Objective 1. Germplasm Evaluation
The first deliverable is that experimental lines with SDS resistance will be identified. The second is that knowledge of the effects of SDS resistance QTL in different genetic backgrounds will be determined. The identification of lines with SDS resistance will positively affect the soybean industry by giving growers more potential resistant varieties and breeders more choices of resistant lines to use as parents in their breeding programs. If the QTL are confirmed in the different genetic backgrounds, this would have a positive effect as it would provide breeders resistance QTL that they could breed into their germplasm and select with markers. This should speed the development of SDS resistant varieties that when grown by producers will help increase yields when the disease is present.

Objective 2. Develop New Sources of SDS Resistance
SDS continues to rob profits from growers and genetic resistance is the most efficient method for decreasing losses from this disease. Resistance QTL identified and confirmed in this research will be used by the soybean industry in their breeding programs which should result in the development of new varieties with greater SDS resistance.

Objective 3. Develop Tools for Marker-Assisted Selection for SDS Resistance
SDS continues to rob profits from growers and genetic resistance is the most efficient method for decreasing losses from this disease. The soybean industry struggles to develop new SDS resistant varieties. One reason for this struggle is that it is not possible to rate the SDS resistance level of the hundreds of thousands of experimental lines breeders developed annually. Breeders especially in private industry now have very good resources for marker-assisted selection and they can use this technology to breed for SDS resistance if they had better knowledge of the locations of SDS resistance QTL and good markers to do these selections. Research in this objective will be focused on both identifying the precise locations of SDS resistance QTL and developing SNP markers that could be used in selection.

Objective 4. Identify Factors that Affect Development of SDS
Efforts to develop effective management practices for SDS are hampered by our limited understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors affecting disease development. Infection by F. virguliforme occurs within a complex soil environment where interactions with multiple microorganisms and abiotic factors are important determinants of disease development. This proposed work will identify potential causes of the variability in SDS development and clarify the mechanisms behind the interaction of F. virguliforme with nematodes and fungi. This information will lead to improved screening protocols for SDS resistance and improved practices for managing SDS and key pathogens that interact with SDS, thus resulting in improved yields.

Objective 5. Improving the resolution of field evaluations for resistance to SDS
The major constraint to managing SDS is the development and utilization of resistant varieties proven to be most resistant. From the available pool of varieties, many cultivars with moderate to high resistance have been identified. However, information is lacking for many cultivars, particularly those in the earlier maturity groups. This objective will address current limitations and seek to provide recommendations for obtaining field screening results. Better field nurseries will result in greater efficiencies in the private and public breeding programs, and will ultimately reduce the impact of SDS in the North Central region.

Objective 6. Contribution to Regional Outreach Coordination to Optimize SDS
1. Visit with growers, seek out locations with SDS, and document how they manage SDS.
2. Deliver useful information to growers about variety selection, SDS management, and other research data using communication tools (i.e. press releases, newsletters, brochures), media (i.e. magazines, radio, TV), and public relations (i.e. university events, websites, blogs).
3. Meet with public and private industry researchers, Extension educators, seed agronomists, Certified Crop Advisors (CCA), and other agribusinesses to document their management strategies for SDS and what additional information is needed.
4. Develop focused and informative brochures and/or newsletters to be widely distributed.
5. Organize and disseminate annually commercial product evaluation information
6. Centralize all SDS information, outreach materials, variety performance data, and useful websites into one web-based source or location (Plant Health Initiative website and others as needed).
7. Identify public and private industry efforts, products, and strategies offered to manage SDS and determine the impact they have for future checkoff-funded research.
Specific deliverables, impact to the industry, and how this will increase yield: The next phase in the SDS Research Alliance program will focus on the needs of the soybean producer and the agribusinesses supporting the soybean producer to more effectively manage SDS. This project will plan and host annual meetings and workshops to review progress and identify critical needs for soybean producers and their supporting agribusinesses. This project will assemble current useful data and information into one internet location. This useful data and/or information include public variety trials, company variety information, outreach materials, university extension outreach resources, and internet sources (blogs, newsletters, etc.) which are current and acceptable resources for stakeholders. This project plans to make available the most pertinent resources for SDS management and supply the Plant Health Initiative with up-to-date information. This project plans to engage private companies to be part of the team to work with public investigators to share information about disease management and to offer the annual SDS workshop as an open forum focused on effective products and information for soybean producers.