North Central Soybean Research Program

“Presented to the board at the meeting held on december 5, 2017”

“Annually the board is required to disclose conflicting interests. Board members are required to recuse themselves from any vote if there is a conflict.”

“Governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are available to the public upon request.”

“(1) Project Title: Developing an Integrated Management and Communication Plan for Soybean Sudden Death SyndromePrinciple Investigator: Daren Mueller, Co-Investigators: Dr. Leonor Leandro, Iowa State University, Dr. Yuba Kandel, Iowa State University, Dr. Kiersten Wise, Purdue University, Dr. Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University, Dr. Damon Smith, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Febina Mathew, South Dakota State UniversityCollaborators:Dr. Forrest Nutter, Iowa State University, Dr. Greg Tylka, Iowa State University, Dr. Carl Bradley, University of Kentucky, Dr. Albert Tenuta, OMAFRA, University of Guelph, Dr. Dechun Wang, Michigan State University, Budget Amount and Project Year: $180,923, Year 2Brief Statement of Objectives:The foundational management strategy for sudden death syndrome (Fusarium virguliforme; SDS) in soybean is using resistant cultivars. However, in years when environmental conditions are favorable for disease development, it is evident that resistance alone does not provide adequate disease control or reduce farmer risk sufficiently. Sudden death syndrome is an annual threat in most of the North Central region. As the disease continues to spread into new areas, however, we have an opportunity for early education and improved awareness of the importance of using an integrated management program for SDS. Thus, the main goal of this project is to investigate management options that will help ensure resistant cultivars will be as effective as possible in years when conditions are highly conducive for SDS. We are requesting funding for the second year of this project (major accomplishments of the year 1 listed in section IV).In 2015, we finished a study looking at the effect of SCN management on SDS severity. We also established field trials to test the effects of fungicide treatments on SDS and we identified differences in efficacies among the products in the first year. We also established a corn residue management trial that is now available to test the effects of corn residue removal and tillage on SDS. We plan to build on the investment made last year, and also add the new angles of SDS management using other management approaches. From our previous SDS management project we identified the most effective quantitative PCR technique for identifying F. virguliforme in soybean plants and in soil. This will allow us to evaluate the effects of management practices on inoculum levels in the field and F. virguliforme levels in soybean plants. Objectives for Year 2: Objective 1. Determine how seed treatment, in-furrow, and foliar fungicides will affect SDS Objective 2. Explore the effect of cultural practices on Fusarium virguliforme inoculum levels and SDS developmentObjective 3. Develop simple, cost effective tools for detection of Fusarium virguliforme in the fieldObjective 4. Develop models to quantify the negative yield impacts of SDS in response to disease and inoculum intensity at the plant to field scaleObjective 5. Communicate research results with farmers, agribusinesses and other soybean stakeholders(2) Project Title: An integrated approach to enhance durability of SCN resistance for long-term, strategic SCN managementPrinciple Investigator and Co-PIs: Dr. Thomas Baum, Professor and Chair Co-PIs: Dr. Greg Tylka, Professor Dr. Andrew Severin, Scientist IDr. Melissa Mitchum, Associate Professor Dr. Henry Nguyen, MSMC Endowed ProfessorDr. Andrew Scaboo, Assistant Research Professor Dr. Matthew Hudson, Associate ProfessorDr. Brian Diers, Associate Head, ProfessorBudget Amount and Project Year: $609,957 Year 2Objective 1. Diversify the genetic base of SCN resistance in soybean oObjective 1.1: Develop and evaluate germplasm with new combinations of resistance genes in high yielding backgrounds. (Diers, Nguyen, Scaboo).oObjective 1.2: Determine resistance gene copy number in the experimental lines for more effective breeding. (Diers, Nguyen, Scaboo).Objective 2. Identify SCN virulence factors and better”

