TriCal, Inc. is proud to congratulate Nabin Poudel of the University of Georgia and Shiv Singla of the University of Delaware on being named the 2026 Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Research Foundation Award winners.

This year, two students were selected for the award in recognition of research focused on important challenges facing crop production and plant health. Their work addresses two issues familiar to many growers: managing nematodes in the soil and finding effective strategies for suppressing soilborne pathogens.

For growers, research like this is important because protecting a crop starts below the soil surface. Understanding what happens in the soil and developing new tools to manage soilborne pests and diseases can help build more sustainable and effective crop protection programs.

Nabin Poudel, University of Georgia

Nabin Poudel’s research focuses on the identification and characterization of resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in squash.

Root-knot nematodes can be difficult to manage because much of the damage occurs below ground. Meloidogyne incognita feeds on plant roots, disrupting the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients and potentially affecting plant health and crop performance.

Poudel’s research focuses on identifying squash resistant to this important nematode and understanding the characteristics of that resistance. This work could provide valuable information for future breeding efforts and the development of squash varieties with improved resistance.

For growers, additional sources of resistance could become an important part of an integrated approach to nematode management. Combining resistant varieties with other management practices can help reduce nematode pressure and protect crop productivity.

Shiv Singla, University of Delaware

Shiv Singla’s research, titled “Quantifying Biofumigation Efficacy: Connecting Glucosinolate and Isothiocyanate Levels to Phytophthora capsici Control,” focuses on improving our understanding of mustard-based biofumigation as a tool for managing soilborne disease.

Phytophthora capsici is a major soilborne pathogen affecting cucurbit crops, including watermelon and pumpkin. Because managing this pathogen can be challenging, research into additional disease management tools can be valuable for growers.

Singla’s research will investigate how mustard-derived glucosinolates and isothiocyanates suppress P. capsici. The study will identify the concentrations of isothiocyanates needed to inhibit the pathogen under laboratory conditions and use molecular tools such as quantitative PCR, or qPCR, to measure P. capsici populations in field soil.

The goal is to connect the amount of these compounds with actual pathogen suppression and establish practical thresholds for effective mustard-based biofumigation.

For growers, having a better understanding of those thresholds could help make biofumigation more predictable and provide additional information for incorporating it into an integrated disease management program.

Supporting Research That Matters to Growers

Both Poudel’s and Singla’s research address challenges that can have a direct impact on crop health and production.

Research into nematode resistance could help provide growers with additional tools for managing root-knot nematodes. Research into biofumigation could help improve our understanding of how mustard-derived compounds can be used against P. capsici.

These types of projects also demonstrate why investing in the next generation of agricultural researchers is so important.

The Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Research Foundation has awarded $702,500 to 99 students since 1988, providing annual support to students whose research is helping address important challenges in agriculture.

TriCal, Inc. is proud to recognize Nabin Poudel and Shiv Singla for their innovative research and dedication to advancing crop protection. Their work represents the continued effort to find practical, science-based solutions that can benefit growers and strengthen the future of agriculture.

Congratulations to Nabin and Shiv on this well-deserved recognition!

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