Robert T. McMillan, Jr.

Title - Professor Emeritus

E-mail - rmcmillan@kb-inc.com

Education

  • Ph.D., 1964­1967: Washington State University, Plant Pathology
  • M.S.,1962­1964: University of Miami, Botany
  • B.S., 1957­1961:University of Miami, Botany

Employment

  • Full Prof., (1994­Present), University of Florida
  • Assoc. Prof (1971­1994), University of Florida
  • Asst. Prof (1967­1971), University of Florida
  • Research Asst.(1964­1967), Washington State University
  • Teaching Asst. (1962­1964), University of Miami

 

Major Accomplishments

Through my research, I have described numerous plant pathogens with control methods, which were devastating the ornamentals, tropical fruit and vegetable crops . I have gained recognition as a leading authority on diseases of tropical fruits and vegetables throughout the tropical world. I have brought recognition to University of Florida, IFAS Extension as the leading Plant Diagnostic Clinic in South Florida. I have patented 2 biological agents which have shown promise for the control of numerous plant pathogens and are currently being evaluated by industry for their commercial use.

Honors and Awards

  • Best Paper for 1965 in Citrus, Florida State Horticultural Society; Best Paper for 1983 in Vegetables Florida State Horticultural Society Outstanding Paper, 1995, In PGRSA Quarterly

Professional Activities

  • Vice President of the Caribbean Div. of the American Phytopathological Soc.; President of the Caribbean Div. of the American Phytopathological Soc.; Dade Co. Fruit Crops Advisory Committee; Board of Directors­Mango Forum
  • Caribbean Division Counsel for Am. Phytopath. Soc.; EBDC RARPAR Committee, Washington, D.C.; Associate Editor­Plant Disease; Chairman of Tropical Plant Pathology Committee APS; Chairman Sclerotinia Conference

International Programs

  • Cooperator in research and extension program sin Bahamas, Ecuador, and Jamaica. (USDA­AID).

Grants and Contracts

  • Has received approximately $1 million in Federal, State and Industry grants between 1969 and 1996. Grants during the last 5 years total S157,698: USDA­CBAG, and Industry.

Graduate Students Trained

  • 6 for career

Post Doctorates

  • 3 for career

Selected Publications in the Last Five Years

Referred

  • Bharathan, N., W.R. Graves, K.R. Narayanan, D.J. Schuster, H.H. Bryan, and R.T. McMIllan, Jr. 1990. Association of double­stranded RNA with whitefiy mediated silvering in squash. Plant Pathology 39:530­538.
  • McMillan, R.T., Jr. and W.R. Graves. 1991. First report of passion fruit brown spot incited by Alternaria passiflorae in Florida. Plant Disease 75:319.
  • Ramos, L.J., S.P. Lara, R.T. McMillan, Jr. and K.R. Narayanan. 1991. Tip dieback of Mango (Mangifera indica) caused by Botryospheria ribis. Plant Disease 75:315­318.
  • Ramos, L.J., K.R. Narayanan, and R.T. McMillan, Jr. 1992. Association of stomatal frequency and morphology in Lycopersicon species with resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria. Plant Pathology 41: 157­164.
  • Bharathan, N., K.R. Narayanan, RT. McMillan, Jr. 1992. Characteristics of sweetpotato whitefly­mediated silverleaf syndrome and associated double­stranded RNA in squash. Phytopathology 82:136­141.
  • Liyanage, H.D., R.T. McMillan, Jr. and H. Corby Kistler 1992. Two genetically distinct populations of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) from citrus. Phytopathology 82: 137-
  • Stavely, J.R and RT. McMillan, Jr. 1992. BAR­Rust resistant bush, fresh market green bean germplasm lines. Hort Science 27: 1052­1054.
  • Liyanage, H.D., R.T. McMillan, Jr. and H. Corby Kistler. 1992. Two genetically distinct populations of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from citrus. Phytopathology 82: 13711378.
  • Liyanage, H.D., W. Koiler, R.T. McMillan, Jr. and H. C. Kistler. 1993. Variation in cutinase from two populations of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from citrus. Phytopathology 83: 113­116.
  • Unander, David W., Herbert H. Bryan, Connie J. Lance, and Robert T. McMillan, Jr. 1993. Cultivation of Phyllanthus amarus and evaluation of variables potentially affecting yield and the inhibition of viral DNA polymerase. Economic Botany 47:79­8.
  • McMillan, RT., Jr. and W.R. Graves. 1993. First report of periwinkle twig blight caused by Colletotrichum dematium in Florida. Plant Disease 77:428.
  • McMillan, R.T., Jr., H. Vande Hei, and W.R. Graves. 1994. First report of web blight caused by Thanatephorus cucumeris on Cupaniopsis anacardiopsis in the United States. Plant Disease 78:317.
  • McMillan, R.T., Jr., and W.R. Graves. 1994. First report of downy mildew of Salvia in Florida. Plant Disease 78:317.
  • McMillan, R.T., Jr., H. Vande Hei and W.R. Graves. 1994. First report of web blight caused by Thanatephorus cucumeris on Sophora tomentosa in the United States. Plant Disease 78:317.
  • Ramos, L.J., N. Bharathan, R.T. McMillan, Jr. and K.R Narayanan 1995. Histopathological changes associated with silverleaf syndrome in squash. Plant Pathology 44:316­324.
  • Unande, D.W., H.H. Bryan, C.J. Lance, and R.T. McMillan, Jr. 1995. Factors affecting germination and stand establishment of Phyllanthus amarus (Euphorbiaceae). Economic Botany 49:49­55.
  • McMillan, RT., Jr., and W.R. Graves 1995. First Report of Cornespora Laf Spot of Thyme in Florida. Plant Disease 79: 1186.
  • Blair, M. W., M. J. Bassett, A. M. Abouzid, E. Hiebert, J. E. Polston, R. T. McMillan, Jr., W. Graves, and M. Lamberts. 1995. Occurrence of Bean Golden Mosaic Virus in Florida. Plant Disease 79:529­533.

Non-referred

  • McMillan, Jr., RT. 1994. An update on the incidence of Postbloom Fruit Drop on 'Tahiti limes in south Florida. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 106:108­110.
  • McMillan, Jr. R.T. 1994. Reoccurrence of Papaya Mosaic Virus in Florida. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 106:146­147.
  • McMillan, R.T., Jr., E. Hiebert and A.M. Abouzid. 1994. Current Status Of Bean Golden Mosaic In Florida. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 107: 172­174.
  • McMillan, Jr. 1994. Epidemiology And Control Of Anthracnose Of Lychee. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 107:345­346.
  • McMillan, R.T., Jr. 1994. Diseases Of Litchi Chinensis In South Florida. Proc. Fla. State Hort Soc. 107:360­362.

Patents

  • UF/S&S­29, entitled '"Novel Fungus and Process for Growth Promotion in Plants;" US. Serial No. 265, 633; November, 1988 Inventors, Robert T. McMillan, Jr., and Komaratchi R. Narayanan The significance of this patent is the fact that this is the first true biological effect on plant growth outside of hormones, regulators and nutrients to stimulate growth. In addition there is preliminary evidence that this organism can transfer genes through a plasmid system. If my research proves this to be true it will be the second such case; the other being the crown gall bacterium (Agrobacterium tumifaciens).
  • UF/S&S­103, entitled "Novel Methods and Compositions for the Control of Fungi and Bacteria, U.S. Serial No. 395,625; August, 1989 Inventors, Komaratchi R. Narayanan, and Robert T. MCMillan, Jr. The significance of this patent lies in the fact that the organisms are being controlled by a protein (proteinase) which has minimal effect on the environment.