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Southern IPM Center Projects |
2019 Program YearRFA: IPM Enhancement Grants 2019‘MyIPM’ Smartphone App Working Group and App Update
Project Director: Brett Blaauw Although many resources are available to producers that help them make good management decisions, such as spray guides and extension publications, there is no single resource that brings these key elements together and makes them easily available at all times. The MyIPM app aims to create a resource that is always available and provides current and relevant information to producers growing fruit in an ever-changing environment. The newly streamlined MyIPM app was released late 2017 and has since had 1,516 unique downloads. The MyIPM Working Group team proposes to update the app with the associated pests and pesticides of blackberries, grapes, and pecans to increase the functionality and broaden the target audience. Additionally, since a key goal of IPM is to help conserve beneficial organisms, we will utilize the existing strengths of the MyIPM app to also educate producers about insect natural enemies. We will create a new section in the app where users can download information that will help them identify insect natural enemies. It is crucial for the success of this app for the MyIPM Working Group team to meet in person to keep content updated, discuss necessary changes, and any issues with the app and content. Thus, we also propose to meet on an annual basis as a team to address any needed updates, ‘bug’ fixes, and the like. The updated MyIPM app will continue to help fruit producers rapidly diagnose pests in the field, to navigate the plethora of active ingredients and trade names available for pest management, to cope with the increasing threat of pesticide resistance, and to obtain more training in pathogen biology, disease epidemiology, and cultural/chemical/biological management options. A New IPM Working Group for Developing Integrated Strategies for Managing Colletotrichum on Fruit
Project Director: Sara Villani States within the southern agricultural region of the United States are among the top producers of tree fruit, grapes, and small fruit nationally. Excluding California fruit production, total utilized value of cultivated blueberry, peach, and strawberry from states in the southern region represented 31.0, 97.4, and 96.8% of the US utilized value of these crops in 2016. Despite high fruit annual fruit yields, achieving sustainable management of diseases in fruit crops is a constant challenge due to the subtropical and tropical climates of the southern agricultural region. Diseases of fruit crops that are caused by fungal species in the genus Colletotrichum are among the most economically devastating and challenging to manage throughout the region. Direct losses of fruit, just prior to or after harvest, result from the development of anthracnose rots on fruit. In addition, infection of leaf, root, and crown tissue by the pathogen is increasingly resulting in indirect losses throughout the Southeastern US. These losses include compromised photosynthesis due to premature defoliation, reduced winter hardiness and bud-set, and plant death. In the absence of effective management interventions, single-season losses often approach 100%.
A new IPM Working Group to Tackle Ambrosia Beetle Issues in Tree Fruit, Tree Nut and Tree Nurseries in the Southeastern US
Project Director: Angelita Acebes Ambrosia beetles are wood-boring pests that attack many tree species that are economically-important in the Southeastern region of the US. The agricultural industries that are mainly impacted by their infestation include tree fruit, tree nut and tree nurseries. In recent years, there have been significant findings on these beetles’ biology and management but more research is warranted including but not limited to the species complex and relative abundance, infestation behavior, spatio-temporal activities and most importantly, finding more effective and sustainable management options. Although, many researchers and Extension specialists are involved in different aspects of ambrosia beetle research and Extension, no working group currently exists to facilitate a systematic and collaborative effort to tackle the threat of these beetles on the impacted commodities in the Southeastern US. Recognizing this need, we propose to organize a regionally-focused and commodity-specific working group to address issues concerning ambrosia beetle infestations, and to develop improved and sustainable management strategies for these wood-infesting pests. Developing wetland monarch conservation habitats for southeastern golf course IPM programs
Project Director: Adam Dale Urbanization is a driver of habitat loss in the Southeastern U.S., reducing monarch habitat and abundance in a region where they occur year-round. Golf courses are among the largest managed urban green spaces in the Southeast. However, approximately 40-70% of acreage is out-of-play, but mostly turfgrass. PI Dale has found that creating drought-tolerant wildflower habitat in out-of-play areas conserves pollinators and increases biocontrol of insect pests. The average southeastern golf course contains at least one body of water, which require wetland plant species around them, Therefore, golf course superintendents have requested IPM guidelines for utilizing these spaces for conservation and biological control. However, there are currently no evidence-based guidelines for these habitats. IPM historically promotes plant diversity to reduce specialist herbivores and promote biological control, and we frequently see that increased nutrient content benefits plant-feeding pests. However, since we are trying to conserve an insect herbivore, plant diversity may counteract conservation efforts. Plus, evidence from other studies indicates potential negative effects of nutrient content on monarch survival. Interestingly, plant diversity and nutrients may interact to reduce negative effects of either factor on monarch conservation and lead to recommendations that conserve this threatened insect and promote golf course IPM. Therefore, our overarching goal is to develop evidence-based IPM recommendations that benefit monarchs, pest control, and the golf industry’s environmental and economic impact. Evaluating the gall midge Orseolia javanica, a biocontrol agent for enhancing cogongrass IPM
Project Director: James Cuda Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is a diploid C4 rhizomatous grass that is a noxious weed in over 70 countries where it threatens global biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. Recent genetic analyses identified four distinct non-hybridizing clonal lineages of cogongrass in the USA. In Florida and other southeastern states, this invasive grass infests cattle pastures, pine plantations, and thrives in poor soil conditions such as ditch banks, roadside and railroad rights-of-way as well as reclaimed phosphate-mining areas. Control of cogongrass relies primarily on mowing and herbicide applications. The Indonesian gall midge Orseolia javanica Kieffer and van Leeuwen-Reijinvaan is a potential biological control agent of cogongrass. Larval feeding induces the formation of hollow, sterile shoot galls in which one larva develops. These galls serve as nutrient “sinks” that divert rhizome resources away from normal shoot production. According to literature, the only reported host plant for O. javanica is cogongrass. However, it is not known the extent to which O. javanica will develop and reproduce on the Florida peninsula or Gulf Coast (Florida Panhandle) clones of cogongrass. We collected/propagated cogongrass from two different geographic locations in Florida and shipped healthy rhizomes under permit to Bogor Agricultural University, West Java, Indonesia, for clonal testing. Performance of O. javanica on each cogongrass clone (no. of galls and adults produced, development time to adult stage) will be compared. Reciprocal Benefits to Cotton Yield and Bee Pollinators in a Cotton/Sorghum Agroecosystem
Project Director: Michael Brewer The diversity and abundance of native pollinators is important in providing pollination services to a diverse array of crops, many of which receive pollination or unknown pollination benefits from native bees. Under agricultural intensification, as seen in our model cotton agroecosystem where field sizes commonly exceed 300 acres, achieving efficient and productive agricultural land use while conserving biodiversity is an important challenge to U.S. agricultural sustainability. This includes native bee diversity which is a key component of the declining pollinators in the U.S. and which may have been affected by large scale planting of field crops, especially cotton in the southern region. We wish to initiate a joint bee conservation and cotton management concept which may ultimately represent a win-win for bee conservation and cotton insect management. Through agriculturally reasonable stewardship effort, can we conserve native bees (addressing the conservation and IPM charge to address U.S. pollinator decline), which in turn provides reciprocal benefit to cotton (addressing the IPM charge to contribute to agricultural productivity). We propose a seed project to further our initial efforts that support this concept and establish a data base and process that leads to specific management research and guidance for this win bee conservation – win cotton productivity scenario. Scales as beneficial insects? Tree pests sustain biological control in urban landscapes
Project Director: Steven Frank Urban trees often have more pests, particularly scale insects, than trees in rural areas. In extreme locations, such as parking lots, tree stress and scale density are so high that insecticide applications and other maintenance are necessary to sustain tree health. However, in more hospitable locations, such as residential landscapes, many tree species are resilient to moderate scale density and generally do not require insecticides. By supporting scales and other herbivores these trees also support robust natural enemy communities. Thus, scales could be beneficial insects if predators and parasitoids they support improve landscape IPM and reduce insecticide use. The problem addressed by this proposal is that many urban trees have scale infestations for which insecticide applications are frequently desired by homeowners and landscape professionals but which are unnecessary and often ineffective. Insecticide applications to trees and other plants could be reduced if moderate scale infestations increase conservation biological control. Willow oaks (Quercus phellos) are among the most common urban trees throughout the Southeast. We have found that nearly all willow oaks in urban landscapes host low to moderate densities of lecanium scales (Parthenolecanium spp.) while maintaining growth. These willow oaks host high densities of dozens of generalist parasitoid and predator species. Our goal is to understand if, and under what circumstances, willow oaks promote conservation biological control in ornamental landscapes and develop these benefits as an IPM tool. Our objectives for this seed grant are to determine if 1) natural enemy abundance is greater and pest density lower on landscape plants surrounding scale-infested willow oaks compared to plants surrounding uninfested trees; 2) if predation or parasitism rates are higher near scale-infested willow oaks than near uninfested trees; and 3) produce articles and outreach material promoting the benefits of low pest densities and conservation biological control in IPM. The Farming and Food Narrative Project - Southern Region
Project Director: James Walgenbach The general public does not have a good understanding of farming practices or the benefits of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In fact, the national conversation about farming practices in relation to food—in the media, on campuses, in supermarkets, between growers and customers, among advocates, policymakers, and the public—is stuck. It is reduced to oversimplified versions of good versus bad, organic versus conventional, and quickly becomes polarized. Different sides each show up with experts in tow and we get dueling science. Methods that are hard to explain, such as IPM, are left out, even though they’ve been proven effective.
Understanding tradeoffs for cover crop deployment in organic sweet potato
Project Director: Anders Huseth In this project, we will use a systems-based approach to assess the tradeoffs of winter annual cover crop use in organic sweet potato production. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we will measure the benefits of crimped winter annual cover crops for integrated pest management (weeds/insects) and sustainable soil fertility. In the autumn, transplant beds will be formed and rye / rye+vetch cover crops planted. In the spring, cover crops will be terminated using a roller-crimper modified for beds. Sweet potato slips will be planted into cover crop residue with a no-till transplanter. We will amend fertility in each treatment using a fertility ramp. We will monitor the abundance of wireworms and weed density throughout the season in each treatment. At harvest, we will evaluate root damage and marketable yields. These measurements will help growers make educated decisions that minimize risk for yield loss (weeds/pests) and input dependence (fertilizer inputs). Documenting the tradeoffs between current yield-limiting factors and cover crop benefits will be an important step toward a more comprehensive understanding of how cover crops can be integrated into high value organic sweet potato production systems. |
2018 Program YearRFA: Critical and Emerging Issues 2018First detection of Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) in the US
Project Director: Kassie Conner Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is one of the most economically important crops in the southeast United States. Cotton blue disease (Cotton leafroll dwarf virus – CLRDV) was detected for the first time in the United States in Alabama during 2017 and its presence was confirmed during 2018. There is a need to determine the distribution of the virus, sequence the entire genome of the virus, develop testing methods to detect the virus from aphids, and develop transmission assays to characterize the mode of transmission, including acquisition, latent period, and inoculation access periods required for aphid transmission, and monitor times between infection and symptom development in cotton. This information will be used in future studies to develop a warning system for the disease, identify alternate hosts and varietal susceptibility, and develop IMP strategies for control. Funding is requested for supplies and reagents related to PCR testing to identify CLRDV and Begomoviruses. Monitoring and rapid identification of Cucurbit leaf crumple virus, an emerging threat on vegetable in Georgia
Project Director: Md Emran Ali Cucurbit Leaf Crumple Virus (CuLCrV) is a whitefly-transmitted cucurbit-infecting Begomovirus; a chronic threat to vegetable production in Georgia. It is able to infect most cucurbits including cucumber, muskmelon, squash, pumpkin, and watermelon, and has been reported to infect snap bean. Different weed species can also be naturally infected with this virus and thus, serve as inoculum sources besides insect vector for cucurbit crops. Although CuLCrV was identified for the first time in 2012, it was not a major issue until 2016. In 2016, the virus came back with a vengeance and causes a significant losses to vegetable production in Georgia. There is no actual estimate of losses in dollars; even at a conservative estimate, that amount is expected to be in the tens of millions of dollars. Until today, this notorious virus disease remains a severe threat to vegetables production. Typical symptoms of CuLCrV include chlorotic leaf spots and terminal buds, leaf curling and crumpling, and interveinal yellowing (McCreight et al., 2008). In addition, plants may be stunted, resulting in severe or complete yield loss. The disease symptoms are easily confused with diseases caused by other viruses such as Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV) and Squash mosaic virus (SqMV). For proper management of this devastating viral disease, we need to have a proper monitoring and an early, quick, and accurate diagnosis tool for identifying it in early stage. Traditionally, DAS-ELISA and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods are used for this pathogen. However, these methods are time-consuming and require access to sophisticated and bulky laboratory equipment. In particular, the complexity of the thermal cycling equipment required for PCR restricts the use of these methods mainly to well-equipped laboratories. In this project, we propose to monitor CuLCrV in different plants as well weeds host and develop a LAMP assay for specific and rapid detection of CuLCrV under laboratory and field conditions. This assay will overcome many of the limitations of traditional assays and its sensitivity can be 1,000 times higher than regular PCR (Peng et al., 2012). Testing can be carried out rapidly (often 30 min) with minimal equipment (a water bath or heated block). The new detection technique will be valuable for a fast and less tedious detection of this whitefly-transmitted virus, which will be very useful tool to monitor CuLCrV in different host plants as conveniently in the vegetable field.
RFA: IPM Enhancement Grants 2018A New IPM Working Group on Improving Biocontrol in Open-field Vegetables in the Southeast
Project Director: Jason Schmidt Currently, there is limited information on both releasing and conserving natural enemies of pest insects in open-field vegetable crops in the southeast. Growers are not confident in their ability to identify common natural enemies in the field, despite substantial interest in biological control. We seek to create a new working group focusing on biological control in vegetables that contains industry stakeholders, researchers, and extension professionals. In the first year, the working group will hold several conference calls and one in-person annual meeting. The objectives of these meetings will be to 1) plan the annual meeting, 2) develop a vegetable biocontrol extension and research priorities list, 3) survey growers to ascertain current knowledge levels and potential future directions, and 4) to write a major national grant to fund the priorities determined in (2). We anticipate that the creation of the working group will lead to greater understanding and adoption of biological control by southeast vegetable growers, resulting in decreased pesticide use and increased sustainability. Determining effects of cover crop use on pest attraction to tomato
Project Director: Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris Although cover crops are typically adopted for the purpose of managing soil health, they can impact other areas of agricultural management. For instance, cover crops have been shown to alter pest and beneficial arthropod abundance. Natural enemies can benefit from the floral resources or shelter that cover crops provide. Changes in soil health or the microclimate caused by the cover crop can directly alter pest populations. Understanding these effects could allow for improved pest management through selection of a cover crop. The proposed project aims to examine how soil health changes caused by winter cover crop use alter pest preference for a tomato crop grown in the soil. A currently existing multi-year cover crop trial at the Coastal Research and Extension Center (CREC, Charleston, SC) will be leveraged to address this question. Soil will be collected from different winter cover crop treatments in the trial (hairy vetch, Dutch white clover, crimson clove, Austrian winter peas, none). These soils will be used to in a series of laboratory assays comparing the attractiveness of tomato plants grown in the soils to three pests of tomato: twospotted spider mite, whitefly, and Colorado potato beetle. An additional potted-plant study will be conducted in a field to examine the attraction of locally occurring pests to the tomato plants grown in the collected soils. Results from this project will be used as preliminary data for a proposal to the USDA AFRI Foundational program; the full proposal will examine mechanisms for soil health management practices impact the crop ecosystem, including soil microbial diversity, plant health, gene expression, and volatile production, and arthropod behavioral responses. Anticipated impacts of include increased adoption of cover crops, resulting in improved soil health, including decreased erosion. Cover crops that reduce pest pressure could also lead to a decrease in pesticide use, reducing pesticide resistance and increasing the sustainability of agriculture. This project will also lead to a better understanding of the basic biology of soil-plant-herbivore interactions. Does the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii manipulate the microbiome of its fruit hosts? Implications for management and ecology
Project Director: Hannah Burrack This proposed project seeks generate knowledge about the interactions between Drosophila suzukii, commonly referred to as the spotted wing drosophila (SWD) and the plant microbiome in order to develop new management tactics. SWD is a devastating invasive pest of soft-skinned fruit crops native to eastern Asia. Since detection in 2008 in both California and Italy, SWD has since spread to all fruit growing areas in the United States, Europe, and much of South America. Unlike other Drosophila species, female SWD prefer to lay their eggs in ripening and ripe, rather than rotting, fruit. Developing larvae cause loss by directly damage fruit and contaminating shipments, and egg laying alone may make fruit more susceptible to pathogen infestation (Rombaut et al. 2017). Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, and grapes have been the most impacted by SWD.
Foundational Research for the Development of IPM in Florida's Subtropical Peach Industry
Project Director: Amanda Hodges New low-chill cultivars and loss of citrus acreage due to citrus greening disease has more than doubled south to central Florida peach production from 2000 to 2017. Growers currently rely on information from Georgia and north Florida; however, the pest occurrence and management has not been specifically considered within the context of the early season subtropical to tropical peach market. A 2011 survey indicated that 68% of Florida peach growers and ranked insect control as a high priority research goal, second only to consumer demand. The reliance of calendar based insecticide information from geographical distinct areas does not allow for the integration of IPM into management systems. The project focuses on quantifying the presence, timing, and occurrence of major pests within sub-tropical to tropical peaches. The project focuses on surveying peach orchards for multiple pests, and to further survey growers in regards to their pest management concerns. Information will be immediately disseminated to growers in an extension publication.
Harvest Weed Seed Control for Management of Palmer Amaranth and Italian Ryegrass
Project Director: Michael Flessner Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) is a new approach to weed management. This technique targets and kills weeds at the seed stage, minimizing additions to the seed bank and reducing future weed infestations. Conventionally, weed seeds that are harvested with the crop and separated in the combine are returned to the field in the chaff fraction, which is spread out behind the combine. In this manner, weed seeds are evenly spread throughout the field, exacerbating the problem for future crops, or alternatively moved to noninfested fields as the harvest continues. HWSC kills weed seed contained in the chaff fraction by physically crushing the chaff fraction (as with the Harrington Seed Destructor), collecting and removing the chaff and weed seeds contained therein with a chaff cart, narrow windrow burning, or other techniques.
Investigating Metolachlor Resistance in Palmer Amaranth
Project Director: Cammy Willett Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is a common weed in the southern United States and can reduce the yield of corn, cotton, and soybean. Regional stakeholders have identified herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth as a top priority. Among the few herbicide options remaining for Palmer amaranth control are very long chain fatty acid synthesis inhibitors, such as metolachlor. Exploratory data sets have indicated that Palmer amaranth populations may have developed resistance to metolachlor. Data are needed to assess frequency of metolachlor resistance occurrence in Palmer amaranth as well as the contributing factors such as accelerated soil dissipation. Microbially-accelerated herbicide dissipation in soil results in shortened residual herbicide activity, exposing a large proportion of germinating seeds to progressively lower doses of metolachlor. This promotes low-dose selection for tolerant plants, and, ultimately, the evolution of a resistant population. Given the long-term use of metolachlor for control of herbicide resistant Palmer amaranth, it is likely that soil microbial communities have adapted to rapidly degrade metolachlor. Palmer amaranth resistance effects states throughout the Southern region. The preliminary findings generated by this proposal will be relevant to the entire Southern region, and will inform management decisions to prevent and manage herbicide resistant Palmer amaranth. Reassessment of Nematode Thresholds for Agronomic Crops in the Southeast
Project Director: Hillary Mehl Virginia growers and commodity boards have indicated crop parasitic nematodes are a major yield-limiting factor, especially in cotton, peanut, corn, and soybean cropping systems. The situation is similar throughout the southeastern U.S. A recent survey of nematode populations in Virginia cropping systems has identified high levels of parasitic nematodes associated with agronomic crops, but currently utilized economic thresholds were developed decades ago and may not be directly applicable to the current cropping situation. As varieties have improved and the cost of nematicides has increased, the economics of nematode management and damage thresholds for control need to be reassessed. This project will quantify levels of crop damage and yield loss caused by different levels of parasitic nematodes, examine the economics of different nematode management tactics based on damage thresholds, and develop and disseminate revised nematode thresholds and IPM recommendations to growers through extension activities. This will result in increased grower, consultant, and extension educator awareness of damage caused by nematodes and facilitate adoption of threshold-based IPM approaches to control of nematodes in agronomic crops. Ultimately this will decrease crop losses due to parasitic nematodes, decrease unnecessary nematicide or fumigant use for nematode control, increase return on investment when nematicides are used, increase the profitability of agronomic crop production, and decrease negative environmental impacts associated with nematode management. Red maple wildtype and cultivar pest susceptibility across urban planting conditions
Project Director: Steven Frank Trees provide critical ecosystem services and social benefits in urban landscapes.
Strawberry Disease Cycle Illustrations, Animations, and Time-Lapse Videos for IPM Education
Project Director: Guido Schnabel We believe that superior educational materials will help farmers understand unfamiliar concepts of IPM to improve farming practices and manage diseases infecting crops. However, materials currently used to teach these concepts at grower-attended conferences and workshops are static, intimidating, difficult to follow, and dated. Improved educational materials are especially needed for strawberries, where disease management is of upmost importance and management success is dependent on a good understanding of disease cycles, proper disease diagnostics, and responsible use of pesticides.
Surveillance and Characterization of Varroa Mite Acaricide Resistance in Virginia
Project Director: Aaron Gross Honey bees are important in the production of honey and as pollinators to a variety of agriculturally important crops. A global decline in the number of managed honey bee colonies is believed to be the result of pest, pathogens, and pesticides that have dramatic effects on honey bee health and behavior. The varroa mite is a significant pest and vector of pathogens (viruses) having a negative impact on honey bee health, and has been implicated, along with other factors, in colony collapse disorder (CCD). In Virginia, there is a lack of surveillance data of varroa mite infestation throughout the commonwealth. Chemical acaricides are commonly used to control varroa mite, but failure of acaricides (resistance) is become a concern among beekeepers. Our approach to the concerning effects of the varroa mite, is to gain a better understanding of varroa mite populations and the presence of acaricide resistance in three geographic regions of Virginia. Additionally, we will implement recommended Integrative Pest Management programs in Virginia Tech’s apiaries as a “proof of concept” to be shared with Stakeholders. The anticipated impact of the research performed in this study will address the lack of surveillance data on varroa mite populations and acaricide resistance in Virginia. We hope to gain acceptance and adoption of Integrative Pest Management (IPM) practices in manage honey bee colonies throughout the commonwealth. The Food Narrative Project--Southern Region
Project Director: James Walgenbach This Working Group is a unique collaboration among the social scientists at FrameWorks Institute and the leaders and participants in the Food Narrative Project, which includes many IPM scientists, as well as NGOs such as IPM Voice and Red Tomato. Through the use of evidence-based framing strategies – the Project will create a re-framed food and farming narrative, which incorporates IPM as an important element, that can be utilized by a diverse group of people and organizations.
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2017 Program YearRFA: 2017 IPM Enhancement GrantsCreation and dissemination of tawny crazy ant extension materials
Project Director: Lawrence C. "Fudd" Graham In 2015, a tawny crazy ant work group was created using funds from the SIPMC. This work group brought together tawny crazy ant experts from seven states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and South Carolina) in the Southern Region. The work group meeting was held in conjunction with the Imported Fire Ant and Invasive Pest Ant Conference in April 2015, and a list of priorities for extension, research and regulatory issues were set. The top extension priority defined was to create educational materials for stakeholders in the region in order to get the correct information to those that need it most.
Differentiating soybean looper populations to protect Caribbean and North American crops
Project Director: Dominic D Reisig Migratory moths represent some of the greatest threats to food security; collectively, these pests caused an estimated $43.7 million dollar loss and cost of control in North Carolina soybean during 2014, a representative year in terms of incidence of these pests. However, little is known about their migratory routes along the Atlantic seaboard of the US. The recent appearance of species with new resistance characteristics, the widespread use of Bt in North and South America, new invasive species, and new molecular capabilities create an opportunity to refine our understanding of migratory moth species and move our understanding into new arenas. The objective of this proposal is to see if migratory soybean looper populations can be differentiated using genetic polymorphisms. Genetic analysis will use the RAD-Seq approach to simultaneously discover genetic polymorphisms and genotype individual insects. Since the existence of genetic variability within pests is probably the most important aspect of pest biology in relation to long-term sustainability of IPM tactics, understanding the migratory pathways of these insects will sustain IPM in southern US soybean. Efficient Building-Wide Inspections for Early Detection of Bed Bugs in Multifamily Housing
Project Director: Karen Vail will complete later Fact-finding and early research for regionally-specific IPM for plant bug in Southeastern US Cotton
Project Director: Sally Taylor Plant bug infestations have become a yearly occurrence in Virginia and North Carolina cotton causing insecticide use to rise dramatically in response. There is a definite need for funding to improve cotton IPM in these states. The timing and extent of plant bug infestations in this region, and their damage-causing potential, is poorly understood. However, new management plans cannot be formed without a more fundamental understanding of the problem. The proposed research will take the first steps to characterize the location, timing, and yield-damaging potential of plant bug infestations in Southeastern cotton. In the process, we will develop valuable and readily applicable insights that will inform future IPM strategies. Improvement of Sweet Potato Insect Pest Management in the Southeast
Project Director: Fred Musser Sweet potatoes are a major Southeastern crop valued at almost $500,000,000 in 2015. Sweet potato roots are damaged by several soil-dwelling insect pests which can affect approximately 30% of marketable roots under standard insecticide practices in the Southeast United States but according to USDA standards less than 10 % of the roots can have been damaged (insect, disease, physical, etc.) and maintain a U.S. No. 1 or No. 2 status. Based on this, insect damage alone causes price reductions that cost Southeast producers approximately $11,000,000 or $95 an acre above the $66 per acre paid for insecticides. Many of the pests are managed with soil applied insecticides, but these have little or inconsistent efficacy against mid- to late-season pests in the WDS (wireworm, Diabrotica, Systena) complex, which is responsible for damage to approximately 8 % of marketable roots under standard insecticide practices. This pest complex is primarily managed with foliar insecticide applications targeting the adult stage of the insect.
Invasive Conehead Termite IPM Working Group
Project Director: Sue Alspach Stakeholders interacting collaboratively in an Invasive Conehead Termite IPM Working Group will raise awareness about the importance, impacts, and containment / control / eradication of conehead termite infestations. Specifically, objectives of the Working Group would be to widen the knowledge base on effective IPM strategies, to identify stakeholders’ priorities, and to collectively pursue partnerships to mobilize coordinated containment, control, and outreach efforts before this destructive pest spreads further to impact agriculture, structures, and natural landscapes in Florida and the southern United States.
MyTree: Using citizen science to teach and learn about tree IPM in the city
Project Director: Steven Frank Trees provide a suite of ecosystem services that improve human and environmental health. Unfortunately, urban trees are subject to environmental stressors, including high temperatures and drought, that reduce these services and make trees more susceptible to arthropod pests. The problem addressed by this proposal is that we do not understand the extent to which environmental stress and pests reduce tree growth and services across large geographic areas. Thus, we have no basis for selecting tree species and planting sites in which trees will thrive as the climate around them warms. Understanding how mature tree growth, pest infestation, and health respond to warming and urbanization in the Southeast will require monitoring hundreds or thousands of trees across gradients of urbanization, latitude, and altitude. This is a perfect opportunity to engage citizen scientists and regional cooperators to learn about and teach about the urban and climatic conditions under which trees, specifically red maples, thrive and resist pests versus conditions under which they grow poorly and require pesticide or other interventions. Our objective is to initiate a citizen science project to 1) determine how urbanization and background temperature affect tree growth and pest abundance and 2) to develop IPM and planting recommendations and educate Extension personnel, end users, and the public. We will focus recruitment on Master Gardeners to increase the educational impact of our project. With expertise in tree IPM, citizen science, and extension and with cooperators in 5 states our team will deliver extension resources to diverse clientele across the Southeast.
Streamlining and Advancing the Smartphone 'MyIPM' App Series
Project Director: Brett Blaauw While important for the sustainability of agriculture, implementation of IPM tactics is often easier said than done. For example, combining the IPM principles of monitoring and identification of pests with effective control measures seems simple enough, but the ever-changing pest complex and pesticide regulations can make adopting these practices challenging. Producers are in need of tools to rapidly diagnose pests in the field, to navigate the vast active ingredients and trade names available for pest management, to mitigate pesticide resistance, and to understand pest biology and management options. Thus, in 2014, we introduced a smartphone app to help strawberry and peach producers in South Carolina and Georgia understand and implement IPM principles. The app was provided free of charge and the response has been overwhelmingly positive from producers, agents, and fellow specialists.
Therapeutic Management of Pecan Bacterial Leaf Scorch Using Carbon Nanotubes
Project Director: Young-Ki Jo The pecan industry is economically important to the U.S., which makes up 55% of the world’s total annual pecan production. Annual pecan production in the U.S. is estimated to be 264.2 million pounds with an estimated value of $517 million dollars on a utilized in-shell basis. Pecan bacterial leaf scorch (PBLS) caused by a xylem-inhabiting bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa subspecies multiplex, is an emerging issue for the U.S. and international pecan industry and is becoming a threat to the pecan production. The disease has been reported in Arizona and New Mexico, and its presence in California is being currently confirmed. PBLS is a chronic disease that debilitates the plant and can cause major yield losses in susceptible varieties. Researchers have found the bacterium is transmitted between grafting of scions and pecan rootstock in addition to insect vector-mediated or seed-borne transmission. It is an important issue because propagation of pecan plants is predominantly performed through grafting. There is no cure for bacterium-infected plants and few integrative pest management strategies have been developed for PBLS. Hot-water treatment of pecan scions and rootstock has been implemented as a standard phytosanitary treatment. However, the hot-heat treatment method is not practical since its disinfection efficacy and adverse effect on plant health still were not fully validated. Therefore, establishment of the effective remediation protocols for PBLS is imperative to ensure disease-free germplasm rootstock and prevent the spread of the disease. With current trends in globalization, it is more important than ever that breeders screen plant germplasm prior to national and international transport to restrict the spread of potentially dangerous pathogens. Our novel approach is to innovate the current heat treatment using the advanced nanotechnology. We are interested in the fact that carbon nanotube (CNT) by itself does not have antibiotic activity but is a strong microwave absorbing material which can produce intense heating due to its outstanding electrical properties. CNT that is absorbed through roots, translocated to the xylem and exposed with microwave can result in increase of thermal energy exclusively in the xylem where the bacterium is inhabiting. The spike of thermal energy in the xylem can kill X. fastidiosa but will minimize adverse impact on other plant tissue. Our preliminary study showed that the combination of the CNT and microwave treatment can effectively reduce the bacterial viability. In this project, CNT materials with different molecular structure and functional groups will be fabricated. Once optimal treatment conditions (CNT type, CNT concentration and microwave exposure) have been determined, the treatments will be further validated with X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex-infected rootstock and scion samples and be compared with the traditional hot-water treatment. Outcomes of this proposal will advance practical knowledge of PBLS remediation method that enables more growers to successfully manage the emerging bacterial disease and to improve sustainable pecan production using safe and effective option. |
2016 Program YearRFA: 2016 IPM Enhancement GrantsA New IPM Working Group for Sustainable Production of Southern Pea, Vigna unguiculata, in the Southern Region.
Project Director: David G. Riley The goal of this planning grant is to implement an economically sustainable program for southern pea, Vigna unguiculata, production in the southeastern USA. We propose is to establish a new working group for this crop in the Southeastern USA, develop a crop profile for this region and establish a new pest management strategic plan for southern pea pest management. The working group currently has several members that are currently working individually on various aspects of southern crop development and pest management. This proposal will allow for greater coordination between these individual researchers and extension specialists as well as interaction with industry stakeholders for establishing fundable research and extension priorities. This first meeting will introduce the various stakeholders to each other, discuss the current status of southern pea production/pest management, expand the email contact list for the survey, and propose items to be included in the survey. The second meeting will finalize the survey to be sent out, set a time line for completion and discuss the use of Basecamp with the group. The third meeting will plan the 2017 working group meeting, coordinate with the SERFVC educational committee for an educational session on southern peas to be held at the same event and initiate a discussion of the crop profile and PMSP documents to be worked on via Basecamp. The meeting sessions in the fall will be to prepare documents for facilitated discussions at the 1st Southern Pea Working Group Meeting at Savannah and develop a follow-up IPM Working Group proposal to the Southern IPM Center. Both the crop profile and PMSP are to be finalized by February 2017 after the facilitated discussion and group input. Cover Crop Interseeding to Manage Herbicide-Resistant Weeds
Project Director: Erin Haramoto This project explores a potential solution to a practical challenge of using cover crops as part of an integrated weed management program. Such integrated programs contribute to the management of herbicide resistant weeds, which are major problems in grain crop production in Kentucky and throughout the Southern region.
Developing IPM Practices for Bermudagrass Stem Maggot in Forage Production.
Project Director: Allen Knutson The bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM) is a new pest of bermudagrass forage in the southeastern US. BSM was first reported in TX in 2013 and during 2015, infestations were reported throughout Texas and many fields were treated with insecticide for BSM control. Although BSM damage has created grower alarm and initiated insecticide treatments, the effect of BSM injury on forage yield and quality is unknown and economic thresholds and sampling methods necessary to guide management decisions have not been developed. We propose to investigate the impact of BSM on bermudagrass forage yield and quality, develop initial economic thresholds and evaluate sampling methods for BSM. The outcomes should provide the foundation for expanded studies to develop an IPM program growers can use to make informed management decisions regarding control of bermudagrass stem maggot.
Enhancing Weed Management Systems in Container Nurseries for Reduced Costs
Project Director: Joseph C. Neal Nursery crop production is an important sector of U.S. agriculture with about $5.1B in annual sales. Within the southeastern U.S., nursery crop production is among the most valuable crop production sectors, with AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, TN and VA accounting for over 24% of the national value of floriculture and nursery crop sales. Between 2007 and 2012 there was a 22% decrease in nursery crop sales. As a result, growers are searching for strategies to reduce production costs and improve economic returns.
Establishment of a Southern Region Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Working Group
Project Director: Michael Dennis Toews The overall goal of this project is to establish and host a brown marmorated stink bug working group to catalyze the development and implementation of IPM programs for this pest in the southern US. This invasive insect pest is a serious urban nuisance, due to its propensity for overwintering in structures, and a serious economic pest of orchard crops, row crops, small fruits, and vegetable crops. Populations in the US have been most serious in the mid-Atlantic region, but the distribution is expanding southward and reproducing populations are now present in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. There is growing concern among our conventional and organic growers regarding impact of this invasive pest on cropping systems in the region. Although a strong brown marmorated stink bug working group currently exists in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern US, a southern working group is necessary because the climate, agricultural crops, acreage planted, and spatial distribution of agricultural hosts and adjacent non-crop habitat in the southern US is considerably different from that of the mid-Atlantic regions. Further, there is great demand by southern urban stakeholders for educational materials that explain brown marmorated stink bug ecology and how to properly prevent infestations inside structures. Exploring critical use of a Systemic Acquired Resistance inducer against Rose Rosette Disease
Project Director: Mathews Paret Roses are one of the most popular flowering shrubs in the U.S with a wholesale value of $194 million (USDA, 2010). Rose rosette disease caused by Rose rosette virus, an Emaravirus has become the most devastating disease on roses in the recent years, causing huge economic losses to nurseries, landscapers and gardeners throughout the U.S (Laney et al., 2011). The virus is vectored by an eriophyid mite species Phyllocoptes fructiphilus and budding or grafting can also transmit the disease. The symptoms of rose rosette disease include abnormal lateral shoot growth, excessive thorniness, witches broom, leaf proliferation and distortion, mosaic, and red pigmentation of the leaves and the stems. The disease leads to the death of the infected plants in 1-2 years. The disease affects many rose species and cultivars and has been spreading through much of the wild and cultivated rose population of the Midwestern, Southern, and Eastern U.S. Of particular relevance is the high susceptibility of traditional rose varieties and Knock Out series of roses in the U.S. Thus, rose rosette disease is a major threat for rose producers and the landscape industry in the U.S. The impact of rose rosette disease in rose growers own words can be found in the following link from AmericanHort; Rose Rosette from the Industry eyes; and the southern nursery IPM (SNIPM) working group has listed rose rosette disease as the second topmost priority among plant diseases in the region in 2014; http://www.sripmc.org/policy/priorities/SNIPM_Priorities.pdf. A significant limitation in managing rose rosette disease is the lack of any chemical control options. Our proposed seed project aims to study a chemical control option utilizing a Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) inducer, which has shown encouraging results in our preliminary trials in Florida. ASM (Actigard"; labeled on vegetables and fruit trees, but not on roses; Syngenta, 2015) is a SAR inducer and activates the plant defense system by increasing the transcription of stress related genes. ASM by itself or integrated with other methods has been shown to protect plants from Tomato spotted wilt virus in Tomato and Tobacco (Mandal et al; 2008; Momol et al., 2004), and Iris yellow spot virus in Tobacco (Tripathi and Pappu, 2015). A preliminary study by our team showed that foliar applications of ASM at e50 mg/L, on Knock Out roses followed by budding plants with buds from Rose rosette virus-infected plants, did not produce any symptoms of the disease, as compared to drench application of ASM or non-treated controls which showed high disease severity as indicated by the Area Under Disease Progress Curve (Fig. 1; Horsfall and Barrett, 1945). Real-time RT-qPCR testing of the plants treated with foliar application of ASM further confirmed the absence of Rose rosette virus till date (>6 months from the start of the experiment; data not shown). This finding strongly indicates to the potential of ASM in protecting roses from Rose rosette virus, which may be due to the prevention of the virus movement, or replication from infected buds to healthy plants leading to no symptoms or reduced expression and thus needs to be further studied and validated. Impervious Surface Tree Planting Thresholds for the Southeast
Project Director: Steven Frank Urban trees are generally less healthy and have more pests than trees in rural areas. Thus urban trees require expensive and hazardous interventions such as pesticide applications or become hazards as they age and die. For five years we have studied why urban trees get more scale insects than forest trees and the consequences for IPM and tree health. We found that heat and drought caused by impervious surface cover increase scale insect abundance by up to 300 fold by increasing scale insect survival and reproduction. Scale insects and environmental stress associated with impervious surfaces reduce tree functions (e.g. photosynthesis), growth, and condition (rating of poor, fair, good, or excellent used by urban foresters). In fact, percent impervious surface cover around a tree explains up to 48% of variation in scale insect abundance and predicts tree condition so accurately that we developed impervious surface thresholds to identify suitable planting sites. As a capstone to this work our objectives are to 1) determine the applicability of our thresholds in other Southeastern states with different climates; 2) create extension resources to explain how impervious surfaces affect trees, how to measure impervious surface cover, and how to select planting sites using impervious surface thresholds; 3) identify other tree species for which impervious surface thresholds could be useful. With expertise in entomology, urban forest extension, and landscape design and cooperators in 5 states our team will deliver extension resources to diverse clientele across the Southeast. Southeast Regional Pest Management Guide for Nursery Crops and Landscape Plantings
Project Director: Joseph C. Neal The Green Industries of nursery and greenhouse crop production, landscape services and related sales have a significant economic impact. The green industries direct industry economic output has been estimated to be over $136 billion, representing 0.72% of U.S. gross domestic product and 1.11% of total workforce employment. Pest management in ornamental cropping systems continues to result in costly pest control treatments and crop losses. A recent survey of ornamental crop producers in the Southeast has highlighted the need for enhanced access to pest control information. Many individual states produce crop protection guides such as the NC Agricultural Chemicals Manual, yet many states in the region lack staffing to produce such guides. Recently, regional guides for horticultural crops important in the southeastern US have been produced; including Southeast Regional Guides for pest management in Blueberries, Brambles, Bunch Grapes, Muscadine Grapes and Strawberry. These regional crop management guides consolidate relevant information into a more useful format and garner the power of collaboration among regional specialists to improve the content and broaden the impact of their efforts.
Sustainable Management of Bemisia tabaci biotype B on Tomato in Protected Structures
Project Director: Hugh Smith High tunnels, screen houses, greenhouses and other protected structures offer tomato growers the opportunity to produce high value specialty tomatoes, including certified organic tomatoes, with improved control over temperature and certain pests and diseases. Major pests of tomato include the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and a virus it transmits, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). Many insecticides available to manage whiteflies in the field are not labeled for use in protected structures or are not compatible with commercial pollinators used in protected structures. Both conventional and organic growers of tomatoes in protected structures need sustainable methods to manage whiteflies and other pests. Sustainable approaches to whitefly management include the use of biocontrol agents such as predators and parasitoids. Dicyphus hesperus is a commercially available whitefly predator that is well-adapted to tomato, unlike most commercially-available biocontrol agents. Dicyphus hesperus has not been evaluated for management of sweetpotato whitefly or for use under Floridas hot growing conditions. Biopesticides are another component of sustainable pest management. Biopesticides include insecticidal soaps, oils and botanical and microbial insecticides. Biopesticides can help reduce whitefly numbers and in some cases transmission of virus while having limited impact on pollinators. Unlike conventional insecticides, biopesticides can be applied multiple times with limited environmental or worker safety risk, or concerns about the development of insecticide resistance. Many biopesticides are acceptable for use in certified organic production. We propose evaluating D. hesperus as a predator of sweetpotato whitefly on tomato and testing the potential to combine releases of D. hesperus with applications of biopesticides to manage whiteflies on tomato in screen houses. We will provide information on the number of predators that need to be released in response to whitefly infestations, and develop guidelines for the integration of biopesticides with predator releases to manage whiteflies and TYLCV on tomato grown in protected structures. In addition, we will carry out a statewide survey of the pest management practices and priorities of growers who produce tomato in protected structures, and offer a hands-on workshop in February 2017 to instruct growers, extension agents and other crop protection professionals in management of pests of tomato grown in protected structures. The information we generate will enable growers to protect yields and profits while reducing the use of insecticides that negatively impact pollinators and contribute to the development of insecticide resistance. There is presently very little information available for management of pests in protected structures in the southern USA. Our proposed research will provide baseline information and guidelines to growers in the rapidly expanding sector of protected agriculture. |
2015 Program YearRFA: IPM Enhancement Grants, SIPMC 2015A new approach that may reduce reliance on pesticides for the production of high-quality peaches in the Southeast
Project Director: Juan Carlos Melgar Peach growers in the Southeast must control many pests and diseases to be able to produce high-quality peaches. Conventionally-produced, southeastern peaches are probably among the most sprayed peaches in the US due to the favorable climate for pests and diseases and the absence of resistant cultivars. The frequent application of pesticides is of environmental concern, poses fruit residue problems, and promotes development of pest and disease resistance. In addition, consumer demand for high-quality and residue-free fruit is growing, which is a significant challenge for the sustainability of southeastern fruit production. On the other hand, organic peach production in the Southeast is almost non existing although South Carolina and Georgia are second and third producers, after California. In the years, peaches experienced the largest production growth in organic fruit in the US but the peach producing states in the Southeast are not benefiting from the market opportunities of the organic production. Thus, the need of practices to increase the production of high-quality organic peaches and to reduce insecticide/fungicide applications in conventional orchards in the Southeast is a critical issue that deserves attention and research.
Development and Management of Frogeye Leaf Spot and Fungicide Resistance in Soybean in the Mid-South
Project Director: Heather Kelly Plant pathogens have the potential of being the most limiting factor in agriculture. To manage plant pathogens an array of tools are used including cultural practices, varietal resistance, and application of fungicides. Loss of any one of these tools will increase the reliance on the others, which in turn they will more readily lose efficacy with the increased dependency on them. Fungicides are one of the essential tools for managing important plant diseases in agriculture, but the development of fungicide resistance pathogens in soybean alone could cause significant losses to U.S. farmers. Ineffective fungicide applications cost $330 to $500M annually, and lost yields due to disease cost an estimated $5B annually (estimates based on National Agricultural Statistics Service Information). Resistance to fungicides in plant pathogen populations is one of the most significant problems confronting North American agriculture in the area of chemical disease management (Delp 1988). In 2010 the first account in the U.S. of fungicide resistant strains of Cercospora sojina, the causal agent of frogeye leaf spot in soybean, was reported in west Tennessee (Zhang et al. 2012). Since then strains of Strobilurin or QoI fungicide resistant C. sojina have been reported in 10 states and over 106 counties, and it is highly likely that other pathogens in soybean and other production systems are at high risk of developing fungicide resistance. Initial review groups of farmers and crop consultants indicated they would be willing to adopt practices to reduce the risk of fungicide development as long as there was not a negative effect on their overall yield, but felt they lacked the knowledge of what practices would reduce their risk. There is a critical need to determine the biological and economic impact of fungicide resistant pathogens in soybean production, identify best management strategies to reduce and control development of fungicide resistance in agriculture, and provide education programs to agricultural stakeholders on the best practices to avoid fungicide resistance. In the absence of such knowledge, fungicide resistant pathogens will continue to threaten the security of U.S. soybean production. The successful completion of this project will provide foundational data to build a strong conceptual evidence-based framework for determining the risk factors associated with fungicide resistance in C. sojina in soybean, as well as how to utilize those factors to predict and prevent the development of fungicide resistant pathogens in agricultural production systems. Prevention of resistance, and the reduction of ineffective fungicide use, is expected to save producers significant costs, both in production and through prevention of crop loss and enhance the sustainability of U.S. soybean production. Evaluation of Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field as an IPM Tool for Spotted Wing Drosophila
Project Director: Ashfaq Sial Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an insect pest of Asian origin, has emerged as a devastating pest of small and stone fruits worldwide. Since its first detection in California in 2008, SWD has spread throughout the United States causing significant losses in crop yield (as high as 100% in some situations) and quality, which have been estimated at $850-900 million annually. Unfortunately, currently SWD control programs are relying heavily on preventative insecticide applications weekly which is not sustainable and growers are concerned about residue and resistance related issues. It is therefore extremely important explore novel technologies to effectively manage SWD populations. The electromagnetic field is one such technology, the biological effects of which have been investigated in several experimental model organisms including Drosophila melanogaster. Because SWD is closely related to D. melanogaster, we hypothesize that exposure to electromagnetic field will have similar effects on SWD. In this project we will develop apparatus to generate controllable electromagnetic field, evaluate its lethal and sublethal effects on SWD, and disseminate results to stakeholders. The findings of this seed project will help us solicit more funding to conduct large-scale field trials to determine impact of electromagnetic field on SWD populations. In the long run, fruit growers will benefit from this technology by using it to protect their fruit from SWD infestation without excessive use of broad-spectrum insecticides. Frequency of Known and Possible New Viruses Infecting Wheat in Oklahoma
Project Director: Akhtar Ali Viruses are a continuous threat to agricultural crops worldwide. The main goal of this project is to determine the number and type of viruses infecting wheat in Oklahoma. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the main commodities in the United States (US) grown for both grain and forage. Wheat is affected by a number of diseases that cause significant yield losses worldwide. Diseases caused by viral pathogens are a major threat to the sustainable production of wheat in the US.
IPM for Shrubs in Southeastern U.S. Nursery Production (Vol. II)
Project Director: Matthew Chappell U.S. nursery production value exceeds $5.1B annually and creates tens of thousands of jobs (USDA, 2012). Nursery crops are a particularly important source of agricultural income in the seven state Southeastern region (FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, and VA) covered by this working group, which is comprised of Extension professionals and research scientists. Nursery producers in this region are only 24-48 hours away from half the population of the United States and collectively produce 24% of the value in nursery crops in the United States (USDA, 2012). Pest management is particularly challenging for nursery crop producers due to the large number of plant species produced (Yeager et al., 2007) and high labor inputs of the production system, which creates a need for a high level of knowledge about sustainable crop production, complex multi-species systems-based management, key pests, and re-entry interval restrictions. Another layer of complexity for pest control of nursery crops relates to the perennial nature of most ornamental plant crops, in that pest problems are inherited from year to year, further complicating pest management and potentially magnifying pest problems across successive years.
IPM research-based recommendations for viral mosaic disease in turfgrass
Project Director: Philip F. Harmon In September 2013, symptoms of viral mosaic and necrosis on St. Augustinegrass were reported by a lawn care professional from greater than 50 residential lawns within a 10 km radius of the Bayway Isles community in south St. Petersburg, FL (Pinellas Co.). According to the turfgrass manager and Arysta sales representative, St. Augustinegrass Floratam sod which had been purchased and installed in spring 2013, largely had died by September despite receiving three fungicide applications per residence in various rotations and combinations.
Novel Alphitobius diaperinus Control Strategies -- Diatomaceous Earth and Beauveria bassiana
Project Director: Nancy C. Hinkle Worldwide, Alphitobius diaperinus (the lesser mealworm) is the most significant pest in broiler production. Because Alphitobius are resistant to all chemical classes registered for use against them, alternative suppression tactics are urgently needed. Laboratory studies have shown that Beauveria bassiana has some efficacy against Alphitobius. Diatomaceous earth demonstrated ability to potentiate B. bassiana activity against other Tenebrionids; we want to see if it does the same for Alphitobius. Organize and set priorities for a Southern region tawny crazy ant working group
Project Director: Lawrence C. "Fudd" Graham The purpose of this grant is to organize a working group on the tawny crazy ant, an invasive ant of the Southeastern United States. The pest is causing significant economic and environmental problems from Texas to Georgia. This pest is known to impact populations of native and non-native arthropods. From what is known about management of this ant, the best (and in some cases only) solution is pesticide sprays, usually containing fipronil or pyrethroids. These compounds have been shown to be surface water contaminants in California from attempts to control another invasive ant, the Argentine ant. Alternatives are needed.
Pest Risk Assessment and IPM Tactics to Monitor and Control Wireworms for North Florida Sweet Potato Growers
Project Director: Norm Leppla Sweet potato acreage in North Florida and the general region is increasing rapidly but some growers are experiencing such heavy losses due to wireworms that the crop is not economically viable. One 88-acre farm, for example, had 75% sweet potato damage at harvest after using cultural practices that were ineffective for suppressing wireworms in the soil prior to planting. Moreover, after repeated applications of soil insecticides and foliar sprays, significant numbers of wire worms still were present in every sample collected in the fields. A year of preliminary work during the 2014 North Florida sweet potato growing season indicated that cultural practices and wireworm damage varied widely between farms and that the highest level of control can be achieved by making two deep harrow passes through the fields to destroy the subterranean larvae and supporting crop residue. The two predominant wireworm species that survived surface tillage and damaged the sweet potatoes were different than those encountered further north in the Carolinas. Insecticide resistance has not been shown for these wireworms but currently registered insecticides have not been effective. Consequently, the growers are requesting emergency or special local need registration for additional insecticide products. More intensive evaluations are needed of IPM tactics for minimizing wireworms, such as irrigation systems that enable deep plowing, harrowing depths and passes, formulation and application of soil insecticides, effectiveness of foliar insecticides, and impact of crop rotation. These evaluations will require more efficient and accurate sampling of larvae, trapping of adults, and assessments of sweet potato damage at harvest. This project will identify the farms in North Florida where sweet potato is or will be grown in the near future and establish a network to update the number of farms, acres planted, sweet potato yields, and level of damage due to wireworms. We will determine the best sampling methods, intensity and frequency for delimiting the distribution and abundance of wireworms in the fields, asses the current risk due to wireworms for North Florida sweet potato growers to expand acreage, and recommend the best possible preventative IPM tactics.
Quantifying the financial costs and benefits of school IPM: a collaborative workgroup project
Project Director: Janet Hurley Problem:
Survey of Pest Populations and Management Practices in Rain Gardens
Project Director: Helen Kraus Rain gardens serve aesthetic purposes as well, requiring significant plant and pest management inputs. Yet no comprehensive assessment of rain garden pest management needs or practices has been published. Weed control in rain gardens is particularly complex due to the frequent inundation and saturation events, and low organic matter and clay contents of typical rain garden substrates, resulting in concerns about herbicide movement into surface or sub-surface water. Additionally, it is unclear if residual herbicides would be useful tools in managing weeds in rain gardens. Laabs et al. (2000) reported that in wet, organic soils, the residual half-life for trifluralin, a herbicide commonly used in landscape management, was less than 1 day. Thus, rain garden maintenance professionals are hesitant to use herbicides. Only physical or mechanical methods of weed removal are recommended at this time. A search of the literature revealed no research reports or recommendations for weed control in rain gardens other than organic mulches. In some situations, mulches have been as effective as one to three applications of a non-selective herbicide (glyphosate) for short-term weed control (Roe et al., 1993). Yet, mulches alone are not sufficiently effective for long-term weed control in rain gardens, as evidenced by a recent survey of maintenance professionals in NC (not yet published) and inventory of ten rain gardens near Raleigh, over 32 annual and perennial weed species were identified.
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2014 Program YearRFA: SIPMC IPM Enhancement Grants, 2014Development of an Avocado IPM website to improve adoption of IPM practices in Florida Avocado
Project Director: Daniel Carrillo This proposal addresses the mission of the Southern IPM Center: foster adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Southern Region. Specifically, we propose to construct an IPM website to satisfy the needs for Florida avocado growers and homeowners, who are being challenged by new damaging exotic pests. Until recently the complex of spider mite and insect pests (28 key pests) that affect avocado in south Florida was under a 20 year Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program (Peña et al. 2013). Spray interventions were kept to a minimum due to the effective natural enemy complex keeping these pests under low density levels. The recent invasion of avocado orchards by the redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB), Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), vector of the fungal pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva, which causes laurel wilt (LW), represents a significant challenge for maintaining sustainable pest management practices and the adoption of IPM. It is considered that if no effective IPM tactics are adopted the infestation and destruction of avocado will increase exponentially, causing the decimation of the avocado Florida industry, and eventually reach avocado producing areas in Texas, and California. Current and evolving conditions clearly signal the need for development and adoption of new IPM practices. This beetle-fungus complex has become the top pest for Florida avocado growers and forced dramatic changes in their pest management strategy. One of the major concerns facing avocado growers is that imminent massive applications of insecticides against disease vectors will disrupt the current status of secondary pests by eliminating their natural enemies. Recently, several IPM tactics have been developed to manage this pest and reduce reliance in pesticide applications. However, most of this new information is presented in scientific articles that are not accessible to growers and homeowners. We propose to develop an interactive website to: A. Compile information of Avocado IPM acquired through 30 years of research on pest affecting this crop in Florida, and B. Provide avocado growers with updated information on IPM tactics against the vectors of LW disease that is threatening the avocado industry. The website will facilitate growers identification of the pests affecting their groves, present the different IPM tactics available, and the way to use them. We will emphasize recent research on new disease vectors, including monitoring techniques, cultural practices, microbial control, use of attractants and repellents, new insecticides and biological control. The expected outcomes are to increase grower/homeowner knowledge of pests affecting avocados, the pest management guidelines, and to reduce the risk of increasing insecticide applications harmful to human health and the environment. Evaluation of Sanitation as an IPM tool for SWD Control in Blueberry
Project Director: Glen Rains Blueberry producers currently need to optimize time and money spent towards control of SWD. While there are many recommended practices for SWD control, some are labor intensive, expensive and unproven. In addition, constant use of pesticides also bring about the development of resistance and problems associated with pesticide residue and minimum reentry periods during harvest. As such the development of sanitation mechanization procedures and determination of effectiveness on controlling SWD would be a benefit to growers by developing a procedure that reduces pesticide applications. Packinghouse owners would potentially benefit by reducing the necessary sampling, sorting, freezing and other additional steps due to the reduced infestation of fruit. There will also be a potential benefit to marketers and exporters with a reduced risk of exceeding maximum residue level (MRL) due to the reduction in pesticide use. Experiential Nursery IPM Workshop Series to Enhance Grower Adoption and Extension Agent Facilitation
Project Director: Anthony LeBude The Southern Nursery IPM (SNIPM) Working Group is a collaboration between research and Extension professionals in FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, TX, and VA that has formed to provide timely IPM information to commercial horticulture growers, green industry professionals and extension educators; to identify and solve nursery-based IPM problems; to develop technology to encourage use of and improve the efficacy of IPM practices and advocate the adoption and retention of IPM principles and practices to commercial growers and policy makers. SNIPM members have successfully competed for funding through the Southern IPM Center and other sources and have conducted stakeholder needs assessment meetings that established preliminary research- and Extension-based priorities; have developed and published a multi-state Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP) and Crop Profile (Adkins et al. 2011a,b); have surveyed over 200 nursery producers on pest management practices and attitudes affecting adoption of IPM (Fulcher et al. 2012a; LeBude et al. 2012); have designed and introduced the first IPM mobile device applications for the green industry and homeowners, IPMPro and IPMLite, respectively (Fulcher et al. 2012); and published an e-book titled IPM for Select Deciduous Trees in Southeastern US Nursery Production (Adkins et al. 2012). Members have presented information at numerous research and extension venues and have published results widely in trade journals and the popular press (SNIPM 2013). Information gathered at stakeholder meetings, results from grower surveys, and conclusions and recommendations from the aforementioned outputs have been used to obtain further funding of IPM specific research or extension related activities from federal and state agencies as well as commodity groups. Working group and Capstone funding would be used to facilitate a focus group of commercial nursery crop producers to update critical portions of the PMSP and to develop a curriculum for a series of experiential learning workshops for growers and Cooperative Extension Agents within the southeastern US. Results from previous survey data collected from growers in the southeast indicated that scouting, monitoring and pest identification are candidate areas that present the greatest opportunities to affect change within this group. Therefore, components of the proposed program will consist of (a) a demonstration of cost benefits resulting from active and deliberate scouting using a standardized plan; (b) demonstrated methods for actively monitoring key pests using pheromone lures, sticky tapes, growing degree days, and plant phenology to target scouting for various pests based on emergence and vulnerable life stage present; (c) hands-on pest and disease identification using collected or mounted samples; and (d) use of sanitation and resistant cultivars. Workshops will be administered in high nursery-density areas of three participating states to ensure attendance and optimize outreach value. Survey instruments will be administered pre- and post-workshop, as well as after a growing season, to estimate short- and medium-term impacts of the practical instruction, and the knowledge, skills and abilities adopted and retained by attendees. Genetic Characterization of an Emerging Aphid Pest in Sorghum
Project Director: Raul Francisco Medina On July 2013 a new aphid in sorghum was observed in Texas. By the end of November the area of influence of this emergent pest included Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Florida. Sorghum fields in these States sustained considerable losses. In some locations, yield losses of 33% to 50% were observed despite having multiple insecticide applications. So far this aphid has been reported on grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sweet sorghum, energycane, and Johnson grass. Morphological and molecular work has identified this aphid as Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner). The speed, at which this aphid spread in 2013, raises serious concerns about future infestations. It is highly probable that M. sacchari will be the most serious economic problem for millions of acres of production grain sorghum, forage sorghum, energycane and other types of sorghum in 2014. We hypothesize that a biotype or host-associated population pre-adapted to sorghum but rare in sugarcane, may have shifted to sorghum and dramatically increased its population numbers on this crop. The objective of this project is to genetically characterize this pest in sorghum, sugarcane and wild vegetation in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Florida to determine its genetic diversity and to identify potential sources of this novel pest in sorghum. Because genetically distinct pest populations may differ in traits relevant to their control, genetic characterization will contribute to the design of effective IPM strategies against this pest. Although mtDNA has been used to determine the species status of this pest, other molecular markers are needed to differentiate between genetically distinct populations, host-races or biotypes. Our data will provide an overarching evolutionary framework that will contribute to explain the recent emergence of the sugarcane aphid as a sorghum pest in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Florida. Initiation of an Integrated Regional Response to an Invasive Aphid Pest of Sorghum
Project Director: Michael Brewer An outbreak of an invasive aphid was discovered damaging grain sorghum in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi in 2013. The aphid may be a new variant of sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, which has a high preference for sorghum, or a very closely related species. We designate it sorghum/sugarcane aphid here (SA). Infestations detected were very heavy, often with hundreds of SA per leaf. Leaves became sticky and shiny from honeydew and coated with sooty mold fungus which hampered harvesting operations. The early distribution and damage evaluation assessment showed the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast as a core zone, high economic impact in this area and the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and rapid spread to central Texas, and northern counties bordering the Red River (22 total infested counties confirmed in Texas), parishes from southwest to northeast Louisiana (16 parishes), and into southern Oklahoma (one county) and the Mississippi Delta (one county in Mississippi).
IPM program for the new bacterial disease on watermelon in Florida caused by Pseudomonas syringae
Project Director: Mathews Paret Florida is the largest producer of watermelon in the United States with 24,000 acres under production and a farm value of $138 million. A new bacterial disease on watermelon was discovered in the spring season production in 2013 from Suwannee, Jackson, Hendry, Levy, Gilchrist, Alachua, and St. Johns counties in Florida. The key symptom is the circular lesions with white to tan centers that led to severe leaf blighting. Under the microscope, cut section of the lesions indicated heavy bacterial streaming. The disease affected watermelon in an estimated 6,500 acres in Florida. Pure colonies of 20 bacterial strains were isolated from all watermelon samples collected from these counties. Among these strains 12 were highly pathogenic on watermelon and caused a disease severity of >60% on watermelon seedlings; the remaining strains caused a lower disease severity. Preliminary characterization of the bacteria using LOPAT analysis, Gas-Chromatography Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Analysis, and DNA sequencing confirmed the pathogen as Pseudomonas syringae strains. Further DNA-sequencing using Multi Locus Sequence Typing is in progress for pathovar level characterization. Over the past many years bacterial diseases on watermelon including bacterial fruit blotch and angular leaf spot has been successfully managed using copper. However, the currently recommended watermelon spray schedule in Florida does not include use of copper due to minimal issues with bacterial diseases. Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM; Actigard®) is a SAR inducer and works by activating the plants defense system by increasing the transcription of stress related genes. Actigard is known to increased resistance of watermelon to bacterial fruit blotch and angular leaf spot. However, the effectiveness of actigard on the new P. syringae strains in the 2013 outbreak is not known. This necessitates the development of a new watermelon IPM program for effective disease management in 2014. Copper can be effectively used on watermelon for management of bacterial diseases, but should be carefully managed due to potential phytotoxicity and bacterial resistance issues. Preliminary in vitro studies on the effect of copper on the bacterial strains isolated from the 2013 outbreak indicated that most of the strains (6 out of 7 strains) were highly sensitive to copper at 80 ppm, while one strain was resistant to copper at the same concentration. In two repeated experiments conducted in greenhouse conditions with a highly pathogenic strain of the bacterium from the 2013 outbreak in Florida, we found that actigard significantly reduced the severity of the new bacterial disease compared to non-treated watermelon seedlings at rates corresponding to 0.5 oz/A and higher. This proposed project plans to use these preliminary findings to develop an IPM program including use of copper, copper + ethylene bis thiocarbamate, and actigard (drip & foliar). Field trials will be conducted at two locations in Florida, and the findings will help growers in the southern region of United States to initiate a preventative IPM program that minimizes potential yield losses due to this new bacterial disease on watermelon. Managing target spot, caused by Corynespora cassiicola, in cotton
Project Director: Austin Hagan Impact of the emerging foliar disease target spot incited by the fungus Corynespora cassiicola on cotton lint yield and quality will be assessed as we develop integrated disease management strategies. Target spot, which was restricted to irrigated cotton in southwest Georgia, in the past two years has caused widespread defoliation of cotton in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Target spot damage is higher in intensively-managed cotton. Frequent showers and irrigation favors disease development, while symptoms are minimal in later-planted cotton. Estimated disease-related yield declines in irrigated cotton in Georgia are 200 to 600 lb lint/A, while recent Alabama studies noted losses of 20% on a susceptible as compared with 5% for a tolerant variety. A target spot-incited yield decline of 5% would cost the Alabama and Georgia economies $65 million. Presently, control options are limited due to the lack of information on fungicide efficacy as impacted by application timing, number, and placement along with planting date, plant populations, and variety reaction on boll retention and yield. We propose to assess the efficacy of registered fungicides in preventative and on-demand programs on target spot susceptible and tolerant varieties as impacted by application timing, number, and placement, assess core commercial variety reaction to target spot and fungicide inputs, as well as the impact of planting date and seeding rate on target spot intensity and yield of core varieties. Efforts to define yield losses in susceptible and tolerant cotton varieties and the economic value of fungicide inputs from the Gulf Coast to Tennessee Valley cotton production regions in Alabama will continue. Studies will be conducted at research units and as large scale replicated demonstrations in farmer cooperator fields. The latter studies will be done by regional or county extension personnel to develop local data concerning variety performance along with fungicide efficacy and used as sentinel plots for timely disease alerts, local tours, with educational materials being distributed to clientele via twitter or other social media. Our results will provide a base from which to develop a target spot management program for the southeastern cotton production region. Prototype generation of a smartphone app that will bring critical IPM information at the fingertips of producers, agents and specialist
Project Director: Guido Schnabel Major goals of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) include the increase in communication and efficiency in IPM practices and maintaining high quality produce, and at the same time protect agricultural workers by keeping pesticide exposures within acceptable safety standards. We propose to develop a smartphone IPM app for strawberry producers that will increase production efficiency by making crucial production information available, allow for a switch to reduced-risk pesticides by providing efficacy and toxicity ratings of pesticides, increase communication with agents and specialists by text and picture exchange, and offer new tools for continued education in form of audio files featuring expert presentations and topic soundbites. When completed, the app will be developed both for iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, iPad mini) and for Android (smartphone, tablet, mini-tablet) platforms and will be uploaded to the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. All strawberry growers in the southeastern Unite States and potentially in the entire United States will have a chance to benefit from this tool provided they own a smartphone or a tablet. Producers will gain the knowledge to switch to low-risk materials that are efficacious and safer for workers, the consumer and environment. The resistance management information (color-coded chemical classes, FRAC codes, resistance management information, related audio files, and other information) will help promote anti-resistance management practices and thus increase the limited life span of site-specific, reduced-risk pesticides. With improved resistance management, we anticipate a reduction of spray applications by eliminating the need for rescue sprays due to resistance development. Texas Turfgrass Crop Profile & Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP)
Project Director: Casey Reynolds The turfgrass industry in Texas is one that touches many components of citizens lives including those who work in the green industry as well as those who simply enjoy maintaining a home lawn or playing and watching sports. Much of the turfgrass that Texas citizens enjoy is a result of a healthy and wide-ranging sod production industry that includes almost 150 commercial turfgrass producers according to the latest survey entitled Economic Analysis, Impact, and Agronomic Profile of Sod Production in Texas , which was published by Texas A&M University Cooperative Extension in July of 2006. Based on results from this survey, the Texas sod production industry generated $178 million in sales during 2005, and contributed $307 million to the Texas economy, which included all supporting sectors in addition to actual sales. Furthermore, the Texas sod production industry employed 1,320 full-time workers, 235 part-time workers, and 515 seasonal workers and was also estimated to support over 5,200 jobs. However, much has changed since 2005 when this survey was conducted, and as a result, it is important that more current data be collected in order to create an accurate Crop Profile for turfgrass in the state of Texas.
Tools and Tactics to Enhance IPM Adoption by Small Vegetable Market Growers and Home Horticulturists
Project Director: Susan Braman Local food and direct marketing opportunities, including farmers markets, are one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture. According to the latest Census of Agriculture, direct sales of food products from farmers to individual consumers rose by nearly 50% between 2002 and 2007. Production and harvesting expenses remain limiting, however. Current producers as well as new growers seeking to enter the marketplace as current trends open new opportunities vary in degrees of experience in all aspects of production and marketing. The demand for educational opportunities has reached unprecedented levels as the public seeks to develop new farming ventures or current growers seek to adapt their existing operations. One of the areas that our County Faculty most often seek additional training is in the area of small farm, farmers market grower support.
Update to Selected North Carolina Crop Profiles
Project Director: Barbara Fair Crop Profiles provide very useful information, particularly for the USDA and EPA when they are attempting to make decisions about pesticide use and usage data on major and specialty crops. In addition to being useful for government applications, the crop profiles are also useful to stakeholders in that they provide an important production story for a specific commodity, including current pest management practices, and should include current research activities that are directed at finding replacement strategies for the pesticides of concern. In addition, crop profiles provide alternatives to chemical application such as prevention, a key principle of IPM. The profiles also offer the additional benefit of containing a list of commodity experts in the state. This gives interested parties a direct link for further inquiries regarding localized issues on crop production, pest problems and treatment options. The objectives of this proposal or to update the North Carolina Crop Profiles indicated, and to fill in critical gaps in the current information for each document. This is likely to be the case for a number of the publications, as they are dated into the late 90s and early 2000s.
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2013 Program YearRFA: IPM Enhancement Grants Program 2013A Dual Recombinant Vaccine for Brucellosis and Immunocontraception in Feral Swine
Project Director: Nammalwar Sriranganathan Feral swine (sus scrofa) are a nuisance species across much of the United States costing approximately $1.5 billion annually in crop, property, and environmental damage. This rapidly reproducing species is now considered the second most costly vertebrate pest to control in the US behind only rats and mice (Pimental, 2007). In places where they have become established, especially the Southeastern United States, feral swine cause damage by uprooting crops, destroying fences and farm equipment, predating on young livestock, spreading disease, harming water quality and causing soil erosion. Studies have shown that approximately 70% removal per year of the feral swine in an area is required to maintain same population. Current methods of controlling the population include hunting, poisoning, and trapping, however these methods alone are insufficient (Waithman et al., 1999). In addition to causing massive property and environmental damages, wild pigs also serve as reservoirs for zoonotic and livestock diseases such as brucellosis (Meng et al., 2009). Brucellosis in swine is caused predominantly by the bacterium Brucella suis and there is no approved vaccine against B. suis in the United States. Over $3.5 billion has been spent controlling brucellosis in the United States and the disease is considered eradicated from domestic cattle and swine. However, feral swine are the most abundant remaining reservoir of Brucella with a seropositive rate greater than 50% in some herds (Seleem et al., 2010). Feral swine therefore pose a serious risk to livestock, especially small low-intensity management herds. The aim of this study is to test and refine a novel recombinant live-modified immunocontraceptive vaccine which causes infertility and protects against brucellosis in swine. This to be accomplished by expressing the immunocontraceptive multimeric gonadotropin-releasing hormone (mGnRH) in the attenuated B. suis strain VTRS2 (VTRS2-mGnRH). VTRS2-mGnRH has the potential to confer both disease resistance as well as infertility in feral swine as a novel control method for this invasive nuisance species.
A Low-cost, IPM Curriculum for the Public Schools and Municipalities
Project Director: Janet Hurley Cost of training for widespread audiences, coordinated distribution systems for standardized IPM training, and current information are some of the most important constraints to IPM education. Schools face unfunded mandates to provide IPM training for employees. State IPM programs lack coordination to promote and distribute existing resources both regionally and nationally. TX municipalities have sought to educate staff with the most updated information they can find about mosquito-borne diseases since a 2012 outbreak of West Nile Virus. The IPM work group has developed many different kinds of resources including websites, handbooks, fact sheets, workbooks, videos, and pest ID guides. Adoption of broadband internet technology has reached an all-time high in urban and rural areas, making access to current information and low-cost online programs more widely available than ever before. School personnel, municipal employees, and other parties need ready access to updated materials like short, informative videos and online training modules that are available at little or no cost via the internet.
Assessing the scope of an emerging threat: The insecticide resistant - bait averse German cockroach
Project Director: Jules Silverman The German cockroach, Blattella germanica, is a significant pest within human-built structures throughout the southeastern U.S. and continues to be an important target of the pest control industry. This cockroach is a prime source of allergens that trigger asthma and other allergic reactions, a vector of human pathogens and a general nuisance thereby necessitating intervention by pest management professionals (PMPs). Currently, chemical insecticides are utilized in attempts to control German cockroach infestations, with baits increasingly becoming the favored formulation over the past 30 years. Baits are largely effective because they do not require precise targeting of locations harboring cockroaches and they readily deliver lethal doses of pesticides. Nearly 20 years ago the industry was alerted to failures in cockroach control with baits due to an unusual form of behavioral resistance now widely recognized as bait aversion. Bait aversion develops when initially a very small fraction of B. germanica within a population reject a component of the bait matrix. Over time, as non-bait averse individuals are eliminated, bait-averse individuals proliferate and represent most of the population. Physiological resistance, where the active ingredient loses its effectiveness as insecticide-susceptible cockroaches are eliminated, is much more common in various insects. Cockroach populations displaying both behavioral and physiological resistance are presumed very rare and have never been described behaviorally and physiologically. Yet, we have recently discovered B. germanica populations from apartments where baits became ineffective, which fit this dual resistance profile. These populations represent a serious emerging problem for the pest management industry whereby bait products, the mainstay of German cockroach control, are gradually rendered ineffective. Our overall project goal is to establish a profile of this dual-resistant cockroach, determine the scope of the problem and recommend possible alternative control measures. This project is related to the USDAs national integrated pest management (IPM) roadmap that calls for increasing the use of IPM systems to reduce potential human health risks and minimize adverse environmental effects from pest and related management strategies in residential and public areas. Specifically, we aim to conduct behavioral and physiological resistance studies with bait active ingredients (AIs) (hydramethylnon, fipronil, indoxacarb) and the sugars used as feeding stimulants in baits (glucose, fructose, sucrose), assessing AI x sugar interactions and their potential to accelerate bait product failures. We suggest that behavioral and physiological resistance traits are functionally linked, with bait averse individuals consuming sublethal doses of insecticide, thus facilitating slower absorption, and greater catabolism, sequestration and/or excretion of AI. We will test our hypothesis in 1) laboratory experiments with recently collected strains of B. germanica from apartments where bait products failed and 2) field collected strains provided by PMPs. We will also explore alternative control measures for this emerging pest variant.
Assuring Adoption of Previous and New IPM Farmscaping Practices
Project Director: Robert Hochmuth This Southern Region IPM Center Capstone project builds on the highly successful Extension effort to design and establish the University of Florida Living Extension IPM Field Laboratory at the Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center in Live Oak, Florida. The current opportunity is to continue to increase actual adoption of IPM farmscaping as a result of these well-developed training programs. This Capstone project will extend the laboratorys ongoing outreach to implement whole-farm IPM in pilot projects on North Florida farms. Bed Bugs and Book Bags Prevention and Education Program
Project Director: Rebecca W Baldwin Proposal Summary
Developing spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) integrated pest management program in blueberry and strawberry crops: Monitoring, management and outreach.
Project Director: Oscar Liburd Florida is the primary producer of winter strawberries and early-season blueberries in the US. Total acreage for strawberry in Florida during 2011 was 9,900 acres and was mainly concentrated in Hillsborough and Manatee County with revenue generation of 112 million USD (ERS-USDA 2011b) after California. The blueberry acreage is comparatively small as compared to other major producing states but the blueberry industry is highly valued because of its early-season production when prices are extremely high and can generate annual revenues exceeding 70 million USD (ERS-USDA 2011a).
eFly: Southern Spotted Wing Drosophila Working Group
Project Director: Hannah Burrack Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii, SWD), a profoundly devastating invasive pest of soft skilled fruit, has rapidly expanded its global range following its initial detection in California in 2008. This range expansion has been accompanied by dramatic crop losses (up 100% if left unmanaged) and significant increases in pesticide usage. Blueberries, caneberries (blackberries and raspberries), strawberries, and cherries have been the most significantly impacted crops, although the host range of SWD is believed to be broad. Research and extension activities are underway in SWD impacted areas, but coordination is necessary to avoid potential redundancy among the large number of engaged scientists and extension personnel. We propose to formalize a southern SWD working group, the establishment of which was supported in 2012 by a Southern Integrated Pest Management Center (SIPMC) Critical Issues Grant. Following the first meeting of this working group we have developed a draft impact statement; ranked research, extension, and education priorities; established an online collaboration mechanism; and determined that there is desire to continue these coordination efforts. Specifically, eFly: Southern Spotted Wing Drosophila Working Group will address the following objectives:
Extent of Multiple Herbicide-Resistant Weeds and Predicting Risk of Further Herbicide Resistance in Georgia
Project Director: William Vencill The widespread use of herbicides such as glyphosate has resulted in the development of herbicide-resistant weeds. GR Palmer amaranth is the most significant species of concern in cotton production; more than 2 million ha of agricultural land in the Midsouth and SE US are estimated to be infested. However, with the imminent introduction of other herbicide-resistant crops such as auxinic-resistant cotton and soybean, weed scientists need to better be able to predict herbicide-resistant weeds. To preserve other herbicide mechanisms of action, we need to know more about the potential for other cases of glyphosate as well as other herbicide resistance and multiple-resistant weed populations. The immediate goal of this project is to 1) conduct a survey in 20 fields geographically dispersed in Georgia and collect mature weed seeds from as many species as possible and determine sensitivity to seven herbicide mechanisms of action (EPSP (WSSA Group 9), GS (WSSA Group 10), PSII (WSSA Group 5), PPO (WSSA Group 14), ALS (WSSA Group 2), HPPD (WSSA Group 27), and Auxinic (WSSA Group 4)) and if any multiple herbicide resistance is present and 2) determine a risk of major agronomic weeds in Georgia to further herbicide resistance development. Genetic structure of cotton stink bug parasitoids associated with different host plant species
Project Director: Raul Francisco Medina Cotton is an important crop in the southern region, annually generating about $6.5 billion worth of lint alone. Five to six million acres of cotton are planted annually in Texas. Cotton production has undergone a fundamental shift with the use of transgenic cotton varieties and boll weevil eradication. These changes have resulted in an upsurge of secondary pests such as stink bugs. In 2006, for example, over 2.5 million acres of cotton were infested by stink bugs, which destroyed almost 200,000 bales. Currently, chemical control is the primary option to control stink bugs. Because pesticide reduction is essential to conserve communities of natural enemies and to limit environmental pollution, research aimed to implement biological control in stink bug IPM is extremely important. The proposed project will: 1) Assess the parasitoid complex associated with three stink bug species (Acrosternum hilare, Euschistus servus, Chlorochroa ligata) on different host-plant species to identify naturally occurring biological control and to quantify variation in parasitoid attack on different host plants, and 2) Test for host-associated genetic differentiation in the most common parasitoid in each of the three sucking bugs studied. Completion of the proposed work will contribute to minimize insecticide use and will strengthen biological control providing some of the elements needed to develop an effective IPM program against the cotton-sucking bugs studied. Insecticide susceptibility and esterase activity in the redbanded stink bug
Project Director: Raul Francisco Medina The redbanded stink bug (RBSB), Piezodorus guildinii has emerged as a serious pest of soybeans in Texas (TX) and Louisiana (LA) and threatens soybean production in the southern states of the US. For 2011, we estimated losses due to RBSB on the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas as at least $11.5 million, while in LA losses could easily top $100 million annually. RBSB feeds directly on reproductive plant parts causing direct yield losses and reducing seed quality. It is currently the most damaging stink bug species in soybeans. In addition, it is less susceptible to traditionally available insecticides and has been responsible for the significant increase in the amount of insecticides used in LA and TX soybeans in recent years. Multiple applications of an organophosphate (acephate) to control RBSB have raised concerns of resistance development in RBSB populations in TX and LA. As this species is relatively new compared with other stink bugs in US soybeans, little is known about its biology, ecology, and management. Preliminary research suggests that the RBSB has become the most abundant stink bug species in TX and LA soybeans. The proposed study will determine susceptibility of RBSB populations to insecticides with different modes of action using vial bioassays and field trials. In addition, we plan to determine esterase activity levels in RBSB populations to explore a potential resistance mechanism against organophosphates in this pest. Data from insecticide susceptibility studies and esterase assays will be useful for selecting better insecticides for control of RBSBs and for resistance monitoring. Integrated Weed Management Options for Southern Vegetable Production
Project Director: Nathan Boyd Vegetable growers throughout the southern US relied predominately on methyl bromide for weed control until its use was phased out. Alternative fumigants do not tend to provide the same level of weed control. As a result, growers need and are interested in evaluating novel weed management options. Research will be conducted to evaluate new herbicide options for tomato growers that can be incorporated into current production practices and to identify the most economic and effective approach to weed management that minimizes agro-chemical and energy inputs. The primary objective will be to determine the relative importance of weed management during fallow periods, fumigation, as well as pre- and post emergence herbicides on nutsedge management and crop yields. The results will be analyzed to determine which treatment combination provides adequate levels of weed control, maximizes economic return, and is likely to minimize environmental impact. Results will be shared with vegetable growers throughout the Southeast. The research will provide growers with the information needed to adopt more integrated approaches to weed management which will lead to increased yield stability and economic return. IPM for Shrubs in Southeastern U.S. Nursery Production (Vol. I), a SNIPM Working Group Effort
Project Director: Sarah White U.S. nursery production exceeds $6.6B annually and creates tens of thousands of jobs (USDA 2009). Characteristics intrinsic to nursery production that hinder production and pest management efficiencies include: managing numerous host plants (often hundreds of taxa per nursery) and host plant-pest complexes, high manual labor requirements complicated by pesticide re-entry restrictions, fastidious consumer quality expectations, and lack of secondary markets. Losses due to pests range in the millions annually (Woodward-Williams 2010) underscoring the high dollar nature of the industry and the difficulty managing complex production systems. Nursery crops are a particularly important source of agricultural income in this seven state region (FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, and VA). The Southern Nursery Integrated Pest Management (SNIPM) working group is comprised of Extension professionals and research scientists from these seven states. SNIPM members have successfully competed for funding, conducted stakeholder needs assessment meetings to develop research- and extension-based priorities, surveyed over 200 nursery producers on pest management practices and attitudes affecting adoption of IPM, developed and published a multi-state Pest Management Strategic Plan and Crop Profile (Adkins et al. 2011a&b), and published a 326 page book (IPM for Select Deciduous Trees in Southeastern US Nursery Production).
