Crop diseases drew his attention first, inspiring him to turn from forestry to plant pathology under Charles Stakman, a lifelong mentor, at the University of Minnesota.

• 首先吸引他注意力的是农作物病害，这激励他从明尼苏达大学的林业专业转到了农作物病理学。查尔斯斯泰克曼是他的指导老师，也是终身的良师。