Pathology
General areas of expertise:
Fungicide resistance; disease management: biological control, chemical control, and breeding; epidemiology
Overview of current program:

We focus on turfgrass disease management by chemical, biological, and genetic means.  We have discovered and registered a Pseudomonas bacterium for biological control of turfgrass diseases and are currently trying to expand its use into other areas.  We have developed turfgrass disease preditiction models for three turfgrass diseases and are currently modifying them under field conditions.  We have an active turfgrass disease breeding program to develop disease resistant creeping bentgrass cultivars.

Recent publications:
 
Turgeon, A.J. and J.M. Vargas Jr. 2005.  The Turf Problem Solver. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ. p. 246.
 
Vargas, J.M. Jr. 2004.  Management of Turfgrass Diseases.  John Wiley and Sons.  Hoboken, NJ. p. 322.
 
Vargas, J.M., Jr. and A.J. Turgeon. 2003.  Poa annua: Physiology, Culture and Control of Annual Bluegrass. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ. p. 165.
 
Chai, B., Maqbool, S.B., Hajela, R.K., Green, D., Vargas Jr., J.M., Warkentin, D., Sabsikar, R., Sticklen, M.B. 2002.  Cloning of a chitinase-liek cDNA (hs2), its transfer to creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds) and development of brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) disease resistant transgenic lines.  Plant Science 163:183-193.
 
Powell, J.F. and J.M. Vargas Jr. 2001.  Vegetative compatibility and seasonal variation among isoltes of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa.  Plant Dis. 85(4):377-381.
 
Powell, J.F., J.M. Vargas Jr., M.G. Nair, A.R. Detweiler, and A. Chandra. 2000.  Management of dollar spot on creeping bentgrass with metabolites of Pseudomonas auerofaciens (TX-1)  Plant Dis. 84:19-24.
 
Liu, C.A. H. Zong, J.Vargas, D. Penner, and M. Sticklen. 1998.  Prevention of fungal diseases in transgenic bialaphos and glufosinate-resistant creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris). Weed Science 46:139-146
  

Classes taught:

PLP 362, Turfgrass Diseases
PLP 885, Plant Diseases in the Field

Extension and outreach activities:

Michigan State University Turfgrass Conference
Michigan State University Turfgrass Field Day
Turfgrass Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Other turfgrass conferences around the world
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