Preliminary assessment of indigenous pecan germplasm for insect and pathogen resistance
Project Director: Julio Bernal Southern USA and Texas pecan (Carya illinoinensis) production benefits from IPM practices developed during the last ~40 years. In Texas alone, recent estimates indicate annual savings of ~$6M due to pecan IPM. The use of pest-resistant crop cultivars, i.e. Host plant resistance (HPR), is a fundamental component of modern, sustainable IPM programs. Currently, pecan IPM in Texas and other states emphasizes direct control of nut-feeding pests (e.g., through judicious insecticide use), while emphasizing tolerance of other pests. HPR is a particularly suitable addition to IPM given the emphasis on tolerance of minor pests because pest-resistant varieties support lower pest densities or suffer less yield loss when infested by pests. Our proposal pursues two goals, both in accordance with Seed Grant expectations, Proposals will be accepted to initiate new IPM efforts&, catalyze effective solutions to important IPM&challenges, (and) facilitate&allotment of future resources to address the issue. The first goal is to produce preliminary data that will be the bases of future, competitive proposals to federal grants competitions; the second is to contribute to the development of pest-resistant cultivars suitable for incorporation to evolving pecan IPM programs in southern USA and Texas. Specifically, we propose to begin evaluating pecan germplasm for insect and disease resistance. The germplasm to be evaluated is available in a pecan Provenance Orchard (National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Pecans and Hickories) in Somerville, TX. Our specific objectives are to compare: (i) the performance of various pest insects (folivores, sap-suckers, and nut-feeders) when hosted by several indigenous pecan populations from the Provenance Orchard; (ii) the performance of Pecan scab (Fusicladium effusum) when hosted by those pecan populations, and; (iii) a suite of putative plant defense traits among those pecan populations. The projects outputs will include detailed characterizations of insect and pathogen defense phenotypes of indigenous pecan populations from the Provenance Orchard. These outputs will be useful for preparing competitive grant proposals, as well as to pecan breeders throughout southern USA seeking to improve the host plant resistance of pecan cultivars. Preliminary assessment of indigenous pecan germplasm for insect and pathogen resistance
Project Director: Marvin Harris Southern USA and Texas pecan (Carya illinoinensis) production benefits from IPM practices developed during the last ~40 years. In Texas alone, recent estimates indicate annual savings of ~$6M due to pecan IPM. The use of pest-resistant crop cultivars, i.e. Host plant resistance (HPR), is a fundamental component of modern, sustainable IPM programs. Currently, pecan IPM in Texas and other states emphasizes direct control of nut-feeding pests (e.g., through judicious insecticide use), while emphasizing tolerance of other pests. HPR is a particularly suitable addition to IPM given the emphasis on tolerance of minor pests because pest-resistant varieties support lower pest densities or suffer less yield loss when infested by pests. Our proposal pursues two goals, both in accordance with Seed Grant expectations, Proposals will be accepted to initiate new IPM efforts&, catalyze effective solutions to important IPM&challenges, (and) facilitate&allotment of future resources to address the issue. The first goal is to produce preliminary data that will be the bases of future, competitive proposals to federal grants competitions; the second is to contribute to the development of pest-resistant cultivars suitable for incorporation to evolving pecan IPM programs in southern USA and Texas. Specifically, we propose to begin evaluating pecan germplasm for insect and disease resistance. The germplasm to be evaluated is available in a pecan Provenance Orchard (National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Pecans and Hickories) in Somerville, TX. Our specific objectives are to compare: (i) the performance of various pest insects (folivores, sap-suckers, and nut-feeders) when hosted by several indigenous pecan populations from the Provenance Orchard; (ii) the performance of Pecan scab (Fusicladium effusum) when hosted by those pecan populations, and; (iii) a suite of putative plant defense traits among those pecan populations. The projects outputs will include detailed characterizations of insect and pathogen defense phenotypes of indigenous pecan populations from the Provenance Orchard. These outputs will be useful for preparing competitive grant proposals, as well as to pecan breeders throughout southern USA seeking to improve the host plant resistance of pecan cultivars. Strengthening Extension Leadership and Stakeholder Training on the Megacopta cribraria Invasion Front
Project Director: Xing Ping Hu The kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria F.), an exotic insect recently discovered in Georgia, has become a serious pest threatening soybean, vegetable, and horticultural producers across much of the Southeast. The kudzu bug problem is also exacerbated by its abundance in kudzu-infested urban areas where it has become a nuisance of homes and buildings. This pest is also of national significance as international trade of certain US agricultural commodities with Central America may be at risk due to fears of accidental introductions in contaminated shipments there. Although initially detected in Georgia in October 2009, it has now spread to at least 392 counties across 8 Southern Region States. In Alabama, as the invasion front moves west across the state we are uniquely suited to educate Extension personnel and stakeholders in the infested zone, along the advancing front, and in uninfested areas as the bug is approaching.
SUSTAINABILITY IN TURFGRASS SYSTEMS: ASSESSMENT OF NEW STRATEGIES FOR WEED CONTROL AND SPECIES SELECTION
Project Director: Travis W Gannon Turfgrasses are one of the most important agricultural commodities in the southeast United States. By the traditional measures of economic impact and total acreage, they rank among the leading agricultural crops in most southeastern states. As the base for recreational facilities like parks, athletic fields, and home lawn play spaces, turfgrasses provide the infrastructure for increasing physical activity - now imperative with the national initiatives to control obesity.
Towards managing target spot, caused by Corynespora cassiicola, in cotton
Project Director: Austin Hagan This project aims to assess the impact of the newly emerged foliar disease target spot incited by the fungus Corynespora cassiicola on cotton lint yield and quality factors as well as develop integrated disease management strategies. Target spot, which was restricted to irrigated cotton in southwest Georgia, has in the past two years caused widespread defoliation in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Target spot intensity is higher in cotton with a yield potential in excess of 2 bales/A. Frequent heavy rains and irrigation creates the wet environment favoring rapid disease development. Disease impact on lint yield and quality (i.e. MIC and staple) losses are unknown. While target spot-related yield declines in irrigated cotton in Georgia were estimated at 200 to 600 lb lint/A, a 2012 Alabama study noted losses of at least 15% on a susceptible as compared with 5% for a tolerant variety. A target spot-incited yield decline of 5% would cost the Alabama and Georgia economies $65 million. Presently, control options are limited due to the lack of information on fungicide efficacy as impacted by application timing, number, and placement as well as reaction of commercial varieties and influence of defoliation on boll set and yield loss. We propose to assess registered and candidate fungicides for their efficacy in preventative and on-demand programs on target spot susceptible and tolerant cotton varieties as impacted by application timing, number, and placement as well as assess the reaction of a core group of commercial varieties. Efforts to define yield losses in susceptible and tolerant cotton varieties will continue. Studies will be conducted at research units and as large scale replicated demonstrations in farmer cooperator fields. The latter studies will be done by regional or county extension personnel to develop local data concerning variety performance and fungicide efficacy and used ad sentinel plots for timely disease alerts, local tours and additional educational materials that can then be distributed to clientele via twitter or other social media. Our results will provide a base to develop a target spot management program for cotton. RFA: S-RIPM: Regional IPM Competetive Grants, Southern RegionBed Bug Impact, Early Detection Practices and Integrated Pest Management in Multifamily Housing
Project Director: Karen Vail The overall project goal is to increase IPM adoption and improve management, especially of bed bugs, in multifamily housing. Bed bugs cause physical, mental and economic issues and their numbers are surging. They are exceptional hitchhikers and pose a significant management challenge in multifamily housing. We propose research objectives to (1) assess bed bug management in multifamily housing in several southern states to determine management needs and costs; (2) determine number and placement of bed bug monitoring devices for detection at low infestation levels; (3) use conducted heat to improve visual inspections; and (4) determine whether distribution of bed bugs within sites is due to single or multiple introductions, and quantify dispersal. For the Extension objectives we propose to (1) incorporate results of research objectives to develop new management media (publications, videos, online training and webinar) and (2) increase IPM adoption in multifamily housing by implementing IPM at three sites. The project addresses the IPM Road Maps focus area of residential and public areas and its future directions for IPM programming; and the Southern Extension and Research Activities (SERA) 003 IPM critical and emerging issue of bed bug management. Early detection of small bed bug populations will allow nonchemical controls to be used; will increase the likelihood of success regardless of the control method chosen; and provide economic savings to the housing industry. Development of interactive computer-based IPM curricula for mosquito control workers in the Southern United States
Project Director: Kristen Healy This is an extension project, requesting $69,770 to develop interactive computer based curricula, which will be used to train mosquito control workers in Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM). The overall goal of the project is to provide mosquito control personnel throughout the Southern United States a more in depth and interactive training on IMM, mosquito biology, identification, and habitat recognition. This will be accomplished by (1) taking high quality video footage of mosquito habitats, (2) taking high quality photographs of mosquito species, anatomy and key characters, (3) developing interactive computer based curricula that incorporates the high quality video and photo, and (4) pilot testing the curricula on ten mosquito districts in the Southern United States. A full time Masters student will take photos and video footage that will later be incorporated into highly interactive computer-based curricula. The curricula will be evaluated by piloting the materials in ten mosquito districts in the Southern United States, and analyzing their before and after questionnaires, as well as analyzing their quiz responses throughout the course. This project is relevant to S-RIPM priorities by increasing knowledge and compliance to integrated pest management of mosquitoes, which will in turn improve the quality of mosquito control. As a result, we anticipate that mosquito control districts will improve the cost/benefit relationship of IPM practices, reduce potential risks of West Nile virus to the population, and minimize adverse environmental effects by increasing the use and understanding of integrated mosquito management. Dispersal and Life History of Megacopta cribraria from kudzu and implications for management in soybean
Project Director: Dominic D Reisig Megacopta cribraria was inadvertently introduced into the U.S. in 2009 and has since spread from a nine county area to 392 southeastern US counties. Kudzu and soybeans are its only known reproductive hosts, with yield losses of up to 76% reported from untreated soybean. The three objectives of this research are to determine the effect of generation, condition, and developmental host on life history characteristics, to determine what environmental, host quality, and/or physiological factors affect M. cribraria dispersal in the spring and fall, and to investigate the potential emigration of M. cribraria into soybeans planted at various dates and their potential impact on yield. For the first objective, manipulative experiments will be performed examining the role of generation, host choice, and crowding on adult performance (daily fecundity and flight capacity) to contextualize field experiment results. For the second objective, kudzu bug dispersal will identified using mark-recapture techniques from three kudzu patches with soybean nearby (1 km radius) will be chosen in NC, SC, and GA. For the third objective, small plot experiments from the same states will be planted once weekly beginning in mid-May and ending in mid-June, for four total planting dates, and will be further split using an insecticide spray. This proposal directly targets the first priority listing of the SRIPM. Specifically, we seek to address changes in pest complexes due to invasive pests and to address critical and emerging issues , including management of sucking insect pests of crops and new/important pests . Filling the growers` toolbox: Near and mid term management strategies for Drosophila suzukii in southeastern berry crops
Project Director: Hannah Burrack Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii, SWD) is a devastating invasive pest of soft skinned fruits which has dramatically expanded its range globally and throughout the United States beginning in 2008 when it was first detected damaging raspberries and cherries in California. SWD has since been confirmed from 38 states in the continental US and 14 countries since these initial observations. This recent range expansion has resulted in significant losses in crop yield and quality and risk of even more profound damage. Berries crops (e.g. caneberries, blueberries, and strawberries) and stone fruits (e.g. cherries) crops have been the most significantly impacted by SWD globally. Potential losses due to SWD in these crops in states participating in a Southern IPM Center sponsored SWD working group, eFly, have been estimated at $207 million annually. Actual loss statistics have been difficult to generate, but losses in eastern US grown blueberries, caneberries, and strawberries during 2012 were estimated between $45 and $55 million, the vast majority of which was direct crop loss. SWD management is currently achieved primarily through preventative insecticide applications. The suite of insecticides available is limited to those with SWD activity and sufficiently short preharvest intervals to allow their use on frequently picked crops. Despite the reliance on pesticides to manage SWD, practical information about how these materials should be used is lacking. In order to prevent detectable infestation for the entire growing season, multiple active ingredients are necessary, both to minimize risks of resistance development and to comply with seasonal usage restrictions on effective materials. However, current research on insecticide efficacy against SWD or on pesticide residues associated with these materials focused on single active ingredients. Our project is designed to address a key question asked by growers regarding SWD management. What combination or program of insecticides is most
Integrated Management of Mite-Vectored Virus Diseases of Wheat
Project Director: Charles Rush Our goal is to reduce losses from mite-vectored virus diseases (MVVD) of wheat by providing growers with new information and techniques for site-specific IPM. Current recommendations for disease management were developed in the 1960s, but recent development of cultivars with genetic resistance to the vector and/or pathogen, and improved understanding of vector ecology and epidemiology, create opportunities to develop new IPM approaches. Specific project objectives are: Research 1) Evaluate the impact of cultivar mixes and deficit irrigation on mite populations, 2) Develop an economic threshold for MVVD, and 3) Identify chemistries for site-specific wheat curl mite control; Extension 1) Develop multi-media educational tools and training programs and 2) Develop a first alert system for MVVD. Fields with natural disease gradients will be used in this study. Disease severity ratings from discrete locations will be taken across fields weekly, meteorological data and forage samples will be collected throughout the season, and grain yield determined at harvest. This will allow us to determine rate of disease spread, and how a given level of disease at a given time during the season impacts grain yield and profit. We will conduct studies to evaluate miticide efficacy, and determine how irrigation amount, and mixes of mite-resistant TAM 112 with susceptible but drought tolerant TAM 111, affect mite populations and disease spread. This is a multistate, integrated project, identified by clientele as high priority. |
2012 Program YearRFA: Southern Regional IPM Grant 2012Economic analysis to optimize management decisions for Verticillium wilt of cotton
Project Director: Terry Wheeler Management of Verticillium wilt of cotton requires multiple tactics. Large scale research was used to evaluate the effects of crop rotation and irrigation rate on susceptible and partially resistant cultivars in a field with Verticillium wilt on cotton yield and quality parameters. It is proposed to conduct a detailed economic analysis on six years of data to determine the economic benefits of these tactics alone and in combinations. This information should provide the template for producers to maximize profitability in fields with a history of Verticillium wilt. Irrigation rate is difficult to optimize. Optimization of irrigation is difficult. Reducing irrigation can minimize disease; however, this may also reduce yield. Over irrigation can aggravate Verticillium wilt, resulting in yield loss as well as wasting irrigation resources. It is proposed to test for a relationship between soil moisture/temperature, irrigation rate, soil density of V. dahliae, and Verticillium wilt incidence and yield. Sensors to monitor soil moisture and temperature will be deployed in fields infested with V. dahliae where cultivar, irrigation rate and crop rotation studies are being conducted, and locations in Texas and Alabama (totaling 7-8) were additional cultivar trials are being conducted. At all of these sites, the collected information (pathogen data, environmental data, irrigation rate and frequency, cultivar type (susceptible or partially resistant)) will be used to develop a model predicting Verticillium wilt incidence and yield. The model will be validated by additional field information of a similar nature, collected at producer fields (not used in the model development). Integrated Strategies for Sustainable Herbicide Resistance Mitigation and Management in Barnyardgrass in Midsouth Rice
Project Director: Jason K. Norsworthy This Joint Research-Extension project focuses on establishing an integrated approach for prevention/management of herbicide resistance in barnyardgrass in the Midsouth, with $108,890 and $25,000 budgeted for Research and Extension, respectively. Rice is an important crop in the Midsouth, with barnyardgrass being the major weed. Barnyardgrass management has been extensively dependent on herbicides, which eventually led to widespread herbicide resistance, making most of the existing weed management practices unsustainable. We hypothesize that sustainable weed management will require integration of non-chemical strategies, which will lessen the selection pressure exerted by herbicides and in turn delay the evolution and spread of resistance. The specific research objectives of this project are to: 1) Develop a simulation model for predicting the simultaneous evolution of barnyardgrass resistance to ALS- and ACCase-inhibiting herbicides, 2) Understand, using the model, the influence of various non-chemical weed management practices in delaying resistance evolution, and 3) Validate the model using empirical data collected from the real system, and identify integrated strategies for combating herbicide resistance. To address these objectives, a herbicide resistance simulation model will be developed for barnyardgrass, and the model will be validated using field collected data. Suitable best management practices (BMPs) will be established based on the model predictions. The objective of the extension component is to develop and deliver an educational program that utilizes the established BMPs to growers and other stakeholders for combating herbicide-resistance in barnyardgrass. Overall, this project is highly relevant to the goals of the S-RIPM program in that it will aid in avoiding/mitigating Integration of inter-row living ground cover and plant growth promoting formulations to reduce losses by insect borne plant viruses
Project Director: John Francis Murphy This is a research project with the long-term goal to maintain the economic viability of vegetable farms in the Southeast. To do so, it is essential that we develop strategies to prevent the severe losses caused from the annual epidemics of plant viruses. Plant viruses are a persistent threat to crop production worldwide, particularly in the Southeast due to mild winter climates that allow insect vectors to over-winter without need for sexual reproductive stages. For instance, we have shown through a series of surveys that no fewer than three different viruses occur, often in high incidence, in blackberry, cucurbits, potato, soybean, tomato and wheat. For the proposed research, we will focus on Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), viruses in the genus Potyvirus and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). These are insect-borne viruses that pose a serious threat to the vegetable industry and are particularly difficult to manage. We will evaluate strategies that will effectively reduce losses caused by multiple virusvector systems and applicable to all vegetable crops. The strategies outlined in this proposal integrate commercially available plant growth enhancing formulations with an inter-row living ground cover to reduce insect-borne plant virus diseases in vegetable crops. These approaches will be applicable to all other vegetable crops and use in organic vegetable production. Moreover, inter-row living ground cover crops provide improved soil conservation and fertility, reduced water run-off and soil erosion and can be integrated into push-pull strategies to manipulate insect populations. Integration of peanut genotypes with high levels of field resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus with other spotted wilt management tactics
Project Director: Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan Thrips transmitted Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a major constraint to peanut production in the southeast. TSWV infection induces spotted wilt in peanut. Planting cultivars that display field resistance is the most important management option. However, these cultivars only display moderate levels of field resistance and resistance is introgressed only in step-wise increments. The first-generation TSWV resistant cultivars (1990s) exhibited more resistance than susceptible cultivars. Second-generation TSWV resistant cultivars (2000-2010) exhibited more resistance than the previous generation. Second-generation cultivars still display TSWV symptoms upon infection and accumulate virus titer. However, in conjunction with insecticides such as Temik and Thimet and cultural tactics, growers have been able to achieve satisfactory levels of spotted wilt control. Recently, the production of Temik was halted and its usage will be phased out by 2018, Thimet will likely follow soon. With this impending loss, it is necessary to identify alternatives. Research has indicated that a number of new insecticides have been effective in suppressing thrips but not TSWV. But, with high levels of resistance in the second- and third-generation (2010-2012) TSWV resistant cultivars, usage of Temik and Thimet may not be critical. The goal of this proposal is to examine the compatibility of newly released TSWV resistant peanut cultivars in the presence of newer insecticides and with cultural tactics. This approach will allow peanut growers to transition from using old broad-spectrum insecticides while maintaining sustainability and profitability. Also, increased level of TSWV resistance in newly released cultivars could improve sustainability in organic production. Predicting in-season infection risk of cucurbit downy mildew and validation of a downy mildew forecasting system
Project Director: Peter Ojiambo This Joint Research-Extension project will focus on developing a decision support system to facilitate rational application of fungicides to effectively control cucurbit downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis during the growing season. The U.S. grows about 466,250 acres of cucurbits valued at $1.5 billion. In 2004, there was a resurgence of the disease that devastated cucurbit crops nationwide. Many cucurbit fields were abandoned without harvesting and suffered 100% loss. Since disease control relies heavily on fungicides, a forecasting system was developed to help growers to make decisions on if and when to apply the initial spray. However, there is no support system to guide rational application of fungicides during the growing season. The recent resurgence of the disease and appearance of new aggressive pathogen populations necessitates the continued search for the most efficient methods to rationally apply available fungicides. Thus, the overall goal of this project is to develop an in-season decision support tool to guide application of fungicides. Specifically, we will: 1. Develop a model to predict in-season infection risk of cucurbits by P. cubensis based on typical weather prevalent in south eastern U.S. 2. Generate optimal managament action threshold that minimize average disease costs and crop loss 3. Validate the cdm ipmPIPE forecasting system with respect to sporangia transport and intial infection. The proposed work will be conducted in cucurbits fields in South Carolina and North Carolina, while the validation experiments will be conducted in cucurbit fields in GA, LA, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC, TX. Veg Dr Development Of Smart Phone Applications For Identification And Management Of Vegetable Diseases
Project Director: Charles Bargeron This is an extension project to be used over 3 years. It will leverage many of the tools and resources from the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health (CISEH) including the Bugwood Image Database and Bugwood Wiki as well as the technical expertice of its staff. This project will provide a reuseable smart phone app framework that can be used to deliver IPM information to clientele. It will also provide real-time alerts to users of the app as the extension specialist for the commodity determiines there is a need to provide additional information. The framework will be designed and refined through the process of creating apps for disease management in cucurbit, solanaceous, and brasiccaceous vegetables. Producing both iPhone and Android versions will result in six apps. As they are released, the PIs wil use their existing rapport with stakeholders to encourage adoption of the app. Throughout the project, growers, extension agents, and crop consultants will be surveyed to better understand their use of the app and how it can be improved to better meet their needs and expectations. This approach will result in a robust framework that can be expanded to include other pests, better reflect the management practices in other portions of the region and reused in other commodities or other regions to rapidly deliver and update the IPM information needed by practitioners. This will provide tool for extension directly engage their clientele and foster the adoption of IPM practices. |
2011 Program YearRFA: 2011 IPM Enhancement Grant Part 1Bugwood Center IPM Working Group
Project Director: G. Keith Douce Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based, decision-making process that identifies and reduces risks from pests and pest management related strategies. Land Grant Universities LGs] are a time-proven method of developing and delivering IPM information to users. The increase awareness and use of visual and information technology savvy users means that LG educators must find ways of including those technologies into their programs. As state budgets level-out or decrease, it is becoming more difficult for the LGs to effectively package and deliver IPM information to users.
Creation of IPM Documents for Aquatic Plant Management in the Southern US
Project Director: Robert Jeryl Richardson Excessive aquatic plant growth can degrade habitat for other aquatic species, impair fishing and boating, impede commercial navigation, reduce drainage and increase flooding, block intakes for hydroelectric turbines, drinking water, and irrigation, increase sedimentation, reduce property values, reduce revenue of associated businesses, and provide breeding habitat for certain species of mosquito. Although, there are numerous techniques available to manage invasive aquatic plants, there is little to no information that specifically outlines the advantages and disadvantages for species specific management. Furthermore, there is very little information in the field of aquatic plant management regarding integrated pest management. This project will create a Crop Profile for Aquatic Plant Management in the Southern U.S., present this document to stakeholders at important regional meetings, and solicit input and guidance from these stakeholders. Based upon stakeholder comments, additional IPM documents will be created for the Southern region. These documents will then be disseminated to stakeholders through traditional and contemporary venues. It is anticipated that these documents will increase adoption of IPM practices for aquatic plant management in the Southern region, thus increasing economic savings and environmental protection. Enhancing Nursery Crop Research and Extension with a Multi-State Working Group
Project Director: Amy F Fulcher Complete list of co-PD's: Fulcher, A., J.-H. Chong, S. White, A. LeBude, W. Klingeman, M. Chappell, C. Adkins, K. Ivors, J. Neal, S. Frank, F. Hale, A. Windham, J. Williams-Woodward, K. Braman, and W. Dunwell.
Southern Region Specialty Crops at Risk Program - Regulatory Information Network
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. Most of these crops are considered specialty crops that are in high demand for pest management. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional IPM centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable IPM strategies. Virginia Tech, the University of Florida, University of Tennessee, and Texas A&M University are working in four sub-regions with the Southern Region IPM Center and important agricultural stakeholders to support a regional regulatory information network. The network is designed to allow stakeholders in the Southern Region to communicate with EPA and USDA through the Center to provide input into IPM needs and strategies subject to FQPA regulation and related impacts. The institutions/project directors will work in their respective sub-regions, to provide a conduit of communication for each state through the network. In addition, the network will be managed as a working group to maintain a constant communication between the sub-regions and their partners in the respective states. The project directors in the sub-regions will also be responsible for supporting the Center through maintenance of IPM documents and priorities and providing a web-based presence to communicate their activities to the region. Update of Priorities of the Southern Region School IPM Working Group, A New Beginning
Project Director: Lawrence C. "Fudd" Graham Integrated pest management has been proven to be an effective and safe form of pest control for school systems Yet, scheduled application of broad-spectrum insecticides is still the standard method of control in most school environments. Even crack and crevice applications of insecticides have been shown to result in translocation of residues. Since children face greater risks from both pesticides and pests, reduction of both in school systems should be a priority. Numerous pilot studies and trials have shown the effectiveness of an IPM program in the school system and have documented the reduction in both pests and pesticides in a successful program. Transition from the standard method of pest control to an IPM program is possible, but not without effective training.
Virginia Specialty Crops at Risk Program - IPM Documents Development Project
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable IPM strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University (NCSU), and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles, IPM Elements, and pest management strategic plans (PMSP) for important crops grown in Virginia, North Carolina and cooperating states in the Northeast and Southern regions. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its IPM programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech will develop three IPM Elements documents (bell peppers, pumpkins, and sweet corn) with an emphasis on locally grown crops, refine its databases of IPM priorities and stakeholders, develop/revise three PMSPs (bell peppers, pumpkins, and sweet corn), create/revise three crop profiles (bell peppers, pumpkins, and sweet corn), and continue the revision of its existing crop profile database. RFA: 2011 IPM Enhancement Grant Part 2Developing Management Practices to Address Invasive Plant Pests in Riparian Areas
Project Director: Barbara A Fair The proposed research project will assess the establishment rate and success of a variety of plant species, including those that are native to the southeast and those that are considered adapted. To accomplish this task, we propose to install vegetation plots along a riparian buffer located in Lonnie Poole golf course. Each of 6 plots will be planted with one of the following treatments: 1. no seeding or planting; 2. only seeding; 3. seeding and planting with native plants at he recommended density; 4. seeding and planting with native plants at half recommend density; 5. seeding and planting with adapted species at recommended density; and 6. seeding and planting with adapted species at half the recommended density. There will be three replicates of each plot, located along the stream based on a vegetation survey of the surrounding area to assess population levels of invasive, exotic species. Plots will be evaluated on a biweekly basis to determine rate of incursion of invasives, growth of seedlings and planted shrubs, and overall health of plantings.
Development of the RiceScout iPhone app to improve rice insect/arthropod, disease, weed and nutritional deficiency diagnostics in southern rice IPM programs.
Project Director: Natalie Hummel This project proposes to build on the development of the Online Louisiana rice insect identification guide (www.lsuagcenter.com/ricepestguide) and an LSU AgCenter weed seedling identification publication, by creating a comprehensive iPhone app for rice field diagnostics, called RiceScout . The RiceScout app will teach IPM users about nutritional deficiencies and pest (weed, insect, disease) biology, monitoring and management. It will serve as a mobile tool to improve accuracy of identification and encourage adoption of IPM techniques and strategies in southern rice production. Mobile devices are rapidly being adopted by farmers, who spend very little time at the desk and are inherently curious early-adopters of mobile technology advances, particularly if these tools will improve their bottom line. The RiceScout app will be a mobile tool that can be used in the field to aid in the identification of common primary and secondary insect, disease, weed and nutritional deficiency problems in southern rice production. Additionally, the RiceScout app will include pictures and information about common stored grain pests of rice. The guide will begin with a main menu that will give the user the option to run a crop symptom and/or insect, weed, disease or nutritional deficiency problem through a diagnostic key. Alternatively, the user can open a virtual flip guide containing images, descriptions, and lifecycle information for all the common primary and secondary insect, disease, weed and nutritional deficiencies that impact rice in the southern US. The RiceScout app will be distributed through the iTunes store. The iTunes store encourages ratings and commentary from users. User feedback will be used to evaluate the utility of the app and improve future editions. Furthermore, an advisory board has been assembled to guide the development of this app. Board members include rice producers, consultants, county agents, and industry representatives from across the US. This project is supported by USA Rice, Louisiana rice growers association, Louisiana agricultural county agents association, Louisiana agricultural consultants association, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, rice farmers in LA, AR, and IL. This project is submitted as a capstone proposal because it will build on the development of the Online Louisiana rice insect identification guide which was supported by a series of grants from the Louisiana Rice Research Board to PI Hummel. The online guide was developed in response to a suggestion from an Evangeline Parish rice farmer who expressed a need for a mobile identification guide that could be used on a hand-held device in the field to improve the speed and accuracy of insect identification. The online id guide (launched in November 2010) has been extremely well-received by producers. Due to the positive response from producers and consultants, we developed the concept for the RiceScout app to expand in-field diagnostic tools for mobile devices, such as smartphones. Improved access to diagnostic tools and recommendations should improve the adoption of integrated pest management practices in the southern rice producing region. School IPM cost calculator expansion and marketing
Project Director: Janet Hurley We are proposing a request for $24,978 to fund completion of a cost calculator program in support of school integrated pest management (IPM), begun in 2003. Interest about potential safety and health effects of both pests and pesticides has increased since publication of a study on the effect of pesticides in the diets of infants and children (NAS 1993) and an EPA publication on pest control in schools (EPA 1993). Pest control in schools is a complex operation involving building maintenance supervisors, budget officers and other administrators, pest management professionals, and a wide spectrum of school staff and students. In many cases pest problems are best prevented and managed by pest-proofing and maintaining school buildings in a way that makes schools less attractive to pests. Unfortunately, many building maintenance needs that affect pest management are frequently put-off or ignored as low-priority. Since 2003 we have worked to develop software to assist schools in predicting pest risk based on on-site assessment of structural features. The goal of the project has been to provide school pest control decision makers with tools to assist them in quantifying and understanding the relationship between building maintenance, IPM and school budgets. The team involved with previous grants consists of Extension specialists from five states. We are requesting funds that will allow us to expand the existing IPM cost calculator (Version 2.0), test the expanded version with school pest management professionals in our five states, and market the new (Version 3.0), expanded calculator. The expanded version of the calculator would help school districts and other institutions across the country to make wiser budgetary decisions to reduce pest risk and improve their pest control. By focusing on pest proofing and making changes to make the school environment less conducive to pests the calculator should reduce the need for pesticides while improving pest control. This, in turn, will help schools provide safer, pest free environments for students. Using GIS to develop pest management tools for wood boring beetles in southern nurseries
Project Director: Carlos Enrique Bogran Wood boring beetles including species in the families Cerambycidae, Buprestidae and Curculionidae:Scolitinae can cause significant damage and plant losses in southern tree nurseries. Although attacks by these species do not always result in tree mortality, tree growth and quality can be seriously reduced. Effective management of wood boring pests requires an integration of control tactics including good cultural practices to avoid plant stress, good crop sanitation practices to reduce starting populations, and the use of commercially available insecticides when necessary. Because of the intense production system in which trees are grown and the occurrence of several species of recently introduced pests, many growers rely on pesticide sprays to protect their tree crops. To effectively protect trees with chemicals, insecticides must either: a) have long residual activity, b) be applied repeatedly during the season, or c) be closely timed with periods of high attack risk. Pest management that is based on the life habits of the potential pest species and is closely timed with insect attack provides the most effective, economical and environmentally sound control of wood boring insects. Based on the above and with funding from the Southeast Texas Nursery Growers Association and USDA-APHIS Cooperative Agricultural Pest Program, we have collected six-years of geo-referenced data on the abundance and distribution of all key wood boring beetle species in five localities in southern Texas. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides a mean to identify landscape factors associated with the observed pest abundance patterns that will be used to develop pest management strategies that reduce risk and minimize plant losses. The ultimate goal of this project is to improve management decisions for wood boring insect control in southern nurseries. The objectives of the proposed work are to 1) determine the seasonal abundance of the key wood boring insect pests using six-year survey data, 2) identify landscape features associated with patterns of wood boring beetle abundance in nurseries, and 3) develop and distribute a pest management guide for wood boring beetles in southern nurseries. Results obtained from this project will ultimately increase effectiveness (and reduce cost) of integrated pest management systems against wood boring insects in the southern region. Weed IT Mobile - A Weed Identification and Management Tool for Mobile Devices
Project Director: Alexander Krings All pest management programs must begin with accurate identification of the pest. To aid growers and extension personnel in the development of management programs, there are a number of diagnostic resources available in traditional hardcopy form or online. However, few online resources employ state-of-the-art multi-access keys and fewer still are comprehensive in their coverage. Until recently, lacking altogether were digital diagnostic resources that are easily deployable in the field using personal digital assistants (PDAs) or smart phones. In response to this need we recently developed two prototype, image-driven, pest identification toolsWeed IT (Online) and Weed IT( Mobile 1.0). These prototypes comprehensively treat the weeds of container nurseries in the United States because the relatively small number of species provided manageable yet sufficient diversity in plant species and types to ensure broad utility of the program framework. Rapid pest identification is powered on the field deployable, mobile platform by a SLIKS multi-access key. SLIKS was chosen for the mobile application for its multi-character key structure and because it is a freely available, modifiable, open source script. Both keys are heavily visual: (1) images are used to obviate reference to a glossary for unfamiliar morphological terms, and (2) images accompany all listed taxa, so users can quickly scan for potential matches while selecting characters. Each taxon is linked to a fact sheet which includes additional images, a morphological description, and performance ratings against thirteen herbicides. The prototypes were beta-tested by NC State University students and staff, NC Cooperative Extension agents, and a few Weed Science peers. Preliminary responses from evaluations have indicated a general ease-of-use and consistent positive identification of unknown weeds. However, reviewers have also noted some strategic interface improvement needs for the mobile application. Based on this feedback and our continued reassessment, we have identified a number of priority coding targets that need to be addressed to achieve the goal of an easily accessible and functional field diagnostic tool. Funding is requested here to refine and finalize the development of this mobile application based on our beta-test reviews.
