Progress 09/01/22 to 12/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Throughout the project duration, our focus was on engaging a diverse audience within the watermelon industry, including producers, scientists, and industry representatives such as consultants and seed companies. Watermelon Producers: Our aim was to work with producers to better understand the knowledge gaps related to Fusarium wilt management and how we can address those gaps with future funding for research. Through a virtual meeting and extension programs, the PIs addressed challenges they observed with Fusarium wilt management thus fostering a collaborative environment for shared insights and experiences. Through this collaboration, we were able to create producer driven research objectives for an SCRI-SREP grant that provided applied outcomes producers were interested in using. Scientists: Collaborating with researchers in universities, institutions, and governmental agencies, we developed innovative solutions/objectives for addressing research gaps in Fusarium wilt of watermelon management. By organizing hybrid meetings as well as continued collaboration thought Microsoft Teams, we were able to create interdisciplinary research efforts aimed at improving our understanding of the pathogen's genetics, disease resistance, and production practices. Industry Representatives: Engaging with consultants, seed companies, and other stakeholders, we aimed to enhance technical support, market access, and variety development within the industry. Through partnerships and participation in virtual meetings, we were able to aligning efforts with industry priorities to foster a sustainable and competitive watermelon sector. Changes/Problems:The completion of the systematic review experienced a delay due to changes in personnel, the research team remains dedicated to fulfilling the objectives of the project. By developing a robust protocol and adjusting the timeline, efforts are underway to ensure the successful completion of the review by early 2025. The team appreciates the understanding and support of stakeholders during this transitional period and remains committed to delivering impactful findings that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This report highlights the training and professional development initiatives undertaken as part of a collaborative project aimed at addressing Fusarium wilt of watermelon. Specifically, it focuses on the utilization of Microsoft Teams as a versatile tool for communication, collaboration, and project management, along with providing hands-on experience to Doctor of Plant Medicine (DPM) students in interacting with growers, industry representatives and consultants, and developing surveys with appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols. Training and Professional Development Activities: 1. Utilization of Microsoft Teams: Two DPM students were provided with the opportunity to use Microsoft Teams as a central platform for communication, collaboration, and project management throughout the duration of the project. They were trained on various features and functionalities of Teams, including: - Setting up and organizing channels for different project tasks and discussions. - Utilizing chat functions for real-time communication with team members. - Sharing files, documents, and resources within the Teams environment. - Scheduling meetings and conducting virtual conferences using Teams' meeting capabilities. - Tracking project progress and assigning tasks using the built-in task management tools. 2. Interaction with Growers: The DPM students were actively involved in interacting with growers as part of the project. They had the opportunity to engage with growers from watermelon-producing regions, gaining firsthand insights into their challenges, practices, and perspectives regarding Fusarium wilt management. This interaction provided valuable experiential learning opportunities and enhanced their understanding of practical issues faced by growers in the field. 3. Survey Development with IRB Compliance: In addition to grower interaction, the DPM students were tasked with developing a survey instrument to gather relevant data for the project. They received training on research ethics and IRB protocols to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and regulations. This included: - Understanding the principles of research ethics and the importance of protecting human subjects' rights and confidentiality. - Learning the process of obtaining IRB approval for survey research involving human participants. - Developing survey questions that are clear, unbiased, and appropriate for the intended audience. - Implementing data collection procedures that respect participants' autonomy and privacy. Outcomes and Impact: The training and professional development activities outlined above resulted in several positive outcomes: - The DPM students gained proficiency in using Microsoft Teams as an effective tool for project management and collaboration, enhancing their digital literacy and teamwork skills. - Their interaction with growers provided valuable insights into real-world agricultural practices and challenges, fostering a deeper understanding of the industry's needs and priorities. - Through the survey development process, the students acquired practical experience in research design and ethical considerations, preparing them for future research endeavors and professional roles in academia or industry. Conclusion: The provision of training and professional development opportunities to DPM students in utilizing Microsoft Teams, interacting with growers, and developing surveys with IRB compliance has been integral to the success of the collaborative project on Fusarium wilt of watermelon. These activities have not only enhanced the students' skills and knowledge but also contributed to the overall effectiveness and impact of the project. Continued investment in such capacity-building initiatives is essential for fostering a new generation of skilled professionals in agricultural research and practice. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The dissemination strategy focused on Extension meetings with watermelon societies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas, leading to significant stakeholder engagement and support. Dissemination Strategy: Results from the collaborative project addressing Fusarium wilt of watermelon were disseminated through Extension meetings conducted in collaboration with watermelon societies, such as the Suwannee Valley Watermelon Institute in Florida. These meetings served as platforms for sharing the proposals objective while allowing stakeholders the ability to provide insights and recommendations. Stakeholder Engagement: Stakeholders from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas actively participated in the Extension meetings, representing various segments of the watermelon industry, including growers, producers, researchers, and industry representatives. The dissemination of project results facilitated meaningful discussions and exchanges of ideas regarding Fusarium wilt management strategies and potential solutions. Support Letter Development: As a direct outcome of the dissemination efforts, a novel support letter was developed to endorse the proposal seeking funding from NIFA-SCRI. The support letter garnered significant backing from 29 Florida stakeholder signatures expressing support for the proposal. The support letter highlighted the importance of the proposed research and its potential impact on addressing critical challenges faced by the watermelon industry. Conclusion: The dissemination of project results through Extension meetings with watermelon societies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas proved instrumental in engaging stakeholders and fostering support for the proposal seeking funding from NIFA-SCRI. The development of a novel support letter, endorsed by 29 stakeholders from Florida, underscored the significance of the collaborative efforts and the relevance of the proposed research in addressing Fusarium wilt of watermelon. Continued stakeholder engagement and collaboration will be vital for advancing research initiatives and driving positive outcomes for the watermelon industry. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In pursuit of addressing the challenges posed by Fusarium wilt of watermelon, a collaborative partnership between scientists and farmers was initiated. This report outlines the steps taken to establish this partnership and the development of a research proposal adaptive to the needs of both stakeholders. Step 1: Hybrid Meetings with Scientists: Hybrid meetings were conducted initially with scientists from seven different watermelon-producing states: California, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Texas. These meetings aimed to identify research hypotheses and objectives pertaining to Fusarium wilt of watermelon. Discussions focused on various aspects, including the pathogen, cultivars, decision support tools, and outreach strategies. Step 2: Follow-up Meeting at the Annual Meeting of American Phytopathological Society (APS): A follow-up meeting was organized at the annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society held in Denver, CO in 2023. During this meeting, the hypotheses and objectives developed in the previous hybrid meetings were presented to stakeholders for feedback and validation. Step 3: Stakeholder Engagement and Feedback: Stakeholders from Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia, including farmers, seed company representatives, fumigation company personnel, and crop consultants, participated in a dedicated stakeholder meeting. The discussions revolved around current Fusarium wilt management practices and their effectiveness. Stakeholders were also asked to provide insights into the information needed to enhance management strategies. Additionally, stakeholders were consulted on the hypotheses and objectives developed by scientists, identifying the most promising ones and suggesting potential additions. Step 4: Agreement and Future Direction: At the conclusion of the stakeholder meeting, consensus was reached among all stakeholders regarding the appropriateness of the identified hypotheses and objectives. Moreover, stakeholders emphasized the importance of connecting with consumers through websites and outreach initiatives. There was unanimous agreement on the necessity of continuing this collaborative effort, with stakeholders expressing willingness to serve on the NIFA-SCRI grant advisory panel if funded. Conclusion: The establishment of a collaborative partnership between scientists and farmers for addressing Fusarium wilt of watermelon has proven to be a fruitful endeavor. Through hybrid meetings, stakeholder engagement, and feedback sessions, a research preproposal adaptive to the needs of both groups has been developed and was submitted to NIFA-SCRI (recently approved for full funding with the full proposal submitted on April 11, 2024). Moving forward, sustained collaboration and stakeholder involvement will be crucial for the success of future research endeavors in this domain.

