Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Minutes

2016 Meeting of the Multistate Project W3147

December 2, 2016 

Mission Inn,

Riverside, CA

James Borneman, Chair & local arrangements

Antoon Ploeg, Secretary

Members in attendance:

Ole Becker (CA), James Borneman (CA), Emma Gachomo (CA), Jianjun Hao (ME), Laura Lavine (WA), Tim Paulitz (WA), Antoon Ploeg (CA), Gary Yuen (NE). 

The meeting started at 8:30 AM with the chair’s welcome and self-introduction of attendees. 

The minutes from the 2015 meeting were approved. 

Antoon Ploeg volunteered to be the secretary for this meeting. 

Laura Lavine provided information on the reporting requirements and web-based resources on how to write impact statements. 

It was noted that our project is in year 3, and that a new proposal is probably due around February 2018. 

December 1, 2017 was selected as the data for the next meeting. Location: Mission Inn, Riverside, CA. Possibility to participate through skype/zoom will be investigated from those who cannot attend the meeting in person. 

Progress reports:

Jianjun Hao reported on Oomycete diseases, particularly pink-rot, in potato. 

Ole Becker reported on nematode issues in CA carrot production. 

Antoon Ploeg reported on root-knot nematode studies in sweetpotato and tomato. 

Gary Yuen reported on biocontrol potential of Fusarium diseases in Nebraska

Tim Paulitz presented progress of several studies particularly those related to Rhizoctonia disease in Washington state. 

James Borneman provided information on the APS journal “Phytobiomes” and reported on studies related to soil suppressiveness of sugarbeet cyst nematodes. Before adjourning the meeting, the members thanked James Borneman for an outstanding job in handling the local arrangements. 

Submitted: Antoon Ploeg.

Objective 1 To identify and characterize new biological agents, naturally suppressive soils, cultural practices, and organic amendments that provide management of diseases caused by soilborne plant pathogens.

CA- One of the long-term goals of my research programs is to develop more sustainable strategies to manage soil-borne plant pathogens.  To accomplish this, we are endeavoring to understand soils that naturally inhibit plant pests and disease, termed suppressive soils. Key steps in realizing the potential of these soils are to identify the causal organisms and then understand the agronomic and environmental factors that enable them to function.  Armed with such knowledge, it should be possible to develop effective and sustainable pest management strategies through the application of the organisms and through agronomic practices that influence their populations.  To date, we have identified several fungi involved in suppressing sugarbeet cysts nematodes (Dactylella oviparasitica and Fusarium oxysporum) and root-knot nematodes (Pochonia chlamydosporium and a Tetracladium sp.).  We have also identified new Dactylella oviparasitica phylotypes, which suggests that these fungi may represent a large group of potentially effective biological control agents, and which can be found worldwide.  In addition, we have determined that soils with no detectable Dactylella populations can harbor this fungus, and which can dramatically increase during one host cropping cycle.  This is a key finding, suggesting that standard methods for screen soils for putatively protective microorganisms will not work.  We have also presented a new approach and supporting data for using Dactylella population densities in planting decisions models.

CA-Another long-term goal is to develop new methods that enable a greater understanding of the roles microorganisms play in processes such as nematode and replant disease.  In prior research, we developed several molecular and computational methods that should facilitate a greater understanding of these phenomena.  We are continuing these efforts by developing a high-throughput method for microbial community analyses, a software package for designing PCR primers and probes, and a statistical method for classifying soils (or other entities).

CA- Dactylella oviparasitica (syn. Brachyphoris oviparasitica) is the primary causal agent of a long-term Heterodera schachtii population suppression at a research field site at the University of California Riverside Agricultural Operations. A survey of 80 sugar beet fields in the Imperial Valley, CA, detected the fungus in two-thirds of the samples. We have shown in a greenhouse test that samples with a high detection level of D. oviparasitica exhibited H. schachtii population suppression while samples with no or low signal level were conducive to high nematode reproduction.

