Objective 1:
• Determine efficacy of fungicidal and antimicrobial products (including recently identified antifungal formulations) in limiting SSR. (Year 1 completed, continued in year 2-3)
• Clearly define the effect climatic conditions on predicting fungicide application. (Year 1 completed, continued in year 2-3)
• Develop ROI estimates for fungicides tested in this objective. (Year 3)
Objective 2:
• Identify soybean NADPH oxidases and determine their expression levels in response to S. sclerotiorum (Completed in year 1)
• Determine that soybean NADPH oxidases are suitable targets to confer resistance to SSR (Year 2-3).
• Generate transgenic plants silenced in specific NADPH oxidases and evaluate their performance against a range of biotic and abiotic stresses (Year 3).
• Results of this research objective will be summarized in a manuscript that will be submitted for publication in a relevant peer-reviewed scientific journal, and shared with stakeholders through extension activities (Year 3).
Objective 3:
• Identifying S. sclerotiorum outbreaks with decreased fungicide sensitivity (a minimum of 10 isolates in ten field locations per state will be analyzed each year). (Testing initiated in year 1 and will continue in year 2-3)
• Whole genome sequencing will be performed on isolates exhibiting genomic change (as indicated by SSR / AFLP analysis conducted in year 1) and those with induced resistance. Results of SSR/AFLP analysis will be submitted for publication. (Year 2)
Objective 4:
• Develop return on investment (ROI) estimates for sclerotinia stem rot management strategies (Year 1-3)
• Annual educational videos, and extension reports related to sclerotinia stem rot and its management in the North Central region will be developed. (Year 1-3)
• A feature article will be generated using the most current information as a result of this coordinated effort. (Year 3)