Location: Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-22000-323-009-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2023
End Date: Dec 31, 2024
Objective:
The primary purpose of this agreement is to support USDA APHIS Enhanced Pest ID and Technology. The specific objective for this agreement is to gain a comprehensive view of the Mycosphaerellaceae fungal species occurring on plant material screened by Plant Protection and Quarantine PPQ staff at the ports of entry, and delivered to the Mycology National Identification Services staff (USDA APHIS PPQ NIS) in Beltsville, MD. The activities proposed will enhance the ability to characterize unresolved species complexes that contain targeted plant pests in the Mycosphaerellaceae, to support identification needs for surveys and effective pest management/eradication strategies. This will also allow the accurate identification and detection of high-risk fungal pathogens in the Mycosphaerellaceae by APHIS-PPQ prior to their introduction into the U.S.
Approach:
ARS plans to work on the morphological and molecular characterization of Mycosphaerellaceae fungi, including generation of multiple molecular barcodes, digital images of macro- and micromorphology, diagnostic characters, phylogenetic trees, species names and descriptions of new species.