MS- Over the past year we have shown that benign microbes isolated from rice rhizosphere increase plant fitness and protection against pathogenic fungus.  In addition, we also showed that supplementation by benign microbes induce resistance in plants against abiotic stress such as Arsenic toxicity. Our efforts also showed how plats respond to mixed stress regime when supplemented with benign microbes. In addition, our work also led to characterization of a classical PGPR Bacillus subtilis UD1022 for chemotaxis in plants under aerial pathogen response

NE- Field experiments were conducted in 3 Nebraska locations to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial soybean seed treatments with biological agents, for control of Heterodera glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). The seed treatments included strains of the bacterial species Bacillus firmus and Pasteuria nishizawae combined with commercial fungicides and insecticides, and these were compared with standard seed treatment chemicals alone. Neither of the biological agents decreased SCN reproduction or increased soybean seed yield in comparison to commercial seed treatments with chemicals alone. The results indicate that, under Nebraska conditions, the biological products provide no additional benefits as to of SCN control or yield beyond those already conferred by SCN-resistant soybean varieties and standard chemical seed treatments. This information is important to Nebraska soybean growers in deciding pre-plant management procedures. The bacterial strains tested in these experiments represent the latest commercially-available biocontrol agents for nematode control; the lack of SCN control shown in these experiments point to the need for greater search for and development of new and more effective biological control agents.

NE- Nebraska isolates in the bacterial species Burkholderia ambifara were found to be aggressive antagonists against Fusarium spp. in plate inhibition tests, and were effective in greenhouse pot tests in reducing the severity of Fusarium root rot in corn, wheat and soybean compared the no-bacteria control. The bacterial strains were particularly effective when applied to corn, providing over 85% reduction in root rot severity. Differences were found in greenhouse experiments among strains of bacilli (bacteria classified in Bacillus and related genera) as to the ability to stimulate corn growth in the absence of plant pathogens; no connection was apparent between the ability to promote growth and any particular physiological trait (i.e., phosphate solubilization; production of biosurfactants, siderophores, proteases, and auxins). Identification of new bacterial strains with the ability to suppress root rot or the ability to promote plant growth enhance provides new organisms for further study and development toward the creation of commercially effective biocontrol products. Burkholderia ambifara, effective in root rot biocontrol, and some species of the plant growth promoting bacilli (Bacillus safensis, Paenibacillus graminis, and Paenibacillus cineris) have not been reported previously to have these attributes. Their discovery broadens the diversity of organisms from which effective biocontrol products might be developed.

NJ- In this period of funding we progressed in three areas related to our project as follows: 1) identification of bacterial endophytes (Pseudomonas spp.) that may be applied to grasses (tested on tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and annual bluegrass) to promote growth of the grass crops and suppress soil borne fungi and seedlings of broadleaf weeds (patent application made); 2) identification of antifungal lipopeptides in Bacillus endophytes and evaluation of their effects on disease incidence in grasses (article currently being drafted); 3) elucidation of a mechanism (‘the rhizophagy cycle’) for endophyte-enhanced nutrient acquisition by grasses through cyclic movement of microbes from rhizosphere to the internal (intracellular) colonization of plant roots and their oxidative degradation (rhizophagy) within internal tissues of roots.  We also made progress in evaluating application of microbes to cultivate cotton. This is particularly important in cotton because cotton seeds are routinely treated with acid to remove fibers.  This treatment leaves seeds free of its defensive microbiome. This research is focused on restoring the defensive microbiome to cotton seeds. Products of this research include a patent (U.S. patent pending no. PCT/US16/43408. (Rutgers University Filed July 21, 2016). “Compositions and Methods Comprising Endophytic Bacterium for Application to Grasses to Increase Plant Growth, Suppress Soil Borne Fungal Diseases, and Reduce Vigor of Weedy Competitors”; Inventors: White JF, Kowalski K, Kingsley K.). Several of our bacterial endophyte strains were licensed by the agricultural company Indigo Agriculture for further testing and potential application in grasses

NM- A field study was conducted on a chile producer's farm near Las Cruces, NM, to compare the efficacy of mycorrhizal chile seed treatment and in-furrow application of fungicides for control of Phytophthora blight. The experiment was conducted on a commercial chile farm at Biad Chili Co. Seeds of chile (cultivar Queen B) were planted on March 29, 2016 under four treatments: 1) Grower standard; seeds not treated, but planted with in-furrow application of fungicides (Quadris and Ridomil) and an insecticide (Platinum); 2) seeds not treated, but planted with in-furrow application of fungicides (Quadris and Ridomil), insecticide (Platinum), and mycorrhizal product EndoMaxx (3.7 g/acre) which contains four species of Glomus; 3) seeds treated with EndoMaxx (4 g/acre), and planted with in-furrow application of fungicides (Quadris and Ridomil), and insecticide (Platinum); and 4) seeds treated with EndoMaxx (4 g/acre), and planted with in-furrow application of fungicides (Quadris and Ridomil), an insecticide (Platinum), and EndoMaxx (4.5 g/acre). Stand count was similar across all treatments. With regard to wilt disease incidence, three sections were clearly visible within the field. Disease incidence was consistently low in the section on light texture-soil as opposed to sections on medium and heavy texture-soils. However, there was no statistically significant difference among treatment within each section based on the area under disease control. Results suggest that seed treatment alone with mycorrhizae or fungicides or mycorrhizae in combination with fungicides is not adequate to provide season-long reduction of Phytophthora blight.

