Location: Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-21220-259-004-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2021
End Date: Jul 31, 2026
Objective:
The overall goal of this agreement is to improve detection of important soilborne plant pathogens and improve the management of disease caused by these pathogens. The first objective is to identify Phytophthora-resistant Abies for use as Christmas trees. The second objective is to identify Rhizoctonia species associated with web blight on conifers. The third objective is to optimize steaming as a mitigation tool for elimination of invasive pests and pathogens at nursery and landscape sites. The fourth objective is to improve management of pre-and post-harvest diseases of bulb and cut flower crops. The Cooperator has access to nursery and landscape sites with these crops that ARS does not have.
Approach:
ARS will develop molecular tools for identification of Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora pathogens of coniferous crops. ARS and the Cooperator will use these tools to jointly develop taxon-specific DNA-based sampling procedures to quantify Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora inoculum levels in soil and on seedlings. The Cooperator will develop improved methods for detection and elimination of invasive pests and improved disease control strategies for confers, bulb and cut flower crops.