RFA: 2011 Southern Regional IPM Grant (S-RIPM)Application of weather dynamics to predict changes and enhance IPM strategies for the Gulf Coast tick
Project Director: Pete Teel This is a research project. This research will integrate Gulf Coast (GCT) tick population changes into IPM strategies by 1.) determining whether GCT population changes are associated with weather; 2.) developing predictive models of GCT survivorship, and 3.) validating predictive models across its distribution. Weather factor indicators of tick desiccation stress will be evaluated as predictors of tick development and survival responses at the habitat-level and population responses at the regional (biome) level. This project will provide new methods to estimate GCT population changes, improve IPM usage, assess IPM benefits, and exposure to tick-borne diseases. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Impact of an Invasive Pest on Orchard and Vegetable IPM
Project Director: James Walgenbach The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive pest that caused unprecedented damage to multiple crops in the mid-Atlantic region in 2010. NC and southern VA represent the leading edge of the expanding distribution of BMSB, and invasion patterns suggest it will soon become a severe pest. The goals of this project are to determine the role of managed and non-managed habitats on the population ecology of BMSB in three different agroecosystems typical of fruit and vegetable production in this region, and to develop management strategies to minimize crop losses. Objectives are: 1) quantify stink bug species richness and abundance and the phenology and natural enemy complex of BMSB; 2)a. characterize symptoms associated with feeding by different life stages of BMSB on tomato and pepper at various stages of fruit development; 2)b. Determine incidence and severity of BMSB damage in tree fruit and vegetable crops to quantify BMSB economic impact and distribution in the state; 3) determine effects of different insecticides on BMSB and develop optimum use guidelines. Crops and non-managed habitats will be monitored to determine the number of generations completed, crops serving as reproductive hosts, and factors stimulating dispersal to orchard and vegetable crops. Efficient insecticide use practices for orchard and vegetables will be developed. The project is relevant to the goals of the southern region IPM program in that it is multistate, will lead to integrated management strategies, is supported by key stakeholders, and targets multiple crops important in the southern region. Comprehensive management of plant-parasitic nematodes on peach with cultural practices, novel biorationals, and reduced rates of fumigants
Project Director: Phillip M Brannen This is a joint research-extension project. For extension and research activities, requested funds are $19,398 from Smith-Lever 3(d) and $149,362 from P.L. 89-106. The overall goal is development of novel, reduced-risk, comprehensive management techniques for suppression of peach nematodes (ring, root-knot, and root lesion), and technology transfer of these new methods. Southern region peach producers must increase their efficiency to survive, and this grant directly addresses that need. A multi-faceted approach will be utilized. Tall fescue has shown nematode-suppressive properties, so the first objective will deploy tall fescue as a cover crop, drilled or broadcast, and managed no-till or as green manure; the testing will incorporate resistant rootstocks and fumigation to expand the evaluation into a comprehensive management program. A greenhouse study will further determine the effectiveness of tall fescue for suppression of Meloidogyne floridensis (peach root-knot nematode). Novel biorational nematicides could be utilized for badly-needed postplant nematode management. The second objective will review efficacy of the biorationals Movento, Votivo, Ditera, and GA534 in a series of laboratory, greenhouse, and field microplot experiments, and for Movento only, full-scale field studies will be conducted. When combined with nematodetolerant rootstocks, reduced application rates of conventional fumigant nematicides may be possible. This will be addressed in the third objective; a series of field trials will review rootstock X fumigant (Telone II) interactions with novel application methods. Economic and environmental analyses, conducted under the fourth objective, will determine the value of the new management methods under consideration. Outreach efforts will ensure technology transfer. Diagnostic Image Series Development for Supporting IPM in the Southern Region
Project Director: Carrie Lapaire Harmon Proper identification is the first step to selecting the best IPM option for a given pest, increasing the number of options for best management, and decreasing the chance of off-target management ramifications. Often, diagnosticians turn to online searches for relevant images to assist them with their identifications. A multitude of image libraries and databases exist in the US and abroad. However, these databases house relatively few images of morphologic diagnostic features such as close-ups of symptoms, culture plates, spores, mycelia, are narrowly-focused to a few high-impact organisms of regulatory significance, or contain few images with relevance to southeastern US agriculture. We have been working to fill this void at the request of our Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) members (via previous SRIPMC seed grant funding of $25,000), and to make these images available through the existing and oft-used IPMimages.org. However, expanding the scope of the image collection to include six more states in the region, as well as incorporating said images into sets to be used in Pathogen Profiles and Disease Profiles, will require support and intense coordination. It is the intent of this proposal to i) capture images of diagnostic samples throughout the southeast US (six more states in addition to Florida), ii) develop regionally-relevant images sets that are screened for quality and to avoid duplication with existing images, iii) develop Pathogen Profiles; image-rich fact sheets pertaining to specific pathogens of importance to agriculture in the SE US (as indicated in the PMSPs and Crop Profiles already in use in our region), and iv) develop Disease Profiles; image-rich fact sheets that include relevant symptom and sign information for particular crops. We foresee these being linked to existing and new Crop Profiles, PMSPs, and other relevant IPM Documents. In addition, this project is one of three sister-proposals with similar goals, but representing three distinct IPM regions (Southern, North- Central, and Northeast). Letters of collaboration from the PIs of the other two indicate an effort on the part of all three to work together to minimize duplication of efforts and maximize deliverables to our extension and IPM clientele. The proposed effort represents an enhancement to public image resources with a finite timeline. We plan to leverage existing support for diagnostician training and educational content development with the proposed budget to accomplish the project goals and accelerate the availability of deliverables (pathogen/disease image collections and fact sheets relevant to southeastern US agriculture and ecosystems). This leveraging of existing resources should assist in the maintenance of this projects goals and function beyond the 2-year lifespan of the proposed grant. Ecologically driven stink bug management in commercial farmscapes
Project Director: Michael Dennis Toews Growers in the southeastern United States plant one-fourth (~2.6 million acres) of the US cotton crop, with an annual farm gate value exceeding $800 million. Recent changes in production and advances in pest management have allowed these growers to decrease insecticide applications from >15 to approximately 3 per year. Stink bugs, which are highly mobile and utilize many different hosts, are thriving and causing economic damage in this new production environment. Due to insecticide resistance issues and limited information on basic stink bug biology, growers have few treatment options except blanketing entire fields with organophosphate insecticides. Our project is designed to develop an understanding of pest ecology so we can utilize cultural controls and formulate novel management strategies. This approach will minimize adverse environmental effects of insecticides, improve biological control, and reduce the development of insecticide resistance. Specific objectives are: 1) investigate weekly changes in stink bug population density and reproductive status within a farmscape, and 2) determine whether stink bug populations and damage in cotton can be managed by spraying alternating strips, as opposed to the entire field. All proposed objectives will be completed by the end of the project. The experiments will be conducted in grower-owned farmscapes (wheat, corn, cotton, peanuts, and soybeans) replicated in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. This proposal is relevant to the priorities of the SR-IPM program because it will increase IPM knowledge, is a partnership among states, and includes integrated approaches. Results will be widely disseminated. Integrated Management Of Colletotrichum And Phytophthora Crown Rot Of Strawberry In The Southeast
Project Director: Frank J. Louws This is a Joint Research-Extension project. Colletotrichum gloeosopsorioides and Phytophthora cactorum, causal agents of Anthracnose or Phytophthora crown rot, respectively, are among the most important pathogens identified by regional and national strawberry growers and other stakeholders. Both organisms can move with the planting stocks from the nursery to the fruiting field. In addition, P. cactorum can persist for long periods of time in soil due to the formation of resistant propagules. No single method to manage the crown rot diseases has proven effective in the industry. There is a stakeholder driven and identified need to develop and implement integrated management tools to limit crop losses due to these diseases. Components of an IPM program need to combine nursery and fruiting field protocols such as use of clean planting stock, soil and plant disinfestation, sensitive molecular diagnostic tools and utilization of acceptable level of host resistance in order to advance the sustainability of strawberry production in the Southeast. We propose to validate newly developed sampling and inspection protocols to minimize movement of non-symptomatic but infected planting stock movement from the nursery to the fruiting field. IPM tactics just prior to planting and or during crop growth will be evaluated in the fruiting field and advanced knowledge about the biology of the pathogens will help to minimize crop loss problems if infestation occurs. Chemical and cultural based tactics will be complimented with advances in host resistance through experiments that will detail inheritance of strawberry anthracnose crown rot resistance traits. With rapid changing practices in soil fumigation, and the persistent or recurrent problems encountered with strawberry crown rot diseases, research advances complimented with an effective extension and dissemination program throughout the southeast and beyond is critical to advance IPM protocols to reduce strawberry crop losses consistent with the National Road Map for IPM. |
2010 Program YearRFA: 2010 IPM Enhancement Grants Part 1 - Regulatory Information Network, IPM Documents and Working GroupsDevelopment of a Pest Management Strategic Plan for the Oklahoma Winter Wheat Industry
Project Director: Tom Royer Develop a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Winter Wheat in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Identification and Management Guide for Ticks of the Southern Region
Project Director: Pete Teel We propose to develop an identification and management guide for ticks common to the Southern Region that impact humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. The guide will be designed with three interconnected means of delivery. First, a pocket guide for people exposed to ticks through occupational and recreational means, as well as for those who are practitioners in arenas of public and animal health. Second, develop a web-based guide to provide in depth content on basic biology and ecology, and recommendations for management. Third, we will endeavor to develop and publish the pocket guide for portable electronic delivery (e.g., an iPhone App) to increase access and use. We will utilize a broad array of agencies and organizations that bridge rural and urban interests in human and animal health to market the availability of the guide in all its forms. IPM Documents for Texas
Project Director: Mark Matocha The objective of this proposal is to develop a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Onions in Texas for the Southern Region IPM Center. The Texas IPM State Contact has produced 23 Crop Profiles and six Pest Management Strategic Plans in the last ten years. IPM documents are important tools for federal and state agencies as well as commodity organizations concerned with priorities in IPM. In 2005, the TSC completed the Texas Cotton PMSP and is available for use by regulatory agencies and others in need of information on priorities in cotton production from the nations leading cotton producing state. In 2008, the TCS completed a crop profile for sorghum for grain and a PMSP for spinach. The need for an onion PMSP for Texas has been identified as High Priority by the Texas IPM State Contact. Furthermore, the development of an onion PMSP is supported by the Texas Vegetable Association. In 2007, Texas ranked 2nd in the nation in onion production and the development of this PMSP would allow the onion industry in Texas to document and communicate its priorities for pest management of this important crop. Southern Region IPM Center Regulatory Information Network and Related IPM Documents
Project Director: Mark Mossler This proposal seeks annual funding for a regulatory network that covers the entire southern region of the U.S., which includes 13 states and two territories. The proposal also seeks funding for revising several existing crop profiles and creating a new profile for watercress. The regulatory network is comprised of six funded faculty members (five funded by this proposal) working at different academic institutions across the southern region. These regions approximate the Plains, Coastal Plain, Piedmont/Mid-Atlantic, Central/Appalachia, and GA/FL/Caribbean. A number of qualified personnel across the region have agreed to assist in maintaining this network which responds to questions posed by federal regulatory agencies such as the U.S Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is tasked with pesticide regulation. The network ensures that information flow from the regulatory agencies to the stakeholders, while stakeholder concerns are transmitted to the agencies. The total funding requested for the network is less than $150,000 and that for the crop profiles is approximately $18,000. Virginia Specialty Crops At Risk Program - IPM Documents Development Project
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable IPM strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University (NCSU), and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles, IPM Elements, and pest management strategic plans (PMSP) for important crops grown in Virginia, North Carolina and cooperating states in the Northeast and Southern regions. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its IPM programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech will develop (two) IPM Elements (goats and broccoli), refine its databases of IPM priorities and stakeholders, develop (two) PMSPs (goats and broccoli), create two crop profiles (goats and broccoli), and continue the revision of its existing crop profile database. RFA: 2010 IPM Enhancement Grants Part 2: IPM Seed and IPM Capstone ProjectsDeveloping an imported fire ant IPM module for the IPM3 Training Consortium
Project Director: Kelly Loftin Imported fire ants are extremely important pests in the southern U. S., with an estimated annual economic impact of roughly $6.3 billion; losses in southeastern states range from $1.28 million in Arkansas to $1.3 billion in Florida. Land and facility managers, as well as pest management professionals, need current IPM practices to address the challenges posed by fire ants. In the absence of new skills, pest managers rely primarily on pesticides rather than incorporating other IPM strategies. Education about IPM represents the greatest potential for increased adoption of IPM approaches to use against fire ants on public and private lands.
Development, Production and Distribution of a Pocket-sized Field Instrument to Improve Stink Bug Management on Cotton in the Southeast Region
Project Director: Jack Bacheler This project will address the need for a practical stink bug field scouting and economic threshold assessment guide for southeastern cotton producers. In this collaborative effort of entomologists from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, our goals are to increase the amount of cotton acreage being scouted for stink bug damage in the Southeast Region, to increase the ease, efficiency and accuracy of scouting for stink bug damage, and to increase the adoption of the new dynamic economic threshold for stink bugs in the Southeast Region.
Exploring calendar sprays and spatial distribution of cereal leaf beetle to improve IPM in wheat
Project Director: Dominic D Reisig Small grains are a major agricultural component in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic States. Cereal leaf beetle is one of the most serious pests of these crops in this area. Although sampling recommendations and treatment thresholds are extant and based on local data, many wheat growers are treating for cereal leaf beetle on a calendar-basis ("automatic" applications). Evidence from eight small plot studies in both Virginia and North Carolina, suggests that an IPM approach, based on scouting and threshold use, is more effective that an automatic application to manage cereal leaf beetle in wheat. Cereal leaf beetle levels may not routinely reach threshold levels, as demonstrated by the fact that threshold levels were reached only one of the eight studies. A survey of county agents within North Carolina confirmed this presumption, with an estimated 22% of fields in the state routinely reaching threshold levels. Furthermore, there are few predictive tools for cereal leaf beetle occurrence and very little is known about its spatial distribution. Preliminary studies, from South Carolina (2008-2009), of cereal leaf adult and larvae in wheat indicate that the spatial distribution of this pest may be aggregated on a field and farmscape level. However, this distribution is time-dependent, as the distribution can be random, and could not be explained by the surrounding vegetation. A preliminary study (2008) from an area encompassing northeast North Carolina and southeast Virginia found that the regional spatial distribution of cereal leaf beetle larvae and eggs was aggregated in a single time period and random in eight other time periods. Threshold levels were exceeded in only 5% of the fields in this area. We propose to develop methods to provide growers and crop consultants with information to counter the automatic application approach and to promote and IPM-based approach. Finally, we propose to develop methods to more fully explore the spatial distribution of cereal leaf beetle on a field, farmscape, and region level to better predict cereal leaf beetle occurrence and distribution. Tomato yellow leaf curl virus: A Rising Concern in Southeastern U.S. and Management Options
Project Director: Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan Tomato yellow leaf curl virus severely affects tomato production in Southeastern U.S. The goal of this proposal is to gather some preliminary information on transmission of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) by whiteflies and assess the reliability of currently available management options.
Workshop for Developing a Cost-effective Rational Strategy to Detect Soybean Rust in the United States
Project Director: Donald E. Hershman Soybean rust, caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is the most serious foliar disease of soybean worldwide. The disease was first detected in North America in November, 2004, causing great alarm among stakeholders. In response, the USDA, growers organizations, LGUs and state departments of agriculture established the soybean rust sentinel plot network to follow the spread of the disease throughout the growing season and to use this information as a basis for making appropriate soybean rust management decisions. The system has worked very well, saving soybean growers an $209-299M each year by: 1) providing early warning to soybean producers in the southern U.S. of the need to spray fields to protect their crop yields and 2) nearly eliminating unnecessary fungicide sprays targeting the disease. Due to the fact the yield losses caused by soybean rust have been restricted to a few states in the deep South, as well as a consistent pattern of late-season appearance of soybean rust in some southern and all northern states since 2005, there has been a substantial reduction in the perception of risk from soybean rust, especially by stakeholders in the North Central and Northeast regions. At the same time, USDA funding for soybean rust monitoring became unavailable in 2009. Reduced funding for the sentinel network, as well as reduced stakeholder perception of soybean rust risk, has forced the network to downsize substantially. In anticipation of a reduced monitoring network, preliminary network and econometric based analyses have been conducted by independent university research groups to develop rational strategies for optimizing the location of sentinel plots to reduce costs while maximizing the utility of the information obtained from a reduced monitoring system. We seek funding from the Southern Region IPM Center IPM Enhancement Grants Program for a workshop to: 1) develop a strategy to integrate the network and econometric analyses for optimizing sentinel plot locations with epidemiology based models of soybean rust spread; and 2) develop a research proposal for conducting an integrated, multidisciplinary analysis for optimizing the placement of sentinel plots in the southern U.S., but for the benefit of both southern soybean growers and the national soybean industry. Failure to find ways to optimize future soybean rust monitoring activities could have catastrophic consequences in the event that funding is furthered reduced. We plan to submit the research proposal to one or more of the regional IPM Centers in the next funding cycle. This work, which has broad stakeholder support, has implications for other important diseases, such as Ug99 wheat stem rust and southern corn rust, both of which may require extensive monitoring programs in the U.S. This Seed Grant has broad stakeholder support. In addition, the grant specifically addresses a priority in the National Road Map for IPM: Develop economical high-resolution environmental and biological monitoring systems to enhance our capabilities to predict pest incidence, estimate damage, and identify valid action thresholds. RFA: 2010 Southern Region IPM (S-RIPM) Grants ProgramDeveloping biologically Based Management Strategies for Integrated Control of Sheath Blight in Southern Rice
Project Director: Xin-Gen Zhou This is a four state collaboration research project. Over 75% of rice production in the U. S. occurs in the South, and Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas are among the leading producers with a value of $ 2 billion annually. Sheath blight is the most serious disease, causing millions of dollars of losses annually. Ratoon (second) crop producers have no labeled fungicides for use and suffer heavy yield losses. None of the leading high yielding cultivars have acceptable levels of resistance. Growers mostly rely on fungicides and apply 1 million pounds of them annually to rice, costing growers 26 million dollars a year for control of diseases, primarily for sheath blight control. Continual, extensive use of fungicides makes existing disease management practices unaffordable and non-sustainable. Rice producers, especially ratoon crop producers, are in urgent need of sustainable and environmentally-friendly management alternatives. Brassica cover cropping and biocontrol bacterial agents have demonstrated ability to suppress sheath blight in our research and offer a new potential for managing this disease. Brassica crops produce chemicals toxic to the sheath blight pathogen and reduce primary inoculum in soil by the process of biofumigation. The overall objective of this project is to develop novel, biologically-based management strategies for integrated control of sheath blight by using brassica biofumigation cover crops and biocontrol bacterial agents combined with reduced fungicide rates and partially resistant cultivars. This program will provide new disease management tools for rice producers in the South while reducing use of fungicides by more than 50%. Developing New Techniques To Use in the Integrated Pest Management of Stable Flies
Project Director: Lane Foil This is a multistate research project to develop integrated approaches to serve the needs for livestock producers to control the impact of stable flies attacking their animals. The primary economic benefits derived from the proposed project would be the livestock producers who suffer the estimated $500 million of the annual losses caused by stable flies to the cattle and horse industries in the Southern Region. In certain objectives, we will use electrocution techniques developed with SR-IPM funding (May 2003-2006) and use to show proof of concept for using treated targets for stable fly control. We propose studies to establish optimal color and spatial orientation for use of treated targets to reduce stable fly attack of pastured cattle. Using markcapture techniques, will determine the percentage of flies emerging from larval habitats that can be controlled with treated targets or by physically covering the habitats. We propose to use cloth targets with alsynite traps around pastures of different sizes with and without cattle to estimate the number of treated targets needed to impact populations of stable flies closely associated with cattle. We also would compare the efficacy of sprays, treated targets and the two methods combined in a push-pull strategy for controlling adult stable flies. By the end of the three year project, we will be able to provide comparative evaluations on the relative efficacy, cost, and required amount of insecticides for three types of larval habitat control and two types of control of the adult flies that feed on cattle. Development and implementation of a web application in support of the Profile resistance management program
Project Director: Guido Schnabel This is a joint research/extension project addressing a pressing need for peach producers; the need for fungicide resistance management in peach is well documented in the Pest Management Strategic Plant for Eastern Peaches (Horton et al. 2004). In the Southeast, fungicide resistance in the brown rot pathogen Monilinia fructicola of peach is currently managed by the recently implemented 'Profile' resistant management program. However, the program needs improvement to meet grower demands for timelier receipt of management recommendations. Our goal is to create a web application which will support the Profile resistance management program, providing real-time data processing and immediate recommendations for fungicide applications within the context of resistance management and optimum efficacy. Specific objectives are to (i) develop a web application that allows online data entry, data analysis, data transfer, and provides immediate profile-specific strategies to combat resistance, (ii) train South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina county agents and specialists in using the application, and (iii) expand the web application to also become a searchable and historical database of resistance development within M. fructicola populations throughout the Southeast. Capitalizing on the expertise of the principal investigators from Clemson University and the University of Georgia (UGA), the web application will be developed through the help of the Clemson University Computer Science Department. Expertise from this department will also be utilized in subsequent agent and producer training associated with the new online functions. The web application-supported Profile resistance monitoring program will enable growers to react to problems in a much timelier manner, which in turn will improve disease control and customer satisfaction. The web application will be developed as an expert system, providing bestmanagement recommendations based on the resistance management information and fungicide classes available for disease control. The Profile resistance management program is a multistate partnership involving South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina, but principle leadership for the development of the program has resided through collaborative efforts of Clemson and UGA. $18,510 are requested from Smith Lever funds (extension) and $35,530 from Act of Aug 4, 1965 (research) funds. Enhancing The Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting System
Project Director: Peter Ojiambo This Joint Research ($108,714)-Extension ($90,000) project will focus on cucurbit downy mildew caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis. The U.S. grows about 466,250 acres of cucurbits valued at $1.7 billion. In 2004, severe outbreak of the disease occurred in the eastern U.S., devastating cucurbit crops. Many fields were abandoned without harvesting and suffered 100% loss. Fungicide programs initially failed either because applications were made after disease was established, and/or ineffective products were used. Resistance of Pseudoperonospora cubensis to specific fungicides was suspected as a contributor to the ineffectiveness of fungicide programs. A forecasting system was developed to help growers to make decisions on if and when to spray based on disease outbreaks in sentinel plots located in 25 states and Ontario, Canada. The ultimate goal is to automate the current forecasting system and minimize the input of human element. However, a series of research projects to develop pathogen biology models is needed before the forecasting system can be fully automated. We propose to conduct the research necessary to enable growers to improve cucurbit downy mildew control, reduce occurrence of ineffective fungicide applications, and implement improved resistance management programs. This Joint Research- Extension project will focus on enhancement of the disease forecasting system, documentation of the presence/absence of differential fungicide resistance in the eastern U.S. and establish the population structure of P. cubensis within the sentinel network. We will continue to work with stakeholders to enable growers to reduce costly and unnecessary fungicide sprays, reduce risk of resistance development to fungicides and improve chemical control of cucurbit downy mildew. Integrating Management Of Soft Scales In The Southern Landscape
Project Director: Juang-Horng Chong This is a research project. The ornamental production and landscape industry in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia have an estimated value of $3.6 billion. Stakeholders identified scale insects as the most important pests of ornamental plants. The adoption of integrated scale insect management program is hindered by reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides, lack of a degree-day or plant phenological predictive models for pest activity, and lack of knowledge on (1) phenology, (2) the natural enemies and their impacts and (3) the potential of integrating different management tactics. This research project, by using the widely distributed oak lecanium scale as a model species, seeks to fill in the gaps in our knowledge and develop an integrated soft scale management program in the landscape of GA, NC, SC and VA. The objectives of this project are to develop degree-day and plant phenological indicator predictive models for significant life history events, to optimize biological control through better understanding of the natural enemies species composition, seasonal activity and impact, and to integrate chemical and biological control of oak lecanium scale. The goal is to develop sustainable and low-risk approaches to scale insect management. This project addresses the National IPM Road Map focus area of residential and public areas but the results are applicable to other horticultural production and forestry systems in the Southern Region, the US, and the world. The project also addresses the IPM Road Map goals of improving profitability and reducing risks to human and environmental health from pesticide applications. IPMImages and BugwoodWiki: Tools and resources to support IPM education and implementation across the SER and Beyond
Project Director: G. Keith Douce This project will
Oomyceticide resistance and Phytophthora disease management for the ornamental horticulture industry
Project Director: Chuanxue Hong This research project with a budget of $129,906 aims to enhance the profitability of nursery and floriculture industry and the aesthetic value of horticultural products in recreational environments and residential/public areas by improving the sustainability of IPM programs. It targets oomyceticides (i.e., fungicides specially-active against oomycetes) which are essential tools for protecting the regions multibillion-dollar ornamental horticulture industry from diseases caused by Phytophthora spp. To effectively address this emerging oomyceticide resistance problem, we have formed a regional working group including cooperators from Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Our efforts will focus on identifying and containing resistant populations, eliminating ineffective treatments, and preventing sensitive populations from developing resistance. Specifically, lab assays will be performed to determine how widespread and severe mefenoxam- and phosphiteresistance is in the southeast and the association with geographic location, host plant, and substrate; if this resistance originated from isolates in nature before these compounds were introduced to the market; and whether populations resistant to one compound are likely to develop resistance to another. Field/greenhouse trials will be conducted to assess whether mefenoxam-resistance buildup in P. nicotianae is attributed to the fitness and competitiveness of resistant over sensitive populations and repeated exposures; and whether this model system applies to other species. Additional experiments will be conducted to evaluate the risk of major species to develop resistance to seven newly-labeled compounds and those pending labels. We will partner with the industry and use the new knowledge to formulate and implement anti-resistance strategies and sustainable IPM programs for Phytophthora disease management. RFA: Critical and Emerging IssuesCritical Partnerships for IPM: Increasing Opportunities for Florida Growers
Project Director: Galen E Frantz In work proposed, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will work with expertise provided by the NRCS and IPM Working Group: Grower Incentives for IPM and Glades Crop Care to host a workshop at the Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference (SFAC) in July, 2011. The SFAC attracts a wide audience of agricultural producers, Extension and NRCS personnel and crop advisors. Seminars and discussions with stakeholders will meet our goals and objectives by 1) Identifying Florida crops with low adoption of IPM and essential IPM practices for crops; 2) Providing NRCS with information on principles and practices of IPM for Florida crops and costs of IPM adoption for creating cost-share rates; 3) Improving Extension knowledge and awareness of NRCS EQIP 595 program, CSP and IPM CAPs; 4) Improving grower awareness of NRCS programs that support IPM and 5) Providing training for crop advisors and IPM specialists on preparation of IPM CAPs. Emergency Planning Meeting for Slug Management Working Group
Project Director: Ames Herbert Slugs are rapidly becoming a major pest problem in the Mid-Atlantic region, affecting corn, soybean, small grain and vegetable cropping systems. A recent survey of crop and soil science extension agents in Virginia indicated that slugs had a significant impact on corn and soybean crops in Virginia this year (see figures, attached). Nearly one quarter of survey respondents indicated that more than 20% of the corn in their counties was impacted, and 6% of the agents told us that more than 20% of the soybean acres were affected. The economic impact of slugs in the region is significant, as nearly 30% of agents reported that at least 100 acres of cropland in their counties required replanting due to slug defoliation and stand loss. In many cases, well over 500 acres of land required replanting. Perhaps most disturbing however, is the potential threat to our continuous no-till systems in the region. When asked if farmers in their counties would take their land out of no-till in order to try and alleviate slugs, over 50% of agents said yes. When considering the massive amount of sediment loading that this practice change would add to the watershed, this is unacceptable. Similar levels of slug damage have been recently reported from areas of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. |
2009 Program YearRFA: Enhancement Grants 2009 Part 1: State Contact Projects, IPM Documents and Working GroupsLeveraging Resources through the Southern Regional School IPM Working Group in Support of Children's Environmental Health
Project Director: Dennis Randall Ring Pests account for a large portion of human health problems in the United States, especially in relation to the indoor urban and suburban environments like schools. The goal of pest management in schools is to ensure that the school environment is a safe learning environment. The traditional practice of controlling insect pests in the public school by the scheduled, monthly treatment of chemical pesticides is a concern of parents, teachers and school administrations in terms of possible exposure, and can contribute to the overall accumulation of pesticides in the environment.
Multi-State Crop Profile and Pest Management Strategic Plan for Nursery Crops
Project Director: Amy F Fulcher Summary:
Southern Region IPM Network for Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands and Related IPM Documents.
Project Director: Mark Mossler The Florida Pest Management Information Program (PMIP) has cooperated with the USDA CSREES Integrated Pest Management Centers since the implementation of the project through the auspices of the Pesticide Information Office at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Under program grants, the Florida PMIP has provided top-down and bottom-up Florida-specific information to federal agencies and other stakeholders through its communication network. In addition to Florida, the program extends these services to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Future funding ensures the viability of this network. The proposal also outlines revision of three crop profiles (cantaloupe, eggplant, and strawberry) and the creation of several new profiles, including cotton and pecan. Pest Management Strategic Plans are also proposed for lettuce and sweet corn. Southern Region IPM Network for Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands and Related IPM Documents.
Project Director: Fred Fishel The Florida Pest Management Information Program (PMIP) has cooperated with the USDA CSREES Integrated Pest Management Centers since the implementation of the project through the auspices of the Pesticide Information Office at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Under program grants, the Florida PMIP has provided top-down and bottom-up Florida-specific information to federal agencies and other stakeholders through its communication network. In addition to Florida, the program extends these services to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Future funding ensures the viability of this network. The proposal also outlines revision of three crop profiles (cantaloupe, eggplant, and strawberry) and the creation of several new profiles, including cotton and pecan. Pest Management Strategic Plans are also proposed for lettuce and sweet corn. State Contact and IPM Documents for Kentucky
Project Director: Patricia Lucas The University of Kentucky seeks funds for the continuation of a State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center to improve and maintain a communication network between the producers/stakeholders in Kentucky, Extension Specialists and the Southern Region IPM Center. The role and efforts of the State Contact will be as follows:
State Contact and IPM Documents for Oklahoma
Project Director: Jim T Criswell The Oklahoma State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center is the primary contact for pest management related issues and will be housed in the Oklahoma Pesticide Safety Education office and cooperate closely with the Integrated Pest Management Program. This contact will facilitate pest management and pesticide related activities, including regulations, education, information acquisition and dissemination, and rapid response to emerging issues. The Pesticide Safety Education Program office allows for a central contact point for Oklahomans with pesticide and pest management questions. The Oklahoma State Contact has worked for the last four years to collect the information requested by the Southern Region IPM Center through Extension and Research Specialists, growers, and commodity groups. The Oklahoma State Contact will respond to the IPM Centers information request as well as any other entity request for information on pest management needs. The Oklahoma State Contact will continues to facilitate the production of IPM documents and inform stakeholders of pest management information.
State Contact and IPM Documents for Texas
Project Director: Mark Matocha The objective of this proposal is to maintain the Texas State Contact (TSC) component of the Southern Region IPM network to serve as the primary contact for information requests related to pest management and pesticides in Texas. As a member of the communication network of the Southern Region IPM Center, the TSC works closely with the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), IR-4 representatives, the IPM Coordinator, research and extension specialists across the state, and commodity organizations to maintain a stakeholder network and to respond to information requests. Texas has the largest area of cultivated crops and agricultural enterprises in the United States. Stakeholders and other interested parties generate hundreds of requests annually for information on pest management, pesticide regulations, pesticide use, and pesticide storage and disposal. The development and maintenance of a primary contact source to serve stakeholders is necessary to support information requests by agricultural producers, other stakeholders and the citizens of Texas. Stakeholder networks are derived from participation in numerous meetings both statewide and local. TSC specialists travel across the state every week delivering educational programs to IPM stakeholders at county and district-based meetings. In the last year, TSC personnel participated in no less than 90 of these meetings. By interacting with clientele in person, TSC specialists are better able to identify and address IPM concerns of agricultural producers, urban clientele, commodity organizations, and others involved with IPM on a regular basis. This interaction allows AES specialists' grass-roots level access to information provided directly by IPM stakeholders. The AES Unit has also established and maintained a multi-state advisory committee that confers regularly to assess pesticide needs and priorities for minor use and ornamental crops. The Minor Use Pesticide Advisory Committee (MUPAC) is comprised of university research and extension personnel, commodity organization representatives, regulatory personnel, and grower representatives from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The TSC has developed and maintained a Texas IPM State Contact web site. Additionally, the TSC proposes to develop a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Onions in Texas for the Southern Region IPM Center. The need for an onion PMSP for Texas has been identified as High Priority by the TSC. In 2007, Texas ranked 2nd in the nation in onion production and the development of this PMSP would allow the onion industry in Texas to document and communicate its priorities for pest management of this important crop. State Contact Project and IPM Documents for Alabama
Project Director: Henry Fadamiro The aims of this multiple project type proposal are to i) request funding renewal for the Alabama State Contact Project (ASCP), and ii) support the development of crop profiles for key vegetable crops in Alabama. The main functions of the ASCP are to support the communications network of the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC) and promote IPM implementation in Alabama. The ASCP has been funded annually since 2005 by the SRIPMC and this proposal is a request for funding renewal to allow continuation of project activities. Specifically, the ASCP at Auburn University will continue to: 1) Serve as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides in Alabama; 2) Document activities related to pesticide and pest management inquiries from entities other that the SRIPMC, USDA and EPA; 3) Expand and maintain a stakeholder network to consult, advise and participate in the activities of the ASCP; 4) Provide coordination and oversight of Crop Profiles, Pest Management Strategic Plans in Alabama; 5) Provide an annual assessment prioritizing Crop Profiles and PMSPs for Alabama; 6) Provide/update a list containing names of the IPM-related experts for research and extension for all important commodities and settings pertinent to Alabama; 7) Maintain/update the ASCP website (Alabama Pest Management Information Center website- www.alabamaipm.com) as required by the SRIPMC; 8) Attend an annual state contact meeting arranged by the SRIPMC ; 9) Facilitate collaboration between IPM specialists at Auburn University and their counterparts at Alabamas 1890 institutions; 10) Provide important and timely IPM information to stakeholders in Alabama through appropriate media including fact sheets, pest alerts, newsletters, presentations at grower meetings and IPM workshops, electronic mails, and IPM websites; and 11) Develop and conduct surveys to further determine the production and pest management practices and challenges of fruit and vegetable growers Alabama. The second component of this proposal focuses on the development and publication of priority crop profiles for three key vegetable crops in Alabama (tomatoes, cabbage/leafy greens, and watermelons). Currently, no crop profiles have been developed for vegetable crops in Alabama; yet Alabama is ranked ninth nationally in the production of vegetable crops with a market value of over $40 million. The development of crop profiles for the above crops has been identified as high priority by Alabama vegetable growers and other stakeholders. The crop profiles will document the production practices, worker activities, endemic and emerging pest problems, and current pest management practices for these crops in Alabama, and communicate stakeholder needs to the EPA and USDA. The documents will be developed using instructions provided by the SRIPMC with inputs from relevant stakeholder groups including local vegetable growers, grower associations, university researchers, extension specialists and agents, and other appropriate stakeholders. Development of crop profiles for these key vegetable crops in Alabama will help to assess the impact of the passage of the Food Quality Protection Act and identify areas of critical needs in Alabama's vegetable industry. Thus, crop profile publication is a requisite for implementation of a comprehensive IPM program for these crops in Alabama. Completed crop profiles will be submitted to the SRIPMC leadership for approval and inclusion in the National IPM Centers database. Crop profile information and data will be used to develop a pest management strategic plan (PMSP) for each crop in the near future. Both project types address the goals of the National IPM Roadmap and the priorities of the SRIPMC by promting implementation of IPM in Alabama. Furthermore, the projects will enhance timely access of growers and other stakeholders to IPM information and foster communication among researchers, growers, public citizens and other IPM stakeholders. Tennessee Pest Management Information Network - State Contact Project and IPM Documents
Project Director: Darrell D Hensley The University of Tennessee seeks funding for continued development and maintenance of a State Contact Project (SCP) and for development of IPM Documents for Tennessee. If funding is received, The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology will continue to assist the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) in maintaining a communication network that will enhance and facilitate the flow of resources and information in integrated pest management on a statewide basis as well as a regional basis. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, Tennessee Pest Management Information Network (TPMIN) will serve as a primary resource for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticide information in Tennessee. Responses to informational requests made through the SRIPMC will be forwarded to an online reporting system developed by the SRIPMC. The TPMIN will continue to maintain a stakeholder advisory group to aid in developing Tennessee's priorities. Information will be directed to stakeholders so they may provide input and aid this state project in developing state and regional priorities. The University's IPM Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinator and IR-4 coordinator; industry representatives; grower groups and growers will be asked for their input in developing priorities for Tennessee. Developed priorities will be placed online for public access and a listing of stakeholders will be displayed within the project's developed web site. The State Contact Project will provide oversight of state-developed Crop Profiles, Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSP) and other IPM documents. For 2009, two crop pest profiles have been identified as needing to be updated. These included; apple and peach production crop/pest profiles. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department will work closely with the SCP. Darrell Hensley will serve as the principal investigator of the SCP and he will aid in the development of state Crop Profiles and state PMSPs and will provide assistance with other IPM related documents and IPM Working Groups when feasible. The SCP will contribute to state and national programs by supplying information concerning pest management and pesticide usage. Information obtained through the SRIPMC will be distributed across the state in the form of newsletters, pest alerts and e-mailings. The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology may assist and coordinate efforts of other entities and/or teams in development of IPM documents that may potentially enhance the function, activities and processes of the SCP and facilitate the development of resources and information used in integrated pest management on a statewide basis and for regional use. The SCP will emphasize to others that any developed crop/pest profiles and PMSPs should conform to the Centers standards for content, format for distribution. IPM Documents developed by other entities and provided to the SCP may be forwarded to the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) to be placed on an online public accessible system. Occasionally, information concerning pests, outcomes and successes will be reported in annual reports and on the network's web site. Often information concerning crop acreage, yield, pest management practices utilized, pesticide use, biocontrol products, beneficial organisms, alternative pest control practices and other information may be contained within developed documents and may be displayed for web access. Funding is being requested for multiple projects which include a SCP and development of IPM documents. Virginia Pest Management Information Network - State Contact Project (SCP) and IPM Documents
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable IPM strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University (NCSU), and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles, IPM Elements, and pest management strategic plans (PMSP) for important crops grown in Virginia, North Carolina and cooperating states in the Northeast and Southern regions. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its IPM programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs will serve as the state contact project for Virginia. This will involve serving as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides, establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network to develop state IPM priorities, providing oversight of Virginia crop profiles and PMSPs, providing personnel to attend an annual state contact meeting, and maintain a project web site to share pertinent IPM and regulatory information and resources with stakeholders. Virginia Tech will also develop (two) IPM Elements (wine grapes and turfgrass), refine its databases of IPM priorities, and stakeholders, develop a wine grape PMSP, update its current grape crop profile, and continue the revision of its existing crop profile database. RFA: Enhancement Grants 2009 Part 2: Seed and Capstone ProjectsBuilding Diagnostic Capacity for Detection of Plant Viruses
Project Director: Jane E. Polston There are more than 1,000 taxonomically approved species of plant viruses and hundreds of tentative species (Fauquet et al 2005) and the number of plant viruses is increasing rapidly. In total these viruses cause thousands of diseases. The diagnostic capacity for rapid and accurate detection of these plant viruses is a huge problem for diagnostic clinics in the US and the world while the need for their detection only increases each year. Detection is needed for several reasons. Plant viruses cause significant losses to crop production in the southern U.S. as in many other areas with mild winters (reviewed by Hull 2002). Although avoidance is the best management strategy, mitigation of losses during the cropping season is possible through rapid and accurate diagnosis so that appropriate vector populations can be reduced or appropriate cultural practices can be implemented. However diagnostic clinics in the US are not able to address this need. In addition, due to international trade and other changes in cropping practices, new plant viruses are emerging at a very rapid pace. At the same time, the number of virologists available to diagnosis new viruses is diminishing as the emphasis in research has shifted away from virus characterization to plant molecular biology and other areas of molecular biology. In addition, international trade in plants and plant parts is relying more and more on disease-free certification.
Controlling invasive mole crickets in Florida pastures
Project Director: J. Howard Frank Invasive mole crickets are the most important insect pests of Florida pastures. They are a high priority of the Florida Cattlemen's Association.