“(10) Project Title: Improving our understanding of stem canker and how to manage it in soybean across the MidwestPrincipal Investigator: Damon Smith University of Wisconsin-MadisonCo-Investigators: Kiersten Wise Purdue University Daren Mueller Iowa State University Febina Mathew South Dakota State UniversityBudget amount and Project Year: $95,000 Year 2III. Brief Project Justification and Rationale Several different diseases can cause similar symptoms on soybeans. An example of a disease that is easily misdiagnosed as early crop maturity, sudden death syndrome (SDS), Sclerotinia stem rot or charcoal rot in the North Central United States, is soybean stem canker. Symptoms of the disease can include main stem wilting and widespread plant death in areas of a field (Fig. 1). Closer examination of plants often reveals sunken cankers on main stems (Fig. 2). In recent years stem canker and other diseases caused by fungi in the same group, such as pod and stem blight, have become increasingly problematic in the North Central region. Severe stem canker epidemics can occur in wet springs, and with climate experts predicting wetter springs, it is possible that this disease will be more prevalent in coming years (Fernandez et al. 1999). In 2014, this disease was frequently observed and mentioned as the second most prevalent disease in the North Central region, behind SDS (NCERA137 reports).Before soybean farmers can effectively manage stem canker, researchers need to understand more about the disease, and the causal fungi. When multiple species of a fungus can cause several different diseases on soybean, it can cause a disease complex. Diaporthe (previously known as Phomopsis) is a clear example of this type of complex and several fungal species of Diaporthe/Phomopsis have been implicated in the disease complex that includes stem canker, along with Phomopsis seed decay, pod and stem blight and more recently, Phomopsis root rot (Ghissi et al., 2014). More research is needed to understand the Diaporthe complex in soybean. Recently, all Phomopsis fungi have been renamed and are now in the group Diaporthe. These recent findings could be useful in identifying proper management strategies that target the primary species within the Diaporthe complex causing high impact diseases on soybean such as stem canker. For example, Diaporthe longicolla (traditionally known as the Phomopsis seed decay pathogen) has increased as a stem pathogen in the North-central United States (Mathew unpublished). Preliminary results by Gebreil et al. (2015) suggest Diaporthe longicolla is more virulent on soybean stems than Diaporthe caulivora, the fungus that is traditionally regarded as the cause of northern stem canker. Additionally, new Diaporthe species have been found recently on soybeans (Udayanga et al. 2014; Mathew and Markell 2014); but there is little knowledge of their biology and the symptoms that they cause. If researchers can better understand the species causing disease and when these organisms are infecting the plant, more effective management strategies can be developed. Common management strategies for stem canker include planting resistant cultivars, fungicide applications, tillage and delayed planting (Fernandez et al., 1999). Much of the research done to examine control strategies was conducted on southern stem canker (caused by Diaporthe meridionalis) and not in the North Central region on the fungus that causes northern stem canker (caused by Diaporthe caulivora). Furthermore, some of the most recent work on management of stem canker is almost 20 years old. Soybean production practices have changed considerably in that time, necessitating new research to identify relevant, modern management strategies. Because of the potential difference in diseases and the organisms that cause them, control strategies for southern stem canker, including resistant cultivars, cultural practices, and fungicide applications may not be appropriate for northern stem c”

