Location: Corn, Soybean and Wheat Quality Research
Project Number: 5082-22000-002-019-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 15, 2026
End Date: Aug 14, 2027
Objective:
To understand the epidemiology of corn stunt disease through insect vector trapping, sample collection, and diagnostics
Approach:
Insect trapping will be performed across several sites in Texas to understand the seasonal movement and feeding hosts of the vector. Insect specimens will be identified to the species level and subjected to molecular testing for the corn stunt pathogens as well as sequencing of plant DNA in the insects’ guts to determine plant hosts on which they have fed. Infected plant samples may also be collected and subjected to molecular diagnostics and/or sequencing.