Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** plant parasitic nematodes are…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** plant parasitic nematodes are soilborne pathogens that pose a significatn threat TP many high value, annual and perennial, specialty crops, such as potato, carrot, onion, wine grapes and tree fruits in the region, among others. Their infestation can lead to diminished yields and even the rejection of crops by processors, resulting in substantial financial losses for farmers. Currently, pesticides are heavily relied upon for nematode management, and therea pressing need for sustainable, non-chemical alternatives. Enter solanum sisymbriifolium, a nematode-resistant plant that holds promise as a novel tool in nematode management. Our gial is to explore its potential as a sustainable biopesticide. Our research aims to achieve three key objectives: 1) to determine the efficacy of s. Sysimbriifolium formulations against root-knot and cyst nematodes; 2) to assess the economic feasability of utilzing s. Sisymbriifolium formulations to control plant-parasitic nematodes; 3) to disseminate our findings to industry, growers, and academic peers. Through this research, we expect to develop s. Sisymbriifolium-based formulations that offer cost-effective methods of nematode control in high value crops. The envisioned impact will be a reduction in the reliance on synthetic chemical controls, which will be both environmentally beneficial and economically advantageous for farmers