Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Participants:

Jay Hao – ME presented work on soil fumigation in potatoes, which growers are starting to use more. He also reported on fungicide resistance in Alternaria, a PFAS project and isolating organisms that degrade, and potato pathogens.

Daniel Heck-  NY.  Started in Oct. Presented work on leaf drop, Sclerotinia, biocontrol, and quantification of Trichoderma and Coniothyrium. He is at Long Island. Looking at soil solarization to heat up soil during the winter to make conditions more favorable for biocontrol agents.  Using digital PCR to establish a service for growers and pathogen quantification.

Aastha Subedi- Cornell.  Presented work on pathogens of dry beans.  Looking at organic production.  First report of charcoal rot and effect of tillage and N.

Harsh Bais- DE.  Continuing work on microbiome of historic soils, looking at nutrient acquisition. Has cultured some facultative anaerobes.  These are soils that have been buried for thousands of years.

Tika Adhikari  NC-  looking at anaerobic soil disinfestation to suppress black rot in strawberries- Pythium irregulare and Rhizoctonia fragariae.

Ernest Osborne- KY  looking at microbiome of agricultural soils.  Has long-term plots in no-till.  Higher reproductive rates of microbes in tilled soil

Gretchen Sassenrath- KS.   Retiring.  Looking at soybean and soil health and soilborne pathogens, including suppressive soils. Looking at charcoal rot, Brassicas, cover crops, solarization, and animal manure.

Chris Little- KS- gave state of disease and crops.  Charcoal rot top pathogen on soybean, also Sudden death and soybean cyst nematode.

Keerthi Mandyam- SD works on AMF and dark septate endophytes, wheat and soil health. Works with AMF in perennial grasses and DSF (Periconia macrospinosum). Has long- term no-till plots (30 year)

Jed Eberly- MT  Interactions between Fusarium pseudograminearum, wheat and downy brome.  Did field studies, incorporating inoculum in soil.  Using structural equation models.

James Borneman-  CA  Continuing work on Hyalorbilia oviparasitica and sugar beet cyst nematode. Have developed new methods for isolating new strains, using a baiting technique and putting an aseptic nematode on top of the baited one.

Antoon Ploeg- CA continuing work on evaluating nematicides in the file- root knot.  Carrot, tomato.  Evaluating Nimitz as foliar spray.  Also working on biological nematicides.

Emma Gachmo- CA.  Worked on Zonix, a biological control, for control of Pythium and cavity spot of carrot.

Johan Leveau- CA.   Research on Collimonas and Bacillus to protect against Fusarium wilt on tomato.  The bacteria work in synergy, carenaemin produced by Collimonas and bacilomyces produced by Bacillus. Also talked about concept of plant health triangle, featured a recent Annual Review of Phytopathology.

Jiue-in Yang- CA.  Worked on Hyalorbilia, and finding new biocontrol agents against nematodes

Jenifer McBeath- AK- works on diseases of Rhodiola and peony, and Plant Helper (Trichoderma), and microbiomes.

Maren Friesen- WA- worked on free living N fixers, microbiomes, and peaola (pea- canola intercropping)

Ken Frost-  OR.  Works on microbiomes in potato, effect of fumigation and cropping systems.

Sergey Ivanov- OR.  works on AMF, started in Jan. Postdoc in Wageningen and Boyce Thompson.  Role of lipids as C source for AMF.

Jim Farar- CA.  Developing decision-making tool for growers. Looks at different alternatives for pest management, will prioritize and regulate chemical

CA- We demonstrated that different strains of H. oviparasitica were equally effective at suppressing populations of the sugarbeet cyst nematode and the soybean cyst nematode. This result has considerable implications for nematode management, because it suggests that individual strains of this fungus can be used to control different types of cyst nematodes, which would decrease the cost of using these fungi for nematode management. The different types of nematodes that could be controlled by these fungi includes the two listed above as well as the cereal cyst nematode, which causes considerable crop losses to wheat and other grains in the Pacific Northwest.

SD- Sixteen Winter wheat varieties grown under 30+years long-term no-tillage  annual crop trials from two locations in SD were utilized to isolate root and rhizosphere bacteria and fungi. Multiple fungal isolates exhibiting strong antagonistic activity were identified, including Penicillium spp. (growth inhibition) and Marasmius spp. (competitive suppression). These taxa represent promising indigenous, locally adapted biological control candidates for F. graminearum suppression and are being advanced for evaluation as single-strain inoculants and as microbial consortia in soil and plant systems. 

MT- Fusarium pseudograminearum, a fungus causing root crown rot, and Bromus tectorum (L), also known as cheatgrass or downy brome, are significant burdens threatening the economic and environmental sustainability of small grain production systems.Field studies have been completed, and rhizosphere microbial community analysis has been performed to identify changes in community structure in response to Fusarium infection and cheatgrass infestation. Results of this work have demonstrated that F. pseudograminearum alters the rhizosphere bacterial community, but the presence of B. tectorum does not have an effect. 

DE- Our work showed that using a synthetic community approach of administering single or consortium of microbes, we can enrich plants for nutrients and biological control. Using systems approach we used a single inoculum of a wild strain of Bacillus subtills strain UD1022 to control dollar spot disease in turfgrass. Our previous experiments showed the efficacy of B. subtilis UD1022 against dollar spot pathogen (Clarireedia spp.) was dependent on surfactin and SpoA pathway. It is unclear whether UD1022 suppresses dollar spot in creeping bentgrass, and if so, whether the suppression occurs primarily through induced plant defense responses or via direct antagonism. To address these knowledge gaps, we investigate the biocontrol potential of UD1022 against C. jacksonii in creeping bentgrass, focusing on systemic defense responses and direct antagonism mechanisms. Understanding the mechanisms by which PGPR modulate plant immunity could contribute to the development of sustainable turfgrass management approaches. 

DE- The genetic diversity of viruses (bacteriophages, or simply phages) virulent towards soybean Bradyrhizobium spp. was examined.  Phages targeting Bradyrhizobium may modify their hosts’ genotype, alter phenotypic traits such as symbiotic effectiveness, and mediate competition among strains for nodulation sites. Sixteen phages were isolated against B. diazoefficiens strain USDA110 and B. elkanii strains USDA94 and USDA31. Comparative analyses revealed host species-dependent diversity in morphology, host range, and genome composition, leading to the identification of three previously undescribed phage species. 

CA- The Leveau lab continued its collaboration with the group of Dr. Stephane Uroz at INRAE in Nancy, France on a comparative genomics approach to better understand the biology and ecology of bacteria belonging to the genus Collimonas. By comparing 78 Collimonas genomes, we were able to predict the existence of 11 new species of Collimonas, in addition to the seven that have been described so far (i.e. Collimonas fungivorans, pratensis, arenae, antrihumi, humicola, silvisoli, and rhizosphaerae). This set of genomes also revealed an enormous functional diversity within the Collimonas genus, including gene clusters coding for potentially novel types of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity. These new insights into Collimonas function will not only inform our efforts to develop collimonads as biocontrol agents of fungal pathogens, but also to further explore this group of bacteria as biostimulants and as a boosters of plant growth.

In the course of studying Collimonas sp. Cal35, we discovered that careneamin, the antifungal compound that this strain produces and that underlies the ability of Cal35 to suppress the onset of foliar wilt on tomato plants caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

The Leveau lab also started working with the company LiveGrow Bio which specializes in the formulation of Gram-negative bacteria (such as collimonads). The purpose of this formulation is to help increase shelf-stability, facilitate shipment, and standardize the application of collimonads in greenhouse and field trials, either by themselves or in combination with Bacillus strains or Bacillus-based products.

OR- Potato cultivar selection and fumigation. We conducted trials to test how soil fumigation with metam sodium interacts with different russet potato cultivars under very low natural disease pressure. We collected data on disease severity, yield, tuber quality, and economic outcomes and found that cultivar strongly influenced plant emergence and canopy development. Unsurprisingly, fumigation improved plant health and yield, however, the magnitude of benefit varied by cultivar with an older susceptible cultivar (e.g., ‘Russet Burbank’) benefitting most from fumigation, while a newer disease resistant cultivar (e.g., ‘Clearwater Russet’) benefitted less from fumigation. When yield and grade data were analyzed through a mock processing contract, we found that fumigation consistently improved crop value; however, the magnitude of economic return was highly dependent on cultivar, underscoring the importance of optimizing fumigation strategies in relation to cultivar selection.

OR-  Powdery scab suppressive activity of soil. We used greenhouse bioassays to further characterize powdery scab suppressive activity associated with microbial activity in several soils. Disease was assessed visually and pathogen infection was assessed using PCR. Bacterial and fungal community composition were assessed using amplicon sequencing. We continue to find that sterilization can alter the powdery scab suppressive activity of soils, indicating a potential biotic mechanism behind disease suppression. Total variation of eukaryotic and bacterial communities was greater in bulk soils than rhizosphere soils. In both rhizosphere and bulk soils, the interaction between soil origin and soil mixture explained 18% and 17% of the variation in eukaryotic and bacterial communities (p<0.001). We are characterizing the microbial taxa to identify indicator species that may be linked to disease suppressive activity. 

OR-. Interaction of soil fumigation interacts and rotation length. We compared continuous potato production to a three-year potato rotation, with fumigation treatments of non-fumigated, metam sodium, and chloropicrin. Yield in the continuous potato cropping system decreased over time, while yields in the three-year rotation were constant or increased slightly. Yield from the continuous potato treatment was 50% lower than yield of the three-year rotation. Yield was lowest in continuous potato plots without fumigation. Soil fumigation increased yield by 36% and 9% in the continuous and three-year potato rotations, respectively. 

UT- We have isolated 170 rhizobacteria and are characterizing them for use as biofertilizers under different abiotic conditions and for their biocontrol activities against various bacterial and fungal pathogens. We have screened 13 rhizobacteria for their ability to promote plant growth in Arabidopsis. These isolates are now being tested for drought tolerance in Arabidopsis and for growth promotion in watermelon and maize. These microbes will be tested for biocontrol activities. One isolate, CK22, tested on tomatoes under low nitrogen input showed a significant increase in good-quality tomatoes, resistant to blossom end rot, and insect attack compared to nontreated, compost-treated, and blood meal-treated plants. 

CA- Sugar beet cyst nematodes (Heterodera schachtii) also infect Cole crops (Brassica oleracea), including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, which are mainly cultivated along California's coastal counties. Heavy use of soil fumigants before 1990, especially 1,3-dichloropropene (Telone II), decreased toward the end of the decade. A recent survey of coastal broccoli fields found only a few locations with potentially damaging levels of cyst nematode populations. Experiments with randomly selected broccoli field soils showed that almost all were highly suppressive to H. schachtii. Direct isolation of fungi from parasitized H. schachtii females and molecular identification suggested that biological suppression was likely caused by various nematode-parasitic fungi, particularly Hyalorbilia spp. and Metacordyceps spp. An isolated, cultivated Hyalorbilia strain was highly parasitic on sugar beet cyst nematodes. Due to the significance of the soybean cyst nematode in many other states, especially in the Midwest of the US, tests with the fungus against an H. glycines population were performed in our Quarantine Greenhouse Facilities. The interaction was as effective as it was against H. schachtii. 

WA- Winter pea, a new rotation crops in the wheat fallow zone, changes the microbiome of the wheat crop Growers in the dry wheat-fallow zone of eastern Washington can only grow one crop every 2 years.  For the last 120 years, they have monocropped wheat.  But recent varieties of winter pea can be deep-planted, and have food-grade qualities that make it economical to grow. Researchers at ARS Pullman and Prosser, Washington, looked at the rhizosphere microbiome of peas grown in rotation, and found differences in the core bacterial and fungal microbiome. The legacy effect of the pea on the wheat microbiome was seen in bacteria but not fungi, and persisted even after a year fallow period.  This legacy microbiome effect may be important for improving soil health in a more diverse rotation.

WA-AI (artificial intelligence) can be used to identify plant parasitic nematodes. We developed an object segmentation algorithm, YOLOv11-seg for identifying three genera of PPN on potato. The model predicts each pixel in the image, and was trained and evaluated on previously unseen images. The model achieved high overall accuracy (validation: 92.4%; test: 88.6%) and good performance for major plant-parasitic genera. Accurate identification of nematodes is critical for growers to make management decisions in wheat and potato cropping systems.   

