Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

RESEARCH REPORTS

Anissa Poleatewich – New Hampshire – The goal this project is to determine how replacing some of the peat in potting media with wood fiber affects the management of soil-borne diseases. The rationale for doing this research is the current peat shortage and because wood fiber is a more renewable material than peat. Anissa's recent work showed that certain wood fibers had different abilities to control Rhizoctonia solani on radish, and the ratio of wood fiber to peat-perlite had different abilities to control Rhizoctonia solani on radish.

Jenifer McBeath – Alaska – The goal of this project is to develop disease control for a chemical and pesticide free peony farming system through a greater understanding of the soil microbiome. Jenifer is currently focusing on Bacillus spp. instead of Trichoderma spp. However, since most Bacillus are not cold-tolerant, here group is currently isolating cold-tolerant Bacillus spp. and testing them for their pathogen and disease control efficacy. Jenifer's recent work showed that one of these isolates, Bacillus #217, strongly suppressed Botrytis, which is the primary peony pathogen in Alaska. Plant Helper (Trichoderma) was also shown to have efficacy in managing Botrytis on peony.

Bode Olukolu – Tennessee – The goal of this project is to obtain a greater understanding of the holobiont and then use this knowledge to manage disease. More specifically, Bode is determining whether various types of microbiome data can be used to enhance plant breeding so that the plant can more effectively recruit and maintain beneficial microbes. To do this, quantitative reduced representation sequencing (qRRS) is being used. Various improvements to the data analysis pipeline for this research were also described.

Ole Becker and James Borneman – California – The goal of this project is to understand how fungi belonging to the Hyalorbilia oviparasitica clade suppress cyst nematode populations, and to use that information for nematode management. Ole and James and colleagues have recently examined soils from the Imperial Valley of California and California's central coast, where host crops of these nematodes are grown. Here, baiting experiments were used to determine that the most abundant fungi in sugarbeet cyst nematode females were members of the Hyalorbilia oviparasitica clade. Most recently, they showed that the population densities of these fungi in the Imperial Valley soils were positively associated with the amount of nematode suppression.

Antoon Ploeg – California – Meloidogyne floridensis (peach root-knot nematode) is a relatively new nematode pathogen in California. The problem with this nematode is that it infects some of the commonly used resistant rootstocks of nut and fruit trees as well as some of the commonly used resistant sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and bell peppers in California. Antoon showed that many of the bell pepper varieties that are resistant to M. incognita exhibit high replication rates of M. floridensis. Mechanistically, many of the M. incognita resistant varieties don't have detectable J3, J4, and females, whereas with M. floridensis, J3, J4, and females are often detected. This suggests these nematode resistant bell pepper varieties inhibit nematode development in M. incognita but not in M. floridensis.

Emma Gachomo – California – The goal of this project is to mechanistically understand how Bradyrhizobium japonicum confers plant growth promotion, tolerance to abiotic stress, and the induction of plant tolerance to disease. Emma showed that in Arabidopsis, Bradyrhizobium japonicum increased root length and mass, and that the induction of auxin production was involved in increasing root length.

Gretchen Sassenrath – Kansas – The goal of this projects is to determine how soil parameters, including soil microbes, are associated with the amount of plant disease in a Corn - Wheat - Soybean production system. Experiments for this project are ongoing. Gretchen has shown that different crop varieties and different soil types affect soil microbes.

Tessie Wilkerson – Mississippi – The goal of this projects is to control reniform nematodes on cotton through chemical, biological, and plant resistance strategies. Tessie showed that a biological compound was able to reduce nematode populations in some years. She also showed that host resistance provided the best protection against nematodes. Tessie also described her educational outreach efforts to students and growers.

Harsh Bais – Delaware – The goal of this project is to mechanistically understand how a plant growth promoting bacterium (PGPB) (Bacillus subtilis UD1022) affects Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. One previously investigated topic examined how roots respond to leaf attack by pathogens. Here, Harsh showed that leaf pathogen attack led to recruitment of the PGRB UD1022 by the roots. Harsh recently showed that UD1022 inhibits the number of Sinorhizobium meliloti nodules on Medicago roots.

Jay Hao – Maine – One of the goals of the Hao lab is to understand which bacterial strains are responsible for potato blackleg disease across different geographical regions in the northeastern USA. Early in these studies, Jay showed that Dickeya spp. were more responsible for blackleg disease while more recent studies have shown that Pectobacterium spp. are more responsible for this disease. Jay also described his research with potato breeders to identify varieties with greater resistance to blackleg disease. This has led to some promising varieties being identified.

James White – New Jersey – One of the goals of the White lab is to understand how interactions between plants and microbes lead to increased efficiency of nitrogen-fixation by bacteria in trichomes. James showed how different types of symbiosis with endophytic bacteria occur in different types of plants, but all of these interactions led to the transfer of nitrogen from the bacteria to the plant in leaves. James' group posits that the most efficient nitrogen fixation by bacteria occurs in glandular trichome symbiosis, and that this is due to antioxidant production by the plant in the trichome, where the antioxidants scavenge or exclude oxygen, which increases the efficiency of nitrogen-fixation.

Kenneth Frost – Oregon – One of the projects in the Frost lab involves the management of powdery scab of potato, which is caused by Spongospora subterranea. Ken is developing epidemiological models to determine the environmental factors that explain the variations in the disease severity. One factor likely involves the population density of the pathogen fluctuating temporarily and spatially. Future work will also examine soils that exhibit suppressiveness to powdery scab of potato.

Tim Paulitz – Washington – One of the goals of the Paulitz lab is to understand the relationships between soil microbial communities and wheat yield. One project involves a long-term study site (LTAR) that is examining the effects of conventional and no-till crop production. Most of the bacterial associations with wheat yield were negative. This led to a new hypothesis that stressed plants select for specific types of bacteria. For the fungi studies, most of the associations with wheat yield were positive. To differentiate correlation vs. causation, Tim is constructing culture collections that will be tested in future work. In addition, although there were some differences in microbial communities between conventional and no-till, the greater differences were between various soil depths. Tim's group also determined that specific microbial taxa exhibit seasonal fluctuations that reset every year.

Marin Friesen – Washington – Marin gave an overview of several ongoing projects in her lab. One project is to determine the eco-evolutionary dynamics of Trifolium nodule-associated microbiomes. Another project is to characterize the phylogenetic, genomic, and ecological basis of nickel adaptation in symbiotic Mesorhizobium populations. Another project is to characterize the microbiomes of pea, chickpea, and canola to determine whether microbiome features explain wheat performance. Another project is to survey and isolate diverse diazotrophs from various cropping systems to determine which attributes of the community predict N fixation potential at these sites. Another project is to characterize plant, microbiome, and biogeochemical N dynamics of switchgrass on marginal lands to identify linkages among plant traits, the microbiome, and N transformations. Another project involves participating in the Washington State Soil Health Initiative which utilizes the Long Term Agroecological Research and Extension (LTAR) site network. Another project to is create effective ways to educate and inform the general public and growers about soil health by using a variety of visual media to depict microbial agroecology processes.

Accomplishments  W-4147   2021

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

AK- Isolation and identification of cold adapted Bacillus spp. Soils were collected from interior-Alaska, southcentral-Alaska and Kenai Peninsula. Bacillus spp. A total of 163 Bacillus isolates were obtained. Among them, 18 showed strong ability to suppress the growth of plant pathogens. Among the isolates, 53 were found adapted to cold temperature. Bacillus isolate 217 demonstrated the strongest suppression against Botrytis spp. and in a lesser degree against Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. Identification of the Bacillius isolates were based on their molecular and biological characteristics.

CA- The project's hypothesis was that the establishment of a cyst nematode antagonistic microbiome led to a significant reduction in 1,3-D nematicide (Telone) use in California's broccoli production during the past 20 years. A sampling survey of broccoli fields along the California coast detected Heteroderacysts in only one-third of the randomly selected areas. Moreover, their population density was typically very low. Preliminary data suggest many fields have become suppressive to the pathogen. The most abundant fungi associated with Heterodera females were Hyalorbilia oviparasitica clade members. Short-term outcomes- The information indicates that in Coastal California, there is little advantage for nematicide use in broccoli and perhaps other Cole crops. It emphasizes the suggestion to collect soil samples from individual grower fields and to send them to commercial labs for analysis of cyst nematode population density.

CA. The contribution of Lab Leveau to project W-4147 continues to have its basis in the discovery, characterization and application of bacteria belonging to the genus Collimonas, their antifungal properties, and their ability to work synergistically with Bacillus bacteria to protect plants from soilborne fungal pathogens (Doan et al, 2019). Long-term goal is a Collimonas-based or -fortified biocontrol product. This past year, our work on a novel Collimonas-produced antifungal metabolite (carenaemin) appeared in print (Akum et al 2021), we described how fungi respond to and adapt after repeated exposure to Collimonas biocontrol bacteria (Mosquera et al, 2021), and our collaborative work with UC Davis engineers to encapsulate and stabilize Collimonas bacteria for field application was published (Kawakita et al 2021a, Kawakita et al 2021b).

DE- We evaluated the direct effect soil bacteria and a biocontrol agent B. subtilis UD1022 hereafter UD1022) has on four common fungal pathogens of alfalfa including, Phytophthora medicaginis (root rot), Colletotrichum trifolii (anthracnose), Phoma medicaginis (blackstem) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis (vascular or Fusarium wilt). These pathogens have a great economic impact on the production of alfalfa; applications of fungicides represent a cost in time and money in attempting to reduce the effect of the disease and crops impacted suffer loss in yield and nutritional value. To determine if UD1022-produced natural compounds antagonize fungal growth, the bacteria and fungus strains were grown together on petri plates directly or in separate compartments. We found UD1022 to be strongly antagonistic toward three of the four pathogen species tested when grown directly; UD1022 did not influence any of the fungus when grown in divided plates. Initial testing of in planta capability of UD1022 to protect alfalfa from Phytophthora Root Rot were inconclusive.

DE- PGPR UD1022 has shown strong antagonistic effects on P. medicaginis strain A2A1. Though the non-ribosomal proteins surfactin and plipastatin production mutants tested showed no role in this antagonism, additional Bacillus NRPs could be involved. Our study demonstrates the potential role of biofilm genes, especially spo0A, in UD1022 antagonism toward A2A1. Spo0A is known to be a master regulator switch between biofilm and sporulation pathways in B. subtilis; this ‘all encompassing’ activity may pose a challenge in isolating which functions of the defined pathways are responsible for the antagonism observed.

KS- Crop production fields with disease pressure were identified. Soil samples were taken and tested for diseases (Phytophthora root rot and charcoal rot) and nematodes (soybean cyst nematodes). Biological activity was assessed using PLFA and background nutrient status was measured. Charcoal rot is a much more pervasive disease in southeast Kansas than other diseases or SCN.

MS- Collaborations with neighboring southern states have led to the discovery and confirmation of a pathogen which is new to soybean, Xylaria sp. causing tap root decline of soybean. Research efforts have further characterized this organism in Mississippi soybean fields and has determined to be distributed in the majority of the counties across the state. Experiments have led to determination of soybean varieties either exhibiting resistance or tolerance to the pathogen and management strategies such as seed treatment or in-furrow applications exhibiting activity at controlling the effects of the pathogen. Data from 2018-2021 suggest some commercial products applied in-furrow at planting are effective at reducing the signs of tap root decline. To support efforts associated with varietal resistance, field experiments using entries from the State Soybean Variety Trial seed were initiated in 2021 as a multistate effort between Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

MS-Research projects involving reniform nematode management are on-going and will continue to look at management strategies including crop rotation, varietal resistance and seed treatment combinations to manage losses associated with nematode infested fields. Experiments involve the combination of reniform resistant cotton lines developed in breeding programs along with new commercial nematicides including BioST, a biological product which has previously had activity in managing nematodes, as a new management technique to manage reniform nematode in highly infested fields while maintaining yield and fiber quality.

NH- Evaluated three differently processed WFs blended with peat on R. solani disease severity of radish. We observed slightly lower disease severity in the disc-refined wood and hammer-milled wood blended at 70:30 with peat compared to the control. These results suggest that the inclusion of the wood components we tested, when incorporated into peat, may not significantly negatively or positively affect damping-off. Because WFs are commonly blended into peat at 10 to 50% WF by volume, we tested 4 substrate blend ratios. The 80:20 peat:WF blend tended to have lower disease and higher aboveground biomass compared to the peatlite control. Our study is the first to document the effects of WF components on root disease.

NY Cercospora beticola-specific PCR assay development to enable soil detection. Cercospora beticola causes cercospora leaf spot (CLS) on sugar beet and table beet. Accurate identification of this pathogen is critical to disease diagnosis and effective research outcomes for improved management. Several PCR assays have been described for identifying C. beticola; however, the specificity has either not been adequately tested or cross-reactions with related Cercospora species have occurred. Comparison of the three published assays for specificity to C. beticola indicated that each also amplified DNA from closely related Cercospora species. This study describes the development and subsequent assessment of conventional and quantitative PCR assays specific for detection of C. beticola. Assay specificity was confirmed across a broad range of Cercospora and other common fungal species using public DNA sequence databases and PCR. A conventional PCR assay was designed with fast PCR conditions and completed in under 40 min. The quantitative PCR assay detected 0.001–10 ng of C. beticola DNA. The effectiveness of the quantitative PCR assay to detect C. beticola DNA in diseased leaf tissue and diseased leaf tissue mixed with soil was also demonstrated. These assays provide an improved method for specific identification and quantification of C. beticola, and a valuable tool for enhancing studies into the biology of C. beticola and epidemiology of CLS.

OR – Soil microbiome variation in PNW potato cropping systems. We continued work to characterize the soil microbiome as a function of cropping system and crop rotations used in the PNW US. We found that cropping system influenced the soil microbial community structure. Following fumigation, α-diversity of the bacterial community generally decreased but varied interactively as a function of cropping system from which the soil originated, soil sampling depth, and time. α-diversity of the fungal community varied as a function of time and cropping system from which the soil originated. MS fumigation resulted in the enrichment of multiple bacterial taxa in soils regularly amended with mustard green manures. Bacterial genera with members known to degrade MS were observed in increased abundance in soils originating from organic cropping systems.

TN. While our studies aim to understand microbiome modulation of plant traits and applications for breeding resistance to complex disease, we are also identifying potential biocontrols and their microbe-microbe interactions. Results show that specific microbes tend to be stably enriched in a host genetic-dependent manner and might function as a master-regulator of other community members. By understanding these interactions at a systems level, we hope to predict biocontrol efficacy more accurately within the context of the host microbiome and genetic background.

WA- We characterized microbial communities associated with canola, pea, peaola, and chickpea and started a project to isolate novel diazotrophic bacteria from wheat-based systems and prairie soils.

WA- Fungal communities are better predictors of wheat yield than bacterial communities.Microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) play a major role in wheat health, nutrient uptake residue decomposition and tolerance to abiotic stress.  But of the thousands of species in the soil, which one play key roles? ARS scientists at Pullman WA and the Cook LTAR sequenced both bacteria and fungi to determine the microbiome at numerous locations in the no-till (aspirational) reduced tillage (business as usual) paired farms, and correlated communities with soil factors such as soil pH and organic matter and yield. Fungi from the families Sordariaceae, Hydnodontaceae, Hypocreaceae, and Clavicipitaceae were positively correlated with yield, especially in the upper soil depth, while Glomeraceae and Phaeosphaeriaceae were negatively correlated.  This may help growers determine soil health and how management practices may be adapted to favor beneficial microbiomes.

WA-Previous crops of canola may shift the microbiome of the following wheat crop. Rotation crops often give a yield increase to the following wheat crop, due to breaking of diseases cycles, N fixation and other benefits. However a yield decrease in spring wheat after winter canola has been observed in intermediate and low precipitation areas, and water and nutrients were ruled out as factors. ARS scientists sampled the microbiome of spring wheat following winter canola, winter triticale, winter wheat and spring barley. Spring wheat after canola had significantly less arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and higher levels of a pathogen Waitea circinata.  Canola is one of the few non-mycorrhizal plant families, and may deplete these beneficial, symbiotic fungi.  This information is important for growers to consider in their cropping systems plans.

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

AK- Microbiome Studies: This study is conducted in collaboration with Bode Olukolu from Tennessee. High molecular weight DNAs were extracted from the rhizospheres and phyllosphere of peony plants. The metagenomes were subject to quantitative reduced representation sequencing (qRRS) method to understand plant-pathogen-microbiome interactions in peony and in Arctic soils.

CA  Our research focuses on understanding the interaction between plants and soilborne microbes. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana and a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Bradyrhizobium japonicum IRAT FA3. Our results showed this PGPR regulates the root biomass via regulation of auxin efflux transporters PIN2, PIN3, PIN7 and ABCB 19.

DE- My research group is examining the role of bacteriophages in modifying populations and genotypes/phenotypes of nitrogen-fixing soybean bradyrhizobia (Bradyrhizobium japonicum, B. diazoefficiens, and B. elkanii).  Although plant pathogens are not being studied, the ecological principles involved are applicable to a broad range of microbial interactions in soil, including disease-causing microbes.   In particular, my research group is considering the impact of temperate (lysogenic) phages in horizonal gene transfer among soybean bradyrhizobia.  The overarching goal is to more fully characterize the soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis to promote environmentally sustainable soybean production.   