Evaluating Zinc Supplementation for Management of Pierce's Disease
Project Director: Jeff A Brady Pierce's disease of grape is caused by Xylella fastidiosa, a xylem-limited, insect-vectored bacterium that blocks water transport in the plant. Once infected, grapes develop typical disease symptoms such as leaf scorch, abnormal leaf abscission, uneven periderm formation on developing canes, and reduced yield. For many European winegrape cultivars, the disease is lethal in one to five years. The incidence of Pierce's disease is particularly severe in the southern U.S., where environmental conditions favor successful overwintering of the insect vectors and the bacterium. Disease management has focused on insecticidal control of the vectors and removal of potential sources of inocula from in and around the vineyard. Recent testing indicates that zinc supplementation may mitigate both disease severity and bacterial colonization of grape tissue. This project will quantitatively and qualitatively document the effects of increased zinc supplementation on bacterial numbers and disease symptomology in grape. Results from the project will be used to develop zinc supplementation as an additional tactic to manage Pierce's disease. Pheromone Preferences of Distinct Pecan Nut Casebearer Populations in North America
Project Director: Raul Francisco Medina Acrobasis nuxvorella is the most damaging pest of pecan. Early season management of this key pest prevents losses of ca. $30 million/yr. 33-56% of the insecticides used in the Southern Region of the US target this pest. Pheromone monitoring and sequential sampling are currently used to assess insecticide treatment needs. Reducing insecticide use is essential for conserving natural enemies of foliar pecan pests and for reducing environmental pollution. Allopatric populations of A. nuxvorella have been recently discovered by our laboratory using neutral molecular markers and synthetic pheromone blends. One of these populations has a Mexican distribution while two other distinct populations are distributed in the southern US. The presence of distinct A. nuxvorella populations poses a potential threat to pecan management. Our molecular data suggests that the Mexican A. nuxvorella is attracted to one pheromone blend only while the US A. nuxvorella is attracted to both of the blends currently used. The existence of populations non-responsive to current pheromone monitoring and presumably oblivious to direct pheromone management strategies jeopardizes existing pecan IPM programs and complicates implementation of pheromone based technologies to manage A. nuxvorella. The proposed work will use olfactometric tests and two synthetic A. nuxvorella pheromones to assess pheromone preferences of A. nuxvorella in the US and in Mexico. Completion of the proposed work will provide pecan producers with knowledge to improve A. nuxvorella monitoring methods minimizing insecticide use for this pest. Preliminary investigation of an integrated multiple-tactic strategy for managing stink bugs in soybean.
Project Director: Jeffrey A. Davis The proposed project "Preliminary investigation of an integrated multiple-tactic strategy for managing stink bugs in soybean" is seeking funding from the Southern Region IPM Enhancement Grants Program 2009: Part 2 (Seed Projects). As a preliminary research project, we plan to examine possible solutions to concerns raised by Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs) for the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic field crops and vegetables. These concerns indicate the importance of developing new pest management plans for controlling stink bugs including testing alternative insecticides and cultural controls.
Weeds as reservoirs of resistance breaking TSWV isolates in tomato and pepper systems of Georgia
Project Director: Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan Tomato and pepper production in the southeastern United States has been severely impacted by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). For example, in 2000 TSWV caused an estimated $ 8.8 million loss in Georgia tomatoes alone. The wide host range of TSWV coupled with the presence efficient vector species viz., western flower thrips has made management of TSWV extremely difficult. The most efficient approach for managing TSWV in tomato and pepper in southeastern US is the use of resistant cultivars.
RFA: Southern Regional IPM Grant (S-RIPM)Developing Tools for Integrated Pest Management of an Exotic White Grub in Sweetpotato
Project Director: Mark Abney Over 80% of annual sweetpotato production in the US occurs in the southern region, and North Carolina is the nations leading producer of the crop. Plectris aliena is an exotic white grub species that has caused significant economic loss to sweetpotato (estimated by growers to exceed $3 million) in North Carolina in the past three years. The rise in the importance of P. aliena in North Carolina sweetpotato is unexplained, and the potential of this pest to expand its range into other important production areas is unknown. There are currently no effective tools for managing this insect, and it poses a considerable threat to the sweetpotato industry. Only limited research has been conducted on this insect; therefore, this project will focus on providing relevant biological information that will be used to develop control strategies. Without a thorough understanding of P. aliena biology leading to effective management strategies, sweetpotato production in North Carolina, and possibly the entire Southern US, could be in peril. The goal of this project is to develop monitoring tools and effective, economically and environmentally sustainable management strategies for P. aliena. Development of an online culture and morphology image reference tool for diagnosticians and identifiers
Project Director: Carrie Lapaire Harmon Proper identification is the first step to selecting the best IPM option for a given pest, increasing the number of options for best management, and decreasing the chance of off-target management ramifications. Often, diagnosticians turn to online searches for relevant images to assist them with their identifications. A multitude of image libraries and databases exist in the US and abroad, several of which include images of plant diseases and/or pests (Bugwood, PDIS, PADIL). However, these databases house relatively few images of morphologic diagnostic features such as close-ups of symptoms, culture plates, spores, mycelia, are narrowly-focused to a few high-impact organisms of regulatory significance (Systematic Mycology and Biology Laboratory database), or contain few images with relevance to southeastern US agriculture. We propose to fill this void at the request of our Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) members, and to make these images available through existing oft-used venues such as IPMimages.org (part of the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health and IPMimages, University of Georgia) and DDIS (through the University of Florida). It is the intent of this proposal to i) fine-tune search mechanisms for existing databases relevant to the project (IPMimages and DDIS), ii) develop and upload new region-specific images and iii) provide the accompanying customer support to bring in additional relevant diagnostic lab images efficiently. The proposed effort represents an enhancement to the Bugwood Network and SPDN public resources with a finite timeline. We plan to leverage existing support for diagnostician training and educational content development with the proposed budget to accomplish the project goals and accelerate the availability of deliverables (pathogen morphology and symptom-specific image collections relevant to southeastern US agriculture and ecosystems). Proper identification is the first step to selecting the best IPM option for a given pest, increasing the number of options for best management, and decreasing the chance of off-target management ramifications. Farmscape ecology of stink bugs and the development of environmentally friendly control strategies
Project Director: Francis Reay-Jones This work will (1) provide key information on the ecology of the main stink bug pests and their natural enemies in the Southeast, and (2) evaluate a method for substantially reducing insecticide use to manage stink bugs in cotton, a major susceptible crop in the Southeast United States. The management of stink bugs on all field crops currently relies on scouting and the use of insecticides. Frequency of insecticide applications to manage sucking bugs (stink bugs and plant bugs) in cotton has increased from 1/ha in 1992 to 3/ha in 2005. To reverse this trend in cotton and other crops, improved control strategies of stink bugs are needed, which require a better understanding of the ecology of the main stink bug species.
Improving management of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, in Southeastern residential environments
Project Director: Phillip Kaufman Overall goal: Reduce misuse and overuse of pesticides in homes that are ineffective against the brown dog tick (BDT). We will accomplish these goals through cooperative efforts of the Pest Control Industry (PCI), University and USDA collaborators in the southeastern US. Our research objectives include: 1) determination of BDT resistance to permethrin and fipronil; 2) Development of a discriminating dose bioassay to identify field-failure resistance with minimal on-animal rearing; 3) identify resistance mechanisms used by BDT. Through our extension objectives, we will deliver much-needed PCI management protocols and brochures. Our proposal meets S-RIPM program goals by increasing the supply of IPM knowledge to Southeastern US residents and improves household tick pest management. Our project specifically addresses all three IPM Road Map future directions by: 1) reducing costs for residents through improved tick management, 2) reducing human health risks from ticks and overuse of pesticides in homes, and 3) greatly minimizing environmental effects from treatment. Residential areas account for a considerable portion of the Southern region and direct contact with pesticides occurs in homes far in excess than that in food and fiber, making this project highly relevant to stakeholders. Furthermore, >37% or >43 million US households have dogs. Through our results, PCI personnel will effectively target BDT infestations, thereby reducing pesticides applied in homes and around children. Reduced-Risk Pre- and Postharvest Management of Multiple Fungicide -Resistant Populations of the Peach Brown Rot Fungus Monilinia fructicola
Project Director: Harald Scherm The goal of this research project is to develop a system for economically viable control of brown rot (Monilinia fructicola), the key fruit disease on peaches, in the face of a rapidly deteriorating fungicide resistance situation. Isolates resistant to DMI fungicides have been detected in Georgia 5 years ago and in other southern states during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. DMI-resistant isolates are predisposed toward resistance development to the QoI (strobilurin) fungicides, and QoI-resistant isolates have been detected in South Carolina in 2007 and in Georgia in 2008; these isolates represent the tip of the iceberg of emerging QoI resistance in the South, leaving this major peachproducing region without effective tools for managing brown rot. We propose a two-pronged approach to manage multiple fungicide resistance in M. fructicola based on integrating reduced-risk pre- and postharvest treatments. Pre-harvest applications will focus on combinations of compounds that enhance fruit resistance to infection and inhibit production of cell wall-degrading enzymes by M. fructicola, including calcium, chitosan, and iron. Under increased brown rot pressure due to resistance in the orchard, the judicious use of postharvest treatments will increase in importance. Thus, our second objective will optimize application parameters for fludioxonil (Scholar), a reduced-risk postharvest fungicide that is highly effective against brown rot but whose current applications patterns in southern packinghouses result in inadequate fruit coverage that could jeopardize disease control efficacy and lead to development of fludioxonil resistance. Economic analyses and outreach efforts conducted under a third objective will ensure that the new knowledge and technologies developed here will be put into practice. Revising management programs for the rice stink bug in southern rice
Project Director: Michael Joseph Stout The rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax, is the most important late-season insect pest of rice in the southern United States. Adults and nymphs of this insect remove the contents of developing rice grains using their piercing-sucking mouthparts. The nature and extent of damage from stink bug feeding depends on both the level of infestation and the stage of grain development at which feeding occurs. Feeding by rice stink bugs can result in reductions in both yield and grain quality, but, at infestation levels typically found in commercial rice fields, reduction in grain quality is probably the more important type of damage. Reduction in grain quality takes the form of pecky rice (chalky, discolored areas around feeding sites). Growers are penalized by mills for high incidences of peck; moreover, pecky rice is more likely to break during the milling process, leading to a lower percentage of whole grains in milled rice.
Teamwork and Technology Deliver IPM Strategies and Resources to Homeowners by Empowering Master Gardener Volunteers
Project Director: Ellen Bauske Our project, Teamwork and Technology Deliver IPM Strategies and Resources to Homeowners by Empowering Master Gardener Volunteers is an Extension project. Urban agents rely on MG volunteers to expand their outreach efforts, however these volunteers lack the tools and knowledge they need to make specific IPM recommendations to homeowners. Our goal is to create advanced training for MGs in Landscape IPM using Internet Distance Education Technology and create support materials they can use in their outreach efforts to educate homeowners. This teaching technology allows us to compound the impact of our educational efforts. This project will lead to healthy, sustainable home landscapes.
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2008 Program YearRFA: 2008 Southern Region IPM (S-RIPM) Grants ProgramArgentine Ant IPM in the urban landscape with food source reductions and baits
Project Director: Jules Silverman The Southeastern US is now infested with the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. This introduced invasive species is a serious urban and agricultural pest throughout California and may repeat it's negative impact in the southeast with several established populations already in this state. North Carolina still maintains an important agricultural based economy with burgeoning urbanization. Recent NC Dept Agriculture. statistics value the NC green industry at $8.6 billion and USDA ranks NC 7th in agricultural cash receipts. Management of Argentine ant populations is constrained by many factors, including the ants ready access to a relatively abundant and consistent food source; honeydew from aphids, soft scales and mealybugs. Currently, only chemical insecticides are utilized in attempts to control Argentine ants and these are frequently misapplied, overused, and are generally ineffective because the large, diffuse colony structure of Argentine ants makes nests difficult to locate and treat. Delivery of one insecticide form, bait, does not require precise location of the nest and has minimal effects on non-target organisms; however, baits often fail because they are rejected in favor of Sternorrhyncha honeydew. The overall goal of this project is to develop an alternative pest management system for Argentine ants and is related to the USDAs national integrated pest management (IPM) roadmap that calls for increasing the use of IPM systems to reduce potential human health risks and minimize adverse environmental effects from pest and related management strategies in residential and public areas. Specifically, we aim to develop a novel management approach whereby Argentine ants are simultaneously prevented from accessing their preferred food source and provided insecticidal bait. We predict that while Sternorrhyncha reductions alone will negatively impact Argentine ant populations, insecticidal baits will further depress ant numbers, being consumed when honeydew is scarce. We will test our hypothesis in two separate urban settings (1) commercial business park (2) residential neighborhood, where Sternorrhyncha populations on ornamental and shade trees are reduced with a winter dormant oil application or a soilinjected systemic treatment, which is followed by ant baiting. We will also evaluate a low nontarget risk treatment whereby Argentine ants are prevented from reaching Sternorrhyncha in the canopy through the placement of sticky barriers around tree trunks, in conjunction with baiting. In addition to assessing the technical merit of this approach, we will conduct surveys of homeowner/enduser perceptions of performance, and extend the results of this research to stakeholders through workshops and Cooperative Extension Service mailings.
Development of a Pocket Guide for the Identification and Control of Invasive Weeds in the Southern Region
Project Director: Gregory R. Armel Invasive plant species have become an important issue in the southern region as these species are aggressively competing with certain native plant populations and cultivated crops for moisture, nutrients, and sunlight. Currently, one of the biggest issues regarding proper management of invasive weed species is an accurate and timely identification of the target weed species. Current resource limitations in Cooperative Extension often compound this issue leading to more undetected buildup of invasive weed populations because there are fewer trained personnel to accurately identify these plants and make sound integrated pest management recommendations for effective early eradication. Therefore, the goal of this project is to produce a pocket identification guide to educate and enpower land owners (e.g. growers), land managers, and other decision makers to accurately identify invasive weeds so they are able to distinguish these invasive species from other similar native species. In addition, this guide will not only aid in the identification of these species but will also provide an integrated weed management approach for controlling these invasive weed species. The idea for a pocket guide for invasive weed identification and management is predicated on the need of land managers to easily access pertinent information in any location at any time. This guide will afford the user accurate information at the tip of their fingers and will be the type of tool that can easily be carried (e.g. shirt/pant pocket) and accessed even in remote locations (even in areas without cell phone service or easy internet access). Enhancing Sustainable Use of Transgenic Bt-corn Through Resistance Management for the Mid-Southern Region of the United States
Project Director: Fangneng Huang This is a research project for validation and improvement of a strategy for managing resistance to Bt-corn in the sugarcane borer (SCB), a research priority recently identified by a USDA multi-state research group (NC-205). The rapid adoption of Bt-corn in the midsouthern region necessitates implementation of an effective insect resistance management (IRM) plan to ensure the long-term success of Bt-corn. In recent years, SCB has become a dominant corn borer species in several areas across the mid-southern region. The first major resistance gene to Bt-corn in any corn borer species has been recorded in two Louisiana SCB populations.
Expanding IPMImages to Meet the Needs of Southern IPM Extension Education and Plant Diagnostic Communities
Project Director: G. Keith Douce This Extension project will expand IPMImages.org to increase S.E. IPM Extension and Plant Diagnostic Communities support by working with S.E. Land Grant Universities to digitize and add images to IPMImages where they can be used by educators, practitioners, farmers and the general public.
Implementation of a Regional Fungicide Resistance Monitoring and Brown Rot Disease Management Program to Sustain Peach Production in the South
Project Director: Guido Schnabel This is a joint research-extension project addressing the emergence of fungicide resistance in Monilinia fructicola, a serious threat to the sustainability of southern peach production and a key issue of the Pest Management Strategic Plan for Eastern Peaches. Preharvest fungicide applications are a critical component of integrated brown rot management, but resistance to benzimidazole and demethylation inhibitor fungicides have already caused control failures in commercial orchards. Consequently, usage of quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) has increased; this fungicide class readily develops resistance, so the resistance risk is very great. If resistance to QoIs does develop, and we have strong evidence that it already has in some locations, growers will be left with no effective alternative for brown rot control. The goal of this project is to implement a region-wide and eventually self-sustaining resistance monitoring program that will enable growers to select the most effective pre-harvest fungicide program for their specific location. Our objectives are to (i) conduct training for county agents to assess fungicide resistance profiles of M. fructicola field populations; (ii) develop a regional monitoring program, where agents from southern states determine and report local resistance profiles; (iii) provide immediate prescription disease control recommendations based on resistance profiles; and (iv) update and improve current resistance management strategies by analyzing the effect of spray recommendations on resistance profiles and by conducting efficacy trials. We are requesting ~$100,000 for our research activities and ~$100,000 for our extension activities. This proposal addresses both future directions and focus areas of the IPM Road Map for the National IPM Program. Integrated Weed Management Strategies to Increase Pasture Productivity
Project Director: Jonathan D Green Problematic weeds such as tall ironweed, musk thistle, spiny amaranth, buttercup, common cocklebur, and horsenettle have been increasing in pastures during the past several years as grazing has intensified within Kentucky, Tennessee, and the surrounding region where cool-season grasses are the predominant type of forages grown. These weeds are becoming more prominent in pastures because they are unpalatable to animals or have spines or thorns. Livestock producers are seeking ways to increase pasture productivity by minimizing the impact of these weeds on grazed lands. One of the primary methods used to combat weeds in pastures has been mowing, but due to increasing energy cost producers are beginning to question the economic viability of this option. Other weed control methods which are available including integration of weed management practices need to be considered. The objective of this project is to evaluate mowing (mechanical control), herbicide (chemical control), and added fertility (culture practice) as independent factors and as integrated weed management methods that best reduce populations of unpalatable weed species which compete with the productivity of desirable forage species in grazed pastures. Field research trials will be used to determine pasture productivity relative to these weed management strategies combined with an economic analysis that would assess the cost/benefits of each of these different weed management practices. During the final stages of this project field days will be held, meeting presentations and publications will be used to educate livestock producers, county extension agents, and other interested individuals on best management practices for weed control in pastures. Novel Feeding Disruption Assay for Monitoring Insecticide Resistance in Adult Lepidopteras
Project Director: Michael Roe This is a research project. Resistance to chemical insecticides has been a common and continuous problem facing agriculture since the first reports of resistance to DDT. Because of the significant cost of new insecticide development, the potential of resistance and cross resistance eliminating new and old insecticide chemistries, the impact of resistance on increased use of pesticides in the environment, and the fact that resistance monitoring technologies is an under studied area of Ag research, it appears prudent that we invest in better methods for resistance monitoring of the major pest species. The National Road Map for IPM listed the following need relevant to this proposal: Develop new diagnostic tools& for detection of pesticide resistance in pest populations. The 2007 SERA003-IPM Priorities included Resistance management for pesticides , Development of decision aids for management of pests and Research on evaluation techniques for IPM. This proposal exactly addresses these needs by providing easier to use and more cost effective monitoring tools for insect resistance; the preservation of insecticidal control technologies; reductions in insecticide failures and the cost of new insecticide development; and reductions of insecticides in the environment because of reduced pesticide efficacy. This research proposal is a multi-state effort, is biology-based (not sub-organismal), and has been acknowledged in the previous review as regionally important. A response to the previous review of this proposal is provided in the project narrative. The assay method developed in this proposal will be validated in North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas and should be applicable to most crop systems and chemical insecticides in the SE.
Push-Pull Fly Management for Deep Bedded Swine Barns
Project Director: D. Wes Watson This is a research project is designed to employ a stimulo-deterrent diversionary strategy (SDDS) or Push-pull strategy (PPS) to manage arthropod pests. PPS has been successfully used in a variety of integrated cropping systems, including onions and cotton. The concept relies on the manipulation of the pest by applying pressures to induce behavioral changes that result in less damage to the crop. PPS uses a variety of compounds including repellents, oviposition deterrents, and antifeedants to push the pest away from the crop. PPS couples these agents with others that pull the pests toward an unsuitable crop. The latter may be pheromones, attractants, and feeding stimulants often in the form of a trap crop. Application of PPS may have utility in the management of pests in animal agriculture. We propose the use of plant derived insect repellents, geraniol and 2-undecanone, and an entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana for the control of house flies and stable flies in alternative swine production systems.
RFA: Critical Needs and Emerging IssuesDevelopment of a Georgia/South Carolina cotton Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP)
Project Director: Michael Dennis Toews We propose to develop a PMSP to address a multidisciplinary management plan for Georgia/South Carolina cotton pests. Recent changes in production practices of Cotton in South Carolina and Georgia and increasing priority by governmental agencies for effective and sound management techniques form the basis of need for this PMSP. Further support for the need of a GA/SC Cotton PMSP is given below.
RFA: IPM Enhancement Grants 2008 Part 1 - IPM DocumentsSouthern Region IPM Network for Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and Related IPM Documents
Project Director: Mark Mossler The Florida Pest Management Information Program (FPMIP) is proposing to represent the State of Florida as well as the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with regard to federal pest management inquiries. The FPMIP, through the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office, has cooperated with the Southern Region IPM Center since its inception. The FPMIP has consistently responded to federal requests in a timely and thorough manner, and maintains those items such as pest management stakeholder network and electronic and paper information delivery systems. The FPMIP has routinely provided the most numerous responses to federal queries to the SRIPMC. With regard to IPM documents such as crop profiles and strategic plans, the FPMIP has consistently posted the highest number of new crops and revisions submitted to the SRIPMC. Since Florida and other Caribbean locals may have tropical tempterature throughout the year, many minor and specialty crops are grown in this region. Pest pressures are also severe in these areas due to this reason. The profiles submitted by the FPMIP are some of the most detailed and timely in the crop profile library. The FPMIP in endeavoring to revise the tropical fruit cluster of profiles and strategic plans during the current funding period. The FPMIP is requesting less than one full-time equivalent in labor and minor travel funding to conduct state contact duties and revise the crop profiles in the current funding period. State Contact and IPM Documents for Oklahoma
Project Director: Jim T Criswell The Oklahoma State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center is the primary contact for pest management related issues and will be housed in the Oklahoma Pesticide Safety Education office and cooperate closely with the Integrated Pest Management Program. This contact will facilitate pest management and pesticide related activities, including regulations, education, information acquisition and dissemination, and rapid response to emerging issues. The Pesticide Safety Education Program office allows for a central contact point for Oklahomans with pesticide and pest management questions. The Oklahoma State Contact has worked for the last three years to collect the information requested by the Southern Region IPM Center through Extension and Research Specialists, growers, and commodity groups. The Oklahoma State Contact will respond to the IPM Centers information request as well as any other entity request for information on pest management needs. The Oklahoma State Contact will continue to facilitate the production of IPM documents and any other format needed to inform stakeholders of pest management information. The Oklahoma State Contact will work closely with the IR-4 liaison, Pesticide Coordinator, IPM Coordinator, state research specialists, state, area, and county Extension specialists, state commodity groups and associations, state agribusiness associations, and state pesticide applicator groups in forming a stakeholder network to identify and set priorities for Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Contact will continue to respond to information requests from the Southern Region IPM Center and prioritize and coordinate the development of crop profiles and pest management strategic plans for Oklahoma with input from stakeholder groups. The network will also continue to contribute to and expand upon the existing pest management information venues, in newsletters, educational programs, manuals, fact sheets, and Web sites; and finally, will continue to participate in the SRIPM Center by attending meetings and providing updates on state progress. The State Contact for Oklahoma will also produce two IPM documents a crop profile for Oklahoma Grain Sorghum and a crop profile for Oklahoma turfgrasses. State Contact and IPM Documents for Texas
Project Director: Mark Matocha The objective of this proposal is to maintain the Texas State Contact (TSC) project to serve as the primary contact for information requests related to pest management and pesticides in Texas. As a member of the communication network of the Southern Region IPM Center, the TSC works closely with the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), IR-4 representatives, the IPM Coordinator, research and extension specialists across the state, and commodity organizations to maintain a stakeholder network and to respond to information requests. Texas has the largest area of cultivated crops and agricultural enterprises in the United States. Stakeholders and other interested parties generate hundreds of requests annually for information on pest management, pesticide regulations, pesticide use, and pesticide storage and disposal. The development and maintenance of a primary contact source to serve stakeholders is necessary to support information requests by agricultural producers, other stakeholders and the citizens of Texas. Stakeholder networks are derived from participation in numerous meetings both statewide and local. TSC specialists travel across the state every week delivering educational programs to IPM stakeholders at county and district-based meetings. In the last year, TSC personnel participated in no less than 80 of these meetings. By interacting with clientele in person, TSC specialists are better able to identify and address IPM concerns of agricultural producers, urban clientele, commodity organizations, and others involved with IPM on a regular basis. This interaction allows AES specialists' grass-roots level access to information provided directly by IPM stakeholders. The AES Unit has also established and maintained a multi-state advisory committee that confers regularly to assess pesticide needs and priorities for minor use and ornamental crops. The Minor Use Pesticide Advisory Committee (MUPAC) is comprised of university research and extension personnel, commodity organization representatives, regulatory personnel, and grower representatives from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. TSC has developed and maintained a Texas IPM State Contact web site. Additionally, the TSC proposes to update and revise five IPM documents for the Southern Region IPM Center. The crop profiles for cantaloupes, cotton, honeydew melons, and potatoes have been identified as High Priority for revision by the TSC. Additionally, the crop profile for spinach has been identified as Medium Priority for revision while the production statistics for this crop have changed dramatically in recent years. Updating these crop profiles will remove outdated inaccurate information from the IPM network while replacing that information with accurate, pertinent production information for these crops. Virginia Pest Management Information Network - State Contact Project (SCP) and IPM Documents
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable IPM strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University (NCSU), and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles, IPM Elements, and pest management strategic plans (PMSP) for important crops grown in Virginia, North Carolina and cooperating states in the Northeast and Southern regions. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its IPM programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs will serve as the state contact project for Virginia. This will involve serving as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides, establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network to develop state IPM priorities, providing oversight of Virginia crop profiles and PMSPÇs, providing personnel to attend an annual state contact meeting, and maintain a project web site to share pertinent IPM and regulatory information and resources with stakeholders. Virginia Tech will also develop (two) IPM Elements (Christmas trees and honeybees), refine its databases of IPM priorities and stakeholders, develop a Christmas tree crop profile, update its Christmas tree PMSP, and continue the revision of its existing crop profile database. RFA: IPM Enhancement Grants 2008 Part 1 - State ContactsSouthern Region IPM Network for Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands and Related IPM Documents
Project Director: Mark Mossler The Florida Pest Management Information Program (FPMIP) is proposing to represent the State of Florida as well as the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with regard to federal pest management inquiries. The FPMIP, through the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office, has cooperated with the Southern Region IPM Center since its inception. The FPMIP has consistently responded to federal requests in a timely and thorough manner, and maintains those items such as pest management stakeholder network and electronic and paper information delivery systems. The FPMIP has routinely provided the most numerous responses to federal queries to the SRIPMC.
Southern Region IPM Network for Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands and Related IPM Documents
Project Director: Fred Fishel The Florida Pest Management Information Program (FPMIP) is proposing to represent the State of Florida as well as the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with regard to federal pest management inquiries. The FPMIP, through the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office, has cooperated with the Southern Region IPM Center since its inception. The FPMIP has consistently responded to federal requests in a timely and thorough manner, and maintains those items such as pest management stakeholder network and electronic and paper information delivery systems. The FPMIP has routinely provided the most numerous responses to federal queries to the SRIPMC.
State Contact and IPM Documents for Alabama
Project Director: Henry Fadamiro This proposal is to request funding support for the Alabama State Contact Project (ASCP). The main goal of the ASCP is to support the communications network of the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC). The ASCP has been funded annually since 2005 by the SRIPMC and this proposal is a request for funding renewal to allow continuation of project activities. This project addresses the priorities of the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC) by enhancing the development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in Alabama. The goals are to continue to support the communications network of the SRIPMC, assist the center in meeting the goals of the National IPM Roadmap, and promote IPM knowledge and adoption in Alabama. Specifically, the ASCP at Auburn University will continue to: 1) Serve as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides in Alabama; 2) Document activities related to pesticide and pest management inquiries from entities other that the Center (SRIPMC), USDA and EPA; 3) Expand and maintain a stakeholder network to consult, advise and participate in the activities of the ASCP; 4) Provide coordination and oversight of Crop Profiles, Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs) in Alabama; 5) Provide an annual assessment prioritizing Crop Profiles and PMSPs for Alabama; 6) Provide a list containing names of the IPM-related experts for research and extension for all important commodities and settings pertinent to Alabama; 7) Maintain, redesign and update the ASCP website (Alabama Pest Management Information Center website - http://www.aces.edu/anr/ipm/ OR www.alabamaipm.com)as required by the SRIPMC; 8) Attend an annual state contact meeting arranged by the SRIPMC in consultation with project directors; 9) Facilitate collaboration between IPM specialists at Auburn University and their counterparts at Alabamas 1890 institutions; and 10) Provide important and timely IPM information to stakeholders in Alabama through appropriate media including fact sheets, pest alerts, newsletters, presentations at grower meetings and IPM workshops, electronic mails, and IPM websites. The continuation of the ASCP will facilitate the goals of the National IPM Roadmap by enhancing the timely access of growers and other stakeholders to IPM information and fostering communication among researchers, growers, public citizens and other IPM stakeholders. The ASCP will prioritize and coordinate the development of Crop Profiles and PMSPs for key commodities and settings in the state. Key expected outcomes of this project include the number of information requests and the quality of the responses provided by the SCP, maintenance of a broad-based IPM Advisory Committee and project website, and development of a list of IPM-related expertise in Alabama.
State Contact and IPM Documents for Arkansas
Project Director: J. Ples Spradley This is a proposal is to seek funding for the position of Arkansas State Contact (ASC) for the purpose of participating in the communications network of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC). In this capacity the ASC will serve as the primary contact and coordinator to address the informational needs of EPA, USDA, and other stakeholders, concerning integrated pest management, pesticide use practices, crop profiles, pest management strategic plans, pesticide regulation, and other pest management issues in Arkansas that arise during the contract period. The Project Director will work with the states IPM and IR-4 Coordinators to plan, integrate, and analyze data requests and submissions. Responses to requests for information and other related activities will be documented and submitted to the SRIPMC by the ASC. The network of stakeholders established for crop profiles, PMSPs, advice, and input for the state contact project will be maintained. New stakeholders and networks will be established as necessary. An annual assessment prioritizing the crop profile and pest management strategic plan (PMSP) needs for Arkansas will be provided to the SRIPMC. In addition, a list of the IPM-related experts for research and Extension in Arkansas will be provided to the SRIPMC and updated annually. A project web site with the Arkansas crop profiles/ PMSPs and links to the SRIPMC web site will be maintained and updated as necessary. Arkansas has produced eleven crop profiles and directed regional pest management strategic plans on cotton, rice, and soybeans under the direction of Ples Spradley, the Project Director for this proposal. As the ASC, we will continue to provide oversight and support on the development and completion of crop profiles, strategic plans, and other relevant issues/projects as needed and will report in detail on these activities to the SRIPMC. State Contact and IPM Documents for Kentucky
Project Director: Patricia Lucas The University of Kentucky seeks funds for the continuation of a State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center to improve and maintain a communication network between the producers/stakeholders in Kentucky, Extension Specialists and the Southern Region IPM Center. The role and efforts of the State Contact will be as follows: The contact will serve as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides. The contact will be responsible for establishing and maintaining electronic mailing lists to quickly disseminate requests for information from the Pest Management Center. The contact will ask University Specialists to provide information for the documentation of activities related to pesticide and pest management inquires from other entities such as USDA and EPA. The contact will work to increase involvement of a stakeholder network and an IPM Advisory Committee and provide documentation and evidence of their involvement in projects and activities. Evidence of stakeholder involvement will be made available on-line, including products derived from individuals and groups that participate in the network. The contact will coordinate the collection and up-dating of information to establish stakeholder-identified IPM priorities, identify current and emerging pest problems or concerns, identify needed PMSPs and identify needed Crop Profiles. The contact will make Extension Specialists aware of the need and use of Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs) and provide the guidelines for preparing a Crop Profile and PMSPs. For those wishing to prepare a Crop Profile or PMSP, the contact will provide assistance with the development of the profile. A list containing the names of IPM-related experts for research and Extension for the state of Kentucky will be developed. The contact will maintain the project web site, the Kentucky Component of the Southern Region IPM Center, as part of the Kentucky IPM web site. To present project results and to remain up-to-date on regional program efforts, the contact will attend the annual state contact meeting arranged by Southern Region IPM Center. State Contact and IPM Documents for Oklahoma
Project Director: Jim T Criswell The Oklahoma State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center is the primary contact for pest management related issues and will be housed in the Oklahoma Pesticide Safety Education office and cooperate closely with the Integrated Pest Management Program. This contact will facilitate pest management and pesticide related activities, including regulations, education, information acquisition and dissemination, and rapid response to emerging issues. The Pesticide Safety Education Program office allows for a central contact point for Oklahomans with pesticide and pest management questions. The Oklahoma State Contact has worked for the last three years to collect the information requested by the Southern Region IPM Center through Extension and Research Specialists, growers, and commodity groups. The Oklahoma State Contact will respond to the IPM Centers information request as well as any other entity request for information on pest management needs. The Oklahoma State Contact will continues to facilitate the production of IPM documents and any other format needed to inform stakeholders of pest management information.
State Contact and IPM Documents for Texas
Project Director: Mark Matocha The objective of this proposal is to maintain the Texas State Contact (TSC) project to serve as the primary contact for information requests related to pest management and pesticides in Texas. As a member of the communication network of the Southern Region IPM Center, the TSC works closely with the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), IR-4 representatives, the IPM Coordinator, research and extension specialists across the state, and commodity organizations to maintain a stakeholder network and to respond to information requests. Texas has the largest area of cultivated crops and agricultural enterprises in the United States. Stakeholders and other interested parties generate hundreds of requests annually for information on pest management, pesticide regulations, pesticide use, and pesticide storage and disposal. The development and maintenance of a primary contact source to serve stakeholders is necessary to support information requests by agricultural producers, other stakeholders and the citizens of Texas. Stakeholder networks are derived from participation in numerous meetings both statewide and local. TSC specialists travel across the state every week delivering educational programs to IPM stakeholders at county and district-based meetings. In the last year, TSC personnel participated in no less than 80 of these meetings. By interacting with clientele in person, TSC specialists are better able to identify and address IPM concerns of agricultural producers, urban clientele, commodity organizations, and others involved with IPM on a regular basis. This interaction allows AES specialists' grass-roots level access to information provided directly by IPM stakeholders. The AES Unit has also established and maintained a multi-state advisory committee that confers regularly to assess pesticide needs and priorities for minor use and ornamental crops. The Minor Use Pesticide Advisory Committee (MUPAC) is comprised of university research and extension personnel, commodity organization representatives, regulatory personnel, and grower representatives from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. TSC has developed and maintained a Texas IPM State Contact web site. Additionally, the TSC proposes to update and revise five IPM documents for the Southern Region IPM Center. The crop profiles for cantaloupes, cotton, honeydew melons, and potatoes have been identified as High Priority for revision by the TSC. Additionally, the crop profile for spinach has been identified as Medium Priority for revision while the production statistics for this crop have changed dramatically in recent years. Updating these crop profiles will remove outdated inaccurate information from the IPM network while replacing that information with accurate, pertinent production information for these crops. Tennessee Pest Management Information Network - State Contact and IPM Documents
Project Director: Darrell D Hensley The University of Tennessee seeks funding for continued development and maintenance of a State Contact Project (SCP) for Tennessee. If funding is received, The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology will continue to assist the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) in maintaining a communication network that will enhance and facilitate the flow of resources and information in integrated pest management on a statewide basis as well as a regional basis. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, Tennessee Pest Management Information Network (TPMIN) will serve as a primary resource for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides in Tennessee. Responses to informational requests made through the SRIPMC will be forwarded to an online reporting system developed by the SRIPMC. The TPMIN will establish and maintain a stakeholder network to continue to develop Tennessees priorities. An annual contact meeting will be held with stakeholders to aid in developing state and regional priorities. The Universitys IPM Coordinators, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinators and IR-4 coordinators; industry representatives; grower groups and growers will be asked for their input in developing priorities for Tennessee. Developed priorities will be placed online for public access and stakeholder information will be displayed within a developed web site. The State Contact Project will provide oversight of state-developed Crop Profiles, Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSP) and other IPM documents. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department will work closely with the SCP. Darrell Hensley will serve as the principal investigator of the SCP for development of state Crop Profiles and state PMSPs. The SCP will contribute to state and national programs by supplying information concerning pest management and pesticides. This information will be distributed across the state in the form of newsletters, pest alerts and e-mailings. The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology also seeks additional funding to assist the SCP in developing Crop Profiles and PMSPs that will enhance the function, activities and processes of the SCP and facilitate the development of resources and information used in integrated pest management on a statewide basis and for regional use. Funding obtained will aid in the development and maintenance of state crop pest profiles and/or state or multi-state PMSPs. Priorities determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by state stakeholders will be priorities targeted by the team working and developing state IPM Documents. Developed crop/pest profiles and PMSPs will conform to the Centers standards for content, format and distribution. Completed IPM Documents will be forwarded to the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) to be placed on an online public accessible system. Occasionally, information concerning pests, outcomes and successes will be reported in annual reports and on the networks web site. Three production areas have been suggested by state stakeholders for development during 2008-2009. These production areas include crop / pest profiles for; greenhouse vegetable pest management, interiorscape pest management and ornamental pest management. Coordinators of Crop Profiles and PMSPs should allow the State Contact Project to provide oversight of the programs state-developed IPM Documents. Often information concerning crop acreage, yield, pest management practices utilized, pesticide use, biocontrol products, beneficial organisms, alternative pest control practices and other information will be contained within state-developed Crop Profiles and PMSPs and may be displayed for web access. Virginia Pest Management Information Network - State Contact Project (SCP) and IPM Documents.
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable IPM strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University (NCSU), and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles, IPM Elements, and pest management strategic plans (PMSP) for important crops grown in Virginia, North Carolina and cooperating states in the Northeast and Southern regions. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its IPM programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs will serve as the state contact project for Virginia. This will involve serving as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides, establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network to develop state IPM priorities, providing oversight of Virginia crop profiles and PMSPÇs, providing personnel to attend an annual state contact meeting, and maintain a project web site to share pertinent IPM and regulatory information and resources with stakeholders. Virginia Tech will also develop (two) IPM Elements (Christmas trees and honeybees), refine its databases of IPM priorities and stakeholders, develop a Christmas tree crop profile, update its Christmas tree PMSP, and continue the revision of its existing crop profile database. RFA: IPM Enhancement Grants Program 2008 Part IIField Guide to Stink Bugs of Agricultural Importance in the Upper Southern Region and Mid-Atlantic States.
