Dr. Ming-Yi Chou

Ming-Yi Chou completed his Ph.D. in Horticultural Biology at Cornell University in 2018 and joined Rutgers in April 2023 as an Assistant Extension Specialist and Professor in Turfgrass Pathology. His extension program focuses on evaluating and developing efficient turfgrass disease management measures such as integrated disease control programs, disease predictive models, and rapid disease risk evaluation assays. He currently directs the largest turfgrass disease control product evaluation program of its kind in the U.S. (~500 entries/yr). His research efforts center on plant-soil-microbiome interactions in turfgrass and how to alleviate disease pressure by cultivating the beneficial microbiome. Learn more on his website: https://sites.rutgers.edu/chou-lab/

Digging into the Roots of Ectotrophic Root-Infecting (ERI) Fungal Diseases

This presentation introduces common turfgrass patch diseases caused by ectotrophic root-infecting (ERI) fungal pathogens. Recent research has updated our understanding of these diseases, offering new insights into their development. By understanding the biology of ERI fungi and proper diagnostic techniques, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how to implement cultural and chemical control strategies. This session aims to empower golf course superintendents to design more effective and targeted root disease management programs.

2026-03-11

A Practical Guide to Diagnosing Ectotrophic Root-Infecting Fungi

The symptoms of declining turfgrass are often shared between drought stress and root diseases caused by Pythium and other fungal pathogens. This session will cover the predisposing factors, sampling processes, and visual cues necessary for diagnosing root rot caused by ectotrophic root-infecting fungi. Attendees will learn simple, effective diagnostic techniques that can be performed in the field without the need for sophisticated equipment. Because proper diagnosis is the first step in effective management, this guide will help superintendents take the right action for rapid symptom mitigation.

2026-03-10

Harnessing the Turfgrass Microbiome for Sustainable Disease Control

Disease suppressive soils are soils that prevent or reduce the severity of soilborne plant diseases, even when pathogens and susceptible hosts are present. This suppression is primarily achieved by a diverse community of beneficial soil microbes, or the soil microbiome, that compete with or directly antagonize pathogens. This presentation will introduce the idea of microbiomes and different ways we can take advantage of beneficial microbes in the overall microbial community. The attendees will learn how the turfgrass microbiome affects disease development and how fungicide selection affects disease development through alteration of the microbiome. By understanding these mechanisms, the attendees will gain insights into how they potentially harness the power of the microbiome through careful fungicide selection. This presentation will introduce strategies that could potentially improve long-term disease suppression while reducing the financial cost and environmental impact for the superintendent.

2026-03-09