March 2019�Objective 1:� Evaluate the optimal spray timing for Florida and investigate if tree skirting or alternative products improves fungicidal control of citrus black spot.Objective 3:� A MAT-1-1 isolate may enter Florida and allow for the production of ascospores.� The industry needs to know if this happens, as it will affect management practices.� Additionally, the existing asexual population may be more diverse than currently measured.� If multiple clonal linages exist, then there may be different sensitivities to fungicides or other phenotypic traits.� We also need to determine whether�P. paracitricarpa or�P. paracapitalensis are present in Florida for regulatory concerns due to misidentification.� We plan to survey for the MAT-1-1 mating type, unique clonal lineages, and two closely related�Phyllosticta spp.��In this first quarter, we found a field site with sufficient black spot to conduct the skirting and fungicide timing trial.� We scouted 100 rows for presence/abscence of black spot and chose the best 96.� The plots have been laid out and calculations were done for the fungicides and organized with the grower to apply with an airblast sprayer.� Two sites have been scouted for a fungicide spray trial.� The details will be determined once the incidence and severity have been collected.� We plan to be able to use at least 5 products and possibly more.�The remaining activities have been bureaucratic in nature.� The postdoctoral researcher in South Africa has been appointed from 1 March 2019, and preparations for genotyping-by-sequencing of a collection of Phyllosticta citricarpa isolates from USA has been initiated.� There are also continuing contract negotiation between CRI and UF which we hope will be resolved shortly so funds can be received and the postdoc can continue to work on the project.� As we work to collect isolates for objective 3, Jeff Rollins has been working with the UF administration to make sure all of the necessary permits are in place for him to be able to travel to Cuba and collect isolates to determine the mating type and species identifications.� We are waiting to recieve MAT 1-1 DNA from Australia and South Africa to use as positive controls for our experiments.��