Project Number: 6618-22000-026-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Feb 01, 2003
End Date: Jan 31, 2008

Objective:
(1)Design and implement an effective research program to detect, identify, combat, and manage domestic, emerging and exotic bacterial diseases of U.S. horticultural crops. (2) Integrate research in bacterial plant pathology with plant breeders and entomologists to incorporate disease resistance into promising selections and to develop strategies to control disease vectors.

Approach:
Identify epidemiological parameters, develop and conduct bioassays and survey methodologies that monitor and assess disease dynamics for improved disease control. Develop models, based on lab, greenhouse and field experiments to predict disease severity and crop damage, and to evaluate control strategies. Determine diversity and mechanisms of pathogenicity, virulence and vector acquisition among pathogens. Develop sensitive, rapid, practical, and reliable diagnostics that supplement conventional methods to identify domestic, exotic, and emerging pathogens. From this data, develop horticultural, environmental, biological, and biotechnological strategies to improve disease control. Establish collaborations with pathologists, entomologists, epidemiologists, molecular biologists and/or plant breeders to augment research.

Project Team

Gottwald, Timothy Adkins, Scott Hilf, Mark

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003

Related National Programs

Plant Diseases (303)

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