The primary purpose of this agreement is to identify high-risk strawberry viruses by production region within the U.S., with the objective of developing evidence-based information on how to best…

This Cooperative Agreement was awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care Federal Grant Program (CFDA 10.025). The primary purpose of this $168,300 award is to identify high-risk strawberry viruses by production region within the U.S., with the objective of developing evidence-based information on monitoring and best management practices to exclude viruses and other targeted pathogens during plant production in nurseries. Key activities include collecting strawberry samples from nurseries across the U.S., analyzing the samples using established PCR assays to detect viruses and phytoplasma, and leveraging other work to develop multiplex PCR assays to screen for virus variability. The outcome will be data on high-risk strawberry viruses by region, coordination with regulatory entities on best management practice proposals, provision of training and technical assistance, and support for virus mitigation protocols for nurseries.

The primary purpose of this agreement is to identify high-risk strawberry viruses by production region within the U.S., with the objective of developing evidence-based information on how to best monitor for and develop best management practices to exclude viruses and other targeted pathogens during plant production in nurseries. Specific objectives are to collect strawberry samples from nurseries (G2, G3, and G4 blocks) in each strawberry growing region in the U.S. Samples collected from nurseries will be analyzed using established PCR assays to detect viruses and phytoplasma. In addition, this project will leverage other work being done to develop hiplex PCR assays for strawberry. Hiplex (a multiplex PCR approach) will be used to screen samples for occurrence of false negatives that may that occur because of virus variability. The outcome is to generate data of high-risk strawberry viruses by region and coordinate with regulatory entities on proposal for best management practices; provide training and technical assistance; and support virus mitigation protocols for nurseries.