How to blend color and texture for ViroMaterial?

[Clayton Rothschild]

ViroMaterials.createMaterials({
  spherematerial: {
    diffuseColor: "##ff0000", // red
    diffuseTexture: require("./assets/checkerboard.png"),

{

The checkerboard is a png with transparency, such that the diffuse color should show through the transparent part.
I would imagine this would work based on the documentation. However the diffuseColor is ignored. Any suggestions appreciated.

[linear]

XR-205 How to blend color and texture for ViroMaterial?