Skip to main content
Think and Do The Extraordinary
Support the Unit

Jim Kerns

Professor and Extension Specialist of Turfgrass Pathology, University Faculty Scholar

Departmental Extension Leader

Etiology, epidemiology, and management of warm- and cool-season grass diseases

Turfgrass Pathology Lab

VRB 1108 (office) 1004 (Lab) 1008 (Turf Diagnostics Lab)

919.513.4820

https://turfpathology.ces.ncsu.edu/

Jim Kerns is a Professor and Extension Specialist of Turfgrass Pathology. Currently Jim is also serving as Department Extension Leader in Entomology and Plant Pathology. Jim is originally from Wheaton, IL, but his family moved to NC when he was in high school. He graduated from NC State in 2002 with a BS in Agronomy and moved to Texas A&M for a MS of Soil and Crop Sciences. He came back to NC State in 2004 to work with Dr. Lane Tredway in the Department of Plant Pathology. He completed his Ph.D. in 2008 and started as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in June of 2008. Jim was recruited back to NC State in 2012. The mission of the turfgrass pathology program at NC State is to provide disease management recommendations to turfgrass managers that are based on research. Jim loves to spend time with his family, play golf and in general have a good time!

Jim focuses on etiology, epidemiology and management of diseases of both warm- and cool-season grasses. His research program focuses on understanding the biology of ultradwarf bermudagrass diseases, large patch of zoysiagrass, plant parasitic nematodes in turf and diseases of creeping bentgrass. The mission of the program is to provide efficacious and cost-effective management strategies to turfgrass managers in NC and beyond. His program also houses the Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab, which is managed by Lee Butler.

Experience:

Present: Professor and Extension Specialist, NC State University, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

2016-2021: Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, NC State University, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

2012-2016: Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, NC State University, Department of Plant Pathology

2008-2012: Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jim focuses on etiology, epidemiology and management of diseases of both warm- and cool-season grasses. His research program focuses on understanding the biology of ultradwarf bermudagrass diseases, large patch of zoysiagrass, plant parasitic nematodes in turf and diseases of creeping bentgrass. The mission of the program is to provide efficacious and cost effective management strategies to turfgrass managers in NC and beyond. His program also houses the Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab, which is managed by Lee Butler.

Selected Publications:

  • Stephens, C., Ahmed, K., Gannon, T.W., and Kerns, J.P. 2021. Influence of post-application irrigation and mowing timing on fungicide fate on a USGA golf course putting green. Journal of Environmental Quality.
  • Hutchens, W.J., Henderson, C.A., Bush, E.A., Kerns, J.P., and McCall, D.S. 2021. Geographic distribution of Ophiosphaerella species in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Plant Health Progress. Accepted with revision.
  • Reeves, E.R., Kerns, J.P., and Shew, B.B. 2021. Pythium associated with root rot and stunting of winter crops in North Carolina. Plant Disease. Accepted.
  • Galle, G.H., Shew, H.D., Opperman, C., and J.P. Kerns, 2021. Population dynamics of Belonolaimus longicaudatus and Meloidogyne in North Carolina. Journal of Nematology. Accepted.
  • E.R., Kerns, J.P., Cowger, C., and Shew, B.B. 2021. Pythium spp. associated with stunting and root rot of winter wheat in North Carolina. Plant Disease. Accepted.
  • Dant, L., Martin, S.B., Kerns, J.P., and L. McCarty. 2021. Nitrogen Source Impacts Rhizoctonia Leaf and Sheath Spot Severity in Ultradwarf Bermudagrass. International Turfgrass Research Journal. In Press.
  • Carroll, D.E., J.T. Brosnan, E.H. Reasor, J.P. Kerns, C. Stephens, B.J. Horvath, and K.H. Dickson. 2021. Effects of Growing Degree Day Based Trinexapac-Ethyl Applications on Ultradwarf Hybrid Bermudagrass Putting Green Quality and Ball Roll. Crop Science. In Press
  • Rioux, R., C. Stephens, P.L. Koch, and J.P. Kerns. 2021. Symptom development, histological examination, and whole plant oxalate quantification identify model plants with potential for studying Clarireedia jacksonii– host interactions. Plant Pathol J. In Press.
  • Hampy, H., VanRyzin, B., E.L. Butler, and J.P. Kerns. 2021. Etiology and Management of Pythium Root Rot. International Turfgrass Research Journal. In Press.
  • D’Arcangelo, K.N., Adams, M.L., Kerns, J.P., and Quesada-Ocampo, L.M., 2020. Assessment of fungicide product applications and program approaches for control of downy mildew on pickling cucumber in North Carolina. Crop Protection. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105412.
  • Tredway, L.P., Soika, M.D., Butler, E.L., and Kerns, J.P. 2021. Impact of Nitrogen Source, Fall Fertilizers, Preventative Fungicides on Spring Dead Spot Caused by Ophiosphaerella korrae and herpotricha. Crop Science. In Press.
  • Crouch, J., Beirn, L.A., Boehm, M.J., Carbone, I., Clarke, B.B., Kerns, J.P., Malapi-Wright, M., Mitchell, T.K., Venu, R.C., and Tredway, L.P. 2020. Genome resources for seven fungal isolates that cause dollar spot disease in turfgrass, including Clarireedia jacksonii and monteithiana. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-20-1296-A
  • Lookabaugh, E.C., J.P. Kerns, and B. Shew. 2021. Evaluating selections to manage Pythium root rot on poinsettia cultivars with varying levels of partial resistance. Plant Disease. In Press
  • Rioux, R., Townsend, R., J.P. Kerns, C. Stephens, and P.L. Koch. 2020. Oxalic acid production in Clarireedia jacksonii is dictated by pH and host specific signals. Frontiers in Microbiology. DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.01732.
  • Hutchens, W.J., Gannon, T.W., Shew, H.D., Ahmed, K.A., and Kerns, J.P. 2020. Soil surfactants influence fungicide movement in US Golf Association putting green soil. Journal of Environmental Quality. 49: 450-459.
  • Stephens, C and Kerns, J.P. 2020. First report of Gaeumannomyces graminicola causing bermudagrass decline of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens in North Carolina. Plant Disease: doi:10.1094/PDIS-10-19-2147-PDN.
  • Butler, E.L, Galle, G.H., and Kerns, J.P. 2019. Influence of nitrogen rate and timing, fungicide application method, and simulated rainfall after fungicide application on brown patch severity in tall fescue. Crop, Forage and Turfgrass Management. Doi:10.2134/cftm2019.03.0018.
  • Hutchens, W.J., Gannon, T.W., Shew, H.D., and Kerns, J.P. 2019. Effect of post-application irrigation on fungicide movement and efficacy against Magnaporthiopsis poae. Crop Protection. 122: 106-111.

Publications

View on Google Scholar

CV

View Curriculum Vitae

Education

BS, Agronomy, North Carolina State University (2002)
MS, Soil and Crop Science, Texas A&M University (2004)
Ph.D, Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University (2008)