NY- Change in a Phytophthora capsici population over time. To identify control strategies, it is important to know how a pathogen population in a field is changing over time.  Sexual, endemic populations of the heterothallic Phytophthora capsici continue to devastate vegetable crops in the northeast. In many instances, flooding events introduced P. capsici into fields with no prior history of the pathogen. Common occurrence of both A1 and A2 mating types results in production of oospores, and consequently persistent, overwintering populations. Further, prior research in our lab provides evidence for localized populations, with little to no gene flow between fields in the northeast. To understand the dynamics of these isolated, sexual populations of P. capsici, a restricted access research farm in Geneva, NY, with no prior history of P. capsici, was inoculated in 2008 with two isolates of opposite mating type. Preliminary results from those isolates was reported on last year, and since then a major finding is that the founding F1 oospores were recovered for three years following initial inoculation, but not since that time.  We are currently analyzing data from recent collections to determine how the pathogen evolves over time. Once a field is infested with both mating types of P. capsici, it is currently unfeasible to eradicate the pathogen. Thus, it is essential to understand both the founding and long-term trajectories of P. capsici populations to improve management strategies.

NY- Further exploring the population structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in temperate production areas, such as New York. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum populations from tropical agricultural zones have been suggested to be more variable compared to those from temperate zones. However, no data are available comparing populations from both zones using the same set of markers. In this study, we compared S. sclerotiorum populations from the United States of America (USA, temperate) and southeast Brazil (tropical) using the frequency of mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) and 13 microsatellite (SSR) markers. Populations were sourced from diseased plants within leguminous crops in New York, USA (NY; n = 78 isolates), and Minas Gerais State, Brazil (MG; n = 109). Twenty MCGs were identified in NY and 14 were previously reported in MG. Different alleles segregated in the populations but both had similar levels of genotypic variability. 

WA- Does glyphosate have short and long-term impacts on beneficial soil microbes? Wheat growers in the Pacific Northwest are concerned about the long-term use of the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup) in no-till over the last 40 years. Can this compound shift or impact microbial communities in the soil that have beneficial effects, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi?  ARS and WSU scientists at Pullman, WA have initiated a series of long-term greenhouse experiments with field soils with long-term histories of glyphosate application or no previous application. They used next-generation sequencing to describe how soil microbial communities are impacted by glyphosate application. They found that glyphosate had no significant impact on bacterial communities, and that cropping system and farm location had much larger effects. When using high resolution techniques at the OTU level, out of the 4-8 thousand OTUs identified, less than 100 showed significant effects of glyphosate, and most of these were actually increased in abundance by glyphosate, copiotrophs that were favored by dying roots. More taxa from fields with a long history of glyphosate use were affected by glyphosate applications, compared to fields with no history of glyphosate use. This information is critical for growers who want to keep this important tool for no-till wheat cropping systems.  In similar studies conducted in orchard soils by ARS and WSU scientists in Wenatchee and Pullman, multi-year glyphosate applications at 2X rates using a commercial spray program in commercial orchards demonstrated no impact on composition of bacterial or fungal communities resident to rhizosphere or bulk orchard soils.

WA- No-till impacts communities of fungi. No-till is being adopted by more wheat growers in the Pacific Northwest as a way to reduce soil erosion and fuel costs. However, cessation of tillage may increase some soilborne pathogens such as Rhizoctonia. Microbial communities are also shifted, and may help to suppress these diseases. ARS and WSU scientists used Illumina MiSeq to compare fungal communities in long-term no-till and conventionally-tilled plots over 3 years.  Genera such as Trichocladium and Cryptococcus were more abundant in no-till, while Cladosporium, Ulocladium and Glarea were more abundant in conventional tillage. Microbial communities are impacted by cultural practices, and by their interactions with pathogens, may suppress soilborne diseases.

