Source: PURDUE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
PARTNERSHIP AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY: ADVANCING CORN PATHOLOGY RESEARCH AND BIOSECURITY ENHANCEMENT: INTEGRATING TRUSTED AND INNOVATIVE METHODS TO MODEL TAR SPOT EPIDEMICS AND UNRAVEL CORN-P. MAYDIS I
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1032099
Grant No.
2024-67013-42399
Cumulative Award Amt.
$799,926.00
Proposal No.
2023-08024
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2024
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2027
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[A1181]- Tactical Sciences for Agricultural Biosecurity
Recipient Organization
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
WEST LAFAYETTE,IN 47907
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This project utilizes a blend of detailed scientific methods and practical applications to tackle the significant issue of tar spot in corn, aiming to effect substantial improvements in agricultural practices and crop health through innovative approaches and robust evaluation methods.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
8071510117050%
8071510104020%
8071510208030%
Knowledge Area
807 - Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery;

Subject Of Investigation
1510 - Corn;

Field Of Science
1040 - Molecular biology; 2080 - Mathematics and computer sciences; 1170 - Epidemiology;
Goals / Objectives
We have two objectives: Objective one focuses on studying tar spot epidemiology using traditional and state-of- the-art methods, and objective two delves into the intricacies of corn-P. maydis interactions.
Project Methods
The project employs a comprehensive approach to address vulnerabilities in the agricultural system, specifically targeting the issue of tar spot in corn. It combines statistical machine learning, functional characterization, gene expression techniques, and observational and experimental research methodologies to establish potential cause-and-effect relationships crucial for agricultural improvements. Control groups and randomization are key elements of the experimental design, ensuring the integrity and unbiased nature of the data collected. The project takes the form of a case study, focusing deeply on a single disease to provide detailed insights, while leveraging a cross-disciplinary approach to enhance the reliability, validity, and overall quality of the findings.Unique aspects of the project include the rigorous spatial and temporal dynamics analysis, which utilizes data from specifically chosen geographic locations and time periods to evaluate the impact of environmental conditions and disease dynamics on crop health. The data collection integrates assessments by human raters and UAV imagery with continuous environmental data monitoring, creating rich, multi-faceted datasets. The validation of predictive models is thorough, involving steps like data splitting, fine-tuning, calibration, cross-validation, and potentially external validation with independent datasets.The project aims to significantly impact its target audience--stakeholders and agricultural practitioners--by delivering science-based knowledge through the development and distribution of practical materials. These efforts include detailed reports and guidelines on disease management and crop protection, along with experiential learning opportunities that demonstrate the practical applications of the research findings in real-world settings.The success and impact of the project are evaluated using several methods. Planned evaluation studies will collect various types of data, linking milestones and indicators of success to the expected outcomes and accomplishments. Quantitative indicators such as disease intensity measurements and environmental impacts will measure the tangible benefits of the project. Feedback from stakeholders, including farmers and agricultural experts, will provide insights into the practical applicability and effectiveness of the research outputs. Additionally, the project will produce detailed visualizations and comprehensive reports to clearly communicate the findings and their significance, ensuring that the results are both understandable and useful to all stakeholders involved.

