The Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research Unit is a comprehensive high containment research facility studying foreign and newly emerging plant pathogens and weeds that pose threats to U.S. agriculture and the environment.
Transmission of spinach downy mildew via seed and infested leaf debris
ARS scientist Nina Shiskoff and colleagues showed organic spinach seed can contain spores of the downy mildew pathogen, and those spores initiate disease in newly emerging spinach seedlings. Read more about this research, recently published in Plant Disease here.
Downy mildew disease on sorghum with pathogen oospores visible in infected plant tissue.
ARS scientists in Fort Detrick, MD are investigating the infection cycle of Peronosclerospora spp. causing downy mildew diseases of sorghum, corn, and sugarcane. These pathogens cause significant yield losses on globally important food crops.
Identification of a soybean gene that confers resistance against soybean rust disease
ARS scientist Kerry Pedley and colleagues are conducting research aimed at identifying and characterizing soybean resistance genes that can help control the devastating soybean rust disease. Read more about this research, recently published in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions here.
Dense infestation of the introduced plant common crupina, a noxious rangeland weed that reduces forage for grazing animals.
ARS scientists in Fort Detrick, MD are conducting research aimed at reducing common crupina infestations using biocontrol. Read more about common crupina here
Common crupina infected with the foliar and stem blighting fungal pathogen Ramularia crupinae.
ARS scientists in Fort Detrick, MD are conducting field trials to assess R. crupina as a candidate biological control agent to manage common crupina. Read more about R. crupina here
Boxwood worldwide are threatened by a deadly fungal disease, boxwood blight.
ARS scientists in Fort Detrick, MD study how boxwood blight evolves & monitor for new variants. ARS is also working closely with the floriculture and nursery industry to develop methods for testing, controlling, and mitigating the disease. Watch this video to learn more.
Soybean infected with the causal agent of red leaf blotch, Coniothyrium glycines.
ARS scientist Rachel Koch Bach and colleagues are investigating the genetic diversity of the Select Agent plant pathogen, Coniothyrium glycines. Read more about this research recently published in Phytopathology here.
The U.S. is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of corn in the world.
At FDWSRU, we study foreign diseases that could negatively impact our nation's corn crops if they ever entered the U.S. Recent publications include work with corn downy mildew and anthracnose diseases.
FDWSRU hosted a booth at Frederick Pride Day, June 22, 2024, at Carroll Creek Linear Park in Frederick, MD.
Mission: Providing responsive high-containment research that secures the nation’s food supply, agricultural economy, and environmental health against the threat of invasive foreign plant diseases and weeds.
Vision: We envision U.S. agriculture and our environment made safe from the threat of foreign plant diseases and weeds.
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