**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE CROP PRODUCTION REQUIRES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PLANTS, PLANT DISEASES, CHEMICAL INPUTS,ANDTHE ASSOCIATED PLANT MICROBIOME.HEALTHY AND DIVERSE PLANT MICROBIOMES CONTRIBUTE TO CROP HEALTH, BUT DISTURBANCES SUCH AS FUNGICIDE APPLICATION LIMIT THIS BENEFIT.THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPLORE THE BACTERIA AND FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH TABLE BEET (BETA VULGARIS SPP. VULGARIS) AND INVESTIGATE THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THESE MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES, THE FUNGICIDE AZOXYSTROBIN, AND TABLE BEET SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ROOT DISEASE.THIS TOPIC IS IMPORTANT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION INCREASES AND FARMERS SEEK TO REDUCE INPUTS.THIS PROJECT WILL CHARACTERIZE BACTERIA AND FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH TABLE BEETS AND SOIL, AND ASSESS HOW FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS AFFECT THESE MICROBES AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF ROOT DISEASE. SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS AND MATERIALS FOR TABLE BEET GROWERS WILL BE CREATED AND SHARED. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, AND CROP FARMERS IN GENERAL, ARE EXPECTED TO BENEFIT SINCE RESULTS MAY BE RELEVANT TO DIFFERENT CROP SYSTEMS. THE ULTIMATE GOALS OF ARE TO DETERMINE WHETHER AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOMES WITH GREATER DIVERSITY WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED CROP LOSS FROM PLANT PATHOGENS. THIS MAY LEAD TO REDUCED CHEMICAL USE, REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH RISKS IN AGRICULTURE WHILE STILL SAFEGUARDING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION FROM PLANT DISEASE AND MEETING SOCIETY'S FOOD NEEDS.