Research focus

H. A. Melouk’s research for the last 32 years has focused on studying peanut‑pathogen interactions, disease epidemiology, disease resistance, and development of disease‑resistant germplasm and cultivars.  We have developed laboratory, greenhouse, and field procedures for identifying resistance in peanut germplasm to several pathogens including early leaf spot fungus , peanut mottle virus, and Sclerotinia blight fungus.  As a result of our research, improved criteria were developed to identify peanut genotypes with disease resistance for inclusion in breeding programs.  In cooperation with scientists at Texas A&M and Oklahoma State Universities, seven Sclerotinia-resistant peanut cultivars (Tamspan 90, Southwest Runner, Tamrun 98, Tamrun OL 01, Olin, Tamrun OL 02, and Tamrun OL 07) were released to peanut growers in the Southwest