Project Grant 20227000637990

This three-year, $295,654 Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) under the Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program (CFDA 10.329) will develop a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) toolbox for field detection of diverse virus genera and species affecting cucurbits. The University of Florida, as prime awardee, will standardize genera- and species-specific RPA assays for detection of viruses from various plant materials and validate the one-step RPA assays toolbox in regional plant virology laboratories in the Southeast U.S. Sub-awards will support Dr. Kai-Shu Ling of the USDA Agricultural Research Service in assay development and Dr. Parets at the University of Georgia Research Foundation to conduct training and develop an online education platform for RPA use. The grant addresses critical integrated pest management needs to ensure food security by developing rapid, economical diagnostics for insect-transmitted viruses threatening cucurbit crops.