Project Number: 5305-22000-014-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Nov 19, 2012
End Date: Dec 31, 2013

Objective:
The overall objective of this project is to develop diagnostic tools for detection, quantification, and identification of plant pathogens currently controlled by chemicals including methyl bromide and to develop technically and economically feasible alternatives to chemical control for high value crops, such as strawberries and vegetables. Objective 1: Optimize delivery and evaluate performance of cultural and biological control, management practices, and genetic alternatives for management of pathogens currently mediated by soil fumigation. Objective 2: Develop rapid and accurate molecular diagnostic tools for the identification of emerging diseases of vegetables and strawberries, and use these tools in the development of management strategies as alternatives to methyl bromide.

Approach:
Develop integrated management approaches including crop rotation, biological control, selection of disease resistant varities, organic production, other biological practices, and combinations of biological practices with reduced concentrations of chemical fumigants to control diseases. Identifying useful commercial biological agents as well as new agents from the strawberry rhizosphere that will help to improve plant growth and disease management. Molecular tools will be developed for evaluation of the efficacy of pathogen management and modeling population dynamics of beneficial microbes.