Objective 1. Find new sources of germplasm and develop new or improved breeding lines to be incorporated into industry elite material
Deliverable 1: Provide new sources of resistance to incorporate into commercial varieties

Objective 2. Identify molecular markers associated with charcoal rot resistance using linkage and association mapping approaches.
Deliverable 2: Provide new markers for breeders to use to speed up variety release

Objective 3. Determine environmental variables that influence disease development
Deliverable 3: Understand how temperature, moisture, planting date and variety type could influence disease development—will lead to improved management

Objective 4. Quantify the impact of production practices that minimize disease development
Deliverable 4: Identify how common production practices influence disease. Provide economic data to strengthen implementation of suggested management practices.

Objective 5. Determine pathogen diversity to aid with management guidelines and improve breeding and screening programs
Deliverable 5: Provide plant pathologists and breeders with a set of host differentials to characterize
M. phaseolina. Characterize pathogen diversity to create area-specific management recommendations.

Objective 6. Determine etiology of Diaporthe infection to prevent yield loss due to stem canker Deliverable 6: Determine the timing of Diaporthe infection on soybeans to aid in the development of effective disease management strategies and prevent yield loss.

Objective 7. Improve outreach on charcoal rot for stakeholders, industry, and researchers
Deliverable 7: Provide stakeholders with updated research-based information on charcoal rot management in print, web-based, and video formats. Improve communication and partnerships with industry.