Dr. Roberts is lead scientist on the Methyl Bromide Replacement Project. The major focus of this project is the integration of microbial biological control agents into multitactic disease management strategies that include cover crops and reduced rates of chemcial pesticides. Dr. Roberts' primary focus on this project is determining how soil environmental conditions and other disease management tactics (such as cover crops, pesticides) impact the performance of these microbial biological agents. Research is also conducted investigating the molecular mechanisms by which bacterial controls agents associate with plant roots and suppress soilborne pathogens. Dr. Roberts participates in the Weed Biological Control Project where he is developing bacterial bioherbicides for weeds and in the Soil Microbiology Project where he is involved with aspects of the project concerning the plant rhizosphere.