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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Geneva, New York » Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) » Research » Research Project #445654

Research Project: Evaluation and Breeding of Diverse Hemp Germplasm for Disease Resistance

Location: Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU)

Project Number: 8060-21000-034-030-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jan 1, 2024
End Date: Aug 31, 2024

Objective:
University of Kentucky investigators will evaluate diverse hemp germplasm for resistance to Fusarium head blight in the field.

Approach:
Each year, one-hundred diverse, regulatory compliant hemp accessions will be planted as seedlings in greenhouses in Lexington, KY. Three replicates of at least 5-plant plots will be transplanted in a randomized complete block design in the field at Lexington, KY. The plants will have 2-meter center-row spacing, and there will be one meter between plants in each row. Fusarium inoculum will be applied to plants. After inoculation, plots will be evaluated every 7 to 10 days for disease severity. Disease evaluation data will be summarized, published, and made available on the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).