Location: Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-22000-323-012-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2024
End Date: Aug 1, 2025
Objective:
The primary objective of this agreement is to provide information necessary for the identification of plant pathogens of quarantine significance in the fungal order Pleosporales by characterizing species most frequently intercepted at US ports of entry for plants and plant products. This will allow the accurate identification and detection of high-risk pleosporalean fungal pathogens prior to their introduction into the U.S. and enhance the ability to safeguard U.S. agriculture. The work proposed will provide a comprehensive report on the diversity of fungi belonging to the order Pleosporales associated with plants and plant products.
Approach:
ARS plans to characterize pleosporalean fungi known to be commonly intercepted at ports of entry on various hosts utilizing morphological and molecular data. This includes generation of multiple molecular barcodes, digital images of macro- and micromorphology, documentation of diagnostic characters, phylogenetic trees, description of potential new species names and descriptions of new species. Isolates will be obtained through APHIS National Mycologists, culture collections and fresh collections.
