2004 Annual Report 4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? D. This project serves to document research conducted under a reimbursable agreement (#58-6402-4-0010) between ARS and Southern Illinois University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 6402-21220-007-00D, "Genetic and Cultural Methods to Reduce Soybean Yield Losses to Diseases and Environmental Stress." Development of screening protocols in the greenhouse for both Phomopsis longicolla and Macrophomina phaseolina is still under way. However, we have been able to identify highly tolerant lines for both of these pathogens under field environments. Screening protocols for resistance for charcoal rot and Phomopsis in the field have been developed, but require validation for one more year. Screening for Phomopsis resistance was initiated the field in 2003. Based on the data collected so far, we are able to identify resistance or tolerance for both charcoal rot and Phomopsis in a field. Frogeye Leaf Spot....Varieties in field trials in MS were subjected to natural infection in 2003 and 2004. The environmental conditions were optimum for frogeye infection and to perform varietal evaluation. Fifteen differential varieties and 141 entries in Southern Uniform Tests were evaluated for resistance. Several resistant lines have been identified. Charcoal Rot....A total of 195 entries ranging from Maturity Groups 3 through 6 are being evaluated for charcoal rot resistance in the field using a previously developed disease assessment method.