Prospectus Example

TITLE:

 

Evaluation of Kentucky bluegrass resistance to root-infecting fungi (Magnaporthe poae and Leptosphaeria korrae)

 

PERSONNEL:

 

Peter J. Landschoot, Department of Agronomy

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.  Determine the relationship of inoculum particle size, concentration, and placement to infection of Kentucky bluegrass roots by M. poae and L. korrae.
   
   
2. Determine the range of virulence in populations of M. poae and L. korrae on different cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass.
   
   
3. Evaluate the resistance of mature (one year or older) versus immature (6-8 week old) Kentucky bluegrass to M. poae and L. korrae to determine if screening for resistance on immature plants can be applied to mature plants.
   
   
4. Using the information collected from objectives 1, 2, and 3, develop a standardized screening procedure for evaluating sources of resistance to M. poae and L. korrae.

 

APPROACH:

1. Various particle sizes, concentrations, and placements of M. poae and L. korraeinoculum will be evaluated for their ability to infect Kentucky bluegrass roots. Studies will be conducted in both controlled environment chambers and in the field. The criteria for evaluating root infection will be root-discoloration and, if applicable, counts of root lesions. In addition, foliar quality will be rated and leaf clipping yields will be collected.
   
   
2. Sufficient isolates of M. poae and L. korrae will be collected from various locations in the U.S. to assess the range of virulence within populations of each species. In addition, several cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass will be inoculated with isolates of MM. poae and L. korrae to determine if the isolates vary in their ability to affect different cultivars. Studies will be conducted in controlled environment chambers. The criteria for evaluating virulence will be the same as for the evaluation of root-infection (approach one).
   
   
3.  Plugs of mature Kentucky bluegrass cultivars will be collected from field plots and placed in pots containing calcined clay. Seeds of the same cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass will be planted in pots containing calcined clay and allowed to grow for 6 to 8 weeks. Pots will be infested with identical concentrations of inoculum and placed in controlled environment chambers for comparisons. The criteria for evaluation will be the same as listed above (approach one and two).
   
   
4. Based on information collected in objectives 1, 2, and 3, an attempt will be made to develop a standardized inoculation procedure for evaluating the resistance of Kentucky bluegrass to M. poae and L. korrae. An attempt will be made to evaluate resistance of several Kentucky bluegrass cultivars in the field and correlate results with those obtained from the same cultivars evaluated under controlled environments.

 

DURATION:

 

3 years

 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

 

Dr. Joseph M. Duich, Professor; Ms. Patricia Sanders, Associate Professor