ASTA–Penn State Project Awarded USDA Grant to Advance Biological Relevance in Seed Testing

ASTA, in collaboration with Penn State University, has been awarded $127,000 through Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act (PPA 7721) to advance research on biological relevance in seed health testing. This project will develop and apply genomics-based tools to determine whether detected pathogens on seed are biologically active (alive) or inactive (dead) — a critical distinction that is not addressed by current seed health assays used in international trade. The inability to differentiate between viable and non-viable pathogens can lead to unnecessary rejection of seed shipments, disrupting the global movement of seed and impacting the U.S. industry.

The research will initially focus on Goss’s bacterial wilt in corn. The goal is to establish scalable tools and diagnostic pipelines that can later be expanded to other seed-associated pathogens. By improving the accuracy and relevance of seed testing, this project will support science-based trade, reduce unnecessary trade barriers, and support seed companies in their goals. For more information, contact Martha Malapi, Senior Director, Seed Health and Trade.