** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** KNOWLEDGE REGARDING SOIL PATHOGENS IS IMPORTANT TO CONSERVING RESOURCES AND MITIGATING THE EFFECTS PRACTICES MAY HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT. PATHOGENS POSE PRESSURES AND DAMAGE TO THE FIELDS AND THE FARMERS THAT PROVIDE FOOD FOR OUR GROWING POPULATION. WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, UNDERSTANDING THESE PATHOGENS HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT. THE CURRENT METHOD FOR TREATING POTATO MOP-TOP VIRUS IS CHEMICAL SOIL TREATMENTS, DESTROYING SOIL HEALTH. THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON DETECTING VIRUSES IN SOILS IN ORDER TO PREVENT VIRAL INFECTIONS. THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO BE ABLE TO RAPIDLY EXAMINE POTATO VIRUSES IN THE SOIL BEFORE PLANTING AND BEFORE HARSH TREATMENTS, ULTIMATELY, IMPACTING SOIL HEALTH AND GROWER'SYIELDS/PROFITS.