WA- Crops grown in arid and semi-arid regions recruit beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms to mitigate stress and enhance resilience. Crops can tolerate more drought stress when protected by microbes on the roots. Root exudates may play an important role in feeding these microbes. ARS scientists discovered that water-stressed wheat root exudates are enriched in quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), such as choline and glycine betaine, which act as osmoprotectants supporting bacterial survival under drought conditions. Exposure to these exudates upregulated genes involved in the uptake and metabolism of QACs, enhancing bacterial osmotic stress tolerance. Additionally, rhizosphere Pseudomonas produce biofilms containing exopolysaccharides that contribute to their stress resilience in water-limited environments. These findings reveal how root exudates shape microbial adaptation to drought stress and underscore the importance of QAC metabolism and biofilm formation for microbial survival and plant-microbe interactions in arid regions. Such insights provide valuable foundations for developing microbiome-based strategies to improve crop drought resilience and productivity in water-limited conditions.

NY- Characterizing the table beet microbiome. In 2021 and 2022, microbiome samples were collected from nine table beet fields in New York representing the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and bulk soil. Differences in the bacterial and fungal communities were associated with sample type, and additional variation was explained by field. Rhizosphere soil communities were similar to bulk soil communities, and both were distinct from phyllosphere microbiomes. Bulk soil and rhizosphere microbiomes had higher alpha diversity than phyllosphere microbiomes. Only bacteria and fungi in the foliar epiphyte community were present in over 90% of samples and had higher relative abundance compared with the bulk soil community and therefore were considered within the core microbiome. The core microbiome included members of the bacterial genera Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Massilia, and members of the fungal genera were Alternaria, Epicoccum, and Cladosporium. Overall, a relatively small number of core bacteria and fungi made up the table beet microbiome.

NY- Effects of tillage x nitrogen interactions on organic dry bean production. A trial was conducted to determine optimal nitrogen (N) fertility management in a cover crop-based no-till system.  To date, 4 of the 8 site years have been analyzed. In 3 of the 4 site years, rye biomass was significantly increased with added fertility in the fall. Despite this increase in rye biomass, there was no significant reduction in weed biomass over the bean growing season, and in the 2 years with greatest rye biomass accumulation rye lodging severity increased with added fertility and bean emergence was delayed in NT treatments. Fungal isolations were conducted from selected treatments to characterize treatment effects on root health in ME and NY. From the 2024 trials, the major root pathogens differed between state. The fungus, Macrophomina phaseolina was reported for the first time in dry beans in NY and published.

TX- A field experiment is in progress near Overton, TX to evaluate soil biofumigation and poultry manure amendments for suppressing Burkholderia cepacia complex (the causal agents of sour skin and/or slippery skin diseases in onion). Field treatments include poultry manure (PM) with or without a mustard cover crop (MCC). Two mustard varieties, Pacific Gold and Caliente Rojo, were evaluated for their performance in the region and their glucosinolate content.

Pacific Gold showed better establishment, biomass production, and total glucosinolate content than Caliente Rojo. These findings will help growers select mustard varieties with stronger biofumigation potential under regional soil and climatic conditions .Disease suppression results were inconclusive. 

TX- We isolated a strain of Roseateles chitinivorans, RcP500, corresponding to the most abundant bacterial taxon in the switchgrass root microbiome. Inoculation of roots with RcP500 promoted growth and induced systemic resistance (ISR) to Bipolaris leaf spot of switchgrass and closely related Panicum hallii. R. chitinivorans is also highly abundant in rhizosphere and root microbiomes of maize and rice and enhanced growth of these two plant species.

VA- We characterized boxwood phyllosphere and rhizosphere soil microbiome among selected cultivars, regions, and sampling times. We examined biochar for boxwood blight mitigation and demonstrated flutriafol drench providing season-long protection of boxwood plantings at two landscape sites in Richmond, VA.

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.

