** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DOWNY MILDEW (DM) IS A DEVASTATING PLANT DISEASE THAT SPREADS QUICKLY AND CAUSES MAJOR LOSSES TO IMPORTANT CROPS LIKE CUCUMBERS CANTALOUPES AND PUMPKINS. FARMERS OFTEN CANNOT DETECT THE DISEASE EARLY ENOUGH TO STOP IT LEADING TO DAMAGED PLANTS LOWER HARVESTS AND ECONOMIC LOSSES. THIS PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM THAT HELPS FARMERS DETECT DM EARLY IN THEIR FIELDS BEFORE THE DISEASE SPREADS. TO ACHIEVE THIS WE WILL CREATE A PORTABLE TEST FOR IDENTIFYING DM SPORES USING A NEW RAPID DETECTION TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN A ROBOTIC SYSTEM THAT CAN AUTOMATICALLY COLLECT SAMPLES IN THE FIELD. THESE TOOLS WILL BE TESTED ON CUCURBIT CROPS (LIKE CUCUMBERS AND SQUASH) TO ENSURE THEY WORK EFFECTIVELY. BY DETECTING DM BEFORE IT DAMAGES CROPS FARMERS WILL KNOW WHEN AND WHERE TO SPRAY FUNGICIDES REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SPRAYS NEEDED IMPROVING CROP YIELDS AND SAVING MONEY. THIS RESEARCH WILL HELP FARMERS BETTER MANAGE DM PROTECT VALUABLE CROPS AND REDUCE THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS OF THIS DISEASE ULTIMATELY IMPROVING FOOD PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY.