Jeffrey W. Hoy
Professor

Areas of Specialization/Research

Pathogens and diseases affecting sugarcane, all aspects of disease management, conventional and molecular selection for host plant resistance, Pythium, and changes in soil microbial communities associated with sugarcane monoculture.

I have a commodity-based pathology research program. Sugarcane is an important commodity in Louisiana with an estimated total value during 2007 of $667 million. It is grown on approximately 420,000 acres by 700 mostly “Cajun” family farming operations. Sugarcane has been commercially cultivated in south Louisiana for more than 200 years. It is a great pleasure to conduct pathology research in support of this important, traditional industry.

I enjoy conducting applied and basic research on a variety of pathogens and diseases affecting sugarcane. The disease problems affecting sugarcane in Louisiana have dictated my research program priorities. The contiuous development of disease resistant cultivars is a high priority, as is providing a disease testing service to insure that healthy “seedcane” of this vegetatively propagated crop is available to farmers. Current research projects include: determining the impact and epidemiology of brown rust, caused by Puccinia melanocephala, and developing appropriate control measures; determining the molecular nature of resistance to leaf scald, caused by Xanthomonas albilineans; the indentification and inheritance of resistance to red rot, caused by Colletotrichum falcatum; determining the impact and appropriate disease management strategy for yellow leaf, caused by Sugarcane yellow leaf virus; and determining the changes in rhizosphere microbial communities associated with sugarcane monoculture.

Professional Societies/Activities

• American Phytopathological Society
  • Plant Disease, Associate Editor, 1990-1992 
• American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
  • Agriculture Section Chair, 2008-2009
  • Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Managing Editor, 2003-2006
  • Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Agriculture Section Technical Editor, 1999-2000 
• International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
  • Councilor from ASSCT, 2008-2110

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