July 2015 The objectives of this project are to optimize Guignardia citricarpa ascospore extraction procedures and qPCR with automated extraction system, determine if prototype passive ascospore traps will capture a sufficient number of Guignardia citricarpa ascospores to be an effective monitoring tool and monitor for G. citricarpa ascospores in six locations around state. Slides are still being collected but there are still very few spores in the groves so it has been difficult to detect them at such low concentration with qPCR. We have started to work out ways to better the qPCR assay in case a large number of spores is ever detected so we have the method for the future.