WA- Biosolids can shift fungal communities in soil. Biosolids are processed sewage sludge that are being applied to dryland wheat fields as a source of nitrogen.  However, it is unclear what impact these may have on soil microbial communities, and whether fungi from the human gut can persist in these biosolids.  ARS scientists at Pullman, WA, used next-generation sequencing of soil and dust samples from field-applied biosolids. They found biosolids applied to the soil significantly shifted the fungal communities both in the soil and dust, probably a result of soil fungi using the biosolids as a food source.  However, they found no evidence of any human-gut associated fungi in the samples. This information is important for assessing the safety of biosolids, especially in dust that can blow off the fields and be transported for hundreds of miles.

WA- Onions are dependent on arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for uptake of P. However, soils are often fumigated before planting onion crops in the Columbia Basin, which may eliminate this beneficial symbiosis. However, a survey indicated that AMF are similarly present in organic and conventional onion bulb crops. Next-generation sequencing was used to identify AMF taxa in both systems.  Diversity was not significantly different between the two systems, but the community composition was different. Claroideoglomus lamellosum, Glomus mossae and Glomus Whitfield type were the most dominant. C. lamellosum is decreased by fumigation, along with Glomus Whitfield type, but G. mossae was increased.  In terms of organic vs conventional Glomus Mo 17 seems to be decreased in organic, but G. Whitfield type was increased in organic.

WA-ARS scientists at Wenatchee WA demonstrated that anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) employing orchard grass as the carbon input provided soil-borne disease control and improved growth of apple rootstocks in a replant nursery setting to a level equivalent or superior to pre-plant soil fumigation. The degree of growth promotion and disease suppression in response to application of ASD was influenced by rootstock genotype. 

WA-With colleagues at Univ. California-Santa Cruz and the California Strawberry Commission, ARS scientists at Wenatchee WA demonstrated in preliminary field trials that mustard seed meal soil amendment in conjunction with reduced rate chloropicrin fumigation (1/2 rate) was as effective as full rate chloropicrin soil fumigation in promoting growth and yield of strawberry on a site where Fusarium wilt was the dominant yield limiting factor. 

Objective 2 To understand how microbial populations and their gene expression are regulated by the biological (plants and microbes) and physical environment and how microbes influence disease.

ME- Studies signaling molecules that regulate the zoosporic germination and infection of Phytophthora erythroseptica. This will help us to understand how the pathogen behave in the natural environment and how we can manipulate based on the chemistry. Potential application will be to apply homologous compound to change the pathogen germination time in order to avoid plant infection.

MS- We characterized the genome sequence of the classical PGPR Bacillus subtilis UD1022. We also showed that application of UD1022 leads to minimal ingression by food-borne pathogens in leafy green species.

WA- We are investigating how temperature and water potential affect the growth and reproduction of Rhizoctonia and Fusarium, two pathogens causing root and crown rot of wheat. Fusarium culmorum and F. pseudograminearum are capable of growth at -7 mPa, while Rhizoctonia solani AG-8 was restricted beyond -1 mPa.  At optimal temperatures of 20-25 C, macroconidia of both Fusarium species was capable of germination even at -9 MPa. For both Fusarium species, growth and germination were higher at -1 and -2 MPa, compared to 0 MPa, indicating a stimulation in growth under higher conditions. Cubic and quadratic models were fit to look at the interactions between temperature and moisture.   This information is needed to model distribution of these pathogens under future climate change scenarios.

Objective 3. Implement sustainable management strategies for soilborne pathogens that are compatible and integrated with good soil health practices.

CA- The Pacific shoot-gall nematode (Anguina pacificae) causes considerable damage on putting greens with annual bluegrass (Poa annua) along the Northern California coast. After the withdrawal of Nemacur (a.i. fenamiphos), a botanical Neem product has become the current standard to mitigate the disease albeit at a high application rate and frequency. During 2015-16 we conducted several trials on A. pacificae-infested golf courses along the Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Mateo coast to evaluated Indemnify (a.i. fluopyram) at various rates and application intervals in comparison to biweekly Neemix 4.5 (a.i. azadirachtin) application. One to two applications of Indemnify typically improved turf quality within 4 weeks compared to the non-treated control. It provided season-long protection against P. annua shoot-gall disease. Neemix 4.5 did not reduce A. pacificae population nor did it improve the turf quality.