“(11) Project Title: Second SCN Coalition: Resistance Management and Awareness CampaignPI: Jason Bond - Nematologist Southern Illinois UniversityNathan Schroeder - Nematologist University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignJamal Faghihi Nematologist Greg Tylka - Nematologist Iowa State University Kaitlyn Bissonnette Nematologist Iowa State UniversityDoug Jardine Plant Pathologist Kansas State UniversityGeorge Bird Nematologist Michigan State UniversitySeth Naeve - Agronomist University of MinnesotaLaura Sweets Plant Pathologist University of MissouriLoren Giesler Plant Pathologist University of NebraskaSamuel Markell Plant Pathologist North Dakota State UniversityGuiping Yan - Nematologist North Dakota State UniversityTerry Niblack - Nematologist Department of Plant PathologyEmmanuel Byamukama Plant Pathologist Plant Science Box 2108Shawn Conley - Agronomist University of Wisconsin-MadisonAnn MacGuidwin - Nematologist University of WisconsinCarl Bradley Plant Pathologist University of Kentucky Research & Education CenterJohn Damicone Plant Pathologist Oklahoma State UniversityAlbert Tenuta Plant Pathologist Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural AffairsHeather Young Plant Pathologist University of Tennessee - WTRECHillary Mehl Plant Pathologist Virginia Tech Tidewater ARECBudget amount and Project Year: $196,649 Year 1The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) remains the most important economically-limiting threat to soybean Brief Project Justification and Rationale Project Justification and Rationale growers in the North Central United States, and yield losses due to SCN are increasing and will continue to increase in the near future. In recent years, an increase in aggressive SCN populations, which can feed and reproduce on resistant varieties has been widely documented throughout the north central US (Faghihi et al. 2010, Mitchum et al. 2005, Niblack et al. 2003, Niblack et al. 2008). Data suggest that both the geographic spread and the level of increased aggressiveness of SCN populations will continue to increase over time and will slowly erode the usefulness of the available SCN-resistant soybean varieties. With only one readily available commercial source of resistance to SCN (PI88788), this trend will expose growers to levels of yield loss from SCN that have not occurred since the 1980s and on a much larger scale. This impending threat is similar to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds that growers are currently facing, except the SCN situation is much worse because there is no other source of resistance to SCN that is widely available for soybean growers to use. It is not an understatement to say that the yield loss implications could be staggering and that the North Central region is facing an SCN Crisis. Despite convincing data that documents the SCN populations are becoming more aggressive on PI88788 resistance, growers are widely unaware of the SCN Crisis and are poorly prepared to combat it. To better understand grower perceptions, a survey of 1,096 soybean growers from 17 states with knowledge of SCN was designed by a small group of university scientists and funded by an industry partner (Syngenta) in the fall of 2015 (Step 1 below). Only 27% of growers surveyed Completely agreed with the statement that using the same source of SCN resistance year after year can lead to reduced effectiveness of that SCN resistance. and 68% of the growers were not able to identify the name of the source of SCN resistance they used in their soybean variety not even in a multiple choice question. Given that lack of fundamental knowledge and engagement with the details of SCN resistance, expecting North Central soybean growers to optimize use of available management tools for SCN is unrealistic. Worse, a large percentage of soybean growers in the North Central region are not engaged enough to effectively manage SCN in the future, and with a very limited understand of the SCN Crisis, do not have an incentive to become more engaged. Thus”

“(3) PROJECT TITLE: Benchmarking soybean production systems in the North-Central USAPrincipal Investigators:Dr Patricio Grassini (Principal Co-Investigator)Dr. Shawn P. Conley (Principal Co-InvestigatorBudget Amount and Project Year: $439,839 Year 2(1) Data collection. Data collection is a key component of the project. Based on our previous experience working with producer self-reported data, a large number of reporting fields (that are not concentrated too much in a local area) is needed to detect statistically significant effect of management/soil/weather factors and their interactions. Our target is to collect data from a minimum of 200 soybean fields in each year and each state for those states that have 3-4 million acres (or less) planted with soybean, but proportionately more completed forms for states with larger soybean acreage. The collaborator in each state and his/her graduate student or technician is responsible for collecting the required data from producer soybean fields through personal interviews, extension events with help from extension educators, mailed survey, etc. Data from 3+ years are required to portray year-to-year weather variation, particularly, in-season precipitation which can be locally variant. In our initial first-year survey, we will ask for management data from the prior crop season as well as the current crop season (2014 and 2015) after the project is initiated on 1 October 2015. Then we will ask for management data each year thereafter up to the project end date of 30 September of 2018. Doing so will lead to the collection of 4 years of field data (2014-2017). Individual field data and producer contact information will be kept strictly confidential, so that no producers name will be divulged to others.(2) Data assimilation. Once the data are collected, they need to be standardized into a single, consistent format, error-checked, and then inputted into a digital database. We will also retrieve soil data for each individual producer field (using its GPS coordinates) from now readily available websites (e.g., USDA-NRCS SSURGO database) and daily weather data. We will apply geospatial techniques to determine average soil properties (texture, water storage capacity, pH, slope, etc.) and to interpolate weather data for each individual field. Ultimately, for each field-year data point supplied by an individual producer, we will have a detailed description of its weather, soil, and management, which, all together, will help us to determine the size of the yield gap, identify key management factors explaining such gap, and identify opportunities for improving yields given the specific weather-soil context. The two post-docs at UNL and UW, under supervision of the two project PIs, are responsible for cleaning and standardizing the data within their respective latitudinal halves of the NC USA region, but will ultimately merge all data into a single NC USA database. The database will be saved in secured computers, which will be accessible only to those involved in the project. After the end of the project, the state-specific databases (yield, management, soil, weather) will be (with NCSRP permission) turned over to the NC State Soybean Boards for use by them, particularly if they want to continue the annual surveys to build longer term databases for their use in knowing more about their producer constituents. The prime caveat, of course, will be that producer contact information (name, address, and contact information) and data will not be disclosed.(3) Data analysis. Analysis of self-reported producer data requires novel statistical tools since the data do not follow a traditional, replicated field trial approach wherein confounding factors can be experimentally controlled by replicated blocking and factorial treatment designs involving well-known statistical analyses. We will apply advanced statistical tools (e.g., boundary functions, regression trees, multiple regression models) that have been used i”