Project Director: Sean Malone The proposed project, Field Guide to Stink Bugs of Agricultural Importance in the Upper Southern Region and Mid-Atlantic States, is seeking resources from the "IPM Capstone Grants" section of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Enhancement Grants Program: Part II (Special Projects)--2008. As part of a 3-year PhD program, a recent survey of stink bugs in row crops and vegetables identified at least 13 species including both pests and predators, many of which are not commonly known. Accurate identification of stink bug species is essential for implementing effective management programs and choosing the most appropriate control treatments. However, it is difficult to properly identify stink bugs especially considering the great variation in size and coloration of both the adult and immature (nymph) stages. In development of the recent Tomato PMSP for Virginia, North Carolina, and Delaware (Tomato Pest Management Strategic Plan, 2007), growers and stakeholders identified stink bug research as a priority. Extension priorities included the need for grower-friendly identification tools and disseminating of up to date information. An IPM survey of corn, soybean, and wheat growers in Virginia (Herbert et al. 2002) found that many often misidentified pests and wished to improve identification skills. Proper identification of stink bug pests continues to challenge growers and agriservice personnel involved in pest management in field, vegetable, and fruit crops. For example, misidentification of the spined soldier bug (a predator that feeds on many pest species) as the brown stink bug (a pest of many crops) occurs frequently due to the similarity in size, color, and shape. Another common problem is differentiating between the nymphal stages. The two most common stink bug species in the region, the brown stink bug and the green stink bug, change in color as they grow from younger nymphs to adults. Young green stink bug nymphs are mostly black but change to a shiny orange and black pattern as they age. Brown stink bugs are light green when they are young and gradually become brownish grey as they age. These variations in color within a species are common for most stink bugs. Proper identification is critical for applying correct thresholds and for selecting the most effective insecticides for control. For example, insecticide product labels have different rates and recommendations for the various stink bug species because they have been found to respond differently to different insecticides (Willrich 2003). Inaccurate identifications can lead to ineffective, unnecessary or even off-label pesticide applications. Proper identification could therefore help prevent many of these costly and unnecessary risks to users and the ag environment. Photographs and drawings of stink bugs, both pest and beneficial species, are available in numerous publications. However, none are specific to the Upper South and Mid-Atlantic region, and many do not provide good images and keys to identify nymphal stages. Likewise, several Internet sites provide high-quality photographs but results of the recent Virginia IPM survey showed that growers strongly prefer to have hard copy information in the truck where many of the daily pest management decisions are made (Herbert et al. 2002). Extension agents, growers, consultants, and scouts need a durable pocket-sized, high quality color guide to stink bugs that will aid them in making proper identification of these difficult pests and improve their pest management capabilities. Completion of the proposed photo guide will be the capstone effort of a PhD project that included many other objectives relating to stink bug management. It will have clear photos of the stink bug species found in agricultural commodities throughout the Upper South and Mid-Atlantic region. Descriptive text and identification keys will be included for easy separation of commonly misidentified species of adults and nymphs. High-resolution photographs will be compiled from personal collections of the authors and collaborators as well as the Internet. The pocket-sized, full-color booklet will be made of laminated, UV protected copy stock and will have plastic coil bindings for durability. Identification of semiochemicals mediating attraction and aversion in the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus L.
Project Director: Russell F. Mizell The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus L., is an invasive mammalian pest in Florida and much of the southern U.S. Armadillo foraging activity causes destruction in a wide range of locations, including sod farms, golf courses, sports fields, nurseries, orange groves, cemeteries, lawns and gardens. Additionally, armadillos cause structural instabilities by digging burrows around and under buildings, and are responsible for reductions in bobwhite quail populations. Armadillos are one of the most significant nuisance pests in Florida and the Southeast, comprising a large proportion of public complaints against wildlife in GA even greater than whitetailed deer. Nine-banded armadillos are also of medical concern because they are the only endemic natural host other than humans of the bacteria that causes leprosy. Leprosy has been detected in armadillos from South and Central America, TX, AK, LA, and MS. The mode of transmission of leprosy remains unknown. There are no methods to effectively deter, capture, or monitor armadillos. Preliminary data indicates that chemicals emitted from excretions, scent glands, and food materials may attract armadillos. We propose to investigate the behavior of armadillos with the goal of identifying semiochemicals that could be exploited to develop either baits or repellents useful in reducing human-armadillo conflicts. The identification of novel attractants or repellents could lead to improved monitoring and management methods and facilitate medical research on leprosy. Given success in identification of such compounds, there is great potential for generating commercial interest in patented materials and additional funding. Refinement and validation of a new time-saving scouting technique for Hemipterous pests of cotton based on external feeding symptoms.
Project Director: Ames Herbert The proposed project, Refinement and validation of a new time-saving scouting technique for Hemipterous pests of cotton based on external feeding symptoms is seeking resources from the "IPM Capstone Grants" section of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Enhancement Grants Program: Part II (Special Projects)--2008. In cotton throughout the Southern Region, a low-insecticide-spray environment has elevated the pest status of sucking bugs (stink bugs and plant bugs), which used to be controlled by properly timed caterpillar and/or boll weevil applications. This low-spray environment is due in part to widespread adoption of B.t. cotton for caterpillar pest management and the success of the USDA Boll Weevil Eradication Program. Stink bug feeding on bolls leaves a characteristic black sunken lesion on the outer boll wall. As they probe the boll to feed on seed, stink bugs also inject digestive enzymes. This feeding process causes square, internal boll, and seed damage, hard lock, and entry points into bolls for pathogenic fungi, all of which results in lower gin-out, lint yields, and fiber quality. Current stink bug thresholds in cotton rely on population estimates using a drop cloth or sweep net, or on boll dissections to determine whether internal damage has occurred. Because stink bugs are strong fliers, drop cloth and sweep net sampling gives poor estimates of numbers, especially in tall, late season cotton that is a favored habitat for stink bugs. Scouting based on dissecting bolls and examination for stink bug damage within has become widely adopted for assessing stink bug damage but is very time consuming and consultants most often take many fewer samples than recommended. Because of these inadequacies, many growers and crop consultants have abandoned the honored scout and treat-as-needed practice, to avoid the cost and nuisance of scouting, and have employed the so-called 3-5-7 system (automatic sprays on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th week of blooming). This is a disturbing trend. The issue of developing improved sampling methodology for sucking bugs in cotton is being addressed across the Southern Region. A 3-year multi-state (GA, SC, NC, VA) project, Identifying Practical Knowledge and Solutions For Managing The Sucking-Bug Complex In Cotton, was just completed (2007) to develop improved bug scouting technique based on use of external boll feeding symptoms. Results indicated that there is a strong correlation between internal and external stink bug boll damage, that internal damage can be predicted with 90% confidence when the number of external bug-induced feeding punctures reaches 4 to 6 per/boll on young bolls. Based on these data, a preliminary scouting technique utilizing external punctures on bolls, as a scouting target, was developed and tested in 2007. Only limited testing was possible in 2007 as it was not a primary object of study. However, preliminary results showed a close tracking of internal boll damage from external observation of feeding punctures and a time savings of 80% to 120%. The validation and refinement of this new time-saving scouting technique are the subjects of this proposal. Completion would be the final step for enabling adoption and implementation. Results would be incorporated into existing state extension pest management recommendations and would be made available to scouts, consultants, growers, extension agents, agribusiness representatives, and others through current web sites and advisories, and via presentations at extension and industry sponsored production meetings, field days, and professional meetings. Southern Region Conference to Assess Needs in IPM to Reduce the Incidence of Tick-Borne Diseases
Project Director: Charles S. Apperson Tick-borne diseases are an important source of illnesses in the southern region of the United States. Case of tick-borne illness are becoming increasingly prevalent. To address the public health threat posed by ticks and tick-transmitted illnesses, we propose to hold a workshop on tick-borne diseases of importance in the southern U. S. The purpose is to assemble stakeholders for strategic planning to address issues associated with the increasing public health burden imposed by ticks and tick-borne diseases in the southern region. A report will be issued that describes ecological, societal and institutional issues that are presently limiting health care providers and public agencies from addressing tick-borne diseases effectively and proactively. The report will also identify significant gaps in knowledge of the epidemiology and ecology of tick-borne diseases in the south that are impeding an integrated approach to the management of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Important areas of research will be identified and resources needed to accomplish the research will be described as well. Testing and deployment of a web-based yield loss prediction tool for risk management of Soybean Rust
Project Director: Joe A Omielan Soybean rust (SBR) is a serious disease of soybean that has the potential to reduce crop yields by as much as 80%. In the fall of 2004, the first case of SBR in the continental United States was confirmed. In the fall of 2005, our group began an international, multi-disciplinary study to develop a yield loss prediction tool for SBR. The utility of such a model is that potential yield losses may be weighed against cost of pesticide control in order to make more informed management decisions on the farm. However, the model must be validated using independent data sets from SBR-infected plots and the utility of the tool must be demonstrated for growers to adopt its use in IPM decisions. The tool must also be accessible and easy to use. The SBR Sentinel network in North America has proved to be invaluable in monitoring the survival and spread of SBR. Information on the occurrence and severity of SBR has facilitated the formulation of SBR risk assessments and recommendations communicated to soybean growers. As a direct result of SBR surveillance and educational activities, the majority of soybean producers in the U.S. have yet to apply a fungicide for SBR control. For example, it is estimated that only 1.7% of the 63.3 million soybean acres produced in the U.S. during 2007 were sprayed for soybean rust. The 1.34 million acres that were sprayed were all in the southern region where SBR intensity was greatest. It is highly probable that a portion of these 1.34 million acres were inappropriately sprayed, but we currently lack the ability to make more precise fungicide use recommendations to growers for specific settings. Users of IPM tools need to have confidence in the accuracy, reliability, and utility of the predicted outcomes and recommendations. If they are confident then they are more likely to implement the recommendations and promote its use to others. We need to do more extensive beta testing before going mainstream with the web-based yield loss prediction tool. Adjustments may be necessary. The yield loss depends on when the disease epidemic begins, the rate of disease progress over time, and the disease severity at the end of the season. The tool has to take these into account in order to make credible predictions. A soybean rust risk index would be an essential input to the model. The objectives are as follows: 1. Test the output of our yield loss prediction tool against actual data from trials where yield was limited by soybean rust. 2. Develop and test an interactive website for the yield loss prediction tool. For the first objective, we will obtain data from previous SBR fungicide trials from different states in the region. We will also collect all the background information, such as variety, seeding date, row spacing, disease progress during the season, and final yield. We will also make arrangements for obtaining data from the 2008 trials. Parameters to be input by the user in the tool include maturity group, row spacing and growth stage of the crop, expected yield (based on 5 year average), expected sale price of the crop and cost of the fungicide application. The key disease parameter input will be a measure of soybean rust risk (high, medium, or low). The outputs from the tool (predicted yield loss and economics of spraying) will be compared with the actual trial data. For replicated trials the output will be compared to the mean and whether it falls within the confidence limits of the trial. The frequency of correct spraying decisions will also be compared. If necessary the model generating the tools output will be adjusted. We will solicit input from likely users of the tool about the utility of the predictions, based on our tests. Further adjustments or more regional predictions may be required. For the second objective we will collect input on whats needed for the website. The focus will be on the yield loss prediction tool and will include the evaluation information. The design team and other potential users will be asked to evaluate how well the website functions. The testing will include different browsers, as well as ensuring it is useable by people on a dialup connection. Groups will be asked to do usability testing on the site. For this we would set out tasks to complete. How long it takes and the frustration involved will be some of the data collected. These results will be used to improve the site or confirm that it is good enough. The beta testing of the yield loss prediction tool and development of an interactive website will increase the utilization and effectiveness of this component of soybean IPM in the southern U.S. This will improve the profitability of the crop and reduce the environmental impact of unnecessary fungicide applications. Xylem feeding insects of pecan in Texas and Louisiana and their role in Xylella disease transmission
Project Director: Bill Ree Pecan bacterial leaf scorch (PBLS)is caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. Disease results in reduced yields, early defoliation and reduced tree vigor leading to suppression of production in subsequent years. X. fastidiosa is responsible for many plant diseases and is most often transmitted by xylem feeding Hemiptera. Multiple strains of the bacterium exist, some of which are host specific. When researching epidemiology, not only must the normally polyphagous xylem feeding insects be identified, they must also be characterized as to which strains of the bacterium they carry. Simply identifying the bacterium to species can be misleading as the strain may not be one of interest. Recent research has determined that many varieties of pecan, including some new introductions are susceptible to PBLS. Infected pecan rootstock and scions were also found to be infective on either side of the graft union. Since improved varieties are often maintained by grafts, spread of PBLS into clean orchards is a distinct possibility without the need for vector insects, none of which are yet identified. The research objectives of this project are to identify which insects are present, determine their bacterial loads and phenology in the orchards, the extent of the problem from central Texas through Louisiana and to assess epidemology in the orchards. The Extension objectives are to increase grower awareness of PBLS, take results from this study and combine with the known information to begin developing a management scheme and to assess efficacy of the trapping methods with regard to use by the clientele. |
2007 Program YearRFA: IPM ENHANCEMENT GRANTS PROGRAM: PART I (State Contacts and IPM Documents)Alabama State Contact Project for Supporting the Communications Network of the Southern Region IPM Center
Project Director: Henry Fadamiro This proposal is to request funding support for the Alabama State Contact Project (ASCP). The main goal of the ASCP is to support the communications network of the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC). In the last two years (2005 and 2006), the ASCP has been funded by the SRIPMC and this proposal is a request for funding renewal to allow continuation of project activities. This project addresses the priorities of the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC) by enhancing the development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in Alabama. The goals are to continue to support the communications network of the SRIPMC, assist the center in meeting the goals of the National IPM Roadmap, and promote IPM knowledge and adoption in Alabama. Specifically, the ASCP at Auburn University will continue to: 1) Serve as the primary contact in Alabama for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides. The ASCP will respond to and document inquiries from entities such as the SRIPMC, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) other appropriate federal agencies, state regulatory agencies, and non-governmental stakeholder groups; 2) Expand and maintain a stakeholder network to consult, advise and participate in the activities of the ASCP; 3) Provide coordination and oversight for SRIPMC projects conducted in Alabama, including crop profiles, pest management strategic plans (PMSPs), special projects, and stakeholder-identified priorities in the state; 4) Provide an annual assessment prioritizing crop profiles and PMSPs for Alabama; 5) Provide a list containing names of the IPM-related experts for research and extension for all important commodities and settings in Alabama; 6) Maintain and continually update a project website (Alabama Pest Management Information Center website http://www.aces.edu/anr/ipm/ OR www.alabamaipm.com) as required by the SRIPMC; 7) Attend an annual state contact meeting arranged by the SRIPMC; 8) Facilitate collaboration between IPM specialists at Auburn University and their counterparts at Alabamas 1890 institution; and 9) Provide important and timely IPM information to stakeholders in Alabama through appropriate media, including fact sheets, pest alerts, newsletters, presentations at grower meetings and IPM workshops, electronic mails, and IPM websites. The continuation of the ASCP will facilitate the goals of the National IPM Roadmap by enhancing the timely access of growers and other stakeholders to IPM information and fostering communication among researchers, growers, public citizens and other IPM stakeholders. The ASCP will prioritize and coordinate the development of Crop Profiles and PMSPs for key commodities and settings in the state. Key expected outcomes of this project include the number of information requests and the quality of the responses provided by the SCP, maintenance of a broad-based IPM Advisory Committee and project website, and development of a list of IPM-related expertise in Alabama. Development of a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Leafy Brassica Greens for South Carolina and Georgia
Project Director: John Powell Smith Georgia and South Carolina account for over 50% of the leafy brassica greens produced in the United States with 20,000 acres in Georgia and 4000 acres in South Carolina. The annual value of these crops in the two states is $59 million. Although, USDA does not collect acreage for these crops on a regular basis any longer, indications are that acreage is increasing in both states. The majority of the acreage in both states is destined for fresh market, but there is some processing acreage in each state. Weeds, diseases, and insect problems are important aspects of production of these crops. Currently, insecticide resistance in diamondback moth populations and bacterial disease are causing increased problems. With the close proximity of the two states , many problems are common; regional cooperation and information exchange would foster improved understanding of pest and production problems. However, there is no Pest Management Strategic Plan for leafy brassica greens in place for either state. Development of such a plan would foster communication between the states and improve research and management capacities for addressing both traditional and emerging pest problems for this important group of crops. We propose to develop a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Leafy Brassica Greens for the two states. A workshop is planned for fall 2007 to finalize the PMSP and encourage continued cooperation. Establishment of a Kentucky State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center
Project Director: Patricia Lucas The University of Kentucky seeks funds for the appointment of a State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center to develop and maintain a communication network between the producers/stakeholders in Kentucky, Extension Specialists and the Southern Region IPM Center. The role and efforts of the State Contact will be as follows: The contact will serve as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides. The contact will be responsible for establishing and maintaining electronic listservs to quickly disseminate request for information from the Pest Management Center. The contact will ask University Specialists to provide information for the documentation of activities related to pesticide and pest management inquires from other entities such as USDA and EPA. The contact will work to increase involvement of a stakeholder network and an IPM Advisory Committee and provide documentation and evidence of their involvement in projects and activities. Evidence of stakeholder involvement will be made available on-line, including products derived from individuals and groups that participate in the network. The contact will coordinate the collection of information to establish stakeholder-identified IPM priorities. Working with Extension Specialists to provide subject matter expertise, the contact will develope surveys to identify current and emerging pest problems or concerns, identify needed PMSPs and identify needed Crop Profiles. The contact will make Extension Specialists aware of the need and use of Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs) and provide all with the guidelines for preparing a Crop Profile and PMSPs. For those wishing to prepare a Crop Profile or PMSP, the contact will provide assistance with their development and create web documents. A list containing the names of IPM-related experts for research and Extension for the state of Kentucky will be developed. The contact will develope and incorporate a project web site as part of the already existing Kentucky IPM web site. To present project results and to remain up-to-date on regional program efforts, the contact will attend the annual state contact meeting arranged by Southern Region IPM Center. Oklahoma State Contact Southern Region IPM Center
Project Director: Jim T Criswell The Oklahoma State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center is the primary contact for pest management related issues and will be housed in the Oklahoma Pesticide Safety Education office and cooperate closely with the Integrated Pest Management Program. This contact will facilitate pest management and pesticide related activities, including regulations, education, information acquisition and dissemination, and rapid response to emerging issues. The Pesticide Safety Education Program office allows for a central contact point for Oklahomans with pesticide and pest management questions. The Oklahoma State Contact has worked for the last three years to collect the information requested by the Southern Region IPM Center through Extension and Research Specialists, growers, and commodity groups. The Oklahoma State Contact will respond to the IPM Centers information request as well as any other entity request for information on pest management needs. The Oklahoma State Contact will continues to facilitate the production of IPM documents and any other format needed to inform stakeholders of pest management information. The Oklahoma State Contact will work closely with the IR-4 liaison, Pesticide Coordinator, IPM Coordinator, state research specialists, state, area, and county Extension specialists, state commodity groups and associations, state agribusiness associations, and state pesticide applicator groups in forming a stakeholder network to identify and set priorities for Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Contact will continue to respond to information requests from the Southern Region IPM Center and prioritize and coordinate the development of crop profiles and pest management strategic plans for Oklahoma with input from stakeholder groups. The network will also continue to contribute to and expand upon the existing pest management information venues, in newsletters, educational programs, manuals, fact sheets, and Web sites; and finally, will continue to participate in the SRIPM Center by attending meetings and providing updates on state progress. Southern Region IPM Network for Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and Related IPM Documents
Project Director: Mark Mossler The Florida Pest Management Information Program (PMIP) has cooperated with the USDA CSREES Integrated Pest Management Centers since the implementation of the project through the auspices of the Pesticide Information Office at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Under program grants, the Florida PMIP has provided top-down and bottom-up Florida-specific information to federal agencies and other stakeholders through its communication network. In addition to Florida, the program extends these services to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Future funding ensures the viability of this network. The proposal also outlines revision of four crop profiles (sweet corn, potato, beef cattle, and peanut) and the creation of several new profiles, including Christmas tree and radish. Tennessee Pest Management Information Network - State Contact and IPM Documents
Project Director: Darrell D Hensley The University of Tennessee seeks funding for continued development and maintenance of a State Contact Project (SCP) for Tennessee. If funding is received, The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology will continue to assist the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) in maintaining a communication network that will enhance and facilitate the flow of resources and information in integrated pest management on a statewide basis as well as a regional basis. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, Tennessee Pest Management Information Network (TPMIN) will serve as a primary resource for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides in Tennessee. Responses to informational requests made through the SRIPMC will be forwarded to an online reporting system developed by the SRIPMC. The TPMIN will establish and maintain a stakeholder network to continue to develop Tennessees priorities. An annual state contact meeting will be held with stakeholders to aid in developing state and regional priorities. The Universitys IPM Coordinators, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinators and IR-4 coordinators; industry representatives; grower groups and growers will be asked for their input in developing separate state priorities for Tennessee. Developed priorities will be placed online for public access. Stakeholder information will be displayed within a developed web site. The State Contact Project will provide oversight of state-developed Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSP). Developed crop/pest profiles and PMSPs will conform to the Centers standards for content, format and distribution. Occasionally, information concerning pests, outcomes and successes will be reported in annual reports and on the networks web site. The SCP will contribute to programs by supplying information concerning pest management and pesticides. This information will be distributed across the state in the form of newsletters, pest alerts and e-mailings. The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology also seeks funding to assist the State Contact Project (SCP) in developing Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs) that will enhance the function, activities and processes of the SCP and facilitate the development of resources and information used in integrated pest management on a statewide basis and for regional use. Funding will be used for developing and maintaining state crop pest profiles and/or state or multi-state PMSPs. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department will work closely with the SCP. Darrell Hensley will serve as the principal investigator of the SCP for development of state Crop Profiles and state PMSPs. Completed Crop Profiles and PMSPs will be forwarded to the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) to be placed on an online public accessible system. The SCP will establish and maintain a stakeholder network to continue to develop state priorities. Priorities determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by state stakeholders will be priorities targeted by the team working and developing state Crop Profiles and PMSPs. Six production areas have been suggested by the stakeholders for development during 2007-2008. These include; leafy greens, blueberries, grapes, wheat, tobacco, and dairy cattle production. The Universitys IPM Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinator, and IR-4 coordinator, industry representatives, a representative from Tennessee State University, grower groups, growers, county agents, a state regulator and state crop specialists may be involved or have input in the development of selected state Crop Profiles and/or PMSPs. Coordinators of the Crop Profiles and PMSPs will allow the State Contact Project to provide oversight of the projects state-developed projects. Developed crop/pest profiles and PMSPs will conform to the SRIPMCs standards for content, format and distribution. Occasionally, information concerning pest management trends, IPM outcomes and successes will be reported to the SCP network and may be placed on the state networks web site. Information concerning crop acreage, yield, pest management practices utilized, pesticide use, biocontrol products, beneficial organisms, alternative pest control practices and other information will be contained within state-developed Crop Profiles and PMSPs for web publication. Texas State Contact for SRIPMC and IPM Documents
Project Director: Don L Renchie The objective of this proposal is to maintain the Texas State Contact (TSC) project to serve as the primary contact for information requests related to pest management and pesticides in Texas. As a member of the communication network of the Southern Region IPM Center, the TSC works closely with the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), IR-4 representatives, the IPM Coordinator, research and extension specialists across the state, and commodity organizations to maintain a stakeholder network and to respond to information requests. Texas has the largest area of cultivated crops and agricultural enterprises in the United States. Stakeholders and other interested parties generate hundreds of requests annually for information on pest management, pesticide regulations, pesticide use, and pesticide storage and disposal. The development and maintenance of a primary contact source to serve stakeholders is necessary to support information requests by agricultural producers, other stakeholders and the citizens of Texas. Stakeholder networks are derived from participation in numerous meetings both statewide and local. TSC specialists travel across the state every week delivering educational programs to IPM stakeholders at county and district-based meetings. In the last year, TSC personnel participated in no less than 75 of these meetings. By interacting with clientele in person, TSC specialists are better able to identify and address IPM concerns of agricultural producers, urban clientele, commodity organizations, and others involved with IPM on a regular basis. This interaction allows AES specialists' grass-roots level access to information provided directly by IPM stakeholders. The AES Unit has also established and maintained a multi-state advisory committee that confers regularly to assess pesticide needs and priorities for minor use and ornamental crops. The Minor Use Pesticide Advisory Committee (MUPAC) is comprised of university research and extension personnel, commodity organization representatives, regulatory personnel, and grower representatives from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. TSC has developed and maintained a Texas IPM State Contact web site. Additionally, the TSC proposes to develop two IPM documents for the Southern Region IPM Center. A crop profile for grain sorghum for grain, which is an EPA BEAD priority, and a Pest Management Strategic Plan for spinach will be developed. Texas ranks second and third nationally in grain sorghum and spinach production, respectively. To date, a crop profile for grain sorghum in Texas has not been developed. All IPM aspects of grain sorghum grown for grain in Texas need to documented in a crop profile to insure that the information is available to federal agencies and others. In 2003, revisions were made to the Texas spinach crop profile. However, a PMSP for spinach in Texas is needed in order to document the IPM priorities identified by spinach growers. In light of recent events pertaining to the safety of fresh spinach, a PMSP for spinach from the nation's third leading spinach-producing state would be prudent and beneficial to the growers, researchers, and governmental agencies involved. Virginia Pest Management Information Network - State Contact Project (SCP) and IPM Documents
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable IPM strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University (NCSU), and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles and pest management strategic plans (PMSP) for important crops grown in Virginia, North Carolina and cooperating states in the Northeast region. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its IPM programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs will serve as the state contact project for Virginia. This will involve serving as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides, establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network to develop state IPM priorities, providing oversight of Virginia crop profiles and PMSPs, providing personnel to attend an annual state contact meeting, and maintain a project web site to share pertinent IPM and regulatory information and resources with stakeholders. Virginia Tech will also develop two new crop profiles for aquaculture and blueberries, two IPM Element protocols and two PMSP's for turfgrass and honeybees, refine its databases of IPM priorities and stakeholders, and continue the revision of its existing crop profile database. RFA: IPM Enhancement Grants Program: Part II (Special Projects)Detection and quantification of insect repellents in bovine milk
Project Director: D. Wes Watson Geraniol is a naturally occurring monoterpene that functions as part of a plant's defense mechanism to ward off attack by insects. Geraniol is a common component of lemongrass, geranium, tomato and alfalfa and is usually associated with glandular tissues on the leaf and stem. When concentrations of geraniol are low, insects may be attracted to the plant but at high concentrations the insect is repelled. North Carolina State University has been exploring stimula deterrent (push-pull) strategies for the management of flies in the pasture ecosystem, most importantly the horn fly, Haematobia irritans. The push pull concept has been successfully used in a variety of cropping systems but to the best of our knowledge has never been used in animal agriculture. In a NC pilot project we used the naturally occurring plant oil geraniol to repel the horn flies from the treated animals. Horn flies, seeking alternative hosts, were attracted to other animals treated with a non-repellent parasiticide. Data described in this proposal demonstrates this strategy has utility for the reduction of pesticides in the environment and in our foods. We propose to gather preliminary data for a larger multistate project being developed between the states of NC, Florida and Arkansas. Obtaining funding for this multistate project hinges on the concern that the selected natural repellent might flavor cows' milk. Our goal herein is to gather data on the presence or absence of the geraniol in milk harvested from the topically treated animals. Geraniol concentrations in raw and pasteurized whole milks will be evaluated using solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The possible sensory impact of geraniol in milk will be addressed by the use of threshold analysis and difference and/or consumer acceptance tests. Determining Distribution of a Cyst Nematode on Corn in the Midsouth
Project Director: Darrell D Hensley The University of Tennessee is seeking funding to aid in determining the distribution of a newly discovered corn pest. In 2006, a cyst nematode was recovered from roots of stunted corn plants in a major corn seed production area of Tennessee, Obion County. Preliminary greenhouse studies have suggested that this nematode reproduces on corn and not on dicotyledonous crop roots. Morphological and molecular identification of the cyst nematode is ongoing but the USDA Nematology Lab contracted by APHIS and has confirmed that the nematode is not Heterodera zeae, the corn cyst nematode. Previously the corn cyst nematode was under federal quarantine, but has since been removed. Molecular tests have confirmed that the cysts found in 2006 corn production are not any of the common monocotyledon cyst nematode species (H. iri, H. mani), however, it is identical to an undescribed cyst nematode found in west Tennessee on goose grass (Eleusine indica) in 1978. The University of Tennessee is proposing to work with the University of Kentucky and Mississippi State University to survey suspected areas, obtain cropping history to determine the threat of this nematode to the corn production areas of each state and to determine spread and biology of this cyst nematode. Information concerning positive findings and areas of sampling will be reported to the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network. Funding in the amount of $23,000 is being requested to conduct a multi-state survey and greenhouse bioassays. Expansion of "Elementary Insects" Extension Program
Project Director: Kim Schofield Successful IPM programs for schools and public buildings have been developed and implemented. However, the principles of IPM should be expanded into our youth programs and to other residents of Texas. We propose to implement the innovative curricula, graphics and Internet modules found on www.elementaryinsects.tamu.edu, that were developed in 2005-2006 thorough funding by a Southern Region IPM grant. These modules were developed to allow those utilizing them to continue educating the general public about entomology and IPM practices. Currently there are modules available on this website, concerning mosquitoes, fleas, spiders, and good and bad insects in the landscape. Eventhough all of these modules are available to teachers and county extension agents throughout the world, the main distribution of these modules in Texas will be accomplished through contacts with educators in San Antonio and Dallas, TX. Management of Bacterial Spot of Pepper Through On-Farm Evaluation of Resistant Commercial Genotypes
Project Director: Ken Pernezny Bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, is the most important disease of the valuable Florida sweet bell pepper crop. Chemical control of this disease has been mediocre at times, in part due to the widespread occurrence of strains of the pathogen resistant to copper, the pesticide (bacetricide) most commonly sprayed for bacterial spot. There is strong grower interest in using pepper varieties with resistance to one or more races of X. euvesicatoria for management of bacterial spot in lieu of frequent copper bactericide applications. Because appearance of "new" races has defeated single, dominant genes for specific X. euvesicatoria races, gene pyramids offer more practical control potential in the field. For example, prior to 1989, race 2 of X. euvesicatoria was predominant in southern Florida. Responding to this situation, a private seed company released two horticulturally desirable cultivars with the Bs1 gene conferring hypersensitive resistance to race 2 in the 1989-90 season. Unfortunately, a sudden shift to a prevalence of race 1 strains defeated the Bs1 gene and was responsible for major losses on cultivars used commercially with and without the Bs1 gene. The objectives of this capstone effort are to evaluate 25-27 pepper genotypes for resistance to bacterial spot, including some entries with multiple or pyramided race-specific resistance genes; determine the dominant race(s) of X. euvesicatoria attacking plots in southern Florida; evaluate cultivars for desirable horticultural traits, such as marketable yield, blockiness, and lobe number; and provide educational material to growers, concerning these cultivars. Large-scale, replicated field trials will be conducted in the two major pepper production areas of southern Florida (east and west coasts). Ratings of bacterial spot severity will be made and races responsible for epidemics will be determined. Plots will be harvested 3 times and extensive horticultural data collected and analyzed. Field days will be conducted at both locations. Information will be sent to stakeholders on a CD for computer access and perusal. Publications will be written summarizing data and archived in the University of Florida Electronic Document Information Source. At lest one peer-reviewed journal article will be prepared. Management of Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle (Microtheca ochroloma) in Organic and Low-Input Vegetable Production Systems
Project Director: Henry Fadamiro This IPM seed grant proposal requests funding to initiate a research and extension project on the management of yellowmargined leaf beetle (YMLB), Microtheca ochroloma Stål (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an introduced pest from South America, which arguably is currently the most devastating pest of organic crucifer vegetable production in Alabama and other parts of southern U.S. Vegetable crops that are damaged include cabbage, collards, turnip, napa cabbage, mustard, radish, and watercress. Despite its economic importance and wide distribution in southern U.S., little is known about the biology and management of YMLB. The long-term goal of this project is to develop and evaluate low-input management practices approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) against YMLB and similar pests including biopesticides, botanical insecticides, and semiochemical-based tactics. This IPM seed grant proposal will support the implementation of the first stages of this long-term research and extension goal by providing funding to initiate the study and by generating preliminary data to support future proposals. Specific objectives of this proposal are to: 1) Evaluate efficacy of select OMRI-approved products including microbials and botanical insecticides for managing YMLB; 2) Evaluate response of YMLB to synthetic secondary plant metabolites of crucifer plants; and 3) Identify the semiochemical cues mediating host location and host preference by YMLB. The proposed project is relevant to the goals of the National IPM Roadmap by improving cost benefit analyses of adopting IPM practices in vegetable production, reducing pesticide use in vegetable production, and minimizing human health risks and adverse environmental effects of use of toxic conventional insecticides. In addition, the project addresses Southern Region IPM priorities by enhancing development and implementation of IPM in the region. It is regional in scope, biologically-based, and addresses a stakeholder-identified problem. The expected outputs of this proposal include preliminary data on chemical ecology and management tactics for YMLB and grant proposals to funding agencies such as USDA-NRI (National Research Initiative), USDA-PMAP (Pest Management Alternative Program), Southern Region IPM Grants (S-RIPM), and EPA-SAI (Strategic Agricultural Initiative) Grants. Optimizing Buckwheat Use for Weed Management in Sustainable Cropping Systems
Project Director: Carlene A. Chase Effective nonchemical weed management approaches can assist with weed management problems for which there are no registered herbicides, reduce the use of herbicides in conventional production systems, provide increased options for sustainable systems, and result in more profitable, less labor intensive organic production systems. A multistate project, NE1026: Weed Management Strategies for Sustainable Cropping Systems was recently established and Florida is participating with a focus on cultural weed control utilizing cover crops. Buckwheat has the potential to suppress weeds by competing for resources, by limiting weed seed germination and propagule sprouting through soil microclimate modification, and by allelopathy. An experiment is proposed for spring and fall 2007 to determine the optimal environmental conditions and range of effective planting dates for production of buckwheat, and its effects on weed emergence and growth. T he work will result in preliminary data on optimal planting dates that will be used in developing a proposal to allow completion of the research and development recommendations on optimal planting dates. An additional objective of assessing the impact of different incorporation practices on buckwheat decomposition, regrowth, and weed suppression will be added. This work will facilitate the effective use of buckwheat in suppressing specific problematic weeds in Florida and the southeastern US and contribute to the aggregate data being generated on effective planting windows for buckwheat in other regions of the U.S. Increased use of cover crops for weed management in sustainable agricultural systems, and a decrease in tillage, cultivation and hand weeding in organic systems can be expected, in conjunction with improved weed control and crop yield. Protecting Children's Environmental Health: Verification, Continued Adoption, Sharing Resources and Extension to Public
Project Director: Faith M Oi Since 2004, our School IPM program has worked with county faculty to deliver IPM information with the end result of reaching the general public. Our IPM Capstone grant proposal falls within the Residential and Recreational Areas IPM focus area in the National Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management (http:// www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/pest/pdfs/ipm_roadmap_5-3-04.pdf) and the Strategic Pest Management Plan (PMSP) for School IPM, which is currently being finalized. The project director for this proposal is participating in the development of the PMSP for School IPM. In a meeting hosted by the USDA-CREES, EPA and the IPM Institute in October 2006, several priority items emerged from that meeting, including having IPM in all schools across the U.S. by 2015. Our mission has been to protect the health of children, teachers and others in the schools of Florida and other states by implementing sustainable, science-based pest management practices that minimize pests and pesticide use in cooperation with school personnel, pest managers, health officials and county agents.
