Winter Greenhouse Assays at Michigan Ag Research: SCN & SDS on Soybean

10/29/2025

Summary: Michigan Ag Research is accepting projects for winter greenhouse (GH) assays targeting Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). These controlled studies help product developers and breeders generate decision-ready data before field season.

Why winter GH assays?
Greenhouse assays provide tight environmental control and reliable pathogen/nematode pressure, enabling rapid iteration on formulations, rates, and placements. Running in winter means you can refine programs now and head into spring trials with greater confidence.

What we offer

SCN assays (Heterodera glycines)

Standard reproduction assays (eggs/females per root system)
Variety resistance screens and product efficacy comparisons

SDS assays (commonly Fusarium virguliforme)

Inoculated disease pressure with consistent symptom expression
Foliar severity, root necrosis ratings, vigor, and area-under-disease-progress (AUDPC)

Study design & execution

Protocol development aligned to your objectives
Randomized, replicated designs; positive/negative controls
Validated inoculum and QC checkpoints

Data & reporting

Interim updates with photos
Final report with stats (ANOVA, mean separation) and visuals suitable for internal decks or investor updates

Typical timelines

Protocol lock-in: 1–2 weeks from kick-off
Assay run: ~6–10 weeks depending on endpoint
Report delivery: within 1–2 weeks after last rating

Best-fit use cases

Seed treatments, biologicals, and chemistries in lead selection
Rate optimization prior to field testing
Variety resistance characterization and ranking

Get started
Tell us your target pest/disease, product class, endpoints, and timeline. We’ll propose a right-sized design with sample sizes, controls, and reporting milestones.

Michigan Ag Research (Albion, MI) Contact:
Brian Cortright at (517) 857-2676
[email protected]

FAQs: Winter Greenhouse Assays for Soybean (SCN & SDS)

What problems can you test this winter?
Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in controlled greenhouse conditions.
What endpoints do you measure?
SCN: eggs/females per root system, root mass.
SDS: foliar severity and incidence, root necrosis, vigor/biomass, AUDPC.
What is AUDPC and why use it?
A single metric summarizing disease over time; it captures both severity and duration—ideal for comparing treatments or varieties.
What products/solutions fit these assays?
Seed treatments, biologicals, chemistries, coatings, and variety resistance screens (early down-selection, rate finding, or head-to-head comparisons).
What organism do you use for SDS?
Typically Fusarium virguliforme under standardized inoculation to produce consistent symptom expression.
How long does a study take?
Most GH assays run ~6–10 weeks depending on endpoints, plus 1–2 weeks for the final report.
How are studies designed?
Randomized, replicated designs with appropriate controls (untreated, grower standard, positive checks).
What do I need to provide to kick off?
Your objectives, target endpoints, product class, desired comparisons, timing constraints, and sample material (seed/treatments).
What do I receive at the end?
A report with methods, QC notes, statistics (e.g., ANOVA with mean separation), tables/graphs, raw data files (CSV/XLSX), and photo documentation. Interim photo/status updates available.
Can you fast-track for internal gates or investor updates?
Yes—ask for a milestone schedule with interim summaries suitable for slide decks.
Do you support blinded or coded samples?
Absolutely. We can maintain blind codes throughout data collection/analysis on request.
How much material do you need?
Varies by design; typical ranges are 200–1,000+ seeds per treatment for replicated assays. We’ll specify exact amounts in the protocol.
Can results inform 2026 field trials?
Yes—GH outputs help rank treatments, rates, and varieties to sharpen your field plan and reduce weak entries.
Data ownership and confidentiality?
All sponsor-generated data belong to you under our standard CDA/SOW. We do not share or publish without written permission.
Biosecurity & QC—what safeguards are in place?
Validated inoculum, documented handling, sanitation protocols, check treatments, and pre-defined QC acceptance criteria.

Michigan Ag Research Announces Winter Bioassay Capacity in New Laboratory Facilities

10/25/2025

Michigan Ag Research Now Booking Fall & Winter Bioassays

Albion, Michigan - October 25, 2025. Michigan Ag Research is opening winter bioassay capacity in our new laboratory facilities with access to heated greenhouses, enabling rapid screening, rate determination, and protocol refinement ahead of spring field programs. Sponsors can secure data in as little as 3 weeks from trial initiation (program dependent).

Beyond standard assays, we routinely develop and customize bioassay protocols to match sponsor goals—especially helpful for smaller organizations that want guidance on study design, intake, and analysis.

Why Winter Bioassays
Winter bioassays allow R&D teams to triage candidates, confirm dose–response and effective rates, and streamline decisions before large-scale field trials. By answering key questions under controlled laboratory conditions, only the most promising products advance to greenhouse or field.