NH. We used our radish model developed last year to determine how wood components affect the efficacy of the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum T-22 to suppress solani damping-off. We tested 3 hammer milled WF blend percentages and observed significant differences in disease severity and radish aboveground biomass across %WF blend and Rootshield treatment. Specifically, all three WF+Rootshield treatments had significantly lower disease and higher aboveground biomass than the peatlite control and peatlite+Rootshield control. We also evaluated how wood fibers affect the efficacy of harzianum to suppress crown and root rot on chrysanthemum. We found no significant effect of WF treatment on biopesticide efficacy on chyrsanthemum. However, we found that plants grown in WF had lower disease severity compared to plants in the peat control treatment. This finding supports our previous finding in radish and provides further evidence that WF substrates may be slightly more disease suppressive than peat substrates.

NJ  We conducted research and gathered data the role of endophytic bacteria in nitrogen-transfer symbioses in roots and leaves of vascular plants.

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. We have learned in the past year that within an agricultural field there are individual P. capsici isolates with differing effector genes. This was a surprise since population studies have shown, in these same fields, that there is greater diversity between fields than within a field and that once the pathogen infests a field it does not move rapidly through the region unless there is flooding. In continuing studies, we are following a biparental population of P. capsici that was established in a research field in Geneva NY in 2008. We are using roughly 8,000 SNPs to follow changes in the population. One area we are currently focusing on is the change in the percentage of A1 vs A2 mating type isolates over time. While recovered isolates were roughly 50% each mating type for the first 7 years, and since that time the number of A2 mating type isolate has increased – this increase is not due to many individuals within the same clonal lineage as the data were clone-corrected.

OR –Population dynamics of Spongospora subterranea in soils. In 2021, an observational field study was conducted in four commercial potato fields selected based on their powdery scab disease history. In each of these fields, we quantified pathogen inoculum changes and hourly soil water and temperature throughout the growing season. We documented differing pathogen population dynamics and disease expression among locations. This study will be repeated for two more years and the data will be used to model risk for powdery scab and PMTV infection. In subsequent years, we will also characterize the soil microbiome to determine if there are microbial taxa antagonistic to S. subterranea present in the soils. The long-term goal of the project is to develop diagnostic tools that would inform growers of their risk for losses due to powder scab and PMTV transmission.

TN- Evidence from leaf metagenome profiles of sweetpotato accessions (entire USDA germplasm) and biparental populations reveal that: (i) relative abundance of microbiome members is a good predictor of host genetic relatedness, suggesting adapted host-microbe interactions; (ii) accounting for the microbiome often provides more statistical power for detecting genes controlling plant-microbe interactions and improves genomic prediction; and (iii) species/strain-level metagenome profiles (based on quantitative reduced representation sequencing; qRRS) can allow differentiation of  neutral/satellite from host-adapted microbiome members. Precision and accuracy in functional plant-microbiome studies can be improved by identifying host-adapted microbial members.

WA-Phenazine-producing bacteria are enriched in plant microbiomes. Dryland wheat on the Columbia Plateau of the Pacific Northwest enrich for phenazine-1-carboxylic acid which reductively dissolve Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides in bacterial culture systems, but its impact upon Fe and Mn cycling in the rhizosphere is unknown. Here, ARS scientists in Pullman, Washington in collaboration with a student at Washington State University showed that concentrations of dithionite-extractable and poorly crystalline Fe were approximately 10% and 30−40% higher, respectively, in dryland and irrigated rhizospheres inoculated with the phenazine-producing bacteria than in rhizospheres inoculated with a phenazine deficient mutant. However, rhizosphere concentrations of Fe(II) and Mn did not differ significantly, indicating that phenazine- mediated redox transformations of Fe and Mn were transient or were masked by competing processes. Total Fe and Mn uptake into wheat biomass also did not differ significantly, but the phenazine-producing bacteria significantly altered iron translocation into shoots. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy revealed an abundance of Fe-bearing oxyhydroxides and phyllosilicates in all rhizospheres. These results are important because they show that phenazine producers enhanced the reactivity and mobility of Fe derived from soil minerals without producing parallel changes in plant Fe uptake. This is the first report that directly links significant alterations of Fe-bearing minerals in the rhizosphere to a single bacterial trait.

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

AK- Field trials of Plant Helper (formulated cold-adapted Trichoderma atroviride) were conducted in 2020 and 2021 on one (1) and five (5) collaboration peony farms, respectively. Significant findings of the field trials were: 1) reduction in severity and incidence of Botrytis spp. were observed on peony farms, and 2) peony plants treated with Plant Helper demonstrated a delay in the senescence process. In 2021, Pythium sp. was found for the first time in waters and soils on peony farms. It was a major causal agent resulting in the death of peony seedlings and the rootstocks suffered from an unseasonal hard freeze in late spring.

KS. Cover crops were planted in four replicated blocks in the fields in the fall and included: control (fallow with herbicide, no cover crop); wheat; Graza radish; annual ryegrass; spring oats; winter oat; forage collards; commercial cover crop mix; and a mix of radish + ryegrass planted both drilled and broadcast methods. Spring oats had the highest levels of NO₃-N remaining, but lower levels of NH₄-N. No consistent changes in nutrient levels for the different cover crops could be related to the measured difference in soybean yield. Bacterial percentage was the highest in all cover crop plots, with a similar pattern in percentage of actinomycetes and fungi.

OR –Effects of rotation, soil amendment, and fumigation on potato early dying and the soil microbial community. In 2021, we continued work on two four-year crop rotation studies established in 2019 to examine how management practices including crop rotation with traditional fumigation, mustard biofumigant crop, dairy compost amendment, and a mustard biofumigant crop combined with a dairy compost amendment influence the soil abiotic and biotic properties, pathogen inoculum densities, and plant health and productivity.

MS- Research experiments surrounding management strategies, specifically, alternate host for rotation for Xylaria are ongoing. Both field and greenhouse experiments have been established looking at potential rotational hosts to include corn, cotton, peanut, rice, wheat, and sorghum. To date it has been determined that colonization of the pathogen occurs on all primary rotational crops which limits crop rotation as a management tool for this particular disease. Management options beyond cultural practices such as crop rotation are needed to reduce taproot decline of soybean such as completely resistant cultivars. Additional research is on-going to determine organisms present within the soil interface coexisting with Xylaria which could be a potential source of biocontrol. These experiments will identify if any bacteria etc. that may lessen the effects of Xylaria on soybean plants.

NY: Efficacy of fungicides for Rhizoctonia damping off control in table beet, 2020.  This greenhouse experiment was conducted at Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, New York. No significant differences were observed in damping off between Quadris, the current industry standard for R. solani control in table beet, and other treatments also applied at 1 DAP. Aprovia, Quadris, and Cannonball provided similar reductions in damping off at 41 DAP. Elatus (chemically equivalent to Quadris + Aprovia) did not lead to improved disease control. Application timing affected the incidence of damping off between treatments, but differences were not significant until 41 DAP. Damping off was highest in plots that did not receive a fungicide application at 1 DAP, averaging 10.4% compared to 4.8% for plots receiving fungicides on both occasions. Post-emergence applications (18 DAP) resulted in 68% and 533% more damping off in plots treated with Quadris and Elatus, respectively, than when applied at 1 DAP. The incidence of damping off in plots treated with Orondis Gold was not significantly different from the nontreated control plots. Average root lesion incidence varied from 32.8 to 66% and was not significantly different across treatments. There were no visible differences in phytotoxicity or other concerns.

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.

19. The PI gave several presentations, mostly via Zoom due to pandemic precautions. These talks included biological suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes as a topic. See details under VI. Publications. Several other invited or planned presentations were canceled because of the covid-19.
20. Field day held on May 19, 2021 at the SEREC. Presentation on “Cover Crops, Soil Health, and Weed Control” shared with attendees.

Online webinar series on soil health

MS. Presentations at professional meetings and field tours (virtual and face to face) have provided information to colleagues, students, and growers on current issues surrounding soil pathogens including but not limited to Xylaria (tap root decline of soybean) and nematodes. Seminar entitled "Root Diseases: What Lies beneath" for EPP1001 first year seminar class-Mississippi State University November 16, 2021.

NH- A webinar was presented in the UNH Extension 2020 Plant Health Webinar Series entitled “Natural disease suppression of peat-wood fiber substrates and implications for biological control” in August. A recording of the presentation is available on-demand on the UNH extension website. Two undergraduate students were engaged in training as part of this project in the fall of 2021.

NY Outreach activities on sustainable disease management.

In 2018, Pethybridge gave 18 extension/outreach presentations on soilborne disease management to the broadacre vegetable industry stakeholders and growers. These presentations were predominantly meetings organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension throughout NY.

Undergraduate research experience

Because of COVID, we did not have our summer undergraduate research experience program in 2020.

