Southern Plant Diagnostic Network, Kentucky Component

For the Fiscal Year 2012-2013, the University of Kentucky Plant Diagnostic Laboratories in Lexington and Princeton will perform diagnostic tests, and provide appropriate responses, for all plant samples received during the project. In addition, staff and faculty with diagnostic responsibilities will attend scientific meetings that provide opportunities of professional development in plant diagnostics. We will also continue to publish our newsletter, Kentucky Pest News, to maintain First Detectors up-to-date on plant disease issues. KENTUCKY PLAN OF WORK, July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015 Prepared by Paul Vincelli, Project Director for Kentucky Diagnostics: The University of Kentucky will maintain timely diagnostic activities year-round, with timely responses provided for all samples. The UK Extension Plant Pathology program will continue to submit all data on a daily basis to the NPDN database for the duration of the project, as defined by the NPDN policies regarding data submission and sharing. The laboratory currently has a permit to receive samples from out of state and will continue to be available to process regional surge samples if the need arises, consistent with our responses to the Feb 2011 Surge Capacity Survey. We plan to continue to advance our implementation of DNA-based diagnostics, through implementation of PCR tests for detection of Verticillium species in woody species. We also are beginning development/validation work on PCR-based detection of rose rosette virus. • Professional Development: Our team places a high priority on professional development for staff and faculty activities that relate to pathogen detection and disease diagnosis. Attendance by key professionals at conferences such as the American Phytopathology Society meeting and relevant commodity meetings (such as the Midwest Fruit Workers meeting and the Kanuga Conference on Ornamentals Diseases) will remain a vital component of offering the best possible diagnostic activities to the SPDN project. • Training First Detectors: Training to build awareness among First Detectors of disease threats will be provided, to the extent the new budget permits, for all crops of importance in Kentucky. This will be conducted through continued publication of our weekly/biweekly pest information electronic newsletter, Kentucky Pest News, with information on diagnostics, disease and insect recognition, new disease and insect threats, and disease and pest management. Training for Extension agents and stakeholders will also be provided through live and online presentations to the extent permitted by the budget. • Committee activities: Team members will participate in various regional and national working groups relating to plant disease detection and diagnostics. This will help the Extension team keep abreast of new diseases. • Personnel: We plan to hire an hourly assistant for the Princeton laboratory to process samples during the peak diagnostic period during summer. • Other: The UK Extension plant pathology team will hold weekly/biweekly teleconferences in order to assure high levels of communication, coordination, and teamwork in the diagnostic domain.