wikiIPM: A Rich Internet Application to Support IPM Education and Training
Project Director: G. Keith Douce IPM is an information intensive system of management. Land Grant Universities have been and continue to be the driving force in the development and implementation of IPM in the US. US crops and natural systems have experienced increased peril as a result of the increase in the number of non-native (potential) pests introduced into the US through global trade. In response, USDA-APHIS, USDA-FS, and Land Grant Institutions have developed programs to help detect and try to mitigate the impact of these non-native pests. The National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) sponsored by USDA-CSREES is one of a number of programs developed by US federal, state and Land Grant Institutions to detect and help mitigate impacts of these unwanted invaders. NPDN is implemented primarily through regional programs, with the Southern Region Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) program housed at The University of Florida. Existing regional and state IPM programs have cooperated and collaborated with, and in many cases, have been active in implementation of NPDN programs on matters relevant to both program missions. The University of Georgia, Bugwood Network maintains 15 web-based informational and image-archive systems with a mission of gathering, creating, maintaining and promoting the use of, and distributing digital information as tools to enhance and support educational activities in entomology, IPM, forestry, forest health and natural resource management. Several years ago, Bugwood pioneered development of a high resolution digital image archive that made digital images available to educators at no cost. These archives have evolved into the web-accessible Forestry Images and IPMImages systems that are based on a fully-relational taxonomic database and that enables users to select from over 55,000 images that can be downloaded for use in educational programs. In 2006, Forestry Images and IPMImages received 53 million hits and served 23.2 million pages of information to 5.3 million users. Bugwood and the Florida SPDN Center partnered in 2005 on a three year SR-IPM project to: a) expand the images available in IPMImages, and b) develop more effective image tools and linkages between these programs. This SR-IPM Capstone project wikiIPM: A Rich Internet Application to support IPM Education and Training will build upon the successes of this project. In this project, we will: 1) evaluate and build-upon the existing information available in the SPDN and Bugwood web systems; 2) develop and provide Rich Internet Application (RIA) tools that will enable IPM and SPDN educators to build educational fact sheets, newsletters and AG Alerts from information and images available on and through the SPDN and Bugwood systems; and 3) provide mechanisms that will enable educators to deliver locally-adapted educational resources to users through SPDN and state-level IPM information delivery systems. The initial target applications will be Fact Sheets and AG Alerts that will be developed for use in SPDN entomology and pathology educational and training materials. RFA: Southern Region IPM (S-RIPM) Grants ProgramBiotic Factors Associated with the Spread and Suppression of Pink Hibiscus Mealybug
Project Director: J. Christopher Bergh The pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM) is an important invasive pest of numerous economically important ornamentals, tree fruits and vegetables. Since arriving in south Florida in 2006, PHM has spread to 36 counties and continues to expand it geographic range in Florida at a rapid rate. Validating predictions of its spread to other southern States, PHM was confirmed on hibiscus plants in three cities in Louisiana in October, 2006 and its invasion of several other southern States is considered likely. Compliance with the zero-tolerance policy for PHM in Florida nurseries is primarily achieved through intensive and extensive reliance on pesticides. Although introduced parasitoids and an endemic predator are being used to suppress PHM in managed urban landscapes, they do not bring populations to extinction. The natural dispersal of PHM on a local scale represents an on-going risk to commercial nurseries, other agricultural enterprises and managed urban landscapes, although its dispersal capabilities or the magnitude of risk that this represents have not been adequately addressed. Further, there is no information on the factors that influence the rate at which PHM colonizes new hosts, the rate at which natural enemies locate and suppress newly-established infestations or the persistence of such suppression. To date, sex pheromone traps for PHM have been used only to detect populations and to measure seasonal changes in abundance. The information content of data from pheromone traps could be greatly increased by developing relationships between the number of male PHM captured and other aspects of its population dynamics, including those associated with its spread and suppression. The primary, overarching goal of this project is to significantly improve the utility of pheromone traps for measuring, predicting and mitigating the risk of infestation of horticultural and agricultural enterprises and managed urban landscapes by PHM. We propose to accomplish this by combining basic studies on the dispersal of PHM with, 1) studies that relate the capture of males in pheromone traps to dispersal, and 2) studies that relate pheromone trap data to the effects of biological control agents under both controlled and natural conditions, including experiments that will provide an initial assessment of the impact of pheromone-based mating disruption on PHM suppression. Specific experiments address: 1) the effect of population density on the capture of males in pheromone traps and crawler dispersal, 2) the dispersal distance of crawlers, 3) the active space of pheromone traps, 4) the latency to infestation of sentinel plants and location of colonies by natural enemies in relation to population density, 5) the rate and persistence of suppression by natural enemies as measured by changes in pheromone trap captures, and 6) the effectiveness of mating disruption compared with biological and chemical control. The proposed research seeks to align closely with the goals of the Southern IPM Center by developing and improving IPM tactics that should ultimately lead to improved efficiency and effectiveness of PHM management and to reductions in pesticide inputs and environmental impacts. Developing an IPM program to control small hive beetles in bee hives
Project Director: Keith S. Delaplane This is a Research project with the goal of completing the second of a 3-phase project initiated by the PDs (KSD, WMH, and JDE) to develop a comprehensive IPM program against small hive beetles (SHB), a new pest of honey bees. Phase 1 the theoretic base of an economic threshold was completed with 2004 Southern Region IPM funding IPM economic threshold for a two-pest complex in honey bees and showed that 300 beetles per hive constitutes a tolerable beetle level beyond which the beekeeper can expect measurable harm. The goal of Phase 2 is to test the efficacy of three candidate IPM components representing genetic host resistance, cultural control and biological control at keeping SHB levels below the economic threshold. The two objectives of the present proposal are (1) to develop a reliable and user-friendly estimator of the SHB economic threshold and (2) to determine the efficacy of hygienic queens, adult beetle traps, and predatory soil nematodes, either singly or in interaction, at maintaining colony SHB populations below the economic threshold. The PDs bring a rich and published track record of expertise to this proposal, being themselves key developers of the IPM components under test. Objective 1 will be met by regressing a relative SHB measure developed by WMH with an absolute measure derived from destructive sampling and direct counts. Objective 2 will be met by replicating all combinations of the three candidate components in bee hives across three states and two years and measuring the response variables (1) time (weeks) to onset of economic threshold, (2) colony bee populations, and (3) cm2 sealed bee brood. Owing to the pervasive benefit of honey bee pollination, this proposal represents an investment in a sustainable agro-ecology that transcends particular commodity interests. It is squarely consistent with the National Research Councils October 2006 call to conserve our nations pollinators. It supports a regional sub-industry particularly hard-hit by SHBs (queen bee producers), a sub-industry whose product underpins the national industry. It enjoys demonstrated support by stakeholder groups as documented by the PDs in two independent industry surveys described herein. It stands to reduce illegal applications of the pesticide fipronil by an estimated 209 kg regionally and 2,000 kg nationally. And finally, it stands to save the beekeeping industry an estimated $2,139,314 regionally and $20,613,182 nationally in costs associated with SHB. Development of the Regional Multi-State Insect Trapping Network for Use in Issuing Scouting Alerts and Predicting Potential Field Crop Insect Damage in the Heartland
Project Director: Patricia Lucas We are submitting a three year Extension project to establish an insect trapping network in Kentucky and Tennessee with plans to add sites in Illinois and Missouri during the second year. Our four state study area of western Kentucky and Tennessee, southern Illinois and southeastern Missouri is located in a unique ecological situation. Our four-state study area lies south of the colder winters extending from the Cumberland Plateau to the east across the northern prairies to the Ozark Plateau in the west; and north of the very mild winters of the deepsouth below the Appalachian fall line. Within this area is the confluence of several major rivers of the Mississippi Drainage (Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, and Mississippi Rivers.). It is in the northern sweep of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6. The project will focus on four species of foliar feeders (armyworm, black cutworm, corn earworm, fall armyworm) and the stalk boring pests European corn borer and southwestern corn borer. These species occur in the four states and threaten a large variety of crops including corn (field, pop, and sweet) cotton, grain sorghum, pasture and hay grasses, peppers (bell and hot) and wheat. Sex pheromones are available as commercial lures and data sets describing temperature dependent development are available. Data from the traps will be used to alert producers to potentially damaging pest outbreaks, warning them that crops need to be checked for infestations. This will enable them to make more accurate applications when needed and to reduce the potential for unneeded applications. Increasing the availability and usefulness of this information by the production sector can reduce potential human and environmental exposure while providing an economic benefit to the producer. Enhancing IPM programs through deregulation and release of genetically modified Virginia-type peanuts with resistance to Sclerotinia blight
Project Director: Patrick M Phipps This is a Research project requesting $119,998 funds to cover research on characterization of disease resistance, marketability, deregulation and commercial release of genetically modified Virginia-type peanuts in the mid-Atlantic region in 2007 and 2008. Sclerotinia blight is one of the most important diseases of peanut in the Virginia and North Carolina production region. Peanut growers in this region have the highest production costs in the United States, because of the crops requirement for supplemental calcium and intensive use of chemicals for disease control. Fungicides for control of Sclerotinia blight can cost growers as much as $74 to $111 per acre. If left untreated, Sclerotinia blight can reduce yields up to 75% in heavily infested fields. Development of disease resistant peanut varieties would provide an alternative management option to farmers that would help restore the planting of peanut in IPM programs aimed at reducing populations of southern root knot nematode, reniform nematode, and soybean cyst nematode in crop rotations with soybean, corn, and cotton. The production of oxalic acid has been recognized as a pathogenicity factor for fungal pathogens such as Sclerotinia minor, the causal agent of Sclerotinia blight. To counteract the effects of oxalic acid and to reduce the dependency on expensive fungicide treatments, we introduced the barley oxalate oxidase gene into three Virginia-type peanut cultivars; NC 7, Wilson, and Perry. Field trials have evaluated the second, third, and fourth generations of genetically transformed lines and confirmed gene expression in each generation. Low to only trace levels of disease were detected in field evaluations of genetically transformed lines, whereas in all three years disease appeared first in the non-transformed parent cultivars and reached severe levels. Replicated trials in 2005 and 2006 showed that early generations of genetically transformed lines had an average of 81% less disease than their non-transformed parent with increases in yield up to 2200 lb/A. Laboratory tests confirmed the heritability and functionality of the oxalate oxidase gene in providing resistance against Sclerotinia blight. The specific objectives of this project are to: 1) characterize the performance of advanced generations of genetically transformed lines with the barley oxalate oxidase gene and their non-transformed parents in fields at experiment stations in Virginia (Tidewater) and North Carolina (Lewiston) over a two-year period with and without applications of fluazinam for control of Sclerotinia blight, 2) collect required field, greenhouse, and laboratory data needed to successfully petition for deregulated status from Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) so that disease resistant lines containing the oxalate oxidase gene can be deregulated, and 3) gain approval of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for commercial release of superior transgenic lines. EPA jurisdiction of this request is a result of oxalate oxidase being a crop protectant that is found naturally in other food crops. Its mode of action is through prevention of fungal colonization of plant cells rather than acting as a toxic agent that kills the invading organism. This proposal has broad stakeholder input and support from the peanut industry including the two state commodity boards (Virginia and North Carolina), the Virginia Agricultural Council, and the National Peanut Board. Research findings are expected to have an impact on the industry by providing an alternative IPM management option to farmers once deregulated status is achieved. Evaluation of IPM in the Southern Region
Project Director: George Williamson Norton This proposal details an IPM Evaluation project with a goal of developing a systematic set of methods for evaluating impacts of IPM practices and programs at the state, regional, and national levels. The primary objectives are to: (a) design a practical set of methods, compatible across levels of assessment, for evaluating economic, health, and environmental impacts of IPM programs, (b) examine the suitability of existing data, and identify practical means of obtaining additional data where needed to apply the evaluation methods, and (c) conduct impact assessments on at least two IPM programs to demonstrate how the necessary data can be collected and the methods applied. Attention will be paid to how spatially-referenced data on adoption of IPM practices can be obtained on a consistent and regular basis to facilitate impact assessment. The approach will include: (a) reviewing previous methods used to assess IPM impacts on health, environment, and economic wellbeing, and identifying their strengths and weaknesses for evaluating specific IPM programs or for evaluating aggregate benefits of IPM, (b) reviewing data sources and availability and identifying data gaps for IPM impact evaluation, (c) designing a practical approach, drawing on a range of methods, for evaluating the economic, health, and environmental impacts of IPM programs, and for obtaining necessary data, (d) applying the suggested analytical and data collection methods to a sample of IPM programs of importance in the South, and (e) publishing the evaluations and preparing a step by step impact evaluation manual for inclusion on the Southern Region IPM Center website. We will coordinate with evaluation experts in the North Central and Northeastern regions during the project. Molecular and Pheromone Studies of Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) to Improve Pecan IPM
Project Director: Raul Francisco Medina Acrobasis nuxvorella is the most damaging pest of pecan. Early season management of this key pest prevents losses of ca. $30 million/yr. 33-56% of the insecticides used in the Southern Region of the US target this pest. Pheromone monitoring and sequential sampling are currently used to assess insecticide treatment needs. Reducing insecticide use is essential for conserving natural enemies of foliar pecan pests and for reducing environmental pollution. A putative cryptic strain of A. nuxvorella (recently discovered using a new pheromone construct) poses a major threat to pecan. Preliminary data indicate that the two known A. nuxvorella strains are sympatric and have similar phenologies and damage characteristics. Monitoring of A. nuxvorella in the US uses a pheromone that is recognized only by one of the strains. The existence of a strain nonresponsive to current pheromone monitoring and presumably oblivious to direct pheromone management strategies jeopardizes existing pecan IPM programs and complicates implementation of pheromone based technologies to manage A. nuxvorella. The proposed work will use AFLP markers and a newly synthesized pheromone to: 1) assess the relative ratio of the two strains across the US Southern Region; 2) correlate A. nuxvorella trapped by the two kinds of pheromones with pecan damage; 3) establish if the two strains are reproductively isolated and; 4) assess the population structure of each of the strains. Completion of the proposed work will provide pecan producers with improved methods to monitor A. nuxvorella populations minimizing insecticide use for this pest. Multi-state Evaluation of School IPM Cost-Calculator and Training Model
Project Director: Michael E. Merchant This proposed research/extension project is a continuation and expansion of two previously funded USDA-SRIPM grants to develop, pretest and publish-online an integrated pest management (IPM) budget Cost-calculator for use by school district facility managers. Funds requested include $28,648 in Smith-Lever (extension) funds and $53,606 in P.L. 89-106 (research) funds. The existing IPM Cost-calculator is a heuristic tool to educate pest management decision-makers about IPM. It also provides users with an estimate of overall pest risk of the school being evaluated, a facilities maintenance budget and a prioritized list of suggested facility improvements. In this project we propose to refine the calculator (by calibrating internal pest risk functions and gathering data on default IPM budgeting costs) and conduct school IPM and Cost-calculator training into five states. Twenty school districts from five states will be selected for hands-on training and on-site IPM audits in Year One. IPM audits will be used to assess actual pest problems compared to risk levels predicted by the Cost-calculator. Face-to-face interviews will be used to gain user feedback and to refine default costs used in the budget creator. A 12 month follow-up survey in Year 2 will evaluate success and the impact of the calculator on administrative IPM decision making in study schools. In Year Two of the study, the project directors will work with participating states to design and implement school IPM workshops. Workshops will target leaders from carefully selected school districts in hopes of developing a core group of interested managers who will participate in ongoing efforts to disseminate IPM practice to other school districts. Impact on IPM perceptions and practices will be evaluated immediately after the workshops. The project is directly relevant to the IPM Roadmap by addressing the problem of how to improve the cost/benefit relationship of IPM for public schools. Although not currently listed as a Southern Region priority, a stakeholder group is currently developing a proposal to develop a national strategic plan for addressing school IPM issues, and school IPM has been recognized as a significant area of concern by several federal agencies. Synergistic activity in mixtures of copper and garlic-derived products to enhance control of bacterial spot of peach
Project Director: Harald Scherm This is a Research Project to develop an efficacious, more sustainable, and cost-effective tactic for managing bacterial spot of peach, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. The Pest Management Strategic Plan for Eastern Peaches lists bacterial spot as a key factor limiting orchard productivity in the region. Currently 20 to 30% of the peach acreage in the South and mid-Atlantic area is planted to cultivars that are highly susceptible to the disease. In severe epidemics, as in 2005, nearly 100% losses can occur on such cultivars. Even when bacterial spot is suppressed successfully on less susceptible cultivars, significant financial losses occur due to the cost of control. The current management program for bacterial spot consists of application of copper products during the pre-bloom period to eradicate initial inoculum, and use of the antibiotic oxytetracycline during the cover sprays to reduce infection of leaves and fruit. In susceptible cultivars, cover sprays of oxytetracycline at 7- to 10-day intervals are essential until 1 month before harvest. However, with such a large number of applications, there is the ever-present risk for antibiotic resistance development. Moreover, environmental health concerns have put the reliance on oxytetracycline under scrutiny. These concerns have made the search for alternative management strategies and tactics imperative. Coppers, applied at low rates during the cover sprays, can control bacterial spot at a level equivalent to oxytetracycline, but this is still insufficient under high disease pressure. There is no room for increasing copper rates during the cover sprays due to phytotoxicity concerns. Furthermore, coppers alone are not a viable alternative because of the risk of resistance development. Thus, other mechanisms of increasing control efficacy need to be sought. A recent discovery suggests a means by which this could be accomplished: basic research in Japan showed up to 40-fold increased antimicrobial activity of copper when applied in mixture with allicin, a natural allyl sulfur compound from garlic. In subsequent laboratory experiments, we documented a similar synergistic activity between copper and garlic-derived compounds relative to growth inhibition of X. arboricola pv. pruni. Our work focused on two commercially formulated pesticidal ingredients that are cheaper and more stable than allicin, viz. liquid garlic extract and a blend of diallyl sulfides (DADS). The aim of this project is to follow up on our preliminary data by determining bacterial spot control, phytotoxicity on peach leaves, and level of synergism among copper, garlic extract, and DADS in greenhouse and field experiments. Potential impacts of this research include reduced reliance on the at-risk antibiotic oxytetracycline, reduced risk of resistance development to oxytetracycline and copper, and improved disease control at current application rates or reduced cost of control if the synergistic activity allows the mixture components to be applied at reduced rates. The project goes to the heart of the production agriculture focus area in the National IPM Roadmap by improving sustainability, efficacy, and effectiveness of pest management tactics for crops and commodities consumed by humans. Execution of the field trials in both Georgia and Pennsylvania will ensure applicability of the results to the key stone fruit production regions in the eastern U.S. TALLER MIP (IPM Workshop)- a bilingual worker education program on integrated pest management for the southern nursery and floriculture industry
Project Director: Carlos Enrique Bogran Nurseries and greenhouses generate the largest cash receipts of any crop commodity in seventeen U.S. states. In 2005, floriculture and nursery cash receipts exceeded $16 billion. Floriculture producers in the Southern US (led by growers in Florida, Texas and North Carolina) accounted for 42% of the national value. Although floriculture and nursery production has great economic rewards, it also carries a unique set of problems and risks. Small amounts of arthropod feeding are perceived to reduce the aesthetic value of the crops; this triggers frequent and intensive use of pesticides. Ornamental growers in Texas use almost four times as much active ingredient than cotton growers on a per acre basis. This creates great pestassociated risks including insecticide resistance, environmental contamination and worker exposure. Ornamental plants are grown under labor-intensive production systems. High labor input is required in all stages of production from propagation to plant shipment. The average US floriculture grower employs more than 15 workers. The majority of field workers in the industry are of Hispanic origin, have little formal education, and lack simple yet essential technical knowledge required in plant health maintenance efforts. Pest problems often go unnoticed and untreated until they reach levels which trigger frequent and intensive pesticide applications that could be avoided by early pest detection and regular sanitation practices within IPM programs. Our long-range goal is to increase adoption of IPM strategies among ornamental growers by promoting and demonstrating the application of basic ecological principles and IPM-compatible pest management tools. To facilitate achievement of this goal, we have developed a very successful IPM education program targeted at Hispanic (in Spanish) and other entry level workers (in English). This 5- module training program (Taller MIP-IPM Workshop) teaches basic concepts and their application, at an audience-appropriate level which considers the socioeconomic, cultural and educational background of participants. The program subjects include basic plant growth and health, basic biology and ecology of plants, arthropods and pathogens, pest/disease avoidance, prevention, identification and monitoring, pesticide safety and application effectiveness and the integration of pest management tools. More than 200 workers in Texas have benefited from this training program with very positive results. The overall objectives of this proposal are to enhance the existing and successful training program and increase its target audience by making it appropriate for, and available to ornamental growers across the southern US. Specifically, we will add input and expertise from extension specialists and growers in Florida, North Carolina and Texas, capture video clips of key pests, diseases and IPM practices, and produce and publish high quality educational videos in electronic, portable and ready accessible formats. We will produce videos using available hardware and software and publish the final products in DVD and web video formats that can be viewed in personal computers or downloaded to portable audio/video players. Materials will be ready for use in self-training or group training activities by English or Spanish speaking personnel. We are well positioned to undertake the proposed extension project because we are part of an interdisciplinary research/extension team committed to supporting the ornamental horticulture industry and we work closely with floriculture and nursery growers. The proposed project is regional in scope, addresses the national IPM road map in the areas of human health and environmental risk reduction in the focus area of production agriculture. It is also innovative, we are unaware of other educational videos available (English or Spanish) on IPM for field workers in the ornamental industry, and taking advantage of the latest video production technology at a much reduced cost compared to conventional methods. |
2006 Program YearRFA: IPM ENHANCEMENT GRANTS PROGRAM: PART I (STATE CONTACT PROJECTS AND IPM DOCUMENTS)Alabama State Contact Project for Supporting the Communications Network of the Southern Region IPM Center
Project Director: Henry Fadamiro This proposal is to request for funding renewal for the Alabama State Contact Project. The Alabama State Contact Project (SCP) was first funded in 2005 by the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC) with the main goal of supporting the communications network of the SRIPMC. This project addresses the priorities of the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC) by enhancing the development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in Alabama. The goals are to continue to support the communications network of the SRIPMC, assist the center in meeting the goals of the National IPM Roadmap, and promote IPM knowledge and adoption in Alabama. The project will maintain an IPM information program at Auburn University and continue to fund a State Contact Project for Alabama to: 1) Serve as the primary contact in Alabama for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides. The SCP for Alabama will respond to inquiries from entities such as the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) other appropriate federal agencies, state regulatory agencies, and non-governmental stakeholder groups; 2) Establish and maintain a stakeholder network to consult, advise and participate in the activities of the state contact project; 3) Provide coordination and oversight for SRIPMC projects conducted in Alabama, including crop profiles, pest management strategic plans (PMSPs), and special projects; 4) Provide an annual assessment prioritizing crop profiles and PMSPs for Alabama; 5) Provide a complete list of IPM-related expertise at Auburn University and other relevant Alabama institutions for research and extension for key commodities and settings in Alabama; 6) Maintain and update a project website (Alabama Pest Management Information Center website http://www.aces.edu/anr/ipm/) as required by the SRIPMC; 7) Attend an annual state contact meeting arranged by the SRIPMC; and 8) Provide important and timely IPM information to stakeholders in Alabama through appropriate media, including fact sheets, pest alerts, newsletters, presentations at grower meetings and IPM workshops, electronic mails, and IPM websites. The continuation of the Alabama SCP will facilitate the goals of the National IPM Roadmap by enhancing the timely access of growers and other stakeholders to IPM information and fostering communication among researchers, growers, public citizens and other IPM stakeholders. Key expected outcomes of this project include the number of information requests and the quality of the responses provided by the SCP, maintenance of a broad-based IPM Advisory Committee and project website, and development of a list of IPM-related expertise in Alabama. Arkansas State Contact for Southern Region IPM Center
Project Director: J. Ples Spradley The purpose of this proposal is to seek funding for maintaining the position of Arkansas State Contact (ASC) for the purpose of participating in the communications network of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC). In this capacity the ASC will serve as the primary contact to address the informational needs of EPA, USDA, and other stakeholders, concerning integrated pest management, pesticide use practices, crop profiles, pest management strategic plans, pesticide regulation, and other pest management issues that arise during the contract period. The Project Director will work closely with the state’s IPM and IR-4 Coordinators to plan, integrate, and analyze data requests and submissions. Responses to requests for information and other related activities will be documented and submitted to the SRIPMC by the ASC. A major component in the process will be the input and guidance of the various stakeholders in Arkansas crop pest management. The ASC will maintain and expand the current stakeholder network established by the Project Director to develop state/regional pest management strategic plans and crop profiles. The Arkansas stakeholders represented on pest management advisory and priority setting committees in the past three years include: growers/producers, university researchers, Extension specialists and agents, private consultants, IR-4 representatives, commodity groups, promotion boards, state regulatory agencies, EPA, and USDA. We will continue to expand the network to include representation and expertise for all the major crops of Arkansas. Arkansas has produced eleven crop profiles and directed regional pest management strategic plans on cotton, rice, and soybeans under the direction of Ples Spradley, the Project Director for this proposal. As the ASC, we will continue to provide oversight and support on the development and completion of crop profiles, strategic plans, and other relevant issues/projects and will report in detail on these activities to the SRIPMC. In addition to these activities, we propose to expand the scope and readership of our Extension “Pest Management Newsletter” (e-mail and internet) that addresses pest management issues for growers, consultants, and other stakeholders on a weekly basis. Development of a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Greenhouse Tomato Production Systems in the Southern United States
Project Director: Mary Monnig Peet Fresh market tomato consumption has increased dramatically over the last ten years, with consumption per person up more than thirty percent. New types and varieties of tomatoes, improved methods for growing and handling and positive health effects associated with eating tomatoes all have contributed to this increase. According to the National Agriculture Statistical Service, U.S. fresh market tomato production was valued at $1.3 billion in 2004, behind only lettuce in fresh market vegetables. Southern states account for over sixty percent of all U.S. fresh market tomato production, with Florida as the top ranking state, accounting for nearly fifty percent in 2004. Greenhouse tomatoes are becoming an increasingly important sector of fresh market production. A recent report indicates that an estimated seventeen percent of the U.S. fresh market tomato supply is now greenhouse grown. Additionally, the influence of these tomatoes is concentrated and growing in the retail market, with nearly forty percent of all fresh tomatoes sold in U.S. retail stores greenhouse grown. Based on retail value, recent industry estimates are as high as 47%, with a 16% increase from 2003 to 2004, while field-grown tomato sales were down 6%. While greenhouse tomatoes generally command higher retail prices compared with field tomatoes, they have higher per unit costs. Several arthropods and pathogens are pests in southern greenhouse tomato production systems. Traditional pesticides may be used for pest control in some situations; however, greenhouses provide unique challenges and risks when managing these pests. Growers and others in this industry are constantly looking for economically viable reduced-risk alternatives, while consumer concerns and perceptions about health and environmental impacts of pesticides demand less dependence on these materials. Movement by growers to alternative pest management strategies is needed for the industry to remain successful and continue growing. This proposal seeks support for production of a comprehensive Pest Management Strategic Proposal (PMSP) for greenhouse tomatoes in southern U.S. states. Fresh market tomatoes are included on the EPA list of priority agricultural commodities for crop profiles and PMSPs. With the emergence and growth of the greenhouse sector in the fresh market tomato industry, a crop profile and PMSP for that sector will be crucial to industry survival. A crop profile is currently under development in Virginia, which will cooperate on this PMSP. Collaborators in the southern U.S. from all sectors of this industry will be brought together to identify and prioritize needs and formulate a strategic plan of action to cost-effectively move the industry to reduced-risk practices and away from reliance on materials being reviewed by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. The goal of this project is to develop a PMSP for greenhouse tomatoes in southern U.S. states. More broadly, the goal of the work is to forward a multi-stakeholder initiative for development of a cost-effective and comprehensive Integrated Pest Management strategy that reduces reliance on FQPA-targeted materials. To accomplish the goals, we will coordinate and facilitate a logical series of workshops that will include stakeholders in this industry. Using these workshops as our framework, we will 1) identify IPM research and education needs for the southern greenhouse tomato industry; 2) usefully prioritize the identified needs in a manner most appropriate for the industry; 3) build a communications infrastructure to support the strategic planning and organizational processes necessary to carry out all work; 4) integrate previous and concurrent work that is relevant to our mission and vision; 5) develop an action plan and appropriate timeline by which the goals will be accomplished; and 6) establish mechanisms by which evaluation of the stated goals will be monitored and carry through with those evaluations. Oklahoma Crop Profiles (Winter Canola, Spinach)
Project Director: Jim T Criswell Winter canola has rapidly become an important new crop for Oklahoma. It has grown from just a few thousand acres three years ago to 17,000 acres in the 2004-2005 season and looks to keep increasing. Introduced primarily as a rotational crop for weed control in winter wheat it is now not only important for wheat weed manage but also for the growing bio-diesel market in Oklahoma. Due to its newness as a crop in Oklahoma and its uniqueness as a winter crop it has special pest management needs. A canola crop profile not only coordinates some of the pest problems and controls but allows for producers and others insight on the production of canola in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is a leading state in processed spinach. Spinach grown for processing is an important vegetable crop for Oklahoma especially in the Arkansas river bottom area of Oklahoma and in Caddo County. Spinach has many unique pest problems and sometimes very little options for control. A crop profile will help highlight the pest problems for Oklahoma spinach and the ways for control. Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network
Project Director: Jim T Criswell The Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network is the primary contact for pest management related issues in the state of Oklahoma. This Network will facilitate pest management and pesticide related activities, including regulations, education, information acquisition and dissemination, and rapid response to emerging issues. The Pesticide Safety Education Program office allows for a central contact point for Oklahomans and others with pesticide and pest management questions. The Oklahoma Communication network works diligently to collect the information requested by the Southern Region IPM Center through Extension and Research Specialists, growers, and commodity groups. The Oklahoma Communication network also prioritizes, coordinates, and produces IPM documents such as crop profiles and pest management strategic plans. This central contact allows for more efficient and rapid response to pest management needs and coordination. South Carolina State Contact to the SRIPM Center
Project Director: Robert Glenn Bellinger This proposal seeks funding under the IPM Enhancement Grants Program, Part I , to create a South Carolina state contact to the USDA Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC), for a one year period (2006-2007). The goal of this project is to establish a formal liaison between South Carolina and the SRIPMC to allow a two-way flow of pest management and pesticide regulatory information. Southern Region IPM Network for Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and Related IPM Documents
Project Director: Mark Mossler The Florida Pest Management Information Program (PMIP) has cooperated with the USDA CSREES Integrated Pest Management Centers since the implementation of the project through the auspices of the Pesticide Information Office at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Under program grants, the Florida PMIP has provided top-down and bottom-up Florida-specific information to federal agencies and other stakeholders through its communication network. In addition to Florida, the program extends these services to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Future funding ensures the viability of this network. The proposal also outlines revision of approximately 20 crop profiles and the creation of several new profiles, including aquatics, radish, and sugarcane. A reduced pesticide use analysis is also proposed for Florida-grown strawberry. Tennessee / Kentucky Pest Management Information Network
Project Director: Darrell D Hensley The University of Tennessee seeks funding for continued development and maintenance of a State Contact Project (SCP) for Tennessee and Kentucky. If funding is received, The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology will continue to assist the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) in maintaining a communication network that will enhance and facilitate the flow of resources and information in integrated pest management on a statewide basis as well as a regional basis. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, Tennessee Pest Management Information Network (TPMIN) will serve as a primary resource for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides in Tennessee and Kentucky. Responses to informational requests made through the SRIPMC will be forwarded to an online reporting system developed by the SRIPMC. The TPMIN will establish and maintain a stakeholder network to continue to develop Tennessee’s and Kentucky’s priorities. An annual state contact meeting will be held with stakeholders to aid in developing state and regional priorities. The University’s IPM Coordinators, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinators and IR-4 coordinators; industry representatives; grower groups and growers will be asked for their input in developing separate state priorities for Tennessee and Kentucky. Developed priorities for both Tennessee and Kentucky will be placed online for public access. Stakeholder information will be displayed within a developed web site. The State Contact Project will provide oversight of state-developed Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSP). Developed crop/pest profiles and PMSPs will conform to the Center’s standards for content, format and distribution. Occasionally, information concerning pests, outcomes and successes will be reported in annual reports and on the network’s web site. The SCP will contribute to each university’s programs by supplying information concerning pest management and pesticides. This information will be distributed across the state in the form of newsletters, pest alerts and e-mailings. Texas State Contact Project for SRIPMC
Project Director: Don L Renchie The objective of this proposal is to maintain the Texas State Contact (TSC) project to serve as the primary contact for information requests related to pest management and pesticides in Texas. As a member of the communication network of the Southern Region IPM Center, the TSC works closely with the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), IR-4 representatives, the IPM Coordinator, research and extension specialists across the state, and commodity organizations to maintain a stakeholder network and to respond to information requests. Texas has the largest area of cultivated crops and agricultural enterprises in the United States. Stakeholders and other interested parties generate hundreds of requests annually for information on pest management, pesticide regulations, pesticide use, and pesticide storage and disposal. The development and maintenance of a primary contact source to serve stakeholders is necessary to support information requests by agricultural producers, other stakeholders and the citizens of Texas. Stakeholder networks are derived from participation in numerous meetings both statewide and local. TSC specialists travel across the state every week delivering educational programs to IPM stakeholders at county and district-based meetings. In the last year, TSC personnel participated in no less than 75 of these meetings. By interacting with clientele in person, TSC specialists are better able to identify and address IPM concerns of agricultural producers, urban clientele, commodity organizations, and others involved with IPM on a regular basis. This interaction allows AES grass-roots level access to information provided directly by IPM stakeholders. The AES Unit has also established and maintained a multi-state advisory committee that confers regularly to assess pesticide needs and priorities for minor use and ornamental crops. The Minor Use Pesticide Advisory Committee (MUPAC) is comprised of university research and extension personnel, commodity organization representatives, regulatory personnel, and grower representatives from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. TSC has developed and maintained a Texas IPM State Contact web site. The TSC will complete an assessment of current IPM documents and prioritize them based on need. This Unit has produced more than twenty IPM documents in the last several years and will continue to provide supervision of current and future Crop Profiles and PMSPs. Virginia Pest Management Information Network – SCP,IPM Documents, IPM Priorities
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable IPM strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University (NCSU), and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles and pest management strategic plans (PMSP) for important crops grown in Virginia and North Carolina. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its IPM programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs will serve as the state contact project for Virginia. This will involve serving as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides, establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network to develop state IPM priorities, providing oversight of Virginia crop profiles and PMSP’s, providing personnel to attend an annual state contact meeting, and maintain a project web site to share pertinent IPM and regulatory information and resources with stakeholders. Virginia Tech will also develop three new crop profiles, cooperate with NCSU to conduct a greenhouse tomato PMSP, establish new IPM priorities, and conduct a major revision of its existing crop profile database. RFA: IPM Enhancement Grants Program: Part II (Special Projects)Creating opportunities for small and limited resource farmers to integrate IPM with conservation
Project Director: Lawrence Elworth The purpose of this IPM Seed Grant project is to identify and develop opportunities for small, minority and limited resource farmers in North Carolina to integrate adoption of IPM and resource conservation practices through increased access to and participation in federal conservation programs. Objective 1) Identify specific needs for IPM and conservation practices adoption through federal conservation programs among small, minority and limited resource farmers in North Carolina, through the involvement of farmers, Extension agents, USDA staff and community organizations. Objective 2) To develop a strategy and work plan, consultation with University, Extension, government and private organizations, for meeting the needs of small, minority and limited resource farmers that can be used in securing the funding to support efforts that increase use of IPM and conservation practices. The enactment of the 2002 Farm Bill created an unprecedented opportunity for expanding the adoption of integrated pest management practices and expanding resource conservation benefits among a wide range of producers who had never been involved in federal farm programs. In practice the potential has not been fully realized, and as a result, IPM adoption by small, limited resource and minority farmers through conservation programs has been limited, even though it offers significant benefits. Enabling and empowering them to take advantage of the opportunities will require a sustained commitment and the direct involvement of the farmers and the people who work with them in shaping that effort. This project proposes to take the first steps in developing such a project which can be readily used as a model for similar efforts in the Southeast. Developing a comprehensive research and educational approach to managing defoliating pests in soybean
Project Director: David Holshouser The southern region of the U.S. produced more than 360 million bushels of soybean on over 11 million acres in 2005. The crop continues to contribute to the regions economic well-being, adding approximately $2 billion to its economy. However defoliating pests are threatening the viability of the crop. Phytophagous insects and wildlife continue to limit profits realized by soybean producers through removal of photosynthetic leaf area. New threats such as Asian soybean rust that reduce yield primarily by defoliation are adding to the problem. Unfortunately, sound IPM strategies are not in place to effectively manage these defoliating pests. Gaps exist in our knowledge and understanding of how soybean leaf area development and phenological stage interacts with yield losses from defoliation. Although recent research has concluded that an estimation of soybean leaf area must be included in our economic thresholds, there is currently no accurate and practical way of measuring soybean leaf area. Until the most cost-effective methods of estimating leaf area are identified, putting leaf area-based defoliation thresholds into practice will be a challenge. Furthermore, once research gaps are filled and a cost-effective method of estimating leaf area is determined, users must be provided with appropriate tools and training to implement the most-effective strategy. Therefore, to effectively manage defoliating pests, our knowledge and understanding must be improved. We must also develop methods to measure leaf area and educate users on these new strategies. Should this proposal be funded, we will build a team of researchers, extension personnel, soybean producers, and IPM practitioners to evaluate needs, review current knowledge, and establish priorities for future research and educational programs. In addition, we will conduct small, inexpensive experiments to provide preliminary data that will contribute to the final output of this effort, the development of a major grant proposal to other funding sources. Development of a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Tomato and Pepper for Georgia and South Carolina in Preparation for RAMP
Project Director: David G. Riley The tomato and pepper crops in GA were worth $122 million and $96 million and grown on 5,785 and 6,392 acres in 2003, respectively. These crops continue to be critical vegetable commodities in GA and the tomato crop has reportedly increased to 6,500 in 2005 with pepper staying about the same. South Carolina acreage of tomato in 2005 was 3,200, declining slightly from 2003 acreage. Peppers are only grown about 400 acres in SC. A myriad of insect and disease problems continue to be critical limiting factors in production, in particular, thrips-vectored Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). We propose to develop a PMSP for tomato and pepper for GA and SC in anticipation of a RAMP proposal in 2007 to address a critical pest management concern in these crops. This effort will also facilitate completion and updating the crop profiles for these two commodities in GA and SC. A workshop is planned for fall 2006 to finalize the PMSP for each crop and coordinate proposal development for the RAMP by winter 2007. Development of IPM Guides for Coffee, Citrus, Plantain and Banana
Project Director: Ada N. Alvarado-Ortiz Puerto Rico Agriculture is one of multiple crops and manifold problems in pest management. A threatening diversity of pests and diseases impacts crop production, causing economic loss to their producers. Pest management principally depends on pesticide use. Actually a lack of educational materials about pests and diseases identification exist. For extension work, the most efficient way to disseminate knowledge to farmers and personnel is to use educational materials that complement trainings. Among the crops; Coffee, Citrus, Plantain and Banana are the principal one. Thus, the main purpose of this proposal it is to develop field identification guides of pests and diseases for Coffee, Citrus,Plantain and Banana that can help farmers and technical personnel to do a quick identification. No such document is currently available for these crops in Puerto Rico. To accomplish these guides we propose define IPM priorities for these commodities and the development of pest alerts. Integrated Pest Management for Pachycondyla Chinensis, A Medically-Important Invasive Ant
Project Director: Patricia A Zungoli Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery) is an invasive ant commonly known in Japan as the giant needle ant because of its sting. In the United States, it is documented from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and unpublished records of this ant also are available from Tennessee. Although P. chinensis has been in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, it has only come to our attention in the past five years. We have found that when present in forest and urban habitats in upstate South Carolina, this ant is a dominant species to the exclusion of many native ants commonly found in similar habitats. In addition to the impact it may have on biodiversity of native species, Pachycondyla chinensis poses a threat to public health in the U.S. Systemic allergic reactions due to P. chinensis stings leading to anaphylaxis previously were documented in Japan and South Korea, and recently we documented a case of anaphylaxis in South Carolina. In a survey of 25 sting victims, with reactions that are not life threatening (local urticaria to large local reactions), we found symptoms may last for 2 h to 14 d. Initially, no one in our study knew the source of their stings, but later could readily identify P. chinensis once they learned to recognize it. We speculate that in many areas of the Southeast when a person is stung by an ant, the sting is attributed to the red imported fire ant because of its prevalence and notoriety. While the reason is unknown, we have observed dramatic increases in P. chinensis populations in upstate South Carolina in the past few years and have reports of similar changes in Tennessee. As awareness of this species grows, we must be prepared to respond to questions from the public and professional pest management communities. Currently little is known about the geographic range of this species and pest management recommendations are only speculative. The goals of the research we propose are 1) increase the awareness of P. chinensis in public and professional communities, 2) investigate the geographic range of this ant and 3) gain a foundation for developing an integrated pest management program. ISEC Home Pest Management Program
