Location: Crop Production and Protection
Project Number: 0500-00102-001-034-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 1, 2024
End Date: May 31, 2025
Objective:
Overall goals are to we propose to:
(1) Develop disease prediction models for corn diseases based on presence of initial inoculum, aerial spore density, and production and environmental factors; and (2) Validate the accuracy of prediction with each disease model.
This will be accomplished through the following objectives:
Objective 1. Establish the association between inoculum intensity, production factors, disease development, and weather in experimental plot trials.
Objective 2. Compare spore trap technologies for detection of pathogen population levels.
Objective 3. Develop primers and protocols for detection of the southern rust and Curvularia leaf spot pathogens.
Objective 4. Disseminate corn disease information and management techniques through various outputs.
Approach:
For Objective 1, efforts will be focused on the following foliar diseases: 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 (GLS, NCLB, SR, CLS, and GER) 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. For Objective 2, pathogen populations detected by each spore trap at each location will be compared. For Objective 3, primers specific for Puccinia polysora (SR) and Cuvularia lunata (CLS) will be designed based on sequence data available in GenBank. Q-PCR protocols will be developed and optimized for use by Cooperator to detect pathogens in sample vials and on slides collected from the spore traps deployed at each location. For Objective 4, data from these trials will 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.
