A Conversation with Dr. James White: A Look at the Rhizophagy Cycle

How do crops and plants receive nutrition in our agricultural ecosystems? As it turns out, there is an amazing world of microbiology living in symbiotic relationships with our plants called the rhizophagy cycle. In this cycle, microbes are communicating and working in harmony to help sustain all life on the planet. Thanks to the work of Dr. James White and his team who are leading the research into the rhizophagy cycle, we are learning why farmers and ranchers—especially those managing a biological, sustainable, organic, or regenerative soil health system—need to understand how this cycle works. Learn how fertilizers, tillage, and other common agricultural practices can either optimize—or disrupt—this critical system.

James F. White, Jr., is Professor of Plant Pathology. Dr. White obtained the M.S. in Mycology and Plant Pathology from Auburn University, Alabama, and the Ph.D. in Mycology from the University of Texas, Austin in 1987. Dr. White specializes in symbiosis research, particularly endophytic microbes. He is the author of more than 180 articles, and author and editor of reference books on the biology, taxonomy, and phylogeny of fungal endophytes, including Biotechnology of Acremonium Endophytes of Grasses (1994), Microbial Endophytes (2000), The Clavicipitalean Fungi (2004), The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem (2005), and Defensive Mutualism in Microbial Symbiosis (2009). He and students in his lab are exploring diversity of endophytic microbes and the various impacts that they have on host plants.