Research in the Esker Laboratory focuses on the intersection between plant disease epidemiology, temperature and tropical crops, and cropping systems. We apply integrated approaches from field to laboratory to computational to explore complex relationships between factors that drive disease risk and how different management tactics can be combined in economical and environmentally sound production strategies. 

Using Data-Driven Knowledge for Profitable Soybean Management Systems

The Soybean Data-Driven project aims to advance the use of big data in agriculture. In this project, hundreds of soybean fields are surveyed periodically throughout the USA. These geo-referenced surveys cover dozens of known soybean stressors, including various abiotic stressors, diseases, pests, and weeds. 

The Data-Driven team, along with its collaborators, aim to use our vast collection of soybean data to create valuable modeling tools that can help growers make decisions in real time. 

Contact Data Driven PIs Paul Esker or Shawn Conley (University of Wisconsin-Madison) for details. ​

Fusarium Management

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The Fusarium Management project led by Dilooshi Weerasooriya delves into the genetic diversity, pathogenicity, and geographical distribution of various Fusarium species within Pennsylvania's soybean fields. Employing Multi-Locus Sequence Typing on numerous Fusarium isolates, this initiative aims to uncover insights crucial for establishing robust disease management strategies in soybean production. With integrated biocontrol efforts, the project's anticipated outcome holds promise for enhancing disease control measures within the soybean production system.

​Contact Dilooshi Weerasooriya for details. 

Monitoring parasitic nematodes in Pennsylvania soy

This comprehensive nematode monitoring program has been observing the presence of plant parasitic nematode species in Pennsylvania since 2018. Species observed include soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines), found in 8 Pennsylvania counties, root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.), found in 48 counties, and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), found in 12 counties. These nematodes are significant threats to staple crops worldwide and infest a variety of plants, including soybeans, resulting in considerable yield losses and economic damage. 
 
These findings underscore the critical need for ongoing surveillance and development of best management practices to mitigate nematode damage. Our molecular studies aim to clarify the interactions between these nematodes and other soil microbes, enhancing our understanding of their combined effects on soybean health.
 
This work is done in collaboration with Drs. Adriana Murillo Williams, Alyssa Collins, and Mihail Kantor at Penn State University and is supported by the Pennsylvania Soybean Board. Contact Savannah Wolfe or Dr. Dilooshi Weerasooriya for more details. 
Esker Lab funding sources