Location: Crop Production and Protection
Project Number: 0500-00102-001-030-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 1, 2024
End Date: May 31, 2025
Objective:
A. For corn, the overall project goals are to:
1. Develop disease prediction models based on presence of initial inoculum, aerial spore density and production, and environment.
2. Validate the accuracy of disease prediction for each model.
B. For cotton, The overall project goal is to develop predictive tools about foliar disease outbreak from generated datasets to guide grower decisions.
Approach:
For Corn the project goals are conducted in three objectives: 1) Collect data on inoculum intensity, production factors, disease development and weather in experimental plot trials; 2) Compare spore trap technologies for detection of pathogen population levels; and 3) Disseminate corn disease and management information in various outputs. To achieve objective 1, the Cooperator plans to focus on northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), gray leaf spot (GLS), southern rust (SR), Curvularia leaf spot (CLS), and Gibberella ear rot (GER). Experimental plot trials will be established in corn fields at two or more locations in each state to investigate associations among disease intensity and the following factors: (1) crop residue cover (initial inoculum), (2) planting date, (3) fungicide application at VT/R1, (4) genetic resistance, and (5) airborne inoculum density. In Missouri, crop residue cover and genetic resistance will be tested at one location and fungicide applications with genetic resistance at a second location. Crop residues comparisons will be >80% residue cover compared to <20% residue cover. Fungicide treatments will consist of a foliar fungicide applied at VT/R1 compared to no fungicide. Genetic resistance will include two hybrids with different resistant levels to target diseases. For objective 2, pathogen populations detected by spore traps at each location (2020-2023) will be compared. For objective 3, Data will continue to be shared at field days and workshops. Data on estimated yield losses due to disease will be contributed to the Crop Protection Network for their Disease Loss Calculator. Corn disease management content for national and local websites will be developed.
For Cotton the project goal is conducted in five objectives: 1) Collect weather data for each site; 2) Collect crop information (planting date, planting rate, management data, etc.); 3) Collect foliar disease data - incidence and severity of target spot, leaf spot complex, and areolate/Ramularia mildew; 4) 4. Collect inoculum potential on a weekly to bi-weekly basis using air samplers; and 5) Share collected data for development of a predictive tool for cotton disease management. To achieve these objectives daily weather records, weekly spore trap collections and evaluations of disease progression will follow uniform data collection procedures. Commercial cotton field(s) will be monitored with air samplers using molecular tools to detect and quantify pathogen inoculum as well as visually rating fields for disease symptoms in the 2024 crop season. Diseases that will be rated include but are not limited to: target spot, Areolate/Ramularia mildew, and the foliar leaf spot complex. Crop information such as planting date, planting rate, row spacing, soil type, and other management information will also be recorded. ‘Management Plots’ will also be established with at least 2 varieties. These will be small or strip plots, replicated, with and without fungicide application to be taken to yield. The varieties and treatments will be evaluated similarly for visual disease ratings, monitored with air samplers, weather conditions recorded, and other crop information recorded.
