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<ol><li>Identify and characterize probing activities associated with pathogen acquisition and inoculation with the goal of identifying plant germplasm which prevents or inhibits pathogen transmission.</li>
<li>Identify known and unknown vectors of grass and forb infecting plant viruses and bacteria in the central states.</li>
<li>Identify factors which determine filth fly transmission of human enteric bacteria to leafy greens and fresh vegetables/fruits.</li>
<li>Development of novel methods of intervention to prevent or reduce food contamination by flies.</li></ol>
<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Many plant and animal disease organisms including bacteria, viruses, and other microbes, are transmitted by arthropod vectors (Gray and Banerjee 1999). Vectors provide transportation to new host and habitats and often have intimate and specific relationships with the pathogens they transmit (Nault 1990). This project primarily addresses insect transmission of plant pathogens, but the mechanisms can be very similar to those of vector-animal pathogen systems. This project addresses the mechanisms of pathogen attachment and release from insect tissues. This includes bacterial attachment to fly cuticle and bacterial and viral vector competence of hemipteran vectors. My overall vision for this project is to interrupt transmission of insect-borne pathogens to plants. </p>