DE  We used bacterial-derived molecules from PGPR B. subtilis UD1022 to evaluate the role of plant association response. We showed that the influence of surfactin and glutamate on the level and specificity of colonization of Bacillus subtilis along different regions of tomato root by adding exogenous compounds and testing mutated bacterial strains. Root mapping of a tomato seedling shows that B. subtilis prefers to colonize near the mature region of the root and that colonization patterns vary based on exogenous metabolite concentration. Inclusion of glutamate in the media or through transient priming of the plant prior to bacterial inoculation strongly promoted root colonization by B. subtilis strains (both sfp⁺ and sfp^-). Overall, our work reveals a preference for colonization of these B. subtilis strains to the mature region of tomato in the absence of glutamate supplementation and demonstrates a smaller than anticipated role of biosynthesized or supplemented surfactin on root colonization, at least in a hydroponic culturing format.

 WA - Intercropped plants maintain consistent microbiomes, but external nitrogen homogenizes the rhizosphere microbiome. Pea and canola have been found to show overyielding in the inland PNW when intercropped, but the mechanisms of this are not known. We characterized three years of peaola field trials for the plant and soil microbiomes, and found that pea and canola consistently maintained distinct microbiomes from one another. However, with added nitrogen fertilizer there were fewer differences. In general, soil sampled at flowering did not contain less nitrogen under an intercrop than under a monocrop with added nitrogen fertilizer, demonstrating the potential for intercropping with legumes to meet the nitrogen demands of non-legume crops. These data show which bacteria each plant recruits to its rhizosphere, and could be useful in rational design of microbiomes for enhanced nutrient cycling or other purposes. 

TX- A greenhouse experiment was completed to evaluate different cultural practices and organic amendments to suppress Phytophthora capsici in bell peppers. Experimental treatments included poultry manure (PM) with or without mustard seed meal (MSM) biofumigation, PM with anaerobic soil disinfection (ASD) and chemical fertilizer (CF) with or without MSM, biochar (BC) and forest soil inoculation. Data analysis is ongoing to characterize the core microbiome and identify potential linkages to disease suppression. Plant yield data indicated that both PM and MSM are effective nutrient sources and can be reliably used as soil amendments in organic systems. However, ASD resulted in significantly lower yields and may negatively affect plant nutrient availability.

 TX- The major objective for the past year was to identify maize genes responsible for biosynthesis of induced systemic resistance ISR long-distance signal, oxylipin ketol KODA, produced in roots in response to root colonization by the beneficial fungus Trichoderma virens and one of the most abundant but understudied grass root-colonizing bacterial species Roseateles chitinivorans resulting in increased resistance in leaves to Colletotrichum graminicola, the causal agent of anthracnose leaf blight and stalk rot, and to Cochliobolus heterostrophus, the causal agent of Southern Corn Leaf Blight disease

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

 NY- Spatiotemporal spread of Cercospora leaf spot in table beet and implications for disease management This study depicted spatial spread of CLS from linear transects inoculated with known C. beticola genotypes were best fit to the modified power law model, typical of wind-dispersed pathogen propagules. The spatiotemporal patterns of genetic diversity, differentiation and structure of 324 C. beticola isolates from populations at variable distances from the inoculum and subsequent seasons were also characterized using 11 microsatellite loci. Sixty-two multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified. The majority of isolates at the inoculated transects were identified as source genotypes. However, the presence of novel genotypes in the noninoculated plots and at different distances from the transects suggests the presence of some naturally occurring inoculum. The presence of shared MLGs between two consecutive seasons within fields suggests that inoculum carry-over on infested crop residue was a dominant factor in initiation of outbreaks in the second season. A high clonal fraction, and significant mating type and linkage disequilibrium in C. beticola populations suggested limited sexual reproduction and dominance of clonal propagation. These findings suggest CLS spreads predominantly by wind-dispersed conidia within season. Crop rotation with nonsusceptible hosts may be the most effective in reducing inoculum carryover between seasons.  

