b'Blood Meal Analysis and Parasite Detection in Blood-fed Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquitos Collectedin Lowndes County GA, USAKarla A. Solis Rueda Sponsor: Dr. Eric ChambersThis research project focuses on understanding the role that Culex quinquefasciatu, the southern house mosquito, plays in the transmission of vector-borne diseases in the Southeastern United States, particularly in South Georgia. Culex quinquefasciatus is found in high abundance within urban/suburban areas and is a vector of many pathogens, including West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. This mosquito is also an important global vector of the filarial nematode worm Wuchereria bancrofti, the causative agent of human lymphatic filariasis. The project will use polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to identify the blood meal source of female Cx. Quinquefasciatus mosquitoes and it will use PCR amplification of a portion of the ribosomal 16S gene to identify the prevalence of Cx. Quinquefasciatus infected with the nematode parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of heartworm disease. Through an understanding mosquito host preference, this project will highlight the role that Cx. quinquefasciatus may play in the emergence of zoonotic human dirofilariasis in this geographic region.Improvement of Sporulation Management in Plant Pathogen Nothopassalora personataGaylyn W. FarmerSponsor: Dr. Emily Cantonwine Nothopassalora personata is a fungal pathogen that cause leaf spots on peanut leaves. Control of this disease in the Southeastern United States relies on frequent application of synthetic fungicides such as Tebuconazole and Abound. However, the continuous use of synthetic fungicides has allowed for the pathogen to develop resistance. Recent studies have shown that mixing sulfur with synthetic fungicides improves disease management. An experiment was conducted to see if combining sulfur with synthetic fungicides reduced disease by suppressing spore germination and/or germling viability. Diseased peanut leaves treated on a field plot in Tifton, Georgia were brought back to the lab for observation. Treatments included, nontreated, sulfur, Tebuconazole, Tebuconazole and sulfur, Abound, and Abound and sulfur. One leaf spot on each leaf was monitored for sporulation after 48 hours in a moist chamber. The spores were then transferred to water agar and spore germination and germtube number were evaluated 24 hours later. There were no significant differences observed. Sulfur added to synthetic fungicides does not appear to result in the reduction of spore germination or germling viability. 14'