“(4) Project Title: Biology and control of sclerotinia stem rot of soybeanPrincipal Investigator: Mehdi Kabbage, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Co-Investigators: Damon Smith, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Daren Mueller, Iowa State University, Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University, Sydney Everhart, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Budget Amount and Project Year: $88,650 Year 2III. Brief Project Justification and Rationale Need, state-of-the-art, opportunity for farmers and the soybean industry:PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND RATIONALEWe are in the early stages of this 3-year project that addresses important question concerning the biology and control of Sclerotinia Stem Rot (SSR) in Soybean. Our project addresses several key factors that affect SSR development and management. (i) Host resistance; by identifying and implementing novel host resistance mechanisms. (ii) Investigating factors affecting fungicide efficacy in the NC States. (iii) Developing new outreach and disease management strategies.Objective 1. Effect of weather conditions and application timing on fungicide efficacyWhile preparations for new fungicide trials are under way in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan for the upcoming field season. Here, we report on the results obtained during the 2015 growing season. Trials were established in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan in 2015. Results were summarized in the April progress report. These trials will be repeated in the 2016 growing season in fields with documented presence of white mold. Preliminary data suggest that application of fungicide between R1 and R3 tend to result in higher yields than application of the same products at R4 or R5.In 2015, the first iteration of spray prediction model was validated in the field against a two-spray, calendar program (Endura at 8 oz). Yields were significantly higher in plots that received fungicide vs. plots that were not treated. The model also was very accurate in our validation experiments. The first fungicide spray was recommended by the advisory at the time when apothecial numbers were increasing and just prior to heavy spore catches. This allowed adequate time to apply fungicide to protect plants prior to the conducive infection periods. The second application was also recommended with similar accuracy, during a second increase in apothecial numbers.Objective 2: The role of soybean NADPH oxidases in Sclerotinia stem rot disease developmentWe have used the soybean genome database phytozome, and identified 19 soybean NADPH oxidases with significant homology to NADPH oxidases in model plants. We have obtained data showing that a specific group of NADPH oxidases is up regulated during infection, particularly at the later stages of the infection process. We will continue our investigation using larger samples to confirm these results. These results suggest that the expression of these genes is required for the successful establishment of SSR. Thus, we will use Virus Induced Gene Silencing to determine whether the silencing of specific NADPH oxidases leads to resistance to S. sclerotiorum and therefore determine whether turning off these genes is a viable genetic tool to achieve resistance.Objective 3. Fungicide resistance emergence in Sclerotinia sclerotiorumSclerotia have been collected from several sites in the North Central region, and have been sent to Nebraska for follow up work. We are in the early stages of investigation on this part of the project. A workflow has been established. Currently, 436 isolates were received for testing: 261 samples from 13 counties of NE, 136 samples from 7 counties of MI, and 39 samples from IA. With respect to sub-lethal fungicide exposure, nine isolates of S. sclerotiorum were selected for this study. These isolates were selected from a collection of 366 isolates that were previously phenotypically and genotypically characterized, thus ensuring a representative sample for the study. Fungicides selected for the study were azoxystrobin (QoI)”

“(6) Project Title: Soybean Entomology in the North Central Region: Management and Outreach for New and Existing PestsPrincipal Investigator: Kelley Tilmon, The Ohio State University. Brian Diers, University of Illinois, Glen Hartman, USDA-ARS at University of Illinois, Christian Krupke, Purdue University, Punya Nachappa, Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne, Matt ONeal, Iowa State University, Erin Hodgson, Iowa State University, Brian McCormack, Kansas State University, Deborah Finke, University of Missouri, George Heimpel, University of Minnesota, Bruce Potter, University of Minnesota, Robert Koch, University of Minnesota, Tom Hunt, University of Nebraska, Robert Wright, University of Nebraska, Deirdre Prischmann, North Dakota State University, Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University, Andy Michel, Ohio State University, Budget amount and Project Year: $530,348 Year 2The subject of this proposal is research and outreach on soybean entomology in the North Central Region. We are requesting a second-year renewal of the 3-year project described in our 2015 proposal. The first year of this project began last fall in October, 2015 and we are preparing for our first field season this spring and summer (2016). Because this is a field-based project our first year research results are limited so far, with the bulk of work happening over the next four months of the growing season. For each objective, we will describe the rationale of the objective and report on progress to date, and indicate future directions. A more detailed description of specific methodology is provided in the full 3-year proposal. This is an interdisciplinary entomology and plant breeding project, with a team comprised of 18 research and extension scientists in 12 states. Our focus is on both existing and emerging insect problems and opportunities in soybean, including work on stink bugs, thrips, aphids, and pollinators. Soybean producers will benefit from a proactive approach to these emerging insect issues. For example, economically damaging populations of native stink bugs are becoming more common in several states, and the introduced brown marmorated stink bug is spreading rapidly in the Midwest. Another insect, thrips, that have always been present in soybean at low levels have new damage potential as vectors of soybean vein necrosis virus. While a massive research effort on such new and emerging pests is not yet practical, we are well poised for background work that will (1) diagnose the extent of current problems, and (2) position us well to respond to increasing problems in the future, by doing the background work necessary for management recommendations. Another important area for entomological research in soybean is on pollinators. There is increasing evidence that soybean yield increases when plants are visited by pollinators, despite being bred for self-fertilization. This improvement varies between 6% to 18% depending upon type of pollinators present. Research in this proposal addresses the yield-increase potential from these beneficial insects. Other objectives relate to aphid resistant varieties, how to make this resistance durable and sustainable, and how they may fit economically into soybean production systems.Increasing the Rate of Genetic Gain for Yield in Soybean Breeding ProgramsContact Information. PI - Leah McHale (PI), Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43206, William Beavis, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, Silvia R. Cianzio, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, Brian Diers, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, George Graef, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, Matthew Hudson, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, David Hyten, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588,”

“(7) Project Title: Characterization and Enhancement of Soybean Genetic Resources for Soilborne Disease ResistancePrincipal Investigator: James Kurle, University of Minnesota, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108,Principal Investigator: Jianxin Ma, Purdue University, 915 W. State St., W. Lafayette, IN 47907Co-investigator: Aaron Lorenz, University of Minnesota, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN, 55108,Co-investigator: Nevin Young, University of Minnesota, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St Paul, MN, 55108, Co-investigator: Katy Rainey, Purdue University, 915 W. State St., W. Lafayette, IN 47907, Tel: Budget amount and Project Year: $1,075,355 Year 1II.Brief Project Justification and Rationale Need, state-of-the-art, opportunity for farmers and the soybean industry:The research described in this proposal is the third year of a systematic approach to identification and introgression of both partial and race specific resistance into cultivars adapted to the North Central region particularly very early maturity group soybean cultivars. It is coordinated with and complements the research conducted by a USB-funded soybean disease project entitled Genes and Markers for Resistance to Phytophthora sojae, Pythium spp., and Fusarium graminearum in Soybean, a research team led by Dr. Anne Dorrance, working in Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, and Iowa. This collaboration expands the number of options available for managing these diseases throughout the North Central Region by combining unique sources of resistance and pathogen isolates and the strengths and expertise of our two research groups from Minnesota and Purdue with those of Missouri, Virginia, and Iowa.Soilborne diseases caused by various oomycete and fungal pathogens have been a major limitation to soybean production throughout this region. Each year the U.S. soybean crop is attacked by pathogens that cause estimated annual losses valued at about 3.6 billion dollars. In the North Control Regions the root pathogens, Phytophthora sojae, Pythium ultimum, P. irregulare, and Fusarium graminearum are major culprits. Phytophthora stem and root rot caused by P. sojae was consistently ranked as the second most destructive soybean disease during the past decade. P. ultimum and P. irregulare are frequently associated with seed and seedling diseases of soybean and corn and commonly isolated early in the season when the soils are moist and cool. F. graminearum causes seed decay and damping-off of soybean but is of particular importance since it is also the cause of "scab in wheat and stalk and ear rot of corn. The severity of these diseases is exacerbated by their persistence as soilborne inoculum so that diseases caused by these pathogens are not effectively controlled by crop rotation and only to a limited extent by seed treatments. Development of disease-resistant soybean cultivars remains the most practical solution for limiting yield losses due to these pathogens.Phytophthora seedling, root and stem rots have been managed by race specific resistance. To date 17 P. sojae resistance (Rps) genes conferring race-specific resistance have been identified and several are already used in cultivars resistant to P. sojae. However, repeated use of a single Rps gene favors development of P. sojae pathotypes virulent on the most common Rps genes. Recently researchers in the North Central States found that P. sojae pathotypes are increasing in virulence and complexity. Isolates that are virulent on Rps1-k, for over two decades the most widely used Rps gene, are increasing in prevalence. In Indiana isolates collected from 20 counties were capable of defeating soybean cultivars with Rps1-k. In Minnesota, the number of virulence types had increased by 83% and the number of virulence types that could overcome Rps-1k had tripled since 2000. Clearly, there is a critical need to initiate this soybean soilborne disease project. Pyramiding multiple resistance genes to a pathogen into the same cultivars is an ef”

“(8) Title of Project: Characterization of Phytophthora sojae and Phytophthora sansomeana populations in the North Central Region AND an Assessment of Management StrategiesDr. Anne Dorrance, The Ohio State UniversityBudget amount and Project Year: $268,010 Year 1Project justification and Rationale: Phytophthora sojae is present in many fields across the North Central region and Ontario Canada and had been managed very successfully with the deployment of single resistance Rps genes (Rps1a, Rps1c, Rps1k, Rps3a, and Rps6) as well as partial resistance (field resistance or tolerance). However, there are an increasing number of reports where varieties are sold that have Rps genes that are no longer effective towards the regional population or lack sufficient levels of partial resistance. The consequence is stand loss through damping-off or the development of stem rot throughout the season which results in lower yields and added weed pressure. The most recent survey of P. sojae pathotypes (races) was completed during 2012/2013 with funding provided by Monsanto in which 213 unique pathotypes were identified among 873 isolates collected from 202 fields in eleven states. Two key findings from this sampling included: i) a greater number of regions have a higher proportion of isolates with virulence to key Rps genes, such that the resistance gene will no longer be effective as well as ii) isolates across the region continue to increase in complexity. This indicates that the ability to recycle Rps genes is highly unlikely. There were several challenges in this study, the first was baiting from soil during a drought year (2012) such that there was low recovery; due to sample processing few isolates were recovered (WI); and few fields were actually sampled (MI, MO, NE, and SD all had less than 10 fields). In another recent study funded by soybean check off dollars (2010-2013), the genotypic diversity among P. sojae populations was examined. That genetic diversity exists in this pathogen has been highly controversial, but with new markers, and in-depth sampling of populations recovered in the 2000s, regional populations of P. sojae in the Midwest were identified. As a soil borne organism, it was believed that this P. sojae should be clonal (every individual is the same within a field and between neighboring fields) but the findings from this study clearly indicated that the P. sojae populations in the Midwest are not clonal. These findings indicate that a more thorough assessment of the P. sojae populations in the North Central region is needed. In addition, new Rps genes have been identified but their effectiveness is still highly questionable. Among the 15 Rps genes that were identified prior to 2001, only 5 were effective and incorporated into varieties. A second Phytophthora, P. sansomeana, also appears to be contributing to seed and seedling damping-off of soybean at greater incidence than previously thought, both from surveys previously reported in Illinois (Malvick), Ohio (2003 and 2015 data), and region wide (Chilvers USDA-AFRI project data). This is intriguing as P. sansomeana has a larger host range (corn, douglas fir, soybean). As part of this proposes study, state populations of P. sansomeana will also be examined for host range, resistance in current soybean cultivars, and efficacy of seed treatment fungicides.(9) Project Title: Exploiting Potential Bio-control Agents to Manage Seedling Diseases of Soybean Contact Information: Ahmad M. FakhourySouthern Illinois University CarbondaleJason P. BondSouthern Illinois University CarbondaleCarl BradleyUniversity of KentuckyMartin ChilversMichigan State UniversityAlison RobertsonIowa State UniversityBudget amount and Project Year: $128,089 Year 3Brief Project Justification and Rationale Need, state-of-the-art, opportunity for farmers and the soybean industry:The long-term objective of the proposed research is to characterize the bio-control activity of a collection of fungal species isol”