NY- Efficacy of pesticides for bacterial leaf spot control in table beet, 2025. Bacterial leaf spot (BLS), caused by the bacterium, Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata, is a major constraint to table beet production in New York (NY). The disease causes reductions in green leaf area and defoliation, and in severe cases, seedling death. A replicated small plot trial was conducted to evaluate selected pesticides for BLS control in table beet at Geneva, NY in 2025. As expected, Cueva provided excellent BLS control and significantly reduced BLS epidemic progress by 86.2% and 96.5% for incidence and severity, respectively. GotaBlanca was also effective at reducing BLS incidence and severity. The lower rate (27 fl oz/A) resulted in significantly higher BLS epidemic progress than the higher two rates which were not significantly different between each other. In all plots receiving GotaBlanca, NDVI was significantly increased compared to the nontreated control plots and not significantly different between the rates. Zymtronix products also significantly reduced BLS compared to the nontreated control plots with improved efficacy in plots receiving the B product compared to A. Titanium dioxide was also highly effective for BLS control and not significantly different between the rates tested.  

NY- Efficacy of fungicides for Cercospora leaf spot control in table beet, 2025. A replicated small plot trial was conducted to evaluate selected fungicides for CLS control in table beet at Geneva, NY in 2025. Cevya and Miravis Prime were highly effective for CLS control and there was no significant benefit in applying more than one application of either product, at the 7-day reapplication interval. Zymtronix A and B also provided moderate CLS control and was not significantly different between formulations. GotaBlanca provided excellent control of CLS and there was no significant difference in disease control between the rates tested. Titanium dioxide was only effective for CLS control at the highest rate (1,500 ppm) and was not significantly different from plots receiving three applications of Cevya and Miravis Prime, but some phytotoxicity also occurred. The absence of an effect of these products on root yield components is beneficial to abide by strict processor regulation requirements for placement into cans and jars. 

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. 

WA- Advised 4 PhD students and co-advised 2 PhD students, along with 3 post-docs. Advised a team of high school students to design a video game titled “Banana Hero”, in which a scientist of the future is seeking biocontrol bacteria to combat a deadly banana disease. This was submitted to the NSF Game Design Challenge. Organized Palouse Prairie Alliance Prairie Walk (Liberty Butte), May 2025. Organized Palouse Prairie Alliance Visioning Workshop, Feb 2025, De Smet ID (40 participants including Tribal members and employees, University researchers, NRCS and Conservation Districts, Non-profits, Landowners) 

OR- Advised one faculty research assistant, one technician, two graduate students, and two undergraduate students. In 2025, we published eight refereed papers and submitted six abstracts to meetings. Research results have been disseminated to growers within and outside the region through 10 presentations at six grower education events and two field days. Research results were also disseminated to peers via six scientific 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. In 2025, these services result in approximately 150 direct contacts with farmers or crop managers. In 2025, I was a Senior Editor for the APS Journal Phytofrontiers.

WA-Supervised one PhD and one MSc student. Supervised 2 undergraduate students in summer internships, and one during the year. Presented 5 grower talks.  Continued collaboration with researchers in Morocco and Tunisia, writing manuscripts together. Served as local arrangements committee for joint meeting of APS Pacific Division and the 70^th Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens, Davis, CA. March 25-27, 2025.

NY- Outreach activities on sustainable disease management.

In 2025, Pethybridge gave 11 extension/outreach presentations on soilborne disease management to the broadacre vegetable and dry bean industry stakeholders and growers, and high schoolers. These presentations were predominantly meetings organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension throughout NY, and the Northeastern United States. Pethybridge supervised one graduate student (Pratibha Sharma). Pethybridge supervised three undergraduate students (Finger Lakes Community College, SUNY – Morrisville, and University of Buffalo) over summer 2025.

NJ- Attended and presented a plenary presentation on endophytic microbes at then ACRES annual conference in Madison, Wisconsin Dec. 3, 2025. Participated in a Canadian TV program ‘La semaine verte’ that highlighted endophyte research regarding soil health. 

VA- Reached out to the environmental industry and the public to share the latest research and promote microbiome-based blight management and sustainable boxwood production and gardening. • Regularly updated the outreach website of Boxwood Blight Insight Group (BBIG). • Co-organized and -served on the panel of two webinars on the BBIG Boxwood Seminar series on February 6 and March 11, 2025, respectively. • Provided one webinar on the BBIG Boxwood Seminar series and one presentation at the American Boxwood Society 2025 Symposium, both on biocontrol of plant diseases for the environmental horticulture industry, public and private gardeners as well as extension and research communities as the primary audience. • Presented boxwood rhizosphere microbiome research at the International Phytobiomes Conference in St Louis, MO, and global approach to boxwood blight, an emerging invasive disease of world-wide significance at the PlantHealth 2025 in Honolulu, HI. • Used Google group listservs for mass distribution of the latest research about boxwood blight mitigation.

