Detect red crown rot (RCR) hotspots with satellite imagery, evaluate commercial products, and study how those treatments influence the interaction between RCR and soybean cyst nematode to improve disease management in soybean fields.

• RCR, caused by Calonectria ilicicola, is spreading in Illinois and can cause up to 50% yield loss.
• Severe infections can force farmers to switch from soybeans to continuous corn.
• Disease creates non-uniform plant death patterns, which are visible but require labor-intensive manual scouting.
• High-resolution satellite imagery has shown promise in detecting RCR hotspots; this project will refine the model for broader application.
• RCR infects roots throughout the season, making it challenging to control.
• SCN is linked to increased RCR severity in other states, making it important to understand their interaction in Illinois fields.
• Biological seed treatments may complement chemical fungicides, but compatibility and performance need further testing.
• Research will evaluate both greenhouse and field trials to identify effective, integrated control strategies.

• Enables targeted fungicide applications by identifying RCR hotspots, reducing chemical costs and unnecessary applications.
• Provides unbiased, research-based product performance data for both chemical and biological treatments.
• Improves decision-making in SCN-heavy fields by clarifying SCN and RCR interaction risks.
• Helps farmers choose compatible biological and chemical products for improved disease suppression.
• Supports long-term risk planning by tracking disease progression over seasons and mapping statewide distribution.
• Contributes to integrated pest management strategies that could protect yield and reduce reliance on any single control method.

• Dr. Boris X Camiletti, Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Illinois
• Dr. Nicolas F. Martin, Associate Professor, University of Illinois
• Dr. Nathan Schroeder, Associate Professor, University of Illinois
• Andres Ruiz, Graduate Student, University of Illinois

• Multiple soybean fields across Illinois with a history of RCR
• On-farm sites and experimental research plots with variation in environmental conditions for robust model training
• Greenhouse trials to evaluate controlled SCN and RCR interactions.

Dr. Boris X. Camiletti
Assistant Professor
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
217-300-7658
bxc@illinois.edu