Project Milestones First quarter (December 2016): Harvest and begin to screen lines segregating for resistance to P. sojae; Pythium and Fusarium. Continue the VIGs experiments for potential R-gene sequence and candidate genes for resistance via functional analysis. Continue to use SNP markers for the Illumina 6KSNP chip for high throughput analysis of additional populations segregating for novel Rps genes and QTL. Collect soil from studies of management of SCN. Harvest plots and analyze summer data. Complete identification of pathogens from summer/fall surveys. Submit 2 to 3 manuscripts. Continue to evaluate segregating populations for resistance to key Pythium spp.. Second quarter (March 2017): Complete screening of all Ohio Breeders material; screening of populations with novel resistance developed/advanced during summer of 2014 as well as isolate DNA for marker analysis. In addition to Phytophthora sojae, screen populations for resistance to Py. irregulare, Py ultimum and compare responses across isolates. Provide breeders with any new data to facilitate decisions required for new soybean populations. Continue with experiments for functional analysis of candidate genes. Third quarter (June 2017): Initiate summer field studies for disease management, begin to increase germplasm with novel resistance genes that require further analysis, evaluate yield effects for specific QTL, raise selected germplasm for studies. Monitor disease development throughout the state, collect isolates for further studies. Fourth quarter (September 2017) – Collect and summarize summer field data, continue screening and fine mapping of resistance genes; begin writing reports; present results at national APS meetings and prepare for the World Soybean Congress in Georgia Sept 2017

Update:
1. During this quarter, we screened for resistance to several soybean pathogens in germplasm using lab assays. We screened the nested association mapping (NAM) for resistance to P. sojae and Pythium spp. 2. More than 300 isolates of Pythium and Phytophthora were recovered from our seed treatment trials and have all been identified via sequencing. Identified an emerging threat with the level of Diaporthe stem canker that developed in producers fields this year. Graduate Student, Linda Weber has recovered 90 Cercospora isolates from 13 samples received from 10 counties. PCR ran on a subset of isolates from the first 6 locations showed 3 with a Cercospora population sensitive to strobilurin fungicides (Pickaway, Clinton, Wayne), and 3 with a mixed population and some resistance to fungicides via the G143A mutation (Champaign, Darke, Tuscarawas). The remaining isolates will be assayed shortly. 3. Soil samples were collected throughout the state to complete our sampling for the survey of pathotypes of P. sojae in Ohio. 4. Much of the effort this summer was placed on analyzing the data from the eQTL repeat experiment. This process takes all of the numbers of transcripts or genes that are expressed during and without infection. Maps these to the genome. Two students Cassidy Gedling and Stephanie Verhoff with mentoring from Leah McHale have made great progress on this effort. QTL mapping continues on the NAM populations that have been screened (0bj 2) and the final assays are in progress, fine mapping and candidate gene identification are in progress for F. graminearum and in Conrad on two chromosomes. The first phase of the repeats of the experiments to explore the role of auxin in enhancing susceptibility are now done. Student Anna Stasko is now running the qRT_PCR and metabolomics experiments. 5. This continued to be one of the most challenging seasons for field plot work on record, we did get 8 locations in Ohio this summer. Harvest is in progress of the 4291 plots plus plots. Analysis and report reporting are a key focus now..