**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE GAPS ON HOW THE INTEGRATION OF VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AFFECTS THE DYNAMICS AND FUNCTIONS OF SOIL AND TOMATO-ASSOCIATED MICROBIOME, SOIL AND TOMATO HEALTH, AND PRODUCTIVITY. THEREFORE, THE PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT WILL PURSUE FOUR OBJECTIVES: (1) ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF THE INTEGRATION OF COVER CROP CEREAL RYE AND ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI (AMF) PRACTICES ON TOMATO YIELD AND DISEASE CONTROL AGAINST THE SOIL-BORNE FUNGAL PATHOGEN, FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM; (2) CHARACTERIZE AND IDENTIFY FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SOIL AND TOMATO ROOT-ASSOCIATED MICROBIOME AFFECTED BY CEREAL RYE AND AMF THAT CONTRIBUTE TO TOMATO HEALTH AND YIELD; (3) IDENTIFY THE CRITICAL SOIL HEALTH INDICATORS (I.E., SOIL AGGREGATION, BULK DENSITY, SOIL ORGANIC MATTERS, AND ENZYME ACTIVITIES) ASSOCIATED WITH CEREAL RYE AND AMF PRACTICES AND ELUCIDATE THEIR ASSOCIATIONS WITH SOIL AND TOMATO ROOT-ASSOCIATED MICROBIOMES TO IMPROVE TOMATO SOIL-BORNE DISEASE CONTROL AND YIELD EFFICIENCY; (4) DEVELOP EXTENSION ACTIVITIES FOR IMPROVING TOMATO AND SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM PRIORITIES: 1) EVALUATE HOW MULTIPLE MANAGEMENT COMPONENTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS CAN BE INTEGRATED TO ENHANCE PLANT DISEASE CONTROL AND PRODUCTIVITY; 2) INVESTIGATE HOW PRODUCTION SYSTEMS CAN ALTER THE MICROBIOME AND DETERMINE HOW ALTERATIONS CAN AFFECT PLANT RESISTANCE TO PATHOGEN INFECTIONS AND PRODUCTIVITY, AND 3) ASSESS HOW CHANGES IN THE PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY AFFECT SOIL AND PLANT HEALTH. THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH ARE TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE AGRONOMIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING SOIL AND TOMATO HEALTH WHILE ENHANCING TOMATO PRODUCTIVITY, REDUCING INPUTS OF CHEMICALS, AND BENEFITTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH.