Evaluate electrically polarized nanomaterials as a novel tool to control soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and sudden death syndrome (SDS), building on lab results that show rapid pathogen deactivation and moving into greenhouse trials for further testing.

• SCN is one of the most destructive pests in soybean, causing major yield and financial losses in the U.S.
• Fusarium virguliforme, which causes SDS, leads to billions of dollars in soybean yield loss annually.
• Current management strategies—SCN-resistant cultivars, crop rotation, weed control, nematicides, and biological products—are losing effectiveness because:
  • Overreliance on PI88788 resistance has led to SCN variants that can reproduce on this cultivar.
  • Managing SCN and SDS together remains a significant challenge for farmers.
• Novel solutions are urgently needed to manage these pathogens without increasing chemical inputs.
• This study investigates biocompatible electrically conductive nanoscale (BEN) surfaces that:
  • Produce reactive oxygen species and reactive chlorinated species when electrically polarized.
  • Inactivate bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the lab, including complete inhibition of F. virguliforme in preliminary trials.
• Success could introduce a non-traditional, integrated, and sustainable approach to SCN and SDS management.

• Provides an alternative tool for managing SCN and SDS beyond conventional herbicides, nematicides, and resistant varieties.
• Reduces economic losses by protecting soybean yield from two of the most damaging soybean pathogens.
• Supports sustainable production by potentially reducing chemical inputs and environmental impact.
• Offers a cost-effective strategy that could complement integrated pest and disease management programs.
• Addresses resistance concerns by introducing a new, non-biological mode of action that pathogens cannot easily overcome.

• Dr. Punit Kohli, Professor, Southern Illinois University
• Dr. Ahmad Fakhoury, Professor, Southern Illinois University
• Dr. Jason Bond, Professor, Southern Illinois University

• Laboratory experiments will be conducted at Southern Illinois University to test BEN surfaces against SCN and F. virguliforme under controlled conditions.
• Greenhouse experiments will be conducted at the Horticulture Research Center, SIU, to evaluate BEN effectiveness in a semi-field environment.
• Field-scale application is not part of this phase but will be considered after successful lab and greenhouse results.

Dr. Punit Kohli
Professor
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
618-453-2895
pkohli@chem.siu.edu