Project Director: Elizabeth Brown The ISEC Home Pest Management Program was developed to train home owners on common sense IPM strategies that reduce the amount of pesticides used in and around the home. ISEC (pronounced like Isaac) is an acronym for the four action steps of the program- identify, sanitize, exclude and control. The program emphasizes determining why a particular pest is a problem in the home and how to avoid the problem using sanitation and exclusion. Control methods, when discussed, involve reduced-risk products such as traps and baits and advises clients to hire a professional service with IPM experience if problems persist after employing sanitation and exclusion techniques. We believe that most pest problems can be solved without the use of pesticides and the ISEC program will teach audiences to use these non-chemical techniques first. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people everywhere, from all walks of life, to build affordable, quality houses with families in need to eliminate poverty housing, one family at a time. All partner families participating in the Habitat for Humanity program are required to go through specific trainings before they can move into their new home. Texas Cooperative Extension in the Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplexes will join with Habitat for Humanity to provide training on Integrated Pest Management and the ISEC program for new home owners and will supply each family with an IPM kit containing caulk, screen repair kits, cockroach traps, clothespins, steel wool and duct tape. By working together with Habitat for Humanity we can reach new home owners and teach them how to avoid pest problems in their new home. Expected results of this project include increasing the knowledge of Integrated Pest Management of Habitat for Humanity partner families, reducing human health risks from pests and pest management practices and preserving water quality by teaching clients proper pesticide disposal. RFA: Southern Region IPM (S-RIPM) Grants ProgramBiologically-based management of the citrus leafminer and other key citrus nursery pests in Puerto Rico: A Research and Education project
Project Director: Alejandro E. Segarra-Carmona The citrus leafminer (CLM), Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, first found in Puerto Rico in 1994, has become a serious pest in citrus nurseries and new orchards. Population control methods currently used by local island nurseries intensively use traditional crop protection chemicals, often requiring weekly pesticide applications. Unfortunately, some of these pesticides have been shown to be detrimental to CLMs usually effective natural enemies, and in the long run these often lead to leafminer outbreaks. Further, there is great concern that runoff-laden waters from nurseries in the islands mountain regions may constitute an important source of water pollution. There is a critical need for validating and implementing CLM biologically-based population management techniques in Puerto Rico. These systems are new to the local production system, but well researched elsewhere. This project seeks to validate these pest management systems in tree nurseries against the citrus leafminer in Puerto Rico. The proposed project also delivers these systems to producers through demonstrations, training and education programs. Breeding A Better Cover Crop: Development of Allelopathic Rye Cultivars for Use in Sustainable Production Systems
Project Director: David A. Danehower Reducing herbicide use remains one of the greatest challenges in field crop Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Perhaps the most effective and environmentally benign IPM system for controlling weeds while reducing tillage is the use of cover crops. When cover crops are left as mulches in no-till or minimum tillage systems, they can dramatically enhance weed control for the following crop, while lessening the need for herbicide applications. In addition to reducing herbicide use, cover crops have the added benefit of trapping pesticide and nutrient runoff. In addition to these important benefits, cover crops also protect cropland soils from erosion and improve the soil by increasing soil organic matter. Two mechanisms operate in the suppression of weed growth in cover cropping systems. First, cover crop biomass shades the soil and intercepts light, physically inhibiting the germination and growth of weed seedlings. Second, mulches and the residual root systems of cover crops release natural products into the soil that suppress weed seed germination and growth through a process known as allelopathy. Surprisingly, given the widespread use of rye as a cover crop, little support has been directed towards the breeding of rye varieties specifically for use as an IPM weed suppression tool. Instead, conventional grain rye cultivars with the best available combination of biomass and allelopathic traits have been adapted for this purpose. We propose to expand a nascent breeding program to develop novel cultivars of grain rye for specific use as cover crops. A wide genetic base has already been assessed, and the best accessions selected. These selections have been crossed with Wrenns Abruzzi, a rye cultivar widely used as a cover crop in the southern U.S. due to its excellent biomass and moderately allelopathic characteristics. Further selections from the resulting breeding population will be based upon high concentrations of multiple allelopathic compounds and high biomass production. The proposed research includes analysis of allelochemical production in both shoot and root tissues in order to obtain a complete picture of the allelopathic potential of the materials and field as well as laboratory bioassay and field assessment of weed control. Development of the Elementary Entomology Extension Program
Project Director: Jeffery K. Tomberlin It is important that novel tools for teaching producers and the public on IPM continue being developed. This concern rings true for the urban environment, which constitutes a major portion of the Texas population. The National Road Map for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is in agreement with this claim. It has stated that the greatest general population exposure to pests and the tactics used to control them occurs where people live, work, and play. Successful IPM programs for schools and public buildings have been developed and instituted; however, there is a need to expand these programs to other institutions and residential environments. A future goal of the National Road Map for IPM is to improve cost benefits associated with the use of IPM and thereby reduce risks to human health. The development and implementation of the program described within this proposal will result in novel methods for reaching producers and the general public on entomology and IPM. The development of the internet has provided a new means by which educational tools for IPM can be delivered and used by teachers, health officials, and county extension agents. The most recent figures indicate that 68.7% of the people in the United States use the internet, which is an increase of 113.4% from 2000 (Internet World Stats.com, November, 2005). However, many of the current publications, graphics and information on the Internet concerning arthropods of human importance, such as mosquitoes and mosquito control were developed 30-50 years ago. We propose to develop innovative new curricula, graphics and Internet modules to be made available to county extension agents, teachers, and health departments throughout the United States. Distribution of these new resources will be accomplished through our contacts with Texas Department of Health and Family Services, other state and federal health agencies and via the Internet (at a site being developed at http://elementaryinsects.tamu.edu). These modules will be developed to allow those utilizing them to continue educating producers and the general public on IPM. The objectives listed below will support and meet those goals listed by the National Road Map for IPM. Grants Administration
Project Director: Host Resistance to Balsam Woolly Adelgid in an IPM Strategy for Christmas Trees
Project Director: Fred Paul Hain A recent workshop on the pest management strategic plan for Christmas tree production in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, stated that the first priority was research to determine host plant resistance . . . balsam woolly adelgid. If pesticides for BWA can be decreased in Christmas tree plantations, other IPM practices will be much more effective. Our long-term objective is to reduce chemical inputs for BWA on Christmas tree plantations by developing genetically resistant Christmas tree stock. To this end, our short-term objectives are to: 1. Develop reliable techniques for artificially infesting and bioassaying fir seedlings for resistance to BWA. 2. Begin process of screening for host resistance to the BWA across multiple fir spies and within Fraser fir. For objective 1 we will use 6-year-old Fraser fir seedlings. 4 infestation techniques will be evaluated, over 2 BWA generations. The time required for adults to develop, numbers of adults, adult size, numbers of egg masses, and fecundity will be assessed. Seedlings will be monitored for changes in apical dominance, gouting, and general health. For objective 2, three different studies will be conducted: 1) screen across multiple fir species (14 species); 2) screen within Fraser fir to assess family (9 families) variation; 3) screen within Fraser fir to assess variation in seed source (6 sources). For each study we will utilize the best infestation technique as determined from objective 1. Integrated management of bacterial speck and bacterial spot on tomato
Project Director: Jeffrey B. Jones Tomato is the most significant vegetable crop in the southern U.S totaling more than 1.34 billion dollars in farm gate value. Much of the production takes place in the state of Florida. In Florida, bacterial spot and wilt are responsible for many of the losses in fresh market tomato production. Based on a needs-assessment survey for tomato IPM carried out by multidisciplinary IPM teams from seven states in the southeastern U.S., bacterial spot of tomato was identified as a major problem by more than 66.7 % of the respondents from Florida and South Carolina. Bacterial speck has also been reported to cause serious losses in KY, NC, SC and TN. Bacterial spot, incited by several species will be referred to in this proposal for convenience as Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria. The bacterium consists of three races and is a major problem during periods of high temperature and moisture. Bacterial speck, incited by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, can be a devastating disease when cool temperatures and moisture are present. Inducers of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) have been shown to significantly reduce bacterial diseases in tomato, but using current application practices, yield reductions have been observed. In this research project, we will use several strategies to develop integrated management of two important bacterial diseases: bacterial speck, and bacterial spot of field grown fresh market tomatoes in the southeastern US. The objectives of this proposal are: (1) to optimize integrated management of bacterial speck and bacterial spot with SAR inducers which have limited effects on plant yield by: (a) identifying resistant lines to determine if reduced rates of Actigard can be applied to enhance disease control without affecting yield in field experiments; (b) comparing the effects of modified application strategies of the SAR inducer, Actigard, in combination with bacteriophages; (2) to evaluate Kasugamycin (Arvesta Corporation) for Management of Bacterial Spot and Bacterial Speck by: (a) screening isolates of Xcv and Pst for sensitivity to Kasugamycin in vitro; and (b) evaluating efficacy of Kasugamycin applications for management of bacterial spot and bacterial speck in greenhouse and field trials.; and (3) to combine the best management strategies in objectives 1 and 2 for bacterial spot and bacterial speck in field experiments. Integrated management of cucurbit downy mildew
Project Director: Gerald John Holmes Downy mildew is an important disease of cucurbits (cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin, squash and watermelon). In 2004 and 2005, downy mildew became the single most important problem for cucumber production in the eastern U.S. Since the late 1960s cucumber growers could rely on host plant resistance to control this important disease. However, this resistance was grossly inadequate in the recent epidemics and growers lost an estimated 40% of the 2004 crop in NC, VA, DE and MD ($20 million). The problem was compounded by what appears to be fungicide resistance to mefenoxam and strobilurin-based fungicides. A forecasting system has been in place since 1998 which predicts movement of the causal agent (Pseudoperonspora cubensis) from south to north as the season progresses. This system is based on the longstanding observation that P. cubensis does not produce oospores and therefore must be re-introduced each year into areas where hard frosts occur. The objectives of this proposal are to improve and validate the downy mildew forecasting system and to document fungicide performance over a wide geographic area. This will be accomplished by establishing sentinel plots of cucurbit host differentials (17 locations in 7 states) in order to accurately determine the dates of spore movement and the pathotype of P. cubensis involved. Each state will also document fungicide performance under field conditions. Improvements to the forecasting system will incorporate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map host distribution, historical weather, current weather and current forecasts and provide a risk assessment that incorporates these variables. This proposal has broad stakeholder input from the cucurbit industry including the four major vegetable seed companies, 2 state commodity boards and one national commodity board. New developments and findings are likely to have immediate impact on the industry because of the established channels of communication of the downy mildew forecasting system and the extension programs of the PD and collaborators in 7 states. Integrated methods for sustainable control of glyphosate-resistant horseweed (Conyza canadensis) and other problematic winter weeds
Project Director: Robert Jeryl Richardson Glyphosate-resistant horseweed is a major threat to efficient crop production in the United States. The acreage infested continues to increase as horseweed produces wind-disseminated seed, is self-fertile, has no fitness penalty for glyphosate resistance, and heterozygous individuals survive recommended glyphosate rates. In addition, cropping production changes from conventional tillage towards no-till favor establishment of horseweed and winter seasonal weed species, and the widespread adoption of glyphosate-resistant crop technology has dramatically increased selection pressure for glyphosate resistance among weeds. Continued reliance on herbicides as the predominant control method will only increase the prevalence of herbicide-resistant biotypes in the United States as specific horseweed biotypes have already evolved resistance to at least six herbicide modes-of-action. In North Carolina, horseweed and winter weeds have been observed as greater problems following a no-till corn crop than other crops or conventional-tillage corn. Previous research has documented the relationship of tillage or the presence of cover crops to weed establishment, but the effects of crop architecture have not been adequately described. The proposed research will measure the spatial and temporal relationship of horseweed and other winter weeds to rotational crop species with and without the presence of a winter cover crop and with and without tillage. Results will directly improve the current best management practices for corn, soybean, cotton, and peanut production in the southeastern United States. In addition, this research will provide benefits for horseweed and winter weed management in conventional and organic crops in other regions of the United States. Management and Retrieval Systems for Extending IPM Information in Southeastern US
Project Director: Frank J. Louws The current extension system for providing production recommendations is somewhat tedious and static. For example, the Southeastern Vegetable Extension Working Group, a coalition of specialists from 5 or more Southern land grant Universities, meets annually to integrate up-to-date IPM recommendations for publication into the Southeastern Vegetable Crop Guidelines. The guidelines are distributed to agents, vegetable growers, agchem dealers and other pest management professionals throughout the region. The specialists collate hard copies of the pesticide labels and manually write, or edit recommendations, including corrections of many editorial problems in previous editions. The edits are then sent to an editing team that transfers the information into tables for publishing in hard copy and PDF format. The tables generated are used throughout the region for the coming year, in a static form. The whole process is tedious, subject to errors and does not provide a flexible framework. We envision developing database driven production recommendations that can be web/wireless accessible, pest specific, and virtually real time in addition to hard copy publications that emanate from the databases developed. This vision arises from the National Roadmap for IPM goals to develop new delivery methods designed to expand the options for IPM implementation . The core of such a vision must start with the development of a database driven system for pesticide recommendations. In this proposal we seek support to develop a web-based information management and retrieval system for fungicide recommendations for vegetable crops in the Southeastern production regions, as a starting point. Once developed, the database will be accessible to the responsible extension specialists via a password protected website for timely updates and clientele will be able to retrieve information via webpages that are displayed on a desktop PC or mobile device (e.g. pocket PC, cell phone). We propose to develop the software infrastructure such that webpages will be dynamically generated based on user queries and/or hyperlinks. Hyperlinks could include IPM-based information on e.g. resistance management or proper pest ID. The database will be designed to allow user input manually and to allow for direct import from pesticide label databases (that will be available in the foreseeable future) to enable seamless transfer of information direct from the label generators, filtered by our specialists, and integrated into our SE-specific database. Success in this extension effort will have broad regional impact, be adaptable for insect and weed recommendations, and be a fulcrum for development of future IPM delivery tools. Prescription Brown Rot Management in Peach Based on Site-Specific Fungicide Resistance Profiles in Monilinia Fructicola
Project Director: Guido Schnabel The recently updated Pest Management Strategic Plan for Eastern Peaches emphasizes the serious threat to the sustainability of peach production posed by fungicide resistance in Monilinia fructicola, the causal agent of brown rot. Preharvest fungicide applications are a critical component of integrated brown rot management, and three chemical groups are currently available to growers: the benzimidazoles, the demethylation inhibitors (DMIs), and the respiratory inhibitors (RIs). Benzimidazole resistance caused significant losses in the early 1980s, which subsequently led to the sole reliance on DMIs for brown rot control. As a result, DMI-resistant populations of M. fructicola have started to emerge in Georgia, causing major control failures. Consequently, usage of RI fungicides has increased, increasing the risk of resistance development to this resistance-prone fungicide class. If resistance to RIs does develop, growers will be left with no alternative for brown rot control. The goal of this project is to develop and implement tools to generate site-specific fungicide resistance profiles of M. fructicola populations in order to make intelligent choices about the most suitable pre-harvest fungicide program for a given orchard. Specific objectives are to (i) develop a rapid and simple technique to estimate resistance levels to benzimidazoles, DMIs, and RIs that can be used by county agents and growers; (ii) conduct local and regional resistance monitoring in Georgia and South Carolina; and (iii) develop and evaluate resistance management strategies based on results from on-site fungicide resistance monitoring. This proposal addresses both future directions and focus directions of the National IPM Roadmap. Validation of Fecal NIRS Technology for Tick Management on Range Cattle
Project Director: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of feces from tick-infested cattle detects chemical groups absent in the same non-infested animals (pre- and post-infestation compared to infested periods). Our research into the physiology of these changes supports the hypothesis that NIRS is detecting changes in digestive uptake in response to the stress of tick parasitism as modulated by interactions of the immune and endocrine systems. We hypothesize that NIRS offers a potential decision aid for IPM strategies against ticks that is non-intrusive, economically beneficial and a managerial incentive for adoption of IPM practices. We therefore propose to move forward with field-based testing to: 1. Evaluate fecal NIRS analyses, immune and endocrine system responses of tick infested cattle under different location, tick species, seasonal and managerial conditions, and 2. Compare new handheld NIRS technology for real-time field applications to traditional bench-top NIRS technology. |
2005 Program YearRFA: Southern Regional IPM Grant 2005A Multi-State Network for Predicting Pest Activity in Pecans
Project Director: Allen Knutson This project will integrate research and technology and the energy of volunteers interacting via a web site to develop a network of reliable and current information on pecan pest activity across the major pecan growing regions of Texas and Oklahoma. The outcome will be an increased awareness among growers of the optimum timing for orchard scouting and the application of pest management tactics. This proposal addresses a high priority issued identified by pecan growers through surveys conducted in 1991, 1994 and 1997 and reported by Harris et al. 1998. Growers identified the pecan nut casebearer as the single most damaging pest of pecans and responsible for an estimated 6.7% annual yield loss. These clientele surveys clearly document the importance of this single pest to profitable pecan yields. Pecans are grown in most of the Southern Region states, with Texas and Georgia leading in production nationwide. We address this problem by developing and validating a new degree-day model to predict activity of pecan nut casebearer. The model will be validated through field research at three sites in Texas and one in Oklahoma. This model, initiated on date of first moth capture, will alert growers to optimum dates for orchard scouting and if necessary, insecticide application. Pilot model validation shows historic temperatures, rather than current temperatures which are difficult to acquire, can be used to generate reliable predictions. To meet the need for pheromone trap data from many locations across both stats, we will train and organize volunteer growers (MasterTrappers) to monitor pheromone traps. This network of MasterTrappers will upload trap catch data to a web site which will generate predictions on a countywide basis. These predictions will be immediately and widely available to all producers and County Extension agents so that pest management practices can be implemented on a timely basis across a large production region. Building an education, training and outreach image support system for the Southern Region plant diagnostics network
Project Director: G. Keith Douce Building an Educational, Training and Outreach Image Support System for the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network Agricultural production and profitability is limited by the impact of native and non-native pests, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides a knowledge-based, approach to managing these pests. With increasing numbers of foreign pests introduced into the US, the prevention of pest introductions and the control/elimination of established populations are critical to insure the safety and profitability of agricultural production. The CSREES National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN), working through Land Grant University systems seeks to leverage the strengths and benefits of established IPM programs and plant diagnostic laboratories to address established and emerging pest issues. For effective IPM implementation, practitioners must be able to identify beneficial and pest organisms and understand their biology. This requires extensive educational resources. A key resource for identification and training are images (photographs, line drawings, artist renderings, etc.). The web-based Bugwood Network www.IPMImages.org image archive system which currently contains over 22,000 images that are available for educational uses at no cost. IPMImages received over 2.1 million hits from October 2003-September 2004. This project proposes to develop an operational partnership between The Southern NPDN node and The Bugwood Network to utilize the strengths of IPMImages and SPDN to better enable SPDN to train field personnel, assisting in diagnosis of pests, and to implement better educational and outreach programs. Development of Weather-based Regression Models for Predicting Flights of Tobacco Thrips and Spread of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus
Project Director: George G. Kennedy TSWV is now well established in weeds that commonly grow in and around agricultural fields in NC and can be expected to continue to cause severe losses to pepper, peanut and tomato in eastern NC, as it has in the past. Because the incidence of TSWV varies greatly from year depending on populations of its thrips vectors, growers frequently implement costly and complex control measures when they are not needed and fail to implement them when they are needed. it is difficult and costly to manage. The proposed project seeks funding to develop the basis for predicting spring flights of tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca, and outbreaks of tomato spotted wilt virus based on winter and early spring rainfall and temperatures. This will be accomplished through on-farm monitoring of the spring flights of tobacco thrips and spread of TSWV from winter weeds in spring, and through controlled field experiments to validate the relationship between winter and spring growth of tobacco thrips populations, increase of TSWV inoculum in weed hosts and the spread of TSWV to crops in spring. The specific objectives to be addressed are: 1. Validate and refine the relationship between temperature and rainfall, development of tobacco thrips populations on winter weeds, and spread of TSWV among winter weeds during late winter and early spring. 2. Validate and refine the relationship between the size and timing of the dispersing population of F. fusca in spring, and winter and spring temperatures and rainfall. 3. Describe the relationship between the amount and timing of TSWV spread in spring, and winter and spring temperatures and rainfall. This project builds on our preliminary findings that the growth of tobacco thrips populations and the spread of TSWV among winter annual weeds during early spring is directly and significantly related to winter temperatures and rainfall. The relationships between weather parameters, tobacco thrips flights and spread of TSWV elucidated under this project will be used to develop a user-friendly, web-based system for predicting annual risk from tobacco thrips and TSWV. Such a system will prove of great value to producers in deciding the most economical and appropriate thrips and TSWV management measures to implement each year. Integrated management of anthracnose, botrytis and phytophthora in southeastern strawberry plasticulture systems
Project Director: Frank J. Louws Anthracnose ripe fruit rot, Botrytis (gray mold) fruit rot and Phytophthora crown and root rot are the most important diseases of strawberry targeted by frequent fungicide applications in the Southeastern (SE) strawberry production region. The majority of growers have small to moderate sized land holdings and strawberries represent a significant source of income across the SE. Most farms spray intensely to manage Colletotrichum species (anthracnose), Botrytis cinerea, and Phytophthora cactorum. Numerous new fungicides recently included into extension recommendations must now be integrated into an IPM Roadmap context to minimize disease risk, to enhance the cost/benefit of management tactics, and to limit excess dependence on fungicides, not only for environmental purposes but also to limit risk of the development of pathogen resistance. The specific objectives are to: 1) develop and implement a multi-tactic program that includes disease-free strawberry plants, real-time PCR detection, and to initiate host resistance studies to manage anthracnose and Phytophthora problems; 2) develop fungicide use patterns that utilize available and newly generated knowledge of the biology of Colletotrichum and Botrytis to reduce fungicide spray applications by 40% to 50%; 3) perform economic analysis of outcomes as a decision tool growers may utilize to assess risk and optimum IPM strategies. Our research-based recommendations are utilized in the new SE region fruit production guide, the NC production guides, the mid-Atlantic production guide and by most growers in states as far away as Alabama. Thus, we are privileged to be uniquely positioned to develop IPM strategies that will have broad regional impact. Novel Approaches to Integrated Management of Armillaria Root Rot of Peach
Project Director: Guido Schnabel Regional stakeholder groups and the Georgia/South Carolina crop profile for peach, a part of the national Pest Management Strategic Plan website, affirm that Armillaria root rot is a serious threat to peach production as a primary cause of premature orchard decline and mortality in the Southeastern United States. Both institutions recognize that there are currently neither practical nor effective means for managing Armillaria root rot, mandating the need for an integrated management program in the Southeast. The overall goal of this project is to evaluate novel applications of cultural, chemical, and transgenic technologies as management options to be implemented within the existing framework of a pre- and post-plant management program for Armillaria root rot currently being developed at our institution. Specific objectives are to: 1) improve orchard sustainability on Armillaria infested sites through a combination of raised-bed planting, root collar excavation, and mycorrhizal root-dips; 2) determine the potential for reduced risk fungicides used in combination with systemic injection technology to prevent root collar colonization of Armillaria; 3) propagate and characterize transgenic plum lines expressing Gastrodia anti-fungal protein (GAFP) for the development of Armillaria resistant rootstocks. This proposal addresses both future directions and focus directions for IPM programming of the IPM roadmap for the National Intergrated Pest Management Program since results from this project provide an environmentally sound means (cultural and biological) of improving the sustainability of stone fruit production without relying on hazardous and costly agricultural fumigants. Pheromone based management of dogwood borer
Project Director: J. Christopher Bergh This proposal is for the Research category of the Southern Region IPM Competitive Grants Program.The dogwood borer (DWB) attacks many ornamental, fruit and nut trees and is an increasingly serious pest of apple grown on clonal rootstocks. The organophosphate pesticide, chlorpyrifos, is the most effective chemical for protecting woody ornamentals and fruit trees from infestation by DWB, although its long term availability is uncertain and alternative management tactics are needed. Our recent identification of the DWB sex pheromone has created opportunities to develop control strategies based on behavioral manipulation and to quantify the prevalence and seasonal phenology of DWB in apple, urban landscapes, and native forest. Mass trapping seeks to reduce the frequency of mating by removing male moths from the population. Traps baited with our most active pheromone blend capture large numbers of males, and many more than traps baited with virgin female DWB, suggesting the viability of mass trapping. Two densities of traps for mass trapping will be compared with a conventional pesticide program and untreated check plots in WV, VA and NC apple orchards. The vastly improved attractiveness of our pheromone enables accurate evaluation and comparison of the abundance and seasonal flight patterns of DWB among different habitats. This objective will involve monitoring programs in WV, VA, NC and TN and the information provided will be crucial to optimizing both pheromone and chemically based management programs. We address future directions and focus areas of the National IPM Roadmap by investigating an environmentally benign alternative to pesticides, toward managing an important pest of production agriculture and public areas in the southern region. Reducing Homeowner Pesticide Use and Increasing Consumer and Student Knowledge of IPM Through Public Outreach/Education
Project Director: Mila J. Pearce The IPM Clinic is a consulting resource at the University of Georgia. We handle diagnoses and recommendations for plant samples from home and urban landscapes at no cost to the client. 1,524 samples were received in 2004. Integrated pest management strategies are given so the client can have an attractive landscape with minimal use of pesticides. The Home and Garden Information Center at Clemson University provides thousands of consumers information via a website and a toll-free phone number through an interactive voice response (IVR) system. Nearly 600 recorded messages on landscaping and gardening are available 24 hours a day. There are also specialists available to answer consumer questions directly. Both IPM programs have as its goal reducing pesticides in urban communities. Workshops through master gardener programs, commercial associations, and the cooperative extension are conducted. Although, response to public workshops has been positive, evaluations request more information about ecologically-sound practices. We propose to design workshops to introduce additional aspects of IPM such as monitoring techniques, physical and biological controls. Because these topics fall under the heading ecologically sound practices , we will create a workshop title without using the term IPM to attract more interest. Many gardeners are unfamiliar with the term IPM, and they often view pest control as a minor part of their gardening experience. We propose using conventional methods of delivery through cooperative extension and industries, but also to utilize school systems which teach agricultural education. Although the curriculum will be specific to Georgia and South Carolina, the core emphasis may be used anywhere in the southeastern United States. Use of brassicaceae cover crops and other integrated weed management strategies for control of nutsedge species in high-risk crops
Project Director: Jason K. Norsworthy This research project focuses on using Brassicaceae cover crops and other integrated weed management strategies along with reduced-risk herbicides for management of purple and yellow nutsedge in plasticulture tomato and bell pepper. Tomato and bell pepper are the two most valuable vegetable commodities in the Southeast, with a combined annual value over $860 million. Continual, extensive use of soil fumigants in these and other vegetables makes most existing weed management practices non-sustainable and alternative control measures are needed with the impending loss of methyl bromide. Weed management strategies must be comprised of multiple approaches that strive to minimize weed emergence and interference if weeds are to be effectively managed using reduced-risk herbicides and other environmentally sound tactics. Brassicaceae (mustard family) plants produce allelochemicals (isothiocyanates, ITCs) effective in suppressing many weeds, which offers vegetable producers potential to reduce rates of synthetic herbicides. In preliminary greenhouse trials, rhizome growth from yellow nutsedge tubers was diminished in Brassicaceae-amended soil, which reduced the competitiveness and ability of yellow nutsedge to procreate. Additionally, tomato and bell pepper transplants are not deleteriously affected in Brassicaceae-amended soil when transplanted 1 wk after incorporating Brassicaceae residues. Based on these data, we hypothesize that under field conditions Brassicaceae-amended soil will reduce the detrimental interfering effects of purple and yellow nutsedge in plasticulture tomato and bell pepper without deleteriously affecting growth and development of either crop, lessening the need for herbicides and/or soil fumigants. Specific objectives of this project are to 1) quantify yellow nutsedge fecundity and interference with plasticulture tomato and bell pepper in Brassicaceae-amended soil using additive competition field experiments, 2) assess weed management programs in plasticulture tomato and bell pepper that utilize Brassiceace cover crops in combination with reduced herbicide rates, 3) evaluate the effectiveness of multi-facet, cultural strategies on residual purple nutsedge control and its effect on bell pepper fruit yield, and 4) disseminate the use of Brassicaceae cover crops and other integrated weed management strategies to vegetable producers and other clientele. This research will provide an effective, alternative means of managing purple and yellow nutsedge in plasticulture vegetables and will be instrumental in the development of integrated pest management strategies. RFA: SRIPMC IPM Enhancement (NON-contact)Assessing the Early-Season Risk of Thrips Vectors of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus In Solanaceous Crops
Project Director: David G. Riley This project, first funded in 2004, began with the relatively simple idea, that is, to develop a system for predicting the timing and relative intensity of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) spread from overwintering hosts into susceptible Solanaceous crops planted in the spring. This was based on a standard sampling technique that was used by technicians in the newly formed TVAC laboratory ( http://www.tomatospottedwiltinfo.org/thrips/index.htm ) and extension agents to assess a modified Relative Inoculum Potential (RIP) Index for TSWV developed by North Carolina State University for Georgia conditions. Although this survey is currently yielding interesting data for TSWV in southern Georgia, the complete assessment of relative risk of TSWV will not be final until after the due date for this grant renewal. What we have found is that pre-season thrips vectors populations, mainly Frankliniella fusca and F. occidentalis, and incidence of TSWV in winter weed hosts varies significantly across locations of tomato and pepper production sites and that these differences appear to be correlated to incidence in the crop. Since management of TSWV in susceptible crops requires control tactics that are mostly selected pre-season, such as metallic silver mulch and TSWV resistant cultivars, the current survey ( http://www.tomatospottedwiltinfo.org/thrips/preseasonrisk.htm ) is meant to assist in this decision making process. These data have already been used to make decisions by Lewis Taylor Farms, Tifton, GA for metallic mulch and resistance tomato. The goal of this project is continue this survey and provide recommendations for TSWV management. We propose to: 1) Continue and expand the extensive survey of thrips vectors of TSWV around commercial tomato and pepper field sites in Georgia and South Carolina with the intent of identifying pre-season risk to the crop and 2) summarize and provide this information in the form of a pest advisory to commercial growers as the data are gathered on the web at the newly established website ( http://www.tomatospottedwiltinfo.org ) developed in the first year of this project. Breeding an Economically Viable Honey Bee for Reduced-Chemical Beekeeping
Project Director: Keith S. Delaplane This proposal seeks renewal funding under the Special Projects category. In our successful 2004 proposal http://www.sripmc.org/projects/ProjectInfo.cfm?ProposalID=44 we documented that beekeepers in the Southern region consider breeding for pest-resistant honey bees to be the top research priority for their industry. This is a fortunate convergence of priorities shared by the Southern Region IPM Center and an important client sector. In response to this industry mandate, the honey bee research and extension program at the University of Georgia has begun a long-term project to develop a honey bee stock exhibiting pest resistance and other characters of economic importance. In this proposal we document the successes of the 2004 season and present evidence to support our request for two additional years of funding. The products of this program will be (1) a demonstration of the techniques necessary to develop a bee that is both pest resistant and economically viable and (2) an actual bee stock that will be made available to the industry. The program employs queen propagation and mating methods that are easy to understand and duplicate. It is estimated that national benefits accruing over 5 years from practices championed by this proposal include: · 8,139,900 fewer chemical applications for varroa control · $29,547,837 savings in chemical applications · 5,722 kg reduction of the in-hive miticide fluvalinate · 11,070 kg reduction of the in-hive miticide coumaphos · reduced risk of contaminated honey · reduced risk to the environment and handler · improved reproductive performance of queens Crop Profiles for Peaches and Satsuma Mandarin in Alabama
Project Director: Henry Fadamiro This project addresses the priorities of the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Pest Management Policy, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by supporting the development and publication of priority crop profiles for peaches and Satsuma mandarin (citrus) in Alabama. Peaches and Satsuma citrus are two key fruit crops in Alabama. Alabama ranks eight in the nation in the production of peaches with an annual market value of about $15 million. The development of a crop profile for peaches in Alabama is listed on the EPA/BEAD crop profile priority list (http://cipm.ncsu.edu/CP-EPA/index.cfm?org=State). Citrus cultivation is an emerging industry in Alabama. Currently, it is estimated that approximately 1,000 acres of citrus are grown in Alabama, with Satsuma mandarin (Citrus reticulata) being the most common variety. Strong industry and state support is promoting industry growth with much research being conducted to develop new markets. One highly successful market development has been the federally funded Farm to School program. About one-fourth of the Satsuma mandarin crop was sold to the Alabama School systems in 2003 and 2004. The development of crop profiles for Satsuma mandarin has been identified as a high priority by Alabama fruit growers and other stakeholders. The goal of this proposal is to develop and publish crop profiles describing the production practices, pest problems, and current pest management practices for both fruit crops in Alabama. The IPM documents will also contain information on the type and frequency of worker activities for both crops, identify areas of critical needs, and communicate stakeholder needs to EPA and USDA. The crop profiles will be developed using instructions provided by the SRIPMC and with oversight provided by the State Contact Project (SCP) for Alabama. Inputs will be sought from relevant stakeholder groups including local growers of both fruit crops, grower groups, university researchers, extension specialists and agents, state IPM coordinator, pesticide safety education program (PSEP) coordinator, private consultants, state regulatory agencies, and IR-4 representatives. Completed crop profiles will be submitted through the SCP for Alabama to the SRIPMC leadership for approval and inclusion in the National IPM Centers database. Crop profile information and data will be used to develop a pest management strategic plan (PMSP) for each crop in the near future. Developing a sustainable management plan for Brazilian peppertree in Florida
Project Director: James Paul Cuda Brazilian peppertree (BP), Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae), is an aggressive, rapidly colonizing invasive weed of disturbed habitats, natural communities and conservation areas in peninsular Florida. Once established, BP quickly displaces the native vegetation, often forming dense monocultures that reduce the biological diversity of plants and animals in the invaded area. BP is considered an important invader of the Everglades National Park, and poses a significant threat to ongoing Evergladess restoration efforts. Herbicides and mechanical or physical control practices (e.g., cutting, burning and flooding) are routinely used often in combination for controlling existing BP stands, but these conventional methods are expensive, labor intensive and provide only temporary control due to the plants regenerative capacity. Furthermore, non-selective chemical and mechanical controls are unsuitable for sensitive natural areas (e.g., coastal mangrove forests) because they can have negative effects on non-target species and increase water pollution. Minimizing the use of herbicides and other non-selective control practices is needed to maintain the integrity of Floridas fragile environment and natural resources. The objective of this research/demonstration project will be to provide land managers with a predictable IPM strategy for addressing the BP problem. We propose to develop and test an ecologically based successional weed management system that will integrate biological control (top-down effect) with interspecific plant competition (bottom-up effect) to provide an environmentally acceptable, cost effective, and permanent solution to the BP problem in Florida. The overall goal is to shift the successional dynamics of public and privately owned lands currently dominated by BP towards more desirable plant communities where the plant is either eliminated or becomes a minor component of the flora. Measurable environmental results from this model IPM system will be to minimize herbicide use by identifying and manipulating the natural processes that can change the dynamics of plant communities in Florida currently dominated by BP. We also will demonstrate the benefits of the proposed IPM system for improving wildlife habitat to public, private and tribal landowners. Integrated Pest Management for Black Sigatoka, Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet, in Puerto Rico
Project Director: Wanda I. Almodovar In June 2004, Black sigatoka, (BS), Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet was detected for the first time in Puerto Rico. The presence of the disease was confirmed after observing the microscopic characteristics of the pathogen's anamorph, Paracercospora fijiensis, on affected leaves. For the species occurring on Musa, anamorph morphology are more informative and can be use to separate the major pathogens. BS, which is also known as black leaf streak, causes significant reductions in leaf area, yield losses of 50% or more and premature ripening, a serious defect in exported fruit. It is more damaging and difficult to control than Yellow Sigatoka (YS), Mycosphaerella musicola, and has a wider host range that includes the plantains and dessert and ABB cooking bananas that are usually not affected by YS. This makes it necessary to develop a sustainable approach for the management of the disease. Through this special project we will use PCR to detect Mycosphaerella fijiensis causing leaf spot in banana and plantain at municipalities of the western area of Puerto Rico, the geographic region where the disease was first detected; develop a package of IPM for banana and plantain with the latest information on effective BS control and implement on-farm demonstrations to validate the technology. Useful IPM information from other countries with similar geography and type of farmer (small) will be adapted to make the IPM package. This will include symptoms of the diseases, biology and ecology of the black sigatoka pathogen, resistant varieties, climatic factors and development of the disease, evaluation of disease incidence in the field, cultural management practices, calibration of pesticide equipment, types of fungicides and application, information about sensitivity of BS to fungicides, color photographs, and illustrations. The on-farm demonstrations will serve to validate the efficacy of the recommended practices and will be made in collaboration with growers and Extension personnel. These will reduce the impact of BS in plantain and banana in Puerto Rico. This project will utilize research and extension involvement in addressing IPM. The time frame proposed is a two-year project. During the first year we will use PCR to detect and identify BS, make on-farm demonstrations in two municipalities and begin with the compilation of information necessary to make the IPM package. In the second year a much broader geographic area will be involved to make demonstrations on farms of affected growers . The IPM package will be developed during the first year and information generated during the duration of the project about monitoring of fungicides sensitivity and successful management practices will be included. IPM of Invasive Stem Borers Impacting Sugarcane and Rice in the Gulf Coast Region
Project Director: Thomas E Reagan Stem borers, primarily the Mexican rice borer (MRB), Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), and sugarcane borer (SCB), Diatraea saccharalis (F.), are threatening the sugarcane and rice industries of Texas and Louisiana. These crops are crucial to the economy of the Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast region where approximately 700,000 acres of rice and 500,000 acres of sugarcane are produced. In 2003, rice production in Texas and Louisiana was valued at $500.85 million and $1.15 billion, respectively, while sugarcane production in Louisiana was valued at $1.8 billion. The MRB is an exotic species indigenous to Mexico, but both species of stem borers are increasingly problematic on these commodities in the Gulf Coast region. In the fall of 2004, MRB was detected for the first time (via pheromone trapping) in the sugarcane-producing region of SE Texas prompting a quarantine by regulatory agencies immediately costing producers over $300,000. The quarantine prohibits the transport of sugarcane into Louisiana for processing. This recent regulatory action illustrates the increasing problematic nature of stem borers in the Gulf Coast. With increasing pest severity, weed hosts and production practices appear to play crucial roles in the ecology and population dynamics of stem borers. Thus, research is needed to quantify the relationship between weeds, cultivars, planting dates, and pre/post harvest sugarcane/rice production practices on stem borer population build-up, damage and management. Oklahoma Wheat Pest Management Strategic Plan
Project Director: Jim T Criswell Winter wheat is the primary crop enterprise in Oklahoma with an annual value of > $583 million, and state production is ranked as second in the nation. With the recent completion of a PMSP for Stored Wheat in Oklahoma, this project will be a complete picture of stakeholder priorities in terms of research, education, and regulation. This project will be to develop a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Oklahoma Hard Red Winter Wheat Production. The Oklahoma State Contact for the Southern Region IPM Center will coordinate and oversee the production of this PMSP, by working closely with OSU wheat Extension and research specialists, the Oklahoma wheat producers, Oklahoma Wheat Commission, and the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association. The project will also complete a crop profile for stored hard red winter wheat in Oklahoma. Addressing pest pressure for stored wheat in a southern state will complete the pest management toolbox in Oklahoma, and will take advantage of Oklahomas highly lauded research and extension personnel in stored product management to complete this IPM document. Tennessee Pest Management Information Network Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans
Project Director: Darrell D Hensley The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology seeks funding to assist the State Contact Project (SCP) in developing Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs) that will enhance the function, activities and processes of the SCP and facilitate the development of resources and information used in integrated pest management on a statewide basis and for regional use. Funding will be used for developing and maintaining state crop pest profiles and/or state or multi-state PMSPs. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department will work closely with the SCP. Darrell Hensley will serve as the principal investigator of the SCP for development of state Crop Profiles and state PMSPs. Completed Crop Profiles and PMSPs will be forwarded to the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) to be placed on an online public accessible system. The SCP will establish and maintain a stakeholder network to continue to develop state priorities. Priorities determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by state stakeholders will be priorities targeted by the team working and developing state Crop Profiles and PMSPs. Three crops that will be selected for the 2005-2006 Crop Profile development include soybeans, hay, and brambles. The Universitys IPM Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinator, and IR-4 coordinator, industry representatives, a representative from Tennessee State University, grower groups, growers, county agents, a state regulator and state crop specialists may be involved in developing selected state Crop Profiles and/or PMSPs. Coordinators of the Crop Profiles and PMSPs will allow the State Contact Project to provide oversight of the projects state-developed projects. Developed crop/pest profiles and PMSPs will conform to the SRIPMCs standards for content, format and distribution. Occasionally, information concerning pest management trends, IPM outcomes and successes will be reported to the SCP network and may be placed on the state networks web site. Information concerning crop acreage, yield, pest management practices utilized, pesticide use, biocontrol products, beneficial organisms, alternative pest control practices and other information will be contained within statedeveloped Crop Profiles and PMSPs for web publication. Virginia Pest Management Information Network - Crop Profiles/PMSPs
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable integrated pest management strategies. Virginia Tech will work with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University, and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles and pest management strategic plans (PMSP ) for important crops grown in Virginia and North Carolina. During the next year, Virginia Tech will create new crop profiles for honey, greenhouse tomato, and hay. In addition, it will coordinate and publish PMSPs with North Carolina State University. These include PMSPs for pepper and potato. Crop profiles and pest management strategic plans will communicate stakeholder needs to USDA and EPA to assist with decision-