Protocol development & customization (for sponsors who want guidance)

We translate your goals into a tight, testable plan:

Clarify decision criteria and convert them to measurable endpoints
Propose rate ranges, replication, and observation intervals
Draft or adapt SOP-level methods (e.g., application technique, handling, reads)
Provide intake checklists (samples, SDS, labeling) and reporting templates
Align timelines to your go/no-go dates; deliver decision-grade data in ~3 weeks (program dependent)

Assay Platforms & Formats

Diet incorporation, detached-leaf, and leaf-disk bioassays
Conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to support repeatability and statistical power
Access to many common insect species (availability confirmed at scheduling)
We can design or customize bioassay protocols to suit specific research goals

Laboratory Features

Dedicated growth chambers for controlled environmental conditions
Modern laboratory infrastructure for precise application and assessments (e.g., micropipettes, Potter spray tower, custom boom sprayers)
Capacity to run multiple concurrent studies
Custom rearing options for any insect life stage

Heated Greenhouses for Step-Up Work
Michigan Ag Research’s heated greenhouses support larger-scale confirmations and plant production for laboratory assays, creating a smooth progression from lab → greenhouse → field as needed.

Turnaround & Scheduling

Rapid timelines: decision-grade data in as little as ~3 weeks after trial initiation (program dependent)
Rolling starts: the winter calendar is now open; start windows are assigned on a first-come basis

Typical Study Designs & Endpoints

Rate–response series (4–6 rates plus control)
Head-to-head candidate comparisons with internal standards
Screening funnels: broad screen → confirmatory follow-up
Common endpoints: corrected mortality, feeding inhibition, injury scores; optional knockdown, residual activity, and phytotoxicity notes

Reporting & Deliverables
Sponsors receive a methods summary, raw data, tables/figures, and statistics (e.g., ANOVA/GLM with post-hoc tests), plus an executive summary that recommends rates and next steps.

How to Engage

Share targets and objectives (species, crop/host, assay format, endpoints, timelines).
Receive a design & quote aligned to your decision criteria.
Reserve a start window and ship materials per intake guidance.
Review interim reads (as applicable) and a final report with recommendations.

Reserve Your Winter Start Window
Winter start windows are now being assigned.

Michigan Ag Research (Albion, MI) Contact:
Brian Cortright at (517) 857-2676
[email protected]

Matt Hiles at (989) 860-5992
[email protected]

FAQ

What types of winter bioassays can you run?
Diet, detached-leaf, and leaf-disk formats under controlled laboratory conditions, with access to many common insect species; including topical and precision applications and exclusion assays.

How fast can I get results?
Programs can deliver data in as little as 3 weeks from trial initiation, depending on design and endpoints.

Can studies transition to greenhouse or field?
Yes. Heated greenhouses support step-up work and plant production, and studies can progress to field as appropriate.

What study designs are typical?
Rate–response series, head-to-head candidate comparisons, and staged screening funnels with confirmatory follow-ups.

What’s included in the report?
Methods, raw data, summary tables/figures, statistics, and an executive summary with rate recommendations and next steps.

Michigan Ag Research: In the Midwest: Acreage Expansion, Equipment Acquisition, New Construction

6/30/2021

Additional 150 acres purchased by Michigan Ag Research
New heavy-duty New Holland tractors acquired this year
New laboratory, shop, and dormitory under construction

New 9,700 square foot LAb, Dorm and Shop facility at Michigan Ag Research

New 7,500 sq. ft. Laboratory, Dormitory & Shop

Land: We are proud to announce that Michigan Ag Research (MAR) is now over 200+ acres of irrigated and deer-fenced research farm land. With the addition of this new acreage, MAR can conduct much larger trials, provide more opportunities for crop rotational studies, and even fallow plots where protocols require.

Equipment: Michigan Ag has added two additional New Holland tractors to complete our fleet of light, medium, and heavy-duty tillage and spray tractors. The purchase now allows us to quickly install crop plantings for last-minute projects and to work around inclement weather.

New Holland HD tractors - Michigan Ag Research - Ag Metrics Group

Facilities: To advance toward our objective of having a best-in-class, office/lab campus at Albion, MAR is now in the final stages of construction of a massive 7,500 sq. ft. structure, which will include:

Specialized entomology lab facilities
Nematology soil extraction and microscopy rooms
Low humidity storage rooms for electronics and sensors
Dormitory rooms allowing for on-site technician resources
Equipment shop for maintenance of tractors and implements

News & Updates

Winter Greenhouse Assays at Michigan Ag Research: SCN & SDS on Soybean

FAQs: Winter Greenhouse Assays for Soybean (SCN & SDS)

Michigan Ag Research Announces Winter Bioassay Capacity in New Laboratory Facilities

FAQ

Michigan Ag Research: In the Midwest: Acreage Expansion, Equipment Acquisition, New Construction

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