Location: Subtropical Plant Pathology Research
Project Number: 6034-22000-045-034-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2026
End Date: Jun 30, 2030
Objective:
I. Elucidate the epidemiology of the threat posed by Neopestalotiopsis.
II. Improve detection the pathogen.
III. Mitigate the threat posed by the pathogen.
IV. Develop and conduct economic analysis and outreach to overcome the threat.
Approach:
Conduct a survival analysis of Neopestalotiopsis on common materials found in strawberry nurseries to identify critical “weak” points where pathogens are likely introduced into the system; Characterize and quantify Neopestalotiopsis dispersal in wind and rain to assess risks for contamination versus source strength and distance. Determine spatial patterns of disease resulting from dispersal events.
Perform targeted surveys of Neopestalotiopsis in nursery stock; Train AI models to identify and map leaf spot diseases in nursery fields; Develop a viability-qPCR assay to selectively quantify viable Neopestalotiopsis sp. on symptomatic and asymptomatic tissues.
Develop, deploy and evaluate management strategies to mitigate the risks of pathogen introduction in nursery and fruit production fields based on the key principles of plant disease control including avoidance, exclusion, eradication, protection, and resistance, including development of an umbrella decision support system.
Identify strawberry end-producer current practices, barriers to adoption, and willingness-to-purchase of the methods proposed, including the decision support system; Educate growers as well as local cooperative extension educators who regularly work with the growers to transfer the tools.