An official website of the United States government.
Sorghum Ergot. 1) correlate meso and synoptic scale weather events with regional disease incidence, and 2) refine and validate our preliminary ergot risk assessment model <P>
Karnal Bunt. 1) Screen advanced breeding lines for resistance to KB under controlled laboratory conditions using real-time PCR, and 2) determine how tillage affects spread of primary inoculum from a point source. <P>Wheat Streak and High Plains Disease. 1) Quantify the relation between severity of disease, caused by Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), and crop water use efficiency and forage quality in hard red winter wheat, 2) determine if bindweed is a systemic host of HPV and how long the virus is capable of surviving in bindweed after initial infection, 3) determine whether the wheat curl mite can obtain HPV from infected bindweed and transmit the virus to wheat, and 4) determine whether the bindweed mite can obtain HPV from infected bindweed and transmit the virus to wheat.
<P>Soybean Rust. 1) Detect and quantify incoming rust spores with the use of air samplers (spore traps) and real time PCR.
<P>Rhizomania. 1) Determine the etiology of chlorotic spots/blinkers occurring in fields planted to rhizomania resistant cultivars and 2) determine whether BSBMV alters the infection and resistance response of BNYVV resistant cultivars.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Several disease causing plant pathogens have recently entered the USA or existing pathogens have evolved to new strains. Research is needed on the epidemiology and control of these organisms in order to provide producers with the information needed to make intelligent management decisions. Research is needed on the Ecology and epidemiology of these organisms in order to provide producers with the information needed to make intelligent management decisions. The purpose of our project will be to conduct controlled studies that will generate data that will lead to a better understanding of the pathogens and diseases they cause.
<P>
APPROACH: Studies on the pathogens and diseases outlined above will be conducted in naturally infested fields and the greenhouse or laboratories at TAES Amarillo/Bushland. Traditional techniques will be used to study the ecology and epidemiology of the various pathogens, in addition to certain molecular techniques, such as real time PCR, that can be used for detection and quantifcation. In addition to traditional statistical analysis, spatial statistics will be used to identify relationships among pathogens and soil physical and chemical characteristics. Remote sensing procedures will be used for disease detection and quantification and to differentiate between biotic and abiotic stresses.