ME- Studied the effect of crop rotation on pink rot of potato. This is the third year of the project. Under rotations with different crops, plant yield and disease severity were measured. Soil was further analyzed on microbial communities that associate with soil health. By reaching out to potato growers, this information has been distributed to help them have better cultural practices. A Master’s thesis has been submitted on this project. The information was presented on American Phytopathological Society Northeastern Division Annual Meeting, growers field days, and extension meetings.

MS- The classical PGPR Bacillus subtilis UD1022 (Ref: 6) is now being licensed by the commercial company for seed applications.

NE- Repeated greenhouse experiments were completed to evaluate the degree to which a strain of Lysobacter enzymogenes (C3), a biological control bacterium used against soilborne fungal pathogens and nematodes, can multiply in the rhizospheres of various economic crops (corn, wheat and soybean) and cover crops commonly planted in the Midwest. Strain C3 was found to multiply in the roots systems of certain plant species following seed treatment with the bacterium, with highest populations of the bacterium being detected in the roots of cereal rye, and significantly lower populations in the roots of other plants, e.g. wheat. The finding that root colonization by Lysobacter enzymogenes is plant species dependent indicates that the microbe-plant interaction needs to be considered in order to develop an effective biological control product. The effectiveness of the bacterium in multiplying in the root system of cereal suggests that the bacterium can be delivered to cereal rye via seed treatment and that the plant’s root system subsequently serves as an environment for growth of the bacterium.

OR- Parke’s group conducted research on the sustainable management strategy of soil solarization to disinfest raised beds of plant pathogens and weeds. Field trials were conducted in three nurseries in 2016: a forest tree seedling nursery in Mima, WA, a horticultural nursery in Yamhill, OR, and a horticultural nursery in Boring, OR. Populations of soilborne pathogens Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium spp., and Agrobacterium spp. were monitored, along with weed emergence, soil temperature, and volumetric soil moisture.

OR-Parke’s group used the Illumina MiSeq to investigate Oomycete communities in nursery irrigation systems in OR, CA, and SC based on direct DNA extraction from water filters and compared results with rhododendron leaf baiting. Baits detected a subset of plant pathogenic Phytophthora species whereas Illumina MiSeq detected plant pathogens as well as saprophytic species. Direct extraction from water filters was more sensitive at detecting low inoculum levels than was baiting.

OR- Widespread mortality observed in horticultural nurseries in container-grown conifers prompted Parke’s lab to conduct Koch’s Postulates to demonstrate that Juniperus communis is a host for Phytophthora lateralis. Nursery isolates were found to be the North American genotype and no evidence for mefanoxem resistance was detected.

WA- Resistance to cereal cyst nematode found in adapted wheat lines.  Cyst nematodes are among several types of plant-parasitic nematodes that reduce yields in Pacific Northwest dryland wheat fields, accounting for about $51 million in annual losses. There is presently no chemical controls or resistant varieties to control this pathogen. ARS scientists at Pullman, Washington screened advanced lines in the greenhouse and field plots. They have identified a number of resistant varieties, including SY Steelhead, Svevo, ARS Crescent and ARS Selbu, the latter three developed by our Unit. These can be immediately used by growers to manage this disease.  In addition, discovery of this resistance will aid breeders in more quickly developing further varieties, without having to breed out undesirable characters present in poorly adapted germplasm.

WA- 7^th Spinach Fusarium Wilt Soil Bioassay: In the winter of 2015-16, soil samples from >30 fields in northwestern Washington were assayed for the level of risk of Fusarium wilt for spinach seed crops to be planted in 2016. To date, >240 fields have been tested for relative risk of this disease because of the highly conducive nature of acid soils in this region to Fusarium wilt, which can cause complete losses of spinach seed crops planted with susceptible parent line(s), even following 15 + years of rotation out of spinach.

Objective 4. Provide outreach, education, extension and technology transfer to our clients and stakeholders- growers, biocontrol industry, graduate and undergraduate students, K-12 students and other scientists.

CA- The PI provided 14 science-based presentations about plant-parasitic nematodes, the diseases they cause and potential IPM practices to mitigate plant damage and crop loss. My clientele included University of California farm, horticulture and IPM advisors, private pest control advisors, growers, golf course and sports facility superintendents, agrochemical and biocontrol industry researchers, commodity representatives, USDA and CDFA scientists, ag commissioner personnel, Master gardeners as well as the general public (see under presentations).

