Location: Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research
Project Number: 8044-22000-051-042-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 2, 2026
End Date: Aug 14, 2029
Objective:
This project will determine the genetic diversity of Synchytrium endobioticum in the Americas to identify new emerging strains and determine whether existing diagnostic tools can detect genetically diverse pathogens.
Approach:
To better understand the diversity of S. endobioticum in the Americas, samples of diseased potato tubers will be collected by the Cooperator in commercial production areas with lyophilization carried out at Cooperator facilities in Bolivia. Location, cultivar, and management practices will be collected for each sample, and lyophilized material will be shipped to ARS for DNA extraction and genotypic analysis.