Publications

Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:This project aimed to develop research in watermelons on Fusarium wilt with two key audiences: researchers/scientists and watermelon stakeholders (producers and industry representatives). Utilizing virtual meeting platforms, the project successfully reached both target groups and fostered communication and collaboration. Methodology Researchers/Scientists: Online meetings were coordinated through Microsoft Teams by the University of Florida. Communication continued beyond the initial meeting through team channels, email, and phone calls. Watermelon Stakeholders: Stakeholders were invited to a virtual meeting held on August 17th, 2023, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Prior to the meeting, attendees signed IRB (Institutional Review Board) consent forms. Stakeholder Meeting Attendance The virtual stakeholder meeting on August 17th, 2023, was a success with eight attendees actively engaging with researchers throughout the two-hour session. Stakeholder Participants The following watermelon stakeholders participated in the virtual meeting: Andrew Scruggs, Bayer CropScience Dan Utley, Farmer Tim Flanders, Consultant Jamey Adams, Highmark Seed Laura Land, Farmer Marco Bello, Sakata Josh Freeman, TriEst Outcomes and Discussion The virtual meeting format proved to be an effective strategy for reaching both researchers and watermelon stakeholders. Researchers:Continued communication through Teams, email, and phone calls fostered ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange for development of a SREP SCRI grant. Stakeholders:The virtual meeting provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to directly engage with researchers, gain insights into current research, ask questions and modify objectives for the NIFA SCRI SREP proposal. Their participation highlights their interest in staying informed about Fusarium wilt and their willingness to help develop research that is both basic and applied. Conclusion This project successfully utilized virtual meetings to connect researchers and watermelon stakeholders. The participation and continued communication demonstrate the value of this approach in facilitating knowledge dissemination and collaboration within the watermelon industry. Changes/Problems:The development of our systematic review faced significant challenges. Firstly, the initial student researcher leading the project departed mid-grant, necessitating the transfer of knowledge and familiarization with existing search strategies and collected data. Secondly, a critical limitation emerged - the scarcity of relevant publications on the topic. This lack of sufficient studies impeded our ability to conduct a robust meta-analysis, a key component of our initial plan. These hurdles necessitated adjustments to our methodology and a focus on a more narrative-based synthesis of the available research. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A doctoral student in plant medicine assisted with grant coordination for this project. This experience involved facilitating virtual meetings with researchers and industry stakeholders, fostering communication and collaborations before and after these meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through Teams for the researchers and at Extension meetings with producers in FL, GA, SC and TX. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Complete the development of the SREP-SCRI grant

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Virtual meetings played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration for our proposed SCRI-SREP grant targeting Fusarium wilt in watermelon. Researchers from across FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, TX, and CA convened virtually to develop research objectives. This collaborative approach ensured a comprehensive strategy drawing on expertise from various regions. The draft objectives were then presented to a stakeholder panel for review. This valuable feedback from producers, industry representatives (like seed companies), and consultants with on-the-ground experience led to significant revisions, particularly in the applied management objectives. All the stakeholders present on the panel indicated their willingness to actively participate in future adaptive research, tailoring the project based on results as the grant progresses.

Publications