ME: Published 4 peer-reviewed papers and 12 articles in extension, proceeding, and online journals. Delivered 3 posters and 12 oral presentations. Attended 12 meetings and 2 field days.

OR- Parke and colleagues developed an online soil solarization grower tool to predict the length of time necessary to solarize soil to kill two Phytophthora species. Parke presented findings to nursery growers, agricultural professionals, and extension personnel at the Western Disease Conference. Presentations were also made to growers and practitioners at a meeting of the Western Forestry and Conservation Nursery Association and the Intermountain Container Seedling Growers’ Association, and at the Native Western Plant Conference sponsored by the Western Forestry Conservation Association. An article on solarization was published in the Feb. 2016 issue of Digger, the nursery grower magazine published by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (circulation 8,000). 

NY- In 2016, Smart gave 7 talks to growers, extension educators and industry representatives on strategies to control Phytophthora blight.  These included talks at the NY state fruit and veg expo, talks at winter grower meetings in western and eastern NY, and summer twilight meetings.  Additionally, Smart presented a webinar during the winter of 2016 to beginning vegetable growers. Undergraduate research experience.  The Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section on the Geneva Campus of Cornell University established a summer scholars program to increase the involvement of undergraduate researchers in applied agricultural sciences.  In 2016, 27 students presented posters at the end of the program.  Each summer, several students are involved with projects that are part of the W3147 multi-state project.  During the summer of 2016, a student in the Smart lab worked on Phytophthora capsici studying the population biology and evolution of the pathogen. Outreach to K-12 students. We have continued our outreach program to third-grade students in the Geneva City School District (Geneva, NY).  Part of this outreach includes a summer science camp, where students study different aspects of food production utilizing a garden that they plant at their school.  One week of the 5-week program focuses on the importance of healthy soil to producing healthy vegetables.

WA- In 2016, researchers from WA presented over 40 extension talks, field days, workshops/clinics and special consultations in relation to soilborne diseases. Paulitz provided consultation on a regular basis for the WSU Disease Diagnostic Clinic and for cereal and oilseed growers to diagnose diseases, and du Toit diagnosed 99 vegetable and seed crop samples. ARS Wheat Health, Genetics and Quality Research Unit continues to provide outreach to K-12 Native Americans, including the Colville Confederated Tribes, the Spokane Tribe, and the Kalispell Tribes. They also provided science education for underserved rural areas, including LaCrosse High school, and a 3-hour workshop for the students at the WSU labs on Nov. 8, 2016.  They provided molecular biology, biochemistry and engineering training for 13 summer high school interns (June-July 2016) in ARS and WSU labs; and placement of underserved WSU undergraduates as laboratory assistants in ARS and WSU labs.

WA- The USDA ARS wheat group presently is supervising 6 graduate students, co-supervising one graduate student, and on the committee of 10 others at WSU. Mazzola is mentoring three PhD students and one MSc student at WSU, one PhD student at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and one MSc student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, serves on the committee of 5 other students in horticulture, soils and plant pathology at WSU. du Toit is chairing the committee of 4 MS students at WSU, and served on another 4 PhD committees at WSU and 2 MS committee at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, with projects on soilborne plant pathogens. 

WA- du Toit participated in three meetings/workshops in 2016 related to an NSF-AGEP grant, PNW COSMOS, held by WSU, University of Idaho, University of Montana, Montana State University, Montana Tech, Salish Kootenai College, Heritage University, and Northwest Indian College to recruit Native American students into STEM fields of study for graduate school and, ultimately, the professoriate. See: http://us14.campaign-archive1.com/?u=207ad406a1912345d2f3d85d5&id=573d001805&e=a2e8842cc8 for details. 

WA- Paulitz was the main coordinator and organizer of Joint Meeting of the 62st Annual Conference on Soilborne Pathogens, Parlier, California, March 22-24, 2016. This annual meeting attracted over 100 industry, academic, government, regulatory, and student attendees. 

WA- du Toit helped organize the Annual Meeting of the Pacific Division of the American Phytopathological Society in La Conner, WA on 28-30 June 2016 with record attendance of 148 researchers, extension specialists, students, private industry representatives, regulatory agents, and other stakeholders from across the western states, with many papers and posters on soilborne plant pathogens.