P-474 - Optimizing Efficacy Screening for Red Crown Rot Control Using the 'Pliman' R Package in Growth Chamber Experiments

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM HST

Location: Exhibit Hall 3

Presenting Author(s)

JP

Juan A. Paredes, PhD

Researcher
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois, United States

Author(s)

BP

Bruno D. Pugliese

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois, United States
AR

Andres Fabian Ruiz

Graduate Researcher
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois, United States
SS

Shrisha Shrestha

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois, United States
BC

Boris X. Camiletti

Assistant Professor
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois, United States

Abstract Text: Red Crown Rot (RCR), caused by Calonectria ilicicola, affects soybean roots, leading to necrosis and reduced root length and area. While seed treatment fungicides have been screened in growth chambers for disease control, there are still many other products, such as biologicals, that warrant further exploration. Evaluating efficacy can be time-consuming due to the various parameters involved. A standardized and rapid method to assess control efficacy could expedite the identification of the most effective products. Short-term growth chamber experiments were conducted using three pots per treatment, each with ten soybean seeds, under a 25°C 12-hour light/dark cycle. RCR-infested sorghum was used as inoculum at 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% w/v. Treatments included seeds with and without Saltro fungicide (1cc of 0.075 mg pydiflumetofen per seed), while non-inoculated pots served as controls. After 12 days, root length, root area, aerial length, foliar area, and necrosis severity (0–3 scale) were measured for each plant. Dry biomass of root and aerial parts were recorded. Root and foliar areas were quantified with precision using the “Pliman” R package and advanced image analysis. ANOVA was performed to compare all treatments. Results showed no significant differences in root length, except for the uninoculated control. Dry biomasses did not differentiate treatments, while aerial length and area differentiated at higher inoculum levels. Root area and necrosis rate effectively differentiated treatments, offering an efficient method for evaluating RCR control in growth chambers.