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National Agricultural Genotyping Center

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The National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) is an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited, high-throughput, nonprofit laboratory specializing in DNA assay development and molecular diagnostics. As a core cooperator within the National Predictive Modeling Tool Initiative (NPMTI), NAGC serves as a primary testing facility for the Corn, Wheat, and Pulse Research Advisory Committees (RACs), having performed tens of thousands of tests in support of pathogen quantification in the environment, disease monitoring and confirmation to assist in pest management efforts.

Molecular Detection Capabilities

NAGC develops and validates molecular assays targeting a wide range of economically significant pathogens affecting major U.S. crops. New molecular assays are considered each year, based on the needs and recommendations from the RACs. 

Corn Pathogens

  • ADON (3- and 15-) trichothecene pathways (TRI gene targets) 
  • Colletotrichum graminicola (Anthracnose) 
  • Curvularia lunata (Curvularia Leaf Spot)
  • Cercospora zeae-maydisCercospora zeina (Gray Leaf Spot)
  • Exserohilum turcicum (Northern Corn Leaf Blight) 
  • Bipolaris zeicola (Northern Corn Leaf Spot) 
  • Bipolaris maydis (Southern Corn Leaf Blight) 
  • Puccinia polysora (Southern Corn Rust) 
  • Phyllachora maydis (Tar Spot) 

Pulse Crop Pathogens (Root Rot Complex)

  • Aphanomyces euteiches
  • Fusarium (F. acuminatum, F. avenaceum, F. oxysporum, F. redolens, F. solani
  • Phytophthora medicaginis
  • Pythium
  • Rhizoctonia solani

Wheat Pathogens

  • Parastagonospora nodorum (Stagonospora nodorum blotch) 
  • Zymoseptoria tritici (Septoria tritici blotch) 
  • Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Tan spot) 
  • Puccinia triticina (Leaf Rust) 
  • Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Stem Rust) 
  • Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Stripe or Yellow Rust) 

Impact

Through its partnership with NPMTI, NAGC provides high-confidence molecular data that supports:

  • Disease surveillance and early detection 
  • Improved crop management decisions 
  • Protection of yield and grain quality 
  • Strengthening of U.S. agricultural biosecurity