TX- The genetic materials and knowledge generated in this project were used in teaching undergraduate and graduate classes focusing on Plant Pathology and Defense Hormone Signaling, respectively.

UT. Two graduate students and two undergraduate students were involved in this research and trained in plant molecular pathology, plant pathology and microbiology, abiotic stress physiology, genetics and biochemistry. One oral presentation and 13 posters presented by students.

DE- Morgese, EA.  (PhD Student advised by J. Fuhrmann) — Lead Science Instructor for the non-profit FourYouth, Wilmington, Delaware.  Developed and taught hands-on STEAM curricula for underserved K–12 students in after-school, weekend, and summer programs.  (active all of 2025)

MT- Outputs included a presentation at the MSU Central Agricultural Research Center annual field day on June 25 to around 60 attendees. Results of this work were also presented at the Montana Organic Association Conference on December 10.

CA- James Borneman gave presentations to undergraduate in his Microbiomes course (MCBL 126). These presentations covered biological suppression of plant parasitic nematodes as well as root microbes that may inhibit or exacerbate Huanglongbing (HLB) disease of citrus.

Grants, Contracts & Other Resources Obtained. W-5147 2025

Publications 2025 

Peer Reviewed 

Aydin D, Parks JM, Tirkes S, Collins CE, Akin ID, Friesen ML, Call DR, Beyenal H. 2025. Microbial diversity in active and abandoned desert kangaroo rat burrows and from proximal surface sand. Microbiol Spectr13:e01388-24.https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01388-24

Barnes, E., Yin, C., Schlatter, D.C., Peng, H., Willmore, C.G., Lu, C., Tringe, S., Paulitz, T.C. 2024. Legacy effects of cropping system and precipitation influence core Camelina sativa microbiome. Phytobiomes Journal. e-ISSN: 2471-2906. https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-08-24-0080-R.

Branch, E., Sharma, P., Kikkert, J. R., and Pethybridge, S. J. 2025. Characterization of the core microbiome associated with table beet production across New York. PhytoFrontiers PHYTOFR-03-25-0022-R. On Just Published. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-03-25-0022-R

Cao, Y., Shen, Z., Zhang, N., Dang, X., Thomashow, L.S., Lidbury, I., Liu, H., Li, R., Shen, Q., Kowalchuk, G.A. 2024. Phosphorus availability influences disease suppressive soil microbiome through plant-microbe interactions. Microbiome. 12.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-024-01906-w.

Chiaranunt, Peerapol; Wysocki, Konrad Z; Kingsley, Kathryn L; Lindert, Sean; Velazquez, Fernando; White, James F. 2025. Evaluation of Capsaicin as a Selector for Growth Promotional Bacteria Isolated from Capsicum Peppers. Sustainability 17: 10549. MDPI 

Daughtrey, M. L., Gray, J., Calabro, J., and Hong, C. X. 2025. Fighting against invasive species through global and stakeholder partnerships – a case study of boxwood blight. Plant Disease published online as First Look at https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0210-SC

Eaker, AA, Rowe, SL, Friesen ML. 2025. Antagonism Within Mutualism: Host Control of Symbionts Through Nodule-Specific Antimicrobial Peptides. Frontiers in Microbiology. 16, 1622262

Eberly JO, Hurd A, Hammontree JW, Carr PM (2025) Soil microbiome response to integrated perennial weed management practices in semi-arid organic cropping systems. Organic Agriculture. doi: 10.1007/s13165-025-00497-6 

Fuller, K.B., Adhikari, K., Crants, J., Frost, K., Gudmestad, N., Mass, A., McIntosh, C., Miller, Moore, A., J., Rosen, C., Thornton, M., Pasche, and Stasko, A. 2025. The economic performance of soil health practices in potato production systems. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 40:e7. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170525000055.

Huang P-C, Ngo CQ, DeWatt A, Kolomiets MV, Edwards JA (2025) A Broadly Distributed