2023
Building airborne inoculum surveillance networks for improved management of frogeye leaf spot
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsSeed quality
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Yuan Zeng, Virginia Tech
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
924
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
$26,865
Brief Project Summary:
This research conducts on-farm trials and laboratory experiments that use low-cost spore trapping instruments and a quantitative PCR method to determine the presence and quantity of the fungal pathogen Cercospora sojina, the causal agent of frogeye leaf spot of soybean, and to monitor on-site environmental conditions that correlate with disease progression during the season for the development of an open-access decision support system. To aid in fungicide application decision-making, the project plans to assess the benefit of variety resistance with and without fungicide applications for managing frogeye leaf spot.
Key Beneficiaries:
#agronomists, #extension agents, #farmers
Unique Keywords:
#disease, #disease management, #frogeye leaf spot, #fungicide, #soybean variety trials
Information And Results
Project Summary

We propose to conduct on-farm trials and laboratory experiments that 1) use
low-cost, DIY spore trapping instruments and a quantitative PCR method to
determine the presence and quantity of the fungal pathogen Cercospora sojina
(i.e., the causal agent of frogeye leaf spot of soybean) and 2) monitor on-site
environmental conditions that correlate with disease progression during soybean
growing season for the development of an open-access decision support system
through building airborne inoculum surveillance networks in Virginia’s soybean
production areas. To aid in fungicide application decision-making, 3) we also
plan to assess the benefit of variety resistance with and without fungicide
applications for managing frogeye leaf spot.

Project Objectives

1) Determine the presence and abundance of fungal pathogens in air samples
and environmental conditions that correlate with the development of frogeye
leaf spot disease and yield reduction in soybean fields.
2) Construct mathematical models including factors that predict frogeye leaf
spot disease development to guide fungicide application.
3) Assess the benefits of foliar fungicides used to control frogeye leaf spot on
soybean varieties with varying levels of resistance to the disease.

Project Deliverables

We will use the results of this project to make recommendations on the selection
of soybean variety and fungicide application/timing for Virginia soybean
growers. The qPCR assay developed from this project will be provided to our
growers through the PI’s website (zenglab-pdepmi.com). Each participating
grower will be provided with a unique link for accessing weekly pathogen
population data and on-site weather information.
The in-season C. sojina airborne inoculum will serve as an early warning indicator
of soybean frogeye leaf spot disease development. Through this project, we will
construct an initial fungicide application decision support tool that takes C.
sojina population density into account for the observed and predicted frogeye
leaf spot severity that influences soybean yield. In addition, the value of
fungicides applied to susceptible and frogeye-resistant soybean varieties will be
assessed as a fungicide application decision aid.
This project will increase undergraduate student interns’ awareness of integrated
pest management. They will gain basic knowledge of plant pathology, plant
disease epidemiology, molecular biology, and statistics through this project.

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.