DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB APPLICATION IN SUPPORT OF THE 'PROFILE' RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

In the Southeast, fungicide resistance in the brown rot pathogen Monilinia fructicola of peach is currently managed by the recently implemented Profile resistant management program. However, the program needs improvement to meet grower demands for timelier receipt of management recommendations. Our goal is to create a web application which will support the Profile resistance management program, providing real-time data processing and immediate recommendations for fungicide applications within the context of resistance management and optimum efficacy. Specific objectives are to (i) develop a web application that allows online data entry, data analysis, data transfer, and provides immediate profile-specific strategies to combat resistance, (ii) train South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina county agents and specialists in using the application, and (iii) expand the web application to also become a searchable and historical database of resistance development within M. fructicola populations throughout the Southeast. Capitalizing on the expertise of the principal investigators from Clemson University and the University of Georgia (UGA), the web application will be developed through the help of the Clemson University Computer Science Department. Expertise from this department will also be utilized in subsequent agent and producer training associated with the new online functions. The web application-supported Profile resistance monitoring program will enable growers to react to problems in a much timelier manner, which in turn will improve disease control and customer satisfaction. The web application will be developed as an expert system, providing best-management recommendations based on the resistance management information and fungicide classes available for disease control. The Profile resistance management program is a multistate partnership involving South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina, but principle leadership for the development of the program has resided through collaborative efforts of Clemson and UGA.