Progress 07/01/24 to 06/30/25

Outputs
Target Audience: Researchers Industry (crop protection, robotics) Farmers Students Changes/Problems:The final agreement and transfer of funds to Co-PI Ramirez are still pending completion. However, we have continued to advance on the corresponding work. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students and Staff Involvement: Research Skills: Assisted PhD students (Brenden Lane, Mariela Fernandez-Campos, Malleswari Kachireddy) and visiting scholars (Alex Acosta, Fidel Jimenez-Beitia) with experiment planning, data analysis, and interpretation. Helped Alex Acosta improve tar spot inoculation methods and guided Malleswari in multimodal modeling practices. Hosted regular meetings with Dr. Jahanshahi to discuss modeling methods and data interpretation. Presentation & Communication: Encouraged and supported students in presenting at national and international conferences. Conducted internal practice presentations and provided feedback. Brenden Lane and Alex Acosta presented findings at the Corn Disease Working Group Meeting, while Malleswari Kachireddy shared her research in Dr. Cruz's class for feedback. Technical Skills: Trained students in advanced statistical and data visualization software. Worked directly with Alex Acosta and Malleswari Kachireddy during the BTNY525 Plant Disease Epidemiology course. Enhanced understanding of plant disease epidemiology and data quality management. Career & Academic Development: Assisted with research paper and grant proposal writing. Hosted mentorship sessions on career planning and networking. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Involved students in joint projects with other teams or industry partners and organized seminars with experts to broaden perspectives. Outreach & Extension: Engaged students in outreach activities focusing on agricultural education and disease management. Leadership & Project Management: Provided opportunities for students to lead project components and trained them in team coordination and time management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?So far through manuscripts being submitted for publication, oral presentations at the national and international level, direct engagement with stakeholders (including but not limited to the robotics and crop protection industry as well as farmers). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have successfully initiated all modeling efforts, optimized protocols, and conducted preliminary experiments, achieving the milestones outlined in the original grant proposal timeline. Building on this momentum, we plan to advance each project objective further next year. For Objective 1, Task 1, we will focus on a more comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of tar spot epidemics, integrating detailed weather data to refine our predictive models. For Objective 1, Task 2, we aim to expand our data fusion approaches by incorporating visual, environmental, and UAV data into larger-scale field trials, pushing the limits of previous testing to capture more complex interactions and improve overall model accuracy. For Objective 2 (all tasks) we plan to have all protocols optimized and standardized. It is a priority to fully standardize and repeat the artificial inoculations of Phyllachora maydis on susceptible maize plants at growth stages V5-V7 until symptoms and signs are consistently observed. New studies are underway involving other micronutrients, such as Fe and Zn, to optimize the composition of a culture medium for the isolation and growth of Phyllachora maydis, particularly the cornmeal infusion medium agar (CIMA) supplemented with corn leaf extract and mineral additives. Ongoing biochemical, enzymatic, and molecular analyses will help clarify key aspects of the interaction between Bacillus subtilis and Zea mays. Furthermore, future work will aim to: 1) assess the minimal amino acid sequence within PmEC1487 required for the nuclear localization, 2) assess whether nuclear localization of PmEC1487 is important for its immune-suppressing activities, and 3) identify host protein from maize that interact with PmEC1487.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1 focused on modeling tar spot epidemics using spatial and temporal data. Task 1 characterized the complex patterns of tar spot in Indiana using severity assessments and Markov Chain models, identifying three epidemic phases. Task 2 evaluated the predictive power of weather and vegetation data (alone and combined) for early detection of tar spot. Neural network models using vegetation data showed 94% accuracy, while logistic regression models with weather data showed 96% sensitivity. Objective 2 explored maize-P. maydis interactions at multiple scales. Task 1 developed an enriched cornmeal infusion medium that improved growth of P. maydis ascospores and demonstrated partial inoculation success in maize plants. Task 2 confirmed that fresh inoculum accelerates disease onset, though reproducibility varied across regions. Task 3 focused on standardizing inoculation protocols. Task 4 identified a P. maydis effector protein (PmEC1487) targeting the plant nucleus and suppressing immune responses. Task 5 began evaluating biocontrol with Bacillus subtilis, showing promising growth and defense benefits in maize. Activities included data curation, modeling, inoculation trials, confocal microscopy, and data analysis. Outcomes ranged from refined models of epidemic development to new insights into pathogen interactions and potential biocontrol strategies.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cruz, C. D. 2024. New Technologies in Pest and Disease Monitoring in the Context of Climate Change. Regional Event: Climate Change and Its Impact on the Implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Moderator and Speaker.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cruz, C. D. 2024. Leveraging Advanced Imaging Techniques for Epidemiology: Exploring the Role of Proximal and Remote Sensing Technologies. Agronanal�tICA Workshop Organized by ICA. Bogot�, COLOMBIA. Keynote speaker
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cruz, C. D. 2024. Modernizing Plant Disease Monitoring: Integrating UAV and Ground-Based Imaging in Epidemiological Research. International Epidemiology Workshop organized by the International Society of Plant Pathology and the Brazilian Society of Plant Pathology. Foz do Igua�u, BRAZIL. Invited speaker.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: " Cruz, C. D. 2025. Role of Digital Technologies in the One Health Context. Purdue Institute for Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems-Vet Med. West Lafayette, IN. Invited Panelist.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Acosta, A. 2025. Refined Tar Spot Inoculation Protocol: Overcoming Challenges to Achieve Reliable Results. 2025. Corn Disease Working Group Meeting. Pensacola, FL. Invited speaker.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2025 Citation: Campos, Mariela Sofia Fernandez (2025). Tar Spot of Corn: Recent Insights and an Interpretable WeatherImagery Pipeline for Disease Prediction. Purdue University Graduate School. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.25394/PGS.28902104.v1
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2025 Citation: Lane, Brenden Z (2025). Unraveling the dynamics of tar spot epidemics in corn fields: A DATA-DRIVEN FRAMEWORK FOR disease development and Surveillance. Purdue University Graduate School. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.25394/PGS.28908050.v1
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: " Lane, B. 2025. Monitoring, Modeling, and Managing Tar Spot in Corn: A Data-Driven Framework for Epidemic Surveillance and Management. PhD Exit Seminar. West Lafayette, IN
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: " Fernandez-Campos, M. 2025. Recent Insights into Tar Spot of Corn and Improving Disease Prediction Using Data Fusion, Neural Networks, and Logistic Regression. 2025. PhD Exit Seminar. West Lafayette, IN.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: " Lane, B. 2025. Unraveling Tar Spot Epidemic Dynamics in Indiana Corn Fields (2021-2024): Insights for Precision Management. 2025. Corn Disease Working Group Meeting. Pensacola, FL. Invited speaker.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: " Cruz, C. D. 2025. Innovative Approaches in Phytopathometry, Epidemiology, and Microbiology: Focus on Corn Tar Spot  Advancing Crop Biosecurity Through Science-Based Solutions. North Central Integrated Pest Management Center. Webinar. Invited speaker
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Lane, B. 2024. Characterizing Tar Spot Epidemics in U.S. Corn: A Medley of Models. I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium. The American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. Memphis, TN.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cruz, C. D. 2024. Using State-of-the-Art Imaging Methods for Epidemiological Purposes: The Role of Proximal and Remote Sensing Technologies. In: Innovative Approaches in Plant Disease Epidemiology: Navigating Challenges in a Technologically Driven Era. The American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. Memphis, TN. Invited Speaker and Session Organizer.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cruz, C. D. 2024. Developing tools for high throughout plant disease phenotyping. Bayer Crop Science. Online. Invited speaker.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cruz, C. D. 2024. Advancing Agriculture: Exploring strategic partnerships in plant pathology, digital tool development, and plant disease modeling. Bayer Crop Science. West, Lafayette, IN. Invited speaker.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cruz, C. D. 2024. Promoting Agricultural Progress: Investigating Collaborative Alliances for Creating Digital Solutions and Forecasting Crop Diseases. Corteva Agriscience. Online. Invited speaker.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cruz, C. D. 2024. Automated Plant Health Management. Solinftec Inc. Ara�atuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Invited speaker.