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D. Michael Benson

Professor Emeritus

Disease of ornamental crops

919.515.6498

Selected Publications:

Books and Book Chapters

  • Linderman, R. G., and Benson, D. M., eds. 2014. Compendium of Rhododendron and Azalea Diseases and Pests, Second Edition. APS Press, St. Paul, MN, 144 pp.
  • Jones, R. K. and Benson, D. M. 2001. Diseases of Woody Ornamentals and Trees in Nurseries, APS Press, St. Paul, MN, 482 pp.

Research:

  • Loyd, A. L., Benson, D. M., and Ivors, K. L. 2014. Phytophthora populations in nursery irrigation water in relationship to pathogenicity and infection frequency of Rhododendron and Pieris. Plant Disease 98:1213-1220.
  • Olson, H. A., and Benson, D. M. 2013. Host specificity and variations in aggressiveness of North Carolina isolates of Phytophthora cryptogea and P. drechsleri in greenhouse ornamental plants. Plant Dis. 97:74-80.
  • Olson, H. A., Jeffers, S. N., Ivors, K. L., Steddom, K. C., Williams-Woodward, J. L., Mmbaga, M. T., Benson, D. M., and Hong, C. X. 2013. Diversity and mefenoxam sensitivity of Phytophthora spp. associated with the ornamental horticulture industry in the southeastern United States. Plant Dis. 97:86-92.
  • Frampton J., Isik, F. and Benson, D. M. 2012. Genetic variation in resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi in seedlings of two Turkish Abies species. Tree Genetics & Genomes, doi: 10.1007/s11295-012-0529-0
  • Frampton J., and Benson, D. M. 2012. Seedling resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi in the genus Abies. Annals of Forest Science. doi: 10.1007/s13595-012-0205-4.
  • Benson, D. M., Parker, K. C., Munster, M., and Ivors, K. L. 2011. First report of stem dieback and leaf spot of Leucothoe caused by Cylindrocladium colhounii in North Carolina. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2011-0628-01-BR.
  • Kohl, L. M., Warfield, C. Y., and Benson, D. M. 2010. Population dynamics and dispersal of Aphelenchoides fragariae in nursery-grown lantana. J. Nematology 42:332-341.
  • Olson, H.A., and Benson, D.M. 2011. Characterization of Phytophthora species on floriculture crops in North Carolina. Plant Dis. 95:1013-1020.
  • Olson, H. A., Carbone, I., and Benson, D. M. 2011. Phylogenetic history of Phytophthora cryptogea and P. drechsleri isolates from floriculture crops in North Carolina greenhouses. Phytopathology 101:1373-1384.
  • Richter, B. S., Ivors, K. I., Shi, W., and Benson, D. M. 2011. Cellulase activity as a mechanism for suppression of Phytophthora root rot in mulches. Phytopathology 101:223-230.
  • Richter, B. S., D. M. Benson, and K. L. Ivors, 2011. Microbial profiling of cultural systems for suppression of Phytophthora root rot in Fraser fir. Plant Dis. 95:537-546.
  • Olson, H. A., and Benson, D. M. 2010. First report of crown rot caused by Phytophthora tropicalis on gloxinia in North Carolina. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2010-0708-03-BR.
  • Xu, Z., Gleason, M. L., Mueller, D. S., Esker, P. D., Bradley, C. A., Buck, J. W., Benson, D. M., Dixon, P. M., and Monteiro, J. E. B. A. 2008. Overwintering of Sclerotium rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii in different latitudes of the United States. Plant Dis. 92:719-724.
  • Ivors, K. L., Abad, Z. G., and Benson, D. M. 2008. Evaluating the pathogenicity of Pythium vexans isolates from Fraser fir in North Carolina. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2008-1006-01-RS.
  • Olson, H. A. and Benson, D. M. 2007. Induced systemic resistance and the role of binucleate Rhizoctonia and Trichoderma hamatum 382 in biocontrol of Botrytis blight in geranium. Biological Control 42:233–241.
  • Benson, D. M., Grand, L. F., Vernia, C. S., and Gottwald, T. R. 2006. Temporal and spatial epidemiology of Phytophthora root rot in Fraser fir plantations. Plant Dis. 90:1171-1180.
  • Daughtrey, M. and Benson, D. M. 2005. Principles of plant health management for ornamental plants. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 43:141-169.
  • Hwang, J. and Benson, D. M. 2005. Identification, mefenoxam sensitivity, and compatibility type of Phytophthora species attaching floriculture crops in North Carolina. Plant Dis. 89:185-190.
  • Benson, D. M., Hall, J. L., Moorman, G. W., Daughtrey, M. L., Chase, A. R., Lamour, K. H.  2002. The history and diseases of poinsettia, the Christmas flower. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2002-0212-01-RV.