Disease management strategies for Phytophthora capsici   

In 2021, Smart gave 12 talks to growers, extension educators and industry representatives including pathogen biology and disease management of Phytophthora blight and other pathogens. This included audiences in New York, across the Northeast, and in Minnesota.

Undergraduate research experience. 

Because of COVID, we did not have our summer undergraduate research experience program in 2021.

 Outreach to K-12 students. 

Because of COVID, we did not have our K-12 outreach program in 2021

OR (Frost) – Advised two postdoctoral researchers, one faculty research assistants, one technician, four graduate students, and one undergraduate students. In 2021, we published six refereed papers, three extension documents, and two abstracts. Information has been disseminated to clientele within the region through talks at five grower education events and two field days, and to scientific peers via two poster presentations. I have provided plant disease diagnostic services via the Pathology Diagnostic Clinic at the HAREC to Oregon, southeastern Washington, Idaho, and other crop production regions in the U.S. These services result in approximately 250 direct contacts with farmers or crop managers every year. In 2021, I organized a seminar on the Potato Soil Health Project (USDA SCRI 2018-51181-28704) through Spudman Magazine and a session on Soil Health for the 2021 Hermiston Farm Fair Grower education event. Editorial positions currently held include Senior Editor and Editor for the APS Journals Plant Disease and Phytofrontiers, respectively.

TN- In 2021, I had students trained and working on the projects highlighted above. These include two PhD students in my research program, a 6-month exchange PhD student from Mexico, an undergraduate student at UTK, and a REU undergraduate student funded through a NSF summer research program.

Disseminated findings at meeting with corn growers in Tennessee and worked with an extension faculty to evaluate the impact of microbiome on Fusarium ear and stalk rot disease.

Technology transfer (OmeSeq-qRRS for metagenome sequencing) to collaborators and service providers evaluating the method and associated bioinformatics tools on select projects.

WA (Friesen) We helped coordinate WA SoilCon, a virtual conference with nearly 1,000 registered participants from around the world providing information on soil health for growers.

WA (Paulitz)- Served as lead organizer of the 66^th Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens, San Luis Obispo, CA,  March 25-27, 2020. Meeting was canceled because of COVID in 2020 but held virtually on March 24-25, 2021. Worked with a Moroccan collaborator to be awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to visit my lab in 2020.  Was postponed until 2022 because of COVID. Also collaborated on numerous manuscripts. Continued a long collaboration with CIMMYT in Turkey and collaborated on numerous manuscripts with authors from Iran, Turkey and Morocco. Completed Pythium Protocol project, an on-line publication of the American Phytopathological Society Press. Presented seminar on soil health to Southern Mississippi University Sept. 2021. Presented talk on winter peas and soil health to the Western Pulse Growers meeting, Moscow, ID, Dec. 14, 2021.Presented talk at Spokane Farm Forum on New Research in Feb. 21, 2021. Worked with Washington State Department of Agriculture on revising quarantine regulations for black leg, with the discovery of the disease in the Skagit Valley of Washington. Co-authored extension bulletin on Diseases of Canola in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Canola Council. Presented a seminar titled “Soil Microbial Communities: Relation to Plant and Soil Health in Wheat” to the WSU Farmers Network Soil Health Webinar Jan. 13, 2021. Section editor of the Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology.  Taught part of Plant Pathology 521, Mycology, Fall, 2021 (five lectures)

Peer reviewed

Afkhami, M. E., Friesen, M. L., & Stinchcombe, J. R. (2021). Multiple Mutualism Effects generate synergistic selection and strengthen fitness alignment in the interaction between legumes, rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. Ecology Letters.

Akum, F.N., R. Kumar, G. Lai, C.H. Williams, H.K. Doan, and J.H.J. Leveau (2021) Identification of Collimonas gene loci involved in the biosynthesis of a diffusible secondary metabolite with broad-spectrum antifungal properties. Microbial Biotechnology, 14: 1367-1384.

Arstingstall, K.A., DeBano, S.J., Li, X., Wooster, D., Rowland, M.M., Burrows, S. and Frost, K. 2021. Capabilities and limitations of using DNA metabarcoding to study plant-pollinator interactions. Molecular Ecology 30:5266-5297.

Bashir S, Iqbal A, Hasnain S, White JF. 2021. Screening of sunflower associated bacteria as biocontrol agents for plant growth promotion. Arch Microbiol. 203(8):4901-4912. doi: 10.1007/s00203-021-02463-8.

Beltran-Garcia MJ, Martinez-Rodriguez A, Olmos-Arriaga I, Valdez-Salas B, Chavez-Castrillon YY, Di Mascio P, White JF. 2021. Probiotic Endophytes for More Sustainable Banana Production. Microorganisms. 9(9):1805. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9091805. 

Beltran-Garcia MJ, White JF. 2021. Introduction to Special Issue: Plant Microbiome Augmentation and Stimulation-New Strategies to Grow Crops with Reduced Agrochemicals. Microorganisms. 9(9):1887. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9091887.

Bozoglu, T., Ozer, G., Imren, M., Paulitz, T.C., Dabaat, A.A. 2021. First report of crown rot caused by Fusarium redolens on wheat in Kazakhstan. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-19-1799-RE.

Carlson, CH, Stack, GM, Jiang, Y, Taskiran, B, Cala, AR, Toth, JA, Philippe, G, Rose, JKC, Smart, CD, and Smart, LB (2021) Morphometric relationships and their contribution to biomass and cannabinoid yield in hybrids of hemp (Cannabis sativa). Journal of Experimental Botany https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erab346

Chang X, Kingsley KL, White JF. 2021. Chemical Interactions at the Interface of Plant Root Hair Cells and Intracellular Bacteria. Microorganisms. 9(5):1041. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9051041.

Chen Z., Jin Y., Yao X., Wei X., Li X., Li C., White J.F., Nan Z. 2021. Gene analysis reveals that leaf litter from Epichloë endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass alters diversity and abundance of soil microbes involved in nitrification and denitrification. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2021;154:108123. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.108123.

Clements, J., Lamour, K., Frost, K., Dywer, J., Huseth, A. and Groves, R. 2021. Targeted RNA sequencing within Leptinotarsa decemlineata populations reveal patterns of transcript expression correlated with insecticide resistance in discrete geographic locations. Pest Management Science 77:3436-3444.

Christie, K., Harrison, S. P., Friesen, M. L., & Strauss, S. Y. (2021) Co‐occurrence patterns at four spatial scales implicate reproductive processes in shaping community assembly in clovers. Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13776

Crowell, CR, Wilkerson, DG, Bekauri, M, Cala, A, McMullen, P, Mondo, S, Adreopoulos, W, Lipzen, A, Lail, K, Yan, M, Ng, V, Grigoriev, I, Smart, LB, and Smart CD (2022) Population biology of Melampsora americana using genotyping-by-sequencing. Phytopathology in press https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-21-0201-R

Dar, D., Thomashow, L.S., Weller, D.M., Newman, D.K. 2020. Global landscape of phenazine biosynthesis and biodegradation reveals species-specific colonization patterns in agricultural soils and crop microbiomes. eLife. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.59726.

Dung, J.K.S., Duringer, J.M., Kaur, N., Scott, J.C., Frost, K.E., Walenta, D., Alderman, S.C., Morrie Craig, A., and Hamm, P.B. 2021. Molecular and alkaloid characterization of Claviceps purpurea sensu lato from grass seed production areas of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Phytopathology 111:831-841.

Friedrichsen, C. N., Hagen-Zakarison, S., Friesen, M. L., McFarland, C. R., Tao, H., & Wulfhorst, J. D. (2021). Soil health and well-being: Redefining soil health based upon a plurality of values. Soil Security, 2, 100004.

Garcia-Aroca T, Price PP, Tomaso-Peterson M, Allen TW, Wilkerson TH, Spurlock TN, Faske TR, Bluhm B, Conner K, Sikora E, Guyer R, Kelly H, Squiers BM, Doyle VP. Xylaria necrophora, sp. nov., is an emerging root-associated pathogen responsible for taproot decline of soybean in the southern United States. Mycologia. 2021 Mar-Apr;113(2):326-347. doi: 10.1080/00275514.2020.1846965. Epub 2021 Feb 8. PMID: 33555993.

Gargouri, S., Balmas, V., Burgess, L., Paulitz, T., Laraba, I., Kim, H.-S., Proctor, R.H., Busman, M., Felker, F.C., Murray, T., O'Donnell, K. 2020. An endophyte of Macrochloa tenacissima (esparto or needle grass) from Tunisia is a novel species in the Fusarium redolens species complex. Mycologia. 112(4):792-807. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2020.1767493.

Gargouri, S., Khemir, E., Souissi, A., Murray, T., Fakhfakh, M., Achour, I., Chekali, S., Mliki, M., Paulitz, T.C. 2020. Survey of take-all (Gaeumannomyces tritici) on cereals in Tunisia and impact of crop sequences. Crop Protection. 135: 10589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105189.

