My primary research interest has been the control (biological, cultural, and chemical) of soilborne plant pathogens. Major emphasis has been on the development of biological control systems that include combinations of fungal agents with either bacterial agents or low rate fungicides. Integration of biological agents and chemicals should produce a more effective control of pathogens. The elucidation of mechanisms for control of major fungal plant pathogens is another area of interest that may lead to cooperative projects to genetically enhance these mechanisms. Biological control systems are being developed that should be effective for a wide range of crop plants including; vegetables, ornamental nursery crops, bedding plants, turfgrass and cotton.
Other research projects have involved; the cultivation and identification of mushrooms, combining biological and physiological (priming) seed treatments, sustainable agriculture, epidemiology and control of Cercospora blight of asparagus, evaluation of soil solarization to control soilborne diseases, the use of reflective mulches to delay the onset of virus diseases of cucurbits, and the control of ergot diseases of grasses.
Publications and Book Chapters:
Conway, K. E. 2007. Field evaluation of Nimbya alternantherae as a biological control for alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxerioides) Journal of Aquatic plant management 47: (in press).
Conway, K. E. and Blazier, S. R. 2007. Techniques to formulate and biological control agents to bentgrass greens Chapter 17, in CRC Press Handbook of Turfgrass Management and Physiology. M. Pessarakli, editor.
Ningen, S. S., Cole, J. C., Cole, J. T., and Conway, K. E., 2006. Chlorothalomil, trifloxystrobin and mancozeb decrease anthracnose symptoms on three cultivars of wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei. HortTechnology 16: 211-215.
Cole, J. T., Cole, J. C., and Conway, K. E. 2005. Effectiveness of selected fungicides applied with and without surfactants in controlling anthracnose on three cultivars of Euonymus fortunei. J. Appl. Hort. 7:16-19.
Ningen, S. S., Cole, J. C., Smith, M. W, M., Dunn, D. E., and Conway, K. E. 2005. Increased shade intensity and afternoon irrigation decrease anthracnose severity on three Euonymus fortunei cultivars. HortScience 40:111-113.
Lartey, R. T., and Conway, K. E., 2004. Novel considerations in biological control of plant pathogens - Microbial interactions, Chapter 3 in Emerging concepts in plant health management, Lartey, R. T. and Caesar, A,, Editors, Research Signpost, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
Conway, K. E., Gerken, D. A. Sandburg M. A., and Martin, D. L. 2000. Population dynamics of Laetisaria arvalis and Burkholderia cepacia, potential biocontrol agents in soil cores and thatch of creeping bentgrass. The proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 80:39-46.
Conway, K. E., Mereddy, R, Wu, L. Hallgren, S. W. and Wu, Y. 2000. Solid matrix priming improves germination performance of okra seeds. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 80: 39-46.
Keinath, A., Batson, W., jr., Caceres, J., Elliott, M. Summer, D., Brannen, P., Rothrock, C, Huber, D, Benson, D. M., Conway, K. E. Schneider, R., Molsenbocker, C. Cubeta, M., Ownley, B. Canaday, C., Adams, P., Backman, P., and Farjardo, J. 2000. Evaluation of biological and chemical seed treatments to improve stand of snap beans across the southern united States. (Results of Southern Regional project S-241) Crop Protection 19 (7):501-509.
Elliott, M., Des Jardin, E., Batson, W., Jr., Caceres, J., Brannen, P., Howell, C., Benson, M., Conway, K. E., Rothrock, C., Schneider, R. Ownley, B., Canaday, C, Keinath, A., Huber, D., Summer, D., Molsenbacker, C., Newman, M., Pereira, R. 2000. Viability and stability of biological control agents used for disease management of Cotton and snap bean seeds. Pest Management Science 57: 695- 706. (Regional Project S. R. 302)
Professional Society Membership and Service:
The American Phytopathological Society (APS)
Councilor-at-large 1993-1996
Mycology Committee 1979-1982, Chair 1981-1982
Soil Microbiology and Root Disease Comm.1989-1991
Illustrations of plant pathogens and Disease Comm. 1983-1987
Biological Control Comm. 1976-1979 Southern Division APS
Secretary-Treasurer 1983-1986
President 1987-1988
Councilor 1989-1992 Associate Editor Plant Disease 1989- 1992 Mycological Society of America (MSA)
Sustaining Membership Comm. 1980-1986, Chair 1983-1986
Awards Comm. 1983-1986 Great Plains Agricultural Council Forest Pest Management Task Force 1979-1986
Secretary-treasurer 1982- 1984 Oklahoma Academy of Science
President 1988-1990
