Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research
Project Number: 2038-22000-019-056-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2024
End Date: Mar 31, 2025
Objective:
The objectives are to 1) Examine the diurnal changes in the dispersal of Peronospora effusa, 2) Conduct biopesticide testing in pre-inoculated field experiments, and 3) Finish testing of a nitrogen dioxide seed treatment to reduce downy mildew and Verticillium in seeds.
Approach:
The biopesticide treatments will be applied to spinach plants in the field 24 and 2 hr prior to inoculation with the downy mildew pathogen in a field plot. We have obtained permission to do small scale field inoculations. Multiplex quantitative DNA polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) approach will be used to determine quantities of P. effusa and B. lactucae from spore trap (airborne) samples collected near a spinach field plot at 12-hour intervals corresponding to morning (12 AM – 12 PM) and night hours (12 PM – 12 AM). Nitrogen dioxide will be applied in sealed chambers to spinach seeds and evaluated for viable P. effusa or Verticillium dahliae.