González-Benítez N, Martín-Rodríguez I, Cuesta I, Arrayás M, White JF, Molina MC. 2021. Endophytic Microbes Are Tools to Increase Tolerance in Jasione Plants Against Arsenic Stress. Front Microbiol. 12:664271. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.664271.

Gouker, FE, Carlson, CH, Zou, J, Evans, LM, Crowell, CR, Smart, CD, DiFazio, SP, Smart, LB (2021) Sexual dimorphism and sex ratio bias in the dioecious willow Salix purpurea L. American Journal of Botany 108:1374-1387  https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1704

Hassanzadeh, A., Murphy, S., Pethybridge, S. J., and van Aardt, J. 2020. Growth stage classification and harvest scheduling of snap bean using hyperspectral sensing: A greenhouse study. Remote Sens. 12:3809.https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12223809.

Hassanzadeh, A., van Aardt, J., Murphy, S. M., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Yield modeling of snap bean based on hyperspectral sensing: A greenhouse study. J. Appl. Rem. Sens. 14(2):024519.https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JRS.14.024519.

Hendry, S., Steinke, S., Wittstein, K., Adewunmi, Y., Sahukhal, G., Elasri, M., Thomashow, L.S., Weller, D.M., Mavrodi, O., Blankenfeldt, W., Mavrodi, D. 2021. Functional analysis of phenazine biosynthesis genes in Burkholderia spp.. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 87,11 e02348-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02348-20.

Imren, M., Ozer, G., Paulitz, T.C., Morgounov, A., Dababat, A.A. 2021. Plant-parasitic nematode communities associated with wheat-growing areas in central, eastern andsouth-eastern Kazakhstan. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-20-2424- SR.

Joglekar, P., C.P. Mesa, V.A. Richards, S.W. Polson, K.E. Wommack, J.J. Fuhrmann. 2020. Polyphasic analysis reveals correlation between phenotypic and genotypic analysis in soybean bradyrhizobia (Bradyrhizobium spp.). Systematic and Applied Microbiology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126 73

Kawakita, R., J.H.J. Leveau, and T. Jeoh (2021a) Optimizing viability and yield and improving stability of Gram-negative, non-spore forming plant beneficial bacteria encapsulated by spray-drying. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 44(11): 2289-2301.

Kawakita, R., Leveau, J.H.J., and T. Jeoh (2021b) Comparing fluidized bed spray-coating and spray-drying encapsulation of non-spore-forming Gram-negative bacteria in cross-linked alginate. Industrial Biotechnology, 17(5): 283-289.

Knight, N. L., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. An improved assay for species-specific detection and quantification of Cercospora beticola. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 42:72-83.https://doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2019.1621380.

Knight, N. L., Koenick, L. B., Sharma, S. S., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Detection of Cercospora beticola and Phoma betae on table beet seed using quantitative PCR. Phytopathology 110:943-951.https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-11-19-0412-R.

Kousik, CS, Vogel, GM, Ikerd, JL, Mandal, MK, Mazourek, M, Smart, CD and Turechek, WW (2021) New sources of resistance in winter squash (Cucurbita moschata) to phytophthora crown rot and their relationship to cultivated squash. Plant Health Progress https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-02-21-0047-FI

Kuster R, Yencho GC, and Olukolu BA (2021).  ngsComposer: An automated pipeline for empirically based NGS data quality filtering.  Briefings in Bioinformatics. Brief Bioinform. bbab092. doi: 10.1093/bib/bbab092

Lange, HW, Tancos, MA and Smart, CD (2022) Investigating cruciferous weeds as reservoirs of Xanthomonas campestris in New York State. Plant Disease in press https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-21-0998-RE

Liu H, Prajapati VS, Prajapati S, Bais HP, Lu J (2021) Comparative genome analysis of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens focusing on phylogenomics, functional traits, and prevalence of antimicrobial and virulence genes. Frontiers in Genetics and Comp. Genomics. 12; 1750. DOI=10.3389/fgene.2021.724217   

Liu, Y., Evans, S. E., Friesen, M. L., & Tiemann, L. K. (2021). Root exudates shift how N mineralization and N fixation contribute to the plant-available N supply in low fertility soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 108541.

Lopez, Z. C., Friesen, M. L., Von Wettberg, E., New, L., & Porter, S. (2021). Microbial mutualist distribution limits spread of the invasive legume Medicago polymorpha. Biological Invasions, 23(3), 843-856.

Ma, X., Brazil, J., Rivedal, H., Frost, K., Perry, K., and Swingle, B. 202X. First report of Pectobacterium versatile causing potato soft rot of potato in Oregon and Washington. Plant Disease XX:XXX-XXX (First Look).

Mavrodi, O.V., Mcwilliams, J.R., Peter, J.O., Berim, A., Hassan, K.A., Elbourne, L.D., Letourneau, M., Gang, D.R., Paulsen, I.T., Weller, D.M., Thomashow, L.S., Flynt, A.S., Mavrodi, D.V. 2021. The effect of root exudates on the transcriptome of rhizosphere Pseudomonas spp.. Frontiers in Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.651282.

Menalled, U., Bybee-Finley, K. A., Smith, R. G., DiTomasso, A., Pethybridge, S. J., and Ryan, M. R. 2020. Soil-mediated effects on weed-crop competition: Elucidating the role of annual and perennial intercrop diversity legacies. Agronomy 10(9):1373. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091373.

Mohamed, A., Sanchez, E., Sanchez, N., Friesen, M. L., & Beyenal, H. (2021). Electrochemically Active Biofilms as an Indicator of Soil Health. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 168(8), 087511.

Mosquera, S., J.H.J. Leveau, and I. Stergiopoulos (2021) Repeated exposure of Aspergillus niger spores to the antifungal bacterium Collimonas fungivorans Ter331 selects for delayed spore germination. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 87(12): e00233-21.

Nevada, S.S., Lupien, S.L., Watson, B., Okubara, P.A. 2021. Growth inhibition of Botrytis cinerea by native vineyard yeasts from Puget Sound, Washington State, USA. Journal of Biology and Nature. 13,1,42-53. https://www.ikprress.org/index.php/JOBAN/article/view/6534

O’Brien, A. M., Jack, C. N., Friesen, M. L., & Frederickson, M. E. (2021). Whose trait is it anyways? Coevolution of joint phenotypes and genetic architecture in mutualisms. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 288(1942), 20202483.

 Parada-Rojas, CH, Granke, LL, Naegele, RP, Hansen, Z, Hausbeck, MK, Kousik, S, McGrath, MT, Smart CD and Quesada-Ocampo, LM. (2021) A diagnostic guide for Phytophthora capsici infecting vegetable crops. Plant Health Progress https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-02-21-0027-FI

Peritore-Galve, FC, Tancos, MA and Smart, CD (2021) Bacterial canker of tomato: revisiting a global and economically damaging seedborne pathogen. Plant Disease 105:1581-1595 https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-20-1732-FE

Pethybridge, S. J., Sharma, S., Hansen, Z., Kikkert, J. R., Olmstead, D. L., and Hanson, L. E. 2020. Optimizing Cercospora leaf spot control in table beet using action thresholds and disease forecasting. Plant Dis. 104:1831-1840.https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-20-0246-RE.Image selected for issue cover.Editor’s pick (June issue).

Pethybridge, S. J., Sharma, S., Hansen, Z., Vaghefi, N., Hanson, L. E., and Kikkert. J. R. 2020. Improving fungicide-based management of Cercospora leaf spot in table beet in New York, USA. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 42:353-366.https://doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2019.1690048.

Rangel, L., Spanner, R. E., Ebert, M. K., Pethybridge, S. J., Stukenbrock, E. H., de Jonge, R., Secor, G. A., and Bolton, M. D. 2020. Cercospora beticola: the intoxicating lifestyle of the leaf spot pathogen of sugar beet. Mol. Plant Pathol. 21:1020-1041.DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12962.

Rivedal, H., Brazil, J., and Frost, K.E. 2021. Diversity and pathogenicity of Pectobacterium species responsible for soft rot of potato in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington. American Journal of Potato Research 98:267-284.

Rivedal, H., Funke, C.N., and Frost, K.E. 202X. An overview of pathogens associated with biotic stresses in hemp crops in Oregon, 2019-2020. Plant Disease XX:XXX-XXX (Accept December 2021).

Rosier A, Beauregard PB, Bais HP (2021) Quorum Quenching Activity of the PGPR Bacillus subtilis UD1022 Alters Nodulation Efficiency of Sinorhizobium meliloti on Medicago truncatula. Front Microbiol. 11:596299.  doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.596299. 

 Schlatter, D.C., Kahl, K., Carlson, B.R., Huggins, D.R., Paulitz, T.C. 2020. Soil acidification modifies soil depth-microbiome relationships in a no-till wheat cropping system.. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107939.

