Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to
THE SOUTHERN PLANT DIAGNOSTIC NETWORK
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1027345
Grant No.
2021-37621-35791
Cumulative Award Amt.
$895,959.00
Proposal No.
2021-09664
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2021
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2023
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[AA-G]- Homeland Security
Project Director
Harmon, C. L.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
Plant Pathology
Non Technical Summary
The Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) is one of five regional networks primarily comprised of land-grant institution plant diagnostic laboratories and associated personnel, plus one national private plant diagnostic laboratory that focuses on ornamentals. The objective of this network is to safeguard US agriculture and natural systems by enhancing the early detection, accurate diagnosis, and efficient reporting of new, emerging, important, and high-risk plant problems. This network accomplishes this objective through enhancement of laboratory capabilities, capacities, and personnel, as well as through the training of First Detectors in monitoring and secure sample submission. The Southern Plant Diagnostic Network comprises a partnership between USDA-NIFA and 14 land-grant institutions in the following states and U.S. territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All five regional networks function as a hub-and-spoke system, whereby one institution takes the lead and serves as the expert and backup laboratory and financial and organizational hub for the entire region. The SPDN hub is at the University of Florida. The other four regions have their hubs at the following institutions: Northeast Plant Diagnostic Network, University of Maine; Great Plains Diagnostic Network, Kansas State University; North Central Plant Diagnostic Network, Michigan State University; and Western Plant Diagnostic Network, University of California, Davis.The charge of the SPDN is the diagnosis of and assistance with detection of select agents, high-risk pathogens and pests, and routine clinical samples in the region. In addition, the SPDN requires that all member labs submit diagnostic data to the NPDN national repository at CERIS/Purdue. The implementation of the 2019 NPDN strategic plan has resulted in revamping nearly every aspect of NPDN operations to focus efforts on diagnostic capacity and improvement. Of primary importance are expanded resources for training diagnosticians and communication and collaboration with regulatory and partners. The SPDN partners with other tactical plant science agencies such as APHIS, the IPM Centers, the National Plant Board, the Sentinel Plant Network (APGA), and others. These objectives support the national goals for the NPDN in diagnostic capability and capacity to increase early detection, accurate diagnosis, and timely reporting of high-impact plant problems.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2122499116070%
2112499113030%
Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1160 - Pathology;
Goals / Objectives
Quality diagnostics: The APHIS-sponsored "Beltsville" trainings will resume in 2021 and 2022.Additional diagnostic training opportunities will be delivered via the national webinars (via GPDN) and at meetings such as the NPDN National Meeting, APS National Meeting, and regional meetings such as Kanuga and the SPDN annual virtual meeting.Professional Development: Several SPDN diagnosticians are on the Program and other planning committees for the 2022 National NPDN meeting (April 2022, Davis, CA). This meeting will have a focus on diagnostic professional development and local (lab/state-level) impact. Several hands-on workshops are planned, including mycology and accreditation, with the aim of participants leaving the meeting with skills and protocols they can put to use upon returning to the lab. Each state receives funds through its annual allocation to send at least one representative. The regional center plans to start a "new diagnostician orientation and welcome", with emphasis on equipping new diagnosticians in the region with introductions to peers, virtual mentoring meetings, and a copy of all protocols in use at the regional center. If travel is allowed, we plan to try again to host diagnosticians in a professional diagnostician exchange of a few days at a time. This exchange is meant to foster new ideas and bring each other up through example and mentorship.Communication: The SPDN will continue to communicate all national and regional news to its members. The NDR staff plans in 2021-2022 to implement the regional and national communications rosters as part of the expertise and membership database.Governance: The Southern Regional Center for the National Plant Diagnostic NetworkSouthern Plant Diagnostic Network 2020-2021 Report of Accomplishments and 2021-2022 Plan of WorkPI, Carrie Lapaire Harmon; Regional Director, Jeffrey JonesSPDN/University of Florida USDA-NIFA-2016-37620-25850 Page 12(NPDN) remains at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Other participating laboratories are at Auburn University, University of Arkansas, University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, University of Puerto Rico, Clemson University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Additionally, we will manage the subcontracts for four NEPDN states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This one-year activity demonstrates the flexible and supportive nature of the NPDN, as other regional centers support the NEPDN regional center as it shifts for one year to the University of Maine. Staff at the SPDN regional center facilitate activities within the region by developing and overseeing administration of the budget for region including solicitation of proposals; distribution of funds; diagnostics, communications, and database management training; and coordination of regional meetings either in person or via teleconference. They also serve an important role as centers for communication between state and federal agencies and the southern regional state partners. Jeffrey Jones will continue to serve as Regional Director. Carrie Lapaire Harmon will continue to serve as SPDN Associate Director and NPDN Executive Director in this bridge year, maintaining stability in the network in preparation for competition of all of the regional centers next year.NPDN remains committed to a philosophy of inclusion of NPDN members in decisions affecting the operations of our network. A dozen national committees involve members from across all five regions, ensuring regional representation as well as representation by all sizes of labs. A description of each committee and its goals can be found here: https://www.npdn.org/committee_directory. The committees ensure that members have a decision-making role in the implementation of all programs.The committee structure allows NPDN members to implement the Strategic Plan and decisions by the committees, as approved by the Executive Committee, in all three functional areas:• Communication - to enhance communications with our members and partners,• Diagnostics - to enhance the capability of plant diagnostic labs around the country, and• IT - to improve IT resources that support those goals.
Project Methods
The Southern Regional Center for the National Plant Diagnostic NetworkSouthern Plant Diagnostic Network 2020-2021 Report of Accomplishments and 2021-2022 Plan of WorkPI, Carrie Lapaire Harmon; Regional Director, Jeffrey JonesSPDN/University of Florida USDA-NIFA-2016-37620-25850 Page 12(NPDN) remains at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Other participating laboratories are at Auburn University, University of Arkansas, University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, University of Puerto Rico, Clemson University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Additionally, we will manage the subcontracts for four NEPDN states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This one-year activity demonstrates the flexible and supportive nature of the NPDN, as other regional centers support the NEPDN regional center as it shifts for one year to the University of Maine. Staff at the SPDN regional center facilitate activities within the region by developing and overseeing administration of the budget for region including solicitation of proposals; distribution of funds; diagnostics, communications, and database management training; and coordination of regional meetings either in person or via teleconference. They also serve an important role as centers for communication between state and federal agencies and the southern regional state partners. Jeffrey Jones will continue to serve as Regional Director. Carrie Lapaire Harmon will continue to serve as SPDN Associate Director and NPDN Executive Director in this bridge year, maintaining stability in the network in preparation for competition of all of the regional centers next year.The SPDN funding is allocated to projects that fulfill the mission of the NPDN as outlined and defined in the NPDN Strategic Plan, but at a minimum fulfill the following three requirements:Requirement: Upload data to the National Data RepositoryDescription: Upload of diagnostic data to the NPDN National Repository in accordance with NPDN policies is required for all labs participating in the NPDN. The data are an indicator of a successful and continuously operational laboratory.Requirement:Participate in one annual network meetingDescription:In order to foster communication among NPDN members, labs, and our regulatory partners, all labs, regardless of their size, must participate in at least one NPDN event.Requirement:Submit an annual survey and accomplishments reportDescription:The survey and annual report document metrics that measure the capacity, capability, contributions, and achievements of each lab in the network.NPDN remains committed to a philosophy of inclusion of NPDN members in decisions affecting the operations of our network. A dozen national committees involve members from across all five regions, ensuring regional representation as well as representation by all sizes of labs. A description of each committee and its goals can be found here: https://www.npdn.org/committee_directory. The committees ensure that members have a decision-making role in the implementation of all programs.The committee structure allows NPDN members to implement the Strategic Plan and decisions by the committees, as approved by the Executive Committee, in all three functional areas:• Communication - to enhance communications with our members and partners,• Diagnostics - to enhance the capability of plant diagnostic labs around the country, and• IT - to improve IT resources that support those goals.

Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The National Plant Diagnostic Network is a network of diagnostic first responders in more than 70 laboratories in every US state and territory, and they are our primary target audience. A secondary target audience is the extension clientele of the diagnosticians. Each diagnosis represents at least one target audience contact with extension clientele. In the time period of Sept2021-August, 2022, SPDN member states diagnosed >80,000 samples and MA, ME, NH, and VT (NEPDN states served by the SPDN hub for this year) >4,000samples, an increase of almost 30%. This is a testament to the impact these labs have for the plant industries and their state stakeholders. SPDN members presented and published material focusing on introductory and advanced plant pathology, plant diagnostics, communication during detection events, Integrated Pest Management, and specific plant problems including the select and significant agents listed by APHIS, and other diseases and pests in >500publications/presentations. These attendees represented grower groups, Master gardeners, crop consultants, pesticide applicators, graduate students, agricultural education teachers, first detectors, and colleagues in plant pathology, entomology, and other related fields. Diagnosticians are an additional target audience, and this funding allowed for opportunities for diagnosticians to attend professional development conferences. Changes/Problems:COVID-19 staffing issues, travel restrictions, and supply chain disruptions pushed labs to innovate in staffing and response to clientele via virtual platforms. In-person trainings and meetings were postponed or switched to virtual platforms. Supply chain disruptions stalled some laboratory processes, and delivery of some outputs of the accreditation and learning management systems were de-prioritized while we pushed finding diagnostic solutions to the top. Those objectives were met in the extension year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities: Despite continued travel restrictions and meeting cancellations, all SPDN states sent diagnosticians to virtual or in-person training opportunities to increase knowledge and potential for adoption of new methods or awareness of new organisms. Opportunities included the in-person NPDN national meeting in April 2022, APS national and regional meetings, APHIS-sponsored trainings, and SPDN regional meetings, each with opportunities to share new methods and organism detections. The data in the accomplishments section indicates these opportunities were well-received and resulted in knowledge gained and behavior changes. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?SPDN member states directly benefit from the professional development of the region's diagnosticians. Reporting of these trainings, however, are often informal or through client contact mechanisms such as newsletters and grower meetings. Our websites, social media, and presentations during extension meetings disseminate our information to a wide variety of plant professionals. Additionally, each and every one of the >85,000 samples our labs processed this year represents a point of contact with the public, plant industry, or other community of interest. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Communication: All SPDN states submitted nearly all diagnostic data, totaling296,791 records from 37 active laboratories across the region, logging73 first detections. In addition to the benefits of pest management/eradication through early detection, each first detection represents a point of contact between that SPDN lab and their regulatory partners. SPDN is represented on all NPDN subcommittees, participating in committee activities and reporting. Diagnosis: Diagnostic capacity doubled in the region over the past 5 years, from 40,123 methods used in 2016-2017 to 87,843 in 2021-2022, averaging at least 2 methods per sample diagnosis. Molecular methods continue to be used with increasing regularity, with at least 2 labs adopting at least one molecular method each year. The new NPDN core accreditation program was finalized and released to the network. IT: Two SPDN states and one NEPDN state adopted a new-to-them Laboratory Information System to expand their service and reduce costs while ensuring steady and secure information flow from the state to the National Data Repository. The SPDN website moved under the NPDN portal umbrella and was revamped to focus on state reports and regional meeting minutes.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Harmon, C.L.; Akey, B.L., Ochoa-Corona, F.M.; Ramachandran, A.; and Sharma, P. Training, Tests, and Tech: Deployment of Diagnostic Tools for Biosecurity In Cardwell, K. F., and Bailey, K. L., eds. Tactical Sciences for Biosecurity in Animal and Plant Systems. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2022. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-7935-0
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Parajuli, A., Harmon, C.L., Minsavage, G., Jones, D., Timilsina, S., Parent, M.L., and Jones, J. 2022. Draft genome sequences of Pseudomonas amygdali pv. loropetali pathotype strain DSM 105780 PT, isolated from Florida. Access Microbio. 2022;4:000423. https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000423


Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The National Plant Diagnostic Network is a network of diagnostic first responders in more than 70 laboratories in every US state and territory, and they are our primary target audience. A secondary target audience is the extension clientele of the diagnosticians. Each diagnosis represents at least one target audience contact with extension clientele. In the time period of Sept 1 2021-July 11, 2022, SPDN member states diagnosed 79,738 samples and MA, ME, NH, and VT (NEPDN states served by the SPDN hub for this year) 4,128 samples, an increase of almost 30%. This is a testament to the impact these labs have for the green industries and their state stakeholders. SPDN members presented and published material focusing on introductory and advanced plant pathology, plant diagnostics, communication during detection events, Integrated Pest Management, and specific plant problems including the select and significant agents listed by APHIS, and other diseases and pests in 508 publications/presentations. These attendees represented grower groups, Master gardeners, crop consultants, pesticide applicators, graduate students, agricultural education teachers, first detectors, and colleagues in plant pathology, entomology, and other related fields. Diagnosticians are an additional target audience, and this funding allowed for opportunities for diagnosticians to attend professional development conferences. Changes/Problems:COVID-19 staffing issues, travel restrictions, and supply chain disruptions pushed labs to innovate in staffing and response to clientele via virtual platforms. In-person trainings and meetings were postponed or switched to virtual platforms. Supply chain disruptions stalled some laboratory processes, and delivery of some outputs of the accreditation and learning management systems were de-prioritized while we pushed finding diagnostic solutions to the top. Those objectives should be met within the coming year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Despite continued travel restrictions and meeting cancellations, all SPDN states sent diagnosticians to virtual or in-person training opportunities to increase knowledge and potential for adoption of new methods or awareness of new organisms. Opportunities included the in-person NPDN national meeting in April 2022, APS national and regional meetings, APHIS-sponsored trainings, and SPDN regional meetings, each with opportunities to share new methods and organism detections. The data in the accomplishments section indicates these opportunities were well-received and resulted in knowledge gained and behavior changes. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?SPDN member states directly benefit from the professional development of the region's diagnosticians. Reporting of these trainings, however, are often informal or through client contact mechanisms such as newsletters and grower meetings. Our websites, social media, and presentations during extension meetings disseminate our information to a wide variety of plant professionals. Additionally, each and every one of the 83,000 samples our labs processed this year represents a point of contact with the public, plant industry, or other community of interest. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Several in-person meetings and trainings were postponed or cancelled altogether, reducing the number of opportunities to expand diagnostic capacity in the network. COVID and economic-related disruptions in services and supplies pushed back the timelines on delivering some trainings, ring testing projects, and delivering the learning management system objectives on time. We plan to use a potential no-cost extension to complete the objectives of the project and continue to serve our target audiences.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Communication: All SPDN states submitted nearly all diagnostic data, totaling296,791 records from 37 active laboratories across the region, logging73 first detections. In addition to the benefits of pest management/eradication through early detection, each first detection represents a point of contact between that SPDN lab and their regulatory partners. SPDN is represented on all NPDN subcommittees, participating in committee activities and reporting. Diagnosis:Diagnostic capacity doubled in the region over the past 5 years, from 40,123 methods used in 2016-2017 to 87,843 in 2021-2022, averaging at least 2 methods per sample diagnosis. Molecular methods continue to be used with increasing regularity, with at least 2 labs adopting at least one molecular method each year. The new NPDN core accreditation program was finalized and released to the network. IT: Two SPDN states and one NEPDN state adopted a new-to-them Laboratory Information System to expand their service and reduce costs while ensuring steady and secure information flow from the state to the National Data Repository. The SPDN website moved under the NPDN portal umbrella and was revamped to focus on state reports and regional meeting minutes.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: De Souza, M., Singh, R., Khanal, C., Rankins, A., and Laird, B. 2021. Screening of commercially available satsuma (Citrus unshiu and C. reticulata) cultivars for their susceptibility to citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri. Plant Health Prog. 22 (2): 122-128. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-12-20-0105-RS
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: De Souza, M., Singh, R., Harms, N. E., McPhedran, J., and Smart, A. N. 2021. First report of leaf spot caused by Septoria villarsiae on Nymphoides peltata in the United States. Plant Health Prog. 22 (2): 157-158. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-12-20-0104-BR
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Gazis, R., DeWitt, K., Johnson, L., Chamberlin, L., Kennedy, A., Hansen, M. A., & Bush, E. (accepted, in press) First Report of Laurel Wilt Disease Caused by Raffaelea lauricola on Sassafras in Virginia. Plant Disease.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Smart, A.; Byrne, J.; Hammerschmidt, R.; Snover-Clift, K.; Stack, J.; Brenes-Arguedas, T.; Jones, J.B.; Harmon, C.L. 2021. Evolving plant diagnostics during a pandemic. Plant Health Prog. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-08-20-0074-MR
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Dale, A.; Harlow, E.; Harmon, C.L.; and Marble, C. 2021. Galling damage to woody ornamentals: diagnosis and potential causes. IFAS EDIS ENY-2055/IN1310. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-in1310-2021
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Conner, K. N.; Strayer-Scherer, A.; Hagan, A. K.; Koebernick, J.; Jacobson, A.; Bowen, K. L.; Sikora, E. J.; Graham, S.; and Brown, S. 2021. Cotton leafroll dwarf virus. ANR-2539. https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/cotton-leafroll-dwarf-virus/
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Hutchens, W. J., Henderson, C. A., Bush, E. A., Kerns, J. P., & McCall, D. S. (2021.). Geographic Distribution of Ophiosphaerella Species in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Plant Health Progress. doi:10.1094/php-04-21-0076-s
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Roman-Reyna, V., Dupas, E., Cesbron, S., Marchi, G., Campigli, S., Hansen, M. A., Bush, E. . . . Jacobs, J. M. (2021). Metagenomic Sequencing for Identification of Xylella fastidiosa from Leaf Samples. mSystems, 6(5). doi:10.1128/mSystems.00591-21
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Garcia-Gonzalez J; Hansen M; Strawn L; Rideout S, 10/01/2021, An Overview of Southern Blight, Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, SPES-325-NP
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Iles, L.C.; Fulladolsa, A.C.; Smart, A.; Bonkowski, J.; Creswell, T.; Harmon, C.L.; Hammerschmidt, R.; Hirch, R.; Rodriguez Salamanca, L. 2021. Everything Is Faster: How Do Land-Grant UniversityBased Plant Diagnostic Laboratories Keep Up with a Rapidly Changing World? Ann. Rev. of Phytopath. 59 (1):333-349. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-020620-102557
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Garcia-Aroca, T.; Price, P. P.; Tomaso-Peterson, M.; Allen, T. W.; Wilkerson, T. H.; Spurlock, T. N.; Faske, T. R.; Bluhm, B.; Conner, K.; Sikora, E.; Guyer, R.; Kelly, H.; Squiers, B. M.; and Doyle, V. P. 2021. Xylaria necrophora, sp. nov., is an emerging root-associated pathogen responsible for taproot decline of soybean in the southern United States. Mycologia 113:326-347. https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2020.1846965
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Singh, R., De Souza, M., Burks, T., and Price, T. 2021. First report of southern blight of industrial hemp caused by Athelia rolfsii in Louisiana. Plant Health Prog. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-05-21-0084-BR
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Kaur, H., De Souza, M., and Singh, R. 2021. Screening of existing and new boxwood cultivars for disease resistance and in vitro fungicide screening to manage boxwood dieback caused by Colletotrichum theobromicola. Plant Health Prog. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-03-21-0070-RS
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Kaur, H., Singh, R., Doyle, V. P., 2021. A Diagnostic TaqMan Real-Time PCR Assay for Detection and Quantification of Colletotrichum theobromicola, Causal Agent of Boxwood Dieback. Plant Dis. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-20-2439-RE