Objective 1-2:
• Development of a QPCR panel to detect and quantify 5-10 fungal and oomycete pathogenic species.
• Optimization and validation of the panel in at least two laboratories with 3 different QPCR platforms.
• Development of standard operating procedures for the easy adoption of the panel by other users. SOP’s have been developed for the Phytophthora assays as part of the OSCAP project, these SOP’s can be adapted for additional assays.
• Maintenance of a collection of ~3,000 isolates of fungi collected from diseased soybean seedlings.
• Development and testing of long-term storage techniques for the different fungal species in the collection.
• Development and maintenance of a searchable database of collection of isolates.

Objective 3:
• Establish collection of Rhizoctonia isolates from soybean fields in underrepresented states, including new production areas towards the west.
• Determine R. solani anastomosis groups recovered from soybean seedlings and soil and identify the dominant anastomosis group.
• Determine pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia isolated from soybean fields
• Develop 1-2 additional peer-reviewed publications on fungicide sensitivity, anastomosis group diversity, and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia. Results will also be disseminated at grower meetings, field days, crop production clinic, online in CropWatch, and other Extension publications.
• Determine if early maturity group soybean germplasms vary in response to Rhizoctonia root rot and identify those with different levels of susceptibility

Objective 4:
• Improved understanding of Fusarium species causing seedling disease on soybeans
• Identification of a resistant genotypes to more than one Fusarium species that can cause damping off and root rot.
• Improved understanding of Fusarium species from soybeans can affect corn and vice-versa; this will have influence on disease management practices (crop-rotations) in future.
• Test at least 2 common seed treatment active ingredients against a large collection of Fusarium proliferatum isolates that originate from diseased seedlings and seeds from Kansas.
• Screen 20-30 entries in MG III, MG IV, and MG V (et al.) from the Kansas State University breeding program (and other public programs) for resistance to F. proliferatum using a high-throughput rolled-towel pathogenicity assay.
• Publish at least 1 journal article reporting sensitivity of F. proliferatum to seed treatment active ingredients and/or reactions of breeding germplasm to this pathogen.

Objective 5:
• Determine fungicide sensitivity of = 250 isolates (82 species * 3 isolates per species)
• Determine fungicide sensitivity to chemistries = 2 (mefenoxam, ethaboxam)
• Screen chemistries at temperatures = 2 (55F, 75F)
• Improved understanding of Pythium-soybean interaction
o Improved understanding of the effect of cold temperatures and Pythium spp. on stand establishment of treated soybean – experiments done; manuscript in progress
o Data regarding effect of cold (<50F) temperatures at varying intervals after planting on the emergence of 2 to 3 soybean varieties that vary in resistance to Pythium -
o Data regarding effect of cold (<50F) temperatures at varying intervals after planting on seedling diseases caused by two species of Pythium
o Data regarding effect of cold (<50F) temperatures at varying intervals after planting on the efficacy of two commercial seed treatments experiments done; manuscript in progress

Objective 6:
• Improved understanding of seedling disease pathogen complex
o Data on what species are often associated in the seedling disease complex experiments done; manuscript in progress
• Improved understanding of interactions between seedling pathogens and their contribution to seedling disease
o Emergence and disease data associated with the interaction of three or more Pythium species
o Emergence and disease data associated with the interaction of three or more Fusarium species
o Emergence and disease data associated with the interaction of two or more Pythium and two or more Fusarium species experiments done; data analysis and interpretation in progress

Objective 7:
• Data will be generated to characterize the effect of 2-3 seed treatments on the population of fungal species in the rhizosphere and their ability to infect soybean plants.
• Greenhouse protocols will be developed to test the effect of 2-3 seed treatments on the collective ability of 3-4 fungal species to infect soybean seedlings.
• Results from greenhouse experiments will be compared and contrasted to those from field experiments.
• A manuscript will be prepared to publish the data learned from the research. Data will also be shared with researchers and other constituencies through presentations.

Objective 8:
• Provide high-quality Extension materials for soybean seedling diseases:
o This will include two full length publications, 3 web-based videos and 1 slide set to help farmers and agribusiness professionals to understand seedling diseases and make informed decisions on best management practices.