Schroeder MM, Gomez MY, McLain NK, Gachomo EW, 2022 Bradyrhizobium japonicum IRAT FA3 alters Arabidopsis thaliana root architecture via regulation of auxin efflux transporters PIN2, PIN3, PIN7 and ABCB19. MPMI (in press)

Sharma, S., Hay, F. S., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Genome resource for two Stemphylium vesicarium isolates causing Stemphylium leaf blight of onion in New York. Mol. Plant Microbe Inter. 33:562-564.https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-19-0244-A.

Siefert, A., Friesen, M. L., Zillig, K. W., Aguilar, J., & Strauss, S. Y. (2021). An experimental test of stabilizing forces in the field niche. Ecology, 102(4), e03290.

Singh A, Singh DK, Kharwar RN, White JF, Gond SK. 2021. Fungal Endophytes as Efficient Sources of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds and Their Prospective Applications in Natural Product Drug Discovery: Insights, Avenues, and Challenges. Microorganisms. 9(1):197. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9010197. 

Smercina, D. N., Evans, S. E., Friesen, M. L., & Tiemann, L. K. (2021). Temporal dynamics of free‐living nitrogen fixation in the switchgrass rhizosphere. GCB Bioenergy.

Stack, GM, Toth, JA, Carlson, CH, Cala, AR, Marrero-Gonzalez, MI, Wilk, RL, Gentner, DR, Crawford, JL, Philippe, G, Rose, JKC, Viands, DR, Smart, CD, and Smart LB (2021) Season-long contrast of high-cannabinoid hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivars reveals variation in cannabinoid accumulation, flowering time, and disease resistance. Global Change Biology Bioenergy 13:546-561 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12793

 Stajich, JE, Vu, AL, Judelson, H, Vogel, GM, Gore, MA, Carlson, MO, Devitt, N, Jacobi, J, Mudge, J, Lamour, K, and Smart, CD (2021) High quality reference genome for the oomycete vegetable pathogen Phytophthora capsici strain LT1534. Microbiology Resource Announcements Volume 10 Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00295-21

Sudermann, MR, McGlip, L, Regnier, M, Rodriguez Jaramillo, A, Vogel, G, and Smart, CD (2022) Towards a greater understanding of the population diversity of Passalora fulva in US high tunnels. Phytopathology in press https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-21-0244-R

Swisher Grimm, K.D., Crosslin, J.M., Cooper, W.R., Frost, K.E., du Toit, L.J., and Wohleb, C.H. 2021. First report of Curly Top of Coriandrum sativum L. caused by Beet curly top virus in the Columbia Basin of Washington State. Plant Disease (Note) XX:XXX-XXX (In press).

Synoground, T., Batson, A., Derie, M. L., Koenick, L. B., Pethybridge, S. J., and du Toit, L. J. 2020. First report of Cercospora leaf spot caused by Cercospora chenopodii on Spinacia oleracea in the USA. Plant Dis. 104:976.https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-19-1924-PDN.

Toth, JA, Smart, LB, Smart, CD, Stack, GM, Carlson, CH, Philippe, G, and Rose, JKC (2021) Limited effect of environmental stress on cannabinoid profiles in high-cannabidiol hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). Global Change Biology Bioenergy 13: 1666-1674 http://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12880

Verma H, Kumar D, Kumar V, Kumari M, Singh SK, Sharma VK, Droby S, Santoyo G, White JF, Kumar A. 2021. The Potential Application of Endophytes in Management of Stress from Drought and Salinity in Crop Plants. Microorganisms. 2021 9(8):1729. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9081729. 

Verma SK, Sahu PK, Kumar K, Pal G, Gond SK, Kharwar RN, White JF. 2021. Endophyte roles in nutrient acquisition, root system architecture development and oxidative stress tolerance. J Appl Microbiol. 2021 Nov;131(5):2161-2177. doi: 10.1111/jam.15111. 

Vogel, GM, Gore, MA, and Smart CD (2021) Genome-wide association study in New York Phytophthora capsici isolates reveals loci involved in mating type and mefenoxam sensitivity. Phytopathology 111:204-216 https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-20-0112-FI

Vogel, GM, LaPlant, KE, Mazourek, M, Gore, MA and Smart, CD (2021) A combined BSA-Seq and linkage mapping approach identifies genomic regions associated with Phytophthora root and crown rot resistance in squash. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 134:1015-1031 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-020-03747-1 

Wang, M., Van Vleet, S., Mcgee, R.J., Paulitz, T.C., Porter, L.D., Schroeder, K., Vandemark, G.J., Chen, W. 2021. Chickpea seed rot and damping-off caused by metalaxyl-resistant Pythium ultimum and its management with ethaboxam. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-20-1659-RE.

Wang, X., Liu, Y., Li, Z., Gao, X., Dong, J., Zhang, J., Zhang, L., Thomashow, L.S., Weller, D.M., Yang, M. 2020. Genome-wide identification and expression profile analysis of the phospholipase C gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plants. 9(7), 885. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070885.

Wang, X., Schlatter, D.C., Glawe, D.A., Edwards, C.G., Weller, D.M., Paulitz, T.C., Abatzoglou, J.T., Okubara, P.A. 2021. Native yeast and non-yeast fungal communities of Cabernet Sauvignon berries from two Washington State vineyards, and persistence in spontaneous fermentation. International Journal of Food Microbiology. S0168- 1605(21)00184-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109225.

Wendlandt, C. E., Helliwell, E., Roberts, M., Nguyen, K. T., Friesen, M. L., von Wettberg, E., Price, P., Griffitts, J.S., & Porter, S. S. (2021). Decreased coevolutionary potential and increased symbiont fecundity during the biological invasion of a legume‐rhizobium mutualism. Evolution, 75(3), 731-747.

White JF, Chang X, Kingsley KL, Zhang Q, Chiaranunt P, et al. 2021. Endophytic bacteria in grass crop growth promotion and biostimulation. Grass Research 1: 5; doi: 10.48130/GR-2021-0005.

Wilkerson, DG, Crowell, CR, Carlson, CH, McMullen P, Smart, CD, and Smart LB (2022) Comparative transcriptomics and eQTL mapping of response to Melampsora americana in selected Salix purpurea F2 progeny. BMC Genomics in press

Yang, M., Thomashow, L.S., Weller, D.M. 2021. Evaluation of the phytotoxicity of 2,4- Diacetylphloroglucinol and Pseudomonas brassicacearum Q8r1-96 on different wheat cultivars. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/phyto-07-20-0315-R.

Yang, M., Xianguo, W., Dong, J., Zhao, W., Alam, T., Thomashow, L.S., Weller, D.M., Gao, X., Rustgi, S., Wen, S. 2020. Proteomics reveals the changes that contribute to Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat. Phytopathology. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-05-20-0171-R.

Yin, C., Schlatter, D.C., Kroese, D., Paulitz, T.C., Hagerty, C. 2021. Responses of soil fungal communities to lime application in wheat fields in the Pacific Northwest. Frontiers in Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.576763.

Yin, C., Vargas, J.M., Schlatter, D.C., Hagerty, C., Hulbert, S., Paulitz, T.C. 2021. Wheat rhizosphere community selection reveals bacteria associated with reduced root disease. Microbiome. Article 86(2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-020-00997-5.

Zhang Q, White JF. 2021. Bioprospecting Desert Plants for Endophytic and Biostimulant Microbes: A Strategy for Enhancing Agricultural Production in a Hotter, Drier Future. Biology 10(10):961. doi: 10.3390/biology10100961. 

Zhao, H., Sassenrath, G.F., Kirkham, M.B., Wan, N., Lin, X. Daily soil temperature modeling improved by integrating observed snow cover and estimated soil moisture in the U.S. Great Plains. Hydrology and Earth Science Systems. 25:4357-4372. https://doil.org/10.5194/hess-25-4357-2021.

Zhao, H.D., Sassenrath, G.F., Zambreski, Z.T., Shi, L., Lollato, R., De Wolfe, E., Lin, X. Predicting winter wheat heading date: A simple model and its validation in Kansas. J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-21-0040.1.

Books

Becker, J.O. 2021. Mitigating a galling problem in California's carrot production. Chapter 39. In: Integrated nematode management: State of the art and visions for the future. eds. Richard Sikora, Johan Desaeger, and Leendert Molendijk, CABI. Pp 284-289. DOI:10.1079/9781789247541.0039

White JF, Kumar A, Droby S. (editors). 2021. Microbiome Stimulants for Crop Plants: Mechanisms and Applications. Woodhead Publishing, Elsevier, 485 pp.

Extension and technical bulletins

Becker, J.O. and J. Borneman 2021. Underground Ally. Sugar Producer. Published online Feb 01, 2021. https://www.sugarproducer.com/2021/02/underground-ally. January 2021 issue of the Journal Sugar Producer, p. 18-19. http://read.uberflip.com/i/1322521-january-2021/17?

