Turner B. Sutton

Turner Bond Sutton was born in Windsor, North Carolina. He earned his A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina in 1968 and a master’s degree in 1971 and doctorate in 1973 at North Carolina State University. After postdoctoral training at Michigan State University, he returned to NC State in 1974 as a research associate and joined the faculty as an assistant professor in 1976. He was promoted to associate professor in 1981 and full professor in 1987. Dr. Sutton is a world leader in the management of summer diseases of apples and the development of IPM programs for apples. His approach to solving apple diseases combines the knowledge and thoroughness of a classical plant pathologist with the skills of a modern epidemiologist who is extremely well versed in understanding the options available for integrated cultural and chemical control of a complex of diseases caused by a number of distinct pathogens. Dr. Sutton and his students and colleagues have made significant contributions to our knowledge and management of various summer diseases of apples, including bitter rot, Glomerella leaf spot, bot rot, black rot, Brooks fruit spot, black pox, sooty blotch, and flyspeck. In addition to his research and extension activities, Dr. Sutton has taught his department’s core course in epidemiology and disease control for 16 years and has chaired the advisory committees of 12 Ph.D. and 12 M.S. candidates. Dr. Sutton has actively supported his profession and has served as a senior editor of Plant Disease, an associate editor of Phytopathology, a section editor of Fungicide and Nematicide Tests, and a member of various APS committees.