Selected recent publications
Students and postdocs from the Butler lab are underlined. Dr. Butler’s complete publication list is available on Google Scholar.
2025
Velandia, M., C. Trejo-Pech, D.M. Butler, L. Chen, A.L. Wszelaki, K.L. DeLong, S. Schexnayder, and H.H. Shanto. 2025. Tennessee fruit and vegetable farmers’ willingness to adopt alley cropping systems. HortTechnology (in press, accepted 10 Jan. 2025).
2024
Littrell, J.J., B.H. Ownley, and D.M. Butler. 2024. Unraveling the interplay: Soil biogeochemical factors shaping the efficacy of anaerobic soil disinfestation in suppressing Fusarium root rot of strawberry. Phytopathology 114:1782-1790, https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-23-0323-R (recognized as Editor’s pick manuscript, August 2024 issue).
Pierre, J.F., K.L. Jacobsen, A.L. Wszelaki, D.M. Butler, M. Velandia, T. Woods, T., R. Sideman, J.M. Grossman, T. Coolong, B. Hoskins, A. da Silva, P. Ginakes, M. Kleinhenz, X. Zhao, C. Rivard, and R.E. Rudolph. 2024. Sustaining soil health in high tunnels: A paradigm shift toward soil-centered management. HortTechnology 34:594-603, https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05460-24.
Shrestha, U., B.H. Ownley, J.J. Littrell, J.H. Rice, and D.M. Butler. 2024. Anaerobic soil disinfestation and crop rotation with cover crops enhances management of black root rot in strawberry systems. Scientia Horticulturae 337:113504, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113504.
Shrestha, U., M.E. Dee, J.J. Littrell, J.H. Rice, W. Ouma, B.H. Ownley, and D.M. Butler. 2024. First report of root rot of strawberry caused by Fusarium cugenangense, a member of the F. oxysporum species complex, in Tennessee, USA. Plant Disease 108:2238, https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-24-0062-PDN.
2023
Shrestha, U., M.E. Dee, B.H. Ownley, and D.M. Butler. 2023. First report of strawberry black root rot caused by Globisporangium sylvaticum in Tennessee, USA. Plant Disease 107:2890, https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-23-0007-PDN.
Liu, D., J. Samtani, C. Johnson, X. Zhang, D.M. Butler, and J. Derr. 2023. Brewer’s spent grain with yeast amendment shows potential for anaerobic soil disinfestation of weeds and Pythium irregulare. Agronomy 13:2081, https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082081.
2022
Yerukala, S., D. M. Butler, E.C. Bernard, K.D. Gwinn, P.S. Grewal, and B.H. Ownley. 2022. Colonization efficacy of the endophytic insect-pathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, across the plant kingdom: A meta-analysis. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 41, 241-270, https://doi.org/10.1080/07352689.2022.2109287.
Swilling, K.J., U. Shrestha, B.H. Ownley, K.D. Gwinn, and D.M. Butler. 2022. Volatile fatty acid concentration, soil pH and soil texture during anaerobic soil conditions affect viability of Athelia (Sclerotium) rolfsii sclerotia. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 162, 149-161, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-021-02392-8.
2021
Shrestha, U., Swilling, K.J., and D.M. Butler. 2021. Amendment properties affect crop performance, leaf tissue nitrogen, and soil nitrogen availability following soil treatment by anaerobic soil disinfestation. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5:299, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.694820.
Shrestha, U., B.H. Ownley, A. Bruce, E.N. Rosskopf, and D.M. Butler. 2021. Anaerobic soil disinfestation efficacy against Fusarium oxysporum is affected by soil temperature, and amendment type, rate and C:N ratio. Phytopathology, 111:1380-1392, https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-20-0276-R.
Swilling, K.J., Shrestha, U., Ownley, B.H., Gwinn, K.D., and D.M. Butler. 2021. Mechanisms of anaerobic soil disinfestation: Volatile fatty acids reduce viability of Athelia (Sclerotium) rolfsii sclerotia in acidic soil conditions and have limited effects on endemic Trichoderma spp. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5:441, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.747176.
Yerukala, S., Bernard, E.C., Gwinn, K.D., Butler, D.M., Grewal, P.S., Ownley, B.H. 2021. Endophytic Beauveria bassiana increases galling of ‘Rutgers’ tomato roots with Meloidogyne incognita. Journal of Nematology 53:1-16, https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2021-072.
2020
Shrestha, U., M.E. Dee, S. Piya, B.H. Ownley, and D.M. Butler. 2020. Soil inoculation with Trichoderma asperellum, T. harzianum or Streptomyces griseoviridis prior to anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) does not increase ASD efficacy against Sclerotium rolfsii germination. Applied Soil Ecology, 147:103383, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103383.
Shrestha, U.., R.L. Collins, K.J. Swilling, B.H. Ownley, and D.M. Butler. 2020. Role of substrate decomposability and volatile fatty acids in anaerobic soil disinfestation activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Acta Horticulturae 1270:71-82, https://doi.org/0.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1270.8.
Swilling, K.J., U. Shrestha, C.E. Yoder, M.E. Dee, B.H. Ownley, and D.M. Butler. 2020. First report of wilt and necrosis caused by Diplodia seriata on cowpea in Tennessee, USA. New Disease Reports (British Society of Plant Pathology) 42:12, https://doi.org/10.5197/j.2044-0588.2020.042.012.