Becker, J.O., A. Ploeg, and J.J. Nuñez 2021. On the horizon: New tools for addressing root-knot nematode challenges in California’s carrot production. UC ANR Kern County Vegetable Crops Newsletter, Feb 2021, 2 pp. http://cekern.ucanr.edu/newsletters/Kern_Vegetable_Crops_Newsletter88463.pdf

Damann, K., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Mesotunnels: Next best tool for cucurbit growers in the Northeastern US? USDA-NIFA OREI Blogpost (14 August 2020).

Dille, J.A., Chism, L.I., Sassenrath, G.F. 2021. Using cover crops to suppress weeds and improve soil health. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 7: Iss. 2. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8052

Hoepting, C, Smart, C, Betaw, H, and Day C. (2021) Organic control of Alternaria leaf spot and head rot in broccoli. VegEdge Newsletter Volume 17 Issue 22 September 15, 2021.

Kikkert, J. R., Pethybridge, S. J., and Heck D. W. 2020. Management of Cercospora leaf spot of table beet in 2020. Cornell VegEdge (1 July 2020). 16(3):10.

Kikkert, J. R., Pethybridge, S. J., and Lund, M. 2020. Management of white mold in beans. Cornell VegEdge 16(16):7.

Kikkert. J. R., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. A new tool for the management of Cercospora leaf spot in table beet in New York: Miravis Prime. Cornell VegEdge 1 March 2020. Pp. 5. https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/pdf/veg_edge/pdf182_pdf.pdf.

Pethybridge, S. J., and Kikkert, J. R. 2020. Identification and management of foliar diseases of table beet. Proc. of the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers Convention, Hershey, Pennsylvania. 28 January 2020. Pp. 35-37.

Pethybridge, S. J., Hoepting, C., and Hay, F. S. 2020. Stemphylium leaf blight in onions. Proc. of the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Growers Convention, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 28 January 2020. Pp. 24-26.

Pethybridge, S. J., Olmstead, D., and Kikkert. J. R. 2020. Decision support for Cercospora leaf spot management in table beet in New York. Manual for New York table beet growers. 7 January 2020. Pp. 9.

Pethybridge, S.J., and Kikkert, J. R. 2020. Identification of foliar pathogens and best management practices for Cercospora leaf spot. Proc. of the Empire Expo, Syracuse, New York. 16 January 2020. Pp. 6.

Sassenrath, G.F., Knapp, M., Lin, X. 2021. Southeast Kansas weather summary – 2020. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 7: Iss. 2. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8053

Sassenrath, G.F., Mengarelli, L., Lingenfelser, J., Lin, X. 2021. Crop production 2020 – Corn, sorghum, Soybean, and sunflower variety testing. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 7: Iss. 2. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8051

Sassenrath, G.F., Mengarelli, L., Lingenfelser, J., Lin, X. 2021. Southeast Kansas wheat variety test results – 2020. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 7: Iss. 2. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8049

Sassenrath, G.F., Zhao, H., Lin, X. 2021. Impact of fungicide on wheat. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 7: Iss. 2. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8050

Schillinger, W., Jirava, R., Paulitz, T., Hansen, J., Jacobsen, J. and Schoftoll, S.  2021. Canola Rotation Effects on Soil Microbiology and Subsequent Wheat Yield. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Technical Report 21-1. Pg. 63-64.

Smart CD (2021) Integrated Pest Management School: Spots and Rots on Cole Crops. Proceedings of the 2021 Empire Producers Expo

Smart, CD (2021) Managing Phytophthora in pumpkins & melons – the New York experience. Proceedings of the 2021 Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Convention.

Smart, CD, Cala, AR, and McMullen, P. (2021) Management strategies to control powdery mildew and root rots of hemp. Proceeding of the 2021 Hemp Field Day 0 posted on the Cornell hemp blog.

Smart, CD, Lange, H, Kreis, R, Gonzalez Giron, JL (2021) Spots and rots on Brassicas: Managing common diseases. Proceedings of the 2021 Empire Producers Expo.

Wen, N., Strauss, N., Garland-Campbell, K., and Paulitz, T. C.  2021. A Rapid Greenhouse Screening Method for Cereal Cyst Nematode (CCN) Resistance in Wheat Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Technical Report 21-1. Pg. 15.

Yin, C., Schlatter, D., Kroese, D., Paulitz, T. C. and Hagerty, C. H.  2021. Responses of Soil Fungal Communities to Lime Application in Wheat Fields in the Pacific Northwest. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Technical Report 21-1. Pg. 14

Meeting presentations and proceedings

Gachomo EW, Efficacies of biofungicides against Pythium species and their impacts on non-target organisms in the soil, American Phytopathological Society annual conference, August 2021.

Gachomo EW, The impacts of biofungicides on Pythium species and their associated microbiome in the soil.  The 66^th annual conference on soilborne plant pathogens and the 51^st California nematology workshop, March 2021

McBeath, J.H., McKee, H. and K. Thompson. 2021. Peony Disease Research in 2020 and 2021. Alaska Farm Conference, Nov. 14, 2021.   

Olukolu BA (2021) Analysis of quantitative reduced representation sequencing data for strain-level metagenomic profiling. UTK OIT High Performance and Scientific Computing (HPSC) “-omics Symposium”. Knoxville, TN.

Olukolu BA (2021) A quantitative Reduced Representation Sequencing (qRRS) of genomes; a paradigm shift in NGS-based genotyping. 36th Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference (SFTIC).

Olukolu BA (2021) Metagenome-assisted genetic analyses improve GWAS/genomic prediction accuracy of disease traits. Department of Horticultural Science Seminar Series, University of Minnesota.

Wilkerson, T. H. Thomas W. Allen, Daryl Chastain, Sally Stetina, Jack C. McCarty and Nicholus Tadlock 2020. Efficacy of Reniform Resistant Cultivars and Commercially Available Nematicides to Manage the Reniform Nematode In: Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences, virtual, January 5-7, 2021. Mississippi State University. Scope: State. Refereed: No. Invited or accepted: Accepted.

Abstracts

Cox, A., Moore, A. and Frost, K. 2021. Assessing spatial variability of soil health properties in Pacific Northwest potato cropping systems. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, November 7-10, Salt Lake City, UT. 

Zeng, Y., Davidson, M., Casey, D., O’Neil, P., Pandey, B, Fulladolsa, A.C., Ham, J. Chim, B.K., Frost, K., Pasche, J. and Charkowski, A.O. 2022. Integrating remote sensing and molecular pathogen detection methods for developing a risk prediction model on an emerging soilborne disease in potato. 10^th International Integrated Pest Management Symposium, February 28 – March 3, Denver, CO.

Extension Talks/Field Days/Workshops/Consultations

Becker, J.O. 2021. Carrot nematode management. Field day and ppt presentation. University of California South Coast Research & Extension Center, August 5, 2021.

Becker, J.O. 2021. Decline of nematicide use in cole crops. UC IPM meeting, ANR Soilborne Plant Pathogens Workgroup, August 6, 2021, (invited Zoom presentation).

Becker, J.O. 2021. IPM projects with sugar beet cyst and root knot nematodes. California Nematology Workgroup Meeting (Zoom), March 23, 2021. (invited)

Becker, J.O. 2021. Management of plant-parasitic nematodes with chemical and biological agents. Graduate student class lecture NEM206 IPM, August 3, 2021. (invited)

Becker, J.O. 2021. Nematicide use-decline: Exploring the past to understand the present. 66th Annual Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens and 51st Statewide California Nematology Workshop, March 23-24, 2021. Zoom presentation.

Becker, J.O. 2021. New tools for nematode management in vegetable production. Field day and ppt presentation. University of California South Coast Research & Extension Center, August 9, 2021.

Becker, J.O. 2021. Root-knot nematodes: Biology and IPM. Video presentation (Microsoft teams) and discussion with graduate students, University KU Leuven, Belgium, April 21, 2021. (invited)

Becker, J.O. 2021. The nature of a cyst nematode population suppression. Invited international seminar presentation, organized by the Department of Plant Pathology, University College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, and the Phytopathological Society of Pakistan, May 26, 2021 (via Zoom and live Facebook transmission). (invited)

Borneman, J., and J.O. Becker 2020. Fungal species naturally suppresses cyst nematodes responsible for major sugar beet losses. EurekAlert! 29-Oct-2020, American Association for the Advancement of Science. eurekalert.org https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/aps-fsn102920.php

Branch, E., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Control of Rhizoctonia root rot of table beet. New York Processing Vegetable Meeting, Virtual by Zoom. Attendees = 48. Duration = 30 min. Total contact = 24 hours. 16 December 2020.

