** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN CONJUNCTION WITH EXTREME SPRING RAINS, CHANGES IN FARMING PRACTICES SUCH AS REDUCED TILLAGE, A PUSH FOR EARLIER PLANTING DATES, AND GREEN BRIDGES'' FROM COVER CROPS HAVE LED TO A RISE IN MAIZE SEEDLING DISEASE INCIDENCE AND SUBSEQUENT DEATH. PATHOGEN SURVEYS HAVE IDENTIFIED PYTHIUM SPECIES AS ONE SOURCE OF DISEASE AND AN EMERGING THREAT TO MAIZE PRODUCTION. ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PYTHIUM CAN INCLUDE INCREASED PRODUCTION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REPLANTING AND SEASON LONG REDUCTIONS IN PLANT VIGOR THAT LOWER YIELD POTENTIAL DUE TO SMALLER EARS OR COMPLETELY BARREN PLANTS. PATTERNS OF PYTHIUM INFECTION ARE SPORADIC AND THERE ARE NO MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO COMBAT PYTHIUM ONCE SYMPTOMS ARE OBSERVED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR GROWERS TO OVERCOME THIS THREAT. IMPROVED MANAGEMENT RELIES ON FILLING KNOWLEDGE GAPS OF PYTHIUM DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE IN FIELD SOIL RELATIVE TO CLIMATIC VARIABILITY AND QUANTIFYING THE IMPACTS TO PLANT GROWTH AND MECHANICS. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARETO 1) CHARACTERIZE LOAD AND DISTRIBUTION OF PYTHIUM SPP. IN FIELD SOIL; 2) QUANTIFY THE IMPACT OF PYTHIUM INFECTION ON MAIZE ROOT-TYPE SPECIFIC GROWTH; 3) ASSESS PYTHIUM IMPACT ON EARLY SEASON PLANT BIOMECHANICS TO PREDICT YIELD IMPACTS. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WE WILL ADDRESS THE INCREASED INVASIVENESS OF PYTHIUM AND PROVIDE A FOUNDATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF PYTHIUM PATHOGENESIS. IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF HOST RESPONSES WILL PROVIDE A BASIS FOR DEVELOPING MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR PYTHIUM-RELATED CROP LOSSES TO INCREASE YIELD, PRODUCTIVITY, AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL FOR MAIZE PRODUCERS.