Situation, rationale or need for the research (one to four sentences):
White mold can be a significant limit to soybean production in Michigan. Although loses to white mold are worse in some years than others, there is always a part of the state that is affected by this disease. The purpose of these trials is to improve our understanding of when ascospores of the white mold fungus are released, so that we can improve fungicide or biological application timing.
Foliar fungicides can form part of an integrated management plan for white mold. However, selection of products with proven efficacy and appropriate timings are essential to maximize disease control and return on the foliar fungicide investment. In this proposal, we will determine the efficacy of foliar fungicides and biologicals for control of white mold and their impact on soybean yields. Foliar fungicides are being used more frequently for field crops, even in the absence of disease. Our trials will also examine the role of foliar fungicides on yield in the absence of significant disease pressure.
We will screen promising soybean germplasm for Dr. Craig Grau of the University of Wisconsin and will facilitate the screening of Dr. Dechun Wang’s soybean germplasm.

Discovery of plant resistance genes are complicated, and different strategies have been taken to locate the resistance genes and understand their function. In conjunction with Dr. Dechun Wang’s lab, we are applying RNA-Seq expression analyses and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on two major legume crops, soybean and pea (Pisum sativum). The aim is to identify candidate resistance genes in linkage disequilibrium with significant SNPs found in GWAS and study the expression patterns of these candidate resistance genes between resistant and susceptible lines. A match found from these two approaches will provide precise locations of candidate genes and novel insights into the resistance mechanisms in legumes against white mold.