Evin, B., Frost, K., Kinkel, L., MacGuidwin, A., Knuteson, D., Gevens, A., and Larkin, R. 2021. Disease suppressive soils. USDA NIFA Enhancing Soil Health in U.S. Potato Production Systems Extension Publication.

Friesen, M. OSU Hermiston Farm Fair Special Session on Soil Health Agenda, November 2021

Frost, K. Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook. 2021. Edited by Pscheidt, J. and Ocamb, C., Oregon State University Press. Role: Co-author of sections describing 2 hemp diseases in 2021.

Frost, K. Suppression of potato diseases using crop rotation. Washington-Oregon Potato Conference (Virtual), January 26, 2021 (~371) Invited.

Frost, K.E. Blackleg and soft rot diseases in potato. Idaho Potato Conference (Virtual), January 17, 2021 (~448). Invited

Frost, K.E. Diseases observed in Oregon’s hemp crop. Southern Oregon Hemp Growers Forum (Virtual), July 6, 2021 (~25). Invited.

Frost, K.E. Informal Discussion. First rating of the Washington State potato seed lot trial, Othello, WA, June 8, 2021 (~30).

Frost, K.E. Powdery scab and the environment.  Hermiston Farm Fair (Virtual), December 1, 2021 (~185). Invited.

Frost, K.E. Summary of ongoing studies on crop rotation and soil fumigation. OSU-HAREC Potato Field Day, Hermiston, OR, June 23, 2021 (~70) Invited.

Frost, K.E. What we are learning about potato soft rot in the western U.S. Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association/University of Wisconsin Grower Education Conference (Virtual), February 3, 2021 (~140). Invited.

Hay, F. S., Kikkert, J. R., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Integrated management of white mold in dry bean in New York. NYS Dry Bean Council, Batavia, New York. Attendees = 55. Duration = 60 min. Total contact = 55 hours. 10 March 2020.

Leveau, JHJ.  December 17, 2019: 'Deconstructing the complexity of the plant microbial biome', John Lawrence Seminar at the Berkeley Lab, Aquatic Park, Berkeley CA.

Leveau, JHJ.  December 4, 2020: ‘Microbial associations with plants: bio-based services for sustainable protection of California crops’, presentation at the annual W4147 project meeting (remote).

Leveau, JHJ.  February 5, 2020: 'Scales, types, and outcomes of microbial interactions in the phytobiome', flash talk at the Tri-Institutional Partnership in Microbiome Research networking event, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA.

Leveau, JHJ.  February, 1, 2021: ‘Microbial epiphytes for biocontrol of agricultural pathogens’, teaching seminar, Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, hosted by Dr. Sharon Doty (remote).

Leveau, JHJ.  January 13, 2021: ‘Antimycotal activity of Collimonas isolates and synergy-based biological control of Fusarium wilt of tomato’, presentation at the 2020 UC Davis virtual meeting with Bayer Crop Science (remote).

Leveau, JHJ.  March 3, 2021: ‘Studying microbial interactions in the phytobiome at microbial scales’, invited presentation at the Microbiome for Agriculture Congress, March 3-4, 2021 (remote).

Leveau, JHJ.  September 23, 2020: ‘Welcome to Lab Leveau’, presentation at the 2020 Plant Pathology department retreat at UC Davis (remote).

Leveau, JHJ.  September 30, 2021: ‘Mission-driven research and experience-based learning in plant-microbe ecology’, presentation as part of the application for the John and Joan Fiddyment Endowed Chair in Agriculture, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis (remote)

Murphy, S., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Potential of plant growth regulators for manipulating processing carrot growth in New York. New York Processing Vegetable Meeting, Virtual by Zoom. Attendees = 48. Duration = 30 min. Total contact = 24 hours. 16 December 2020.

Paulitz, T. C.  2021. “Soil Microbial Communities: Relation to Plant and Soil Health in Wheat to the WSU Farmers Network Soil Health Webinar Jan. 13, 2021.

Paulitz, T. C. 2021. “What’s New in Research on Soilborne Plant Pathogens”. Spokane Farm Forum, Ag Expo, Spokane, Washington.   Feb. 23, 2021

Paulitz, T. C. 2021. Soil Microbial Communities: Relation to Plant and Soil Health in Wheat.  Southern Mississippi University, Sept. 17, 2021.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Bacterial diseases of cucurbits and chenopods. USDA-NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative Project Initiation Webinar. Attendees = 68. Duration = 60 min. Total contact = 68 hours. 20 May 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Cercospora leaf spot decision support system training program. Attendees = 20. Duration = 180 min. Total contact = 60 hours. 5 March 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Cucurbit and chenopods SCRI project: Objective 2. Attendees = 30. Duration = 180 min. Total contact = 90 hours. 12 March 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Digital agriculture in New York broad acre vegetable production. A reporting session for NSF PFI Advisory Committee. Attendees = 60. Duration = 180 min. Total contact = 180 hours. 17 March 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Digital agriculture in New York table beet production. A reporting session for Love Beets USA. Attendees = 20. Duration = 180 min. Total contact = 60 hours. 13 March 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Digital solutions to phytopathometry. NSF NRT Digital Plant Science Seminar and PLSCI 6400 and guest lecture. Attendees = 35. Duration = 60 min. Total contact = 35 h. 15 October 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Disease forecasting in vegetable pathology. Invited Lecture (Advanced Plant Pathology). University of Georgia. Attendees = 22. Duration = 90 min. Total contact = 33 h. 15 October 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Identification and management of foliar diseases of table beet. Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention, Hershey, PA. Attendees = 72.  Duration = 30 min. Total contact = 36 hours. 29 January 2020. 

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Inter-cropping cover experiment. USDA-NIFA Organic Transitions Project Meeting. Attendees = 10. Duration = 120 min. Total contact = 20 hours. 26 May 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Manipulating table beet growth and health using plant growth regulators. New York Processing Vegetable Meeting, Virtual by Zoom. Attendees = 48. Duration = 30 min. Total contact = 24 hours. 16 December 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Organic management of foliar diseases of table beet. USDA-NIFA Organic Research and Extension Initiative Project Meeting 1. Attendees = 12. Duration = 120 min. Total contact = 24 hours. 24 March 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Organic management of foliar diseases of table beet. USDA-NIFA Organic Research and Extension Initiative Project Meeting 2. Attendees = 12. Duration = 60 min. Total contact = 12 hours. 19 May 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Soilborne diseases of vegetables in New York. W4147 Multistate Project (by zoom). Attendees = 25. Duration = 60 min. Total contact = 25 h. 4 December 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Stemphylium leaf blight management in onions. Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention, Hershey, PA. Attendees = 120. Duration = 45 min. Total contact = 90 hours. 29 January 2020.

Pethybridge, S. J. 2020. Vegetable pathology + digital agriculture. NSF NRT Digital Plant Science Seminar and PLSCI 6440 guest lecture. Attendees = 15. Duration = 60 min. Total contact = 15 h. 13 October 2020.

Poleatewich, A. Michaud, I. “Natural disease suppression of peat-wood fiber substrates and implications for biological control”. UNH Extension 2020 Plant Health Webinar Series. August 2021

Sassenrath, G. Dec. 9, 2021. Soft winter wheat for southeast Kansas. Agronomy Night, Wildcat District. Independence, KS.

Sassenrath, G. July 13, 2021. Technology and applications in conservation. Precision Ag Short Course. Manhattan, KS.

Sassenrath, G. May 19, 2021. Cover crops, soil health, and weed control. SEREC Spring Crops Field Day. Parsons, KS.

Smart, C. Empire State Producers Expo. January 14, 2021. Integrated Pest Management School: Spots and Rots on Cole Crops. 1 hour talk to 50 growers and educators. Contact hours = 50

Smart, C. Empire State Producers Expo. January 14, 2021. Spots and rots in Brassicas: Managing common diseases. 30 minute talk to 98 growers and educators. Contact hours = 49

Smart, C. Hemp Field Day. August 12 2021. Management strategies to control powdery mildew and root rots of hemp. 30 minute discussion of hemp diseases and management strategies with 75 in person attendees and 285 virtual. Contact hours = 180

Smart, C. Hop Grower project update. December 10, 2021. Plans for disease research on hops including powdery mildew resistance screening of breeding material. 3 hour event, but I spent about 30 minutes of direct interaction time with the 14 growers and researchers present. Contact hours = 7

Smart, C. Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable Convention. January 15, 2021. Managing Phytophthora and downy mildew in pumpkins & melons; the New York experience. 30 minute talk to 36 growers. Contact hours = 18

Smart, C. Western NY farm visits. August 3, 2021. 3 x 1 hour visits at three different farms. Two people per farm. Contact hours = 6

Smart, C. Western NY vegetable twilight meeting. August 3, 2021. Diseases of 2021. 2 hour meeting with 30 growers and educators. Contact hours = 60