Project Number: 5354-21220-010-47
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 30, 2011
End Date: Sep 29, 2016

Objective:
This collaboration will explore methods that have the potential to contribute to the effort to eradicate potato cyst nematode in Idaho and provide alternatives to the use of methyl bromide.

Approach:
We will continue our efforts to identify individual hatching factors using LCMS and hatching assays by fractionation of concentrated extracts. Hatching efficacy of fractions will be evaluated at the Moscow lab at UI. We will determine whether crude root exudate can also be used to induce a suicide hatch and production systems to capable of producing large quantities of highly active hatching factors that could be deployed on a commercial scale. We will evaluate different germplasm to see if some genotypes are particularly rich sources of hatching factors. We will examine ways to increase the activity of root exudate. We will explore ways to increase the efficacy of potential trap crops, concentrating on S. sisymbriifolium, including way to increase its root mass to allow better control in infested fields (ie more root mass, deeper root growth) and confirm that any potential trap crop does not allow reproduction of the Idaho G. pallida population. In order to maximize production of biomass, root mass, and hatching factors in the soil, more must be learned about how to grow these plants for maximum effectiveness. We will evaluate different planting dates, seeding rates and weed control practices under greenhouse and field conditions in eastern Idaho in an attempt to optimize above and below ground biomass production. We also need to know how to kill the green manure and trap crops at the end of the season and manage the potential for these plants to spread and act as weeds. We will evaluate the potential of these crops to produce seed, and assess the most effective ways to control volunteers in succeeding crops.