Di Gioia, F., J. Hong, M. Ozores-Hampton, X. Zhao, C. Wilson, J. Thomas, Z. Li, C. Pisani, H. Guo, B. Paudel, D.M. Butler, and E.N. Rosskopf. 2020. Anaerobic soil disinfestation: Nutrient cycling and potential environmental impact. Acta Horticulturae 1270:51-62, https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1270.6.
Liu, D., J.B. Samtani, C.S. Johnson, D.M. Butler, and J. Derr. 2020. Weed control assessment of various carbon sources for anaerobic soil disinfestation. International Journal of Fruit Science 20:1005-1018, https://doi.org/10.1080/15538362.2020.1774472.
Rosskopf, E. N., F. Di Gioia, J. Hong, M. Ozores-Hampton, X. Zhao, Z. Black, H. Gao, C. Wilson, J. Thomas, J. Jones, D.M. Butler, et al. 2020. Anaerobic soil disinfestation: Areawide project on obstacles and adoption. Acta Horticulturae 1270:23-36, https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1270.3.
2019
Zheng, M., B.G. Leib, D.M. Butler, W.C. Wright, P.D. Ayers, D.G. Hayes, A. Haghverdi, T. Grant, P. Vanchiasong, and M. Muchoki. 2019. Assessing heat management practices in high tunnels to improve organic production of bell peppers. Scientia Horticulturae, 246: 928-941, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.10.046.
Zheng, M., B.G. Leib, D.M. Butler, W.C. Wright, P.D. Ayers, D.G. Hayes, and A. Haghverdi. 2019. Assessing heat management practices in high tunnels to improve production of romaine lettuce. Agriculture, 9, 203. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9090203.
Corbin, M.D., R.L.G. Nave, G.E. Bates, D.M. Butler and S.A. Hawkins. 2019. Alternatives to conventional nitrogen fertilization on tall fescue and bermudagrass. Agronomy Journal, 111:275-286. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2018.03.0190.
2018
Shennan, C., J. Muramoto, S. Koike, G. Baird, S. Fennimore, J. Samtani, M. Bolda, S. Dara, O. Daugovish, G. Lazarovits, D.M. Butler, E.N. Rosskopf, N. Kokalis-Burelle, K. Klonsky and M. Bolda. 2018. Anaerobic soil disinfestation is a potential alternative to soil fumigation for control of some soil borne pathogens of strawberry production. Plant Pathology, 67:51-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.12721.
Shrestha, U., M.E. Dee, B.H. Ownley, and D.M. Butler. 2018. Anaerobic soil disinfestation reduces germination and affects colonization of Sclerotium rolfsii sclerotia. Phytopathology, 108:342-351. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-17-0152-R.
Shrestha, U., E.N. Rosskopf, and D.M. Butler. 2018. Effect of anaerobic soil disinfestation amendment type and C:N-ratio on yellow nutsedge tuber sprouting, growth and reproduction. Weed Research, 58:379-388. https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12318.
Shrestha, U., K.J. Swilling, B.H. Ownley, and D.M. Butler. 2018. First report of basal drop and white mold on lettuce, broccoli and mustard caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Tennessee, USA. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-17-1025-PDN.
Hill, S.L., D. Verbree, G.E. Bates and D.M. Butler. 2017. Forage cowpea performance under organic management in the southeastern USA as influenced by cultivar and phosphorus fertilizer application. Agronomy Journal, 109:1623-1631. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2016.11.0663.
Zheng, M., B.G. Leib, D.M. Butler, W.C. Wright, P.D. Ayers and D.G. Hayes. 2017. Modeling energy balance and airflow characteristics in a naturally ventilated high tunnel. Transactions of ASABE, 60:1683-1697. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.12080.
Butler, D.M., G.E. Bates and S.E. Eichler Inwood. 2016. Tillage system and cover crop management impacts on soil quality and vegetable crop performance in organically managed production in Tennessee. HortScience 51:1038-1044.
Kokalis-Burelle, N., D.M. Butler, J.C. Hong, M.G. Bausher, T.G. McCollum and E.N. Rosskopf. 2016. Grafting and Paladin™ for nematode and weed management in vegetable production. Journal of Nematology 48:231-240. https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2017-031.
Kokalis-Burelle, N., E.N. Rosskopf, D.M. Butler, S.A. Fennimore and J. Holzinger. 2016. Evaluation of steam and soil solarization for Meloidogyne arenaria control in Florida floriculture crops. Journal of Nematology 48:183-192. https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2017-026.
2016
Shrestha, U., R.M. Augé, and D.M. Butler. 2016. A meta-analysis of the impact of anaerobic soil disinfestation on pest suppression and yield of horticultural crops. Frontiers in Plant Science 7:1254. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.01254.
Shrestha, U., B.H. Ownley and D.M. Butler. 2016. First report of dry root and stem rot of cowpea caused by Fusarium proliferatum in the United States. Plant Disease 100:860. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-15-1103-PDN.
Shrestha, U., B.H. Ownley and D.M. Butler. 2016. First report of stem and root rot of cowpea caused by Fusarium oxysporum in Tennessee. Plant Disease 100:649. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-15-0934-PDN.