68 Objectives Sub-objectives Projects Strengthen diagnostic, extension, and survey capabilities for grain and oilseed industry. Deliver pest and disease diagnostic services to producers through field visits and clinic support. Project 1: Survey and evaluation of potential entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNS) strains against stem borers of maize and sorghum in South Africa. Project 2: Distribution patterns and relative abundance of stem borers. Project 3: Seasonal activity and distribution patterns of fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) moths in maize growing areas around two provinces in South Africa. Project 4: Distribution patterns and relative abundance of stem borers on maize and sorghum in the Limpopo province. Project 5: Mapping maize ear rots and their toxins in South Africa and the development of disease prediction model. Coordinate targeted pest and disease surveys across production regions to inform management strategies and early warning systems. Project 6: Pest & pathogen diagnostics. Develop and implement integrated pest and disease management strategies. Design and evaluate regionspecific management strategies for economically significant pests and diseases. Project 7: South African Sclerotinia Research Network. Project 8: Innovative disruption of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum melanin production: a novel polymer approach to manage sunflower head rot. Project 9: Plant disease surveillance: value adding to the national soybean and sunflower cultivar trials. Project 10: Fungicide evaluation trials on Sclerotinia head and stem rot in sunflower. Project 11: Manipulating flower timing with plant growth regulators as a possible sunflower escape strategy from Sclerotinia head rot. Project 12: Surveys of soilborne diseases in summer grain production systems with special emphasis on the development of management strategies including crop rotation/cover crops and seed treatment for black commercial farmers. Project 13: Surveys of diseases in summer grain production systems of black commercial farmers. Project 14: Management of cutworms. Project 15: Tracing the origin, spread and herbicide resistance profiles of Palmer amaranthus in South Africa. Project 16: Investigating the feasibility and efficacy of harvest weed seed control in different cropping systems in the Western Cape. Table 2: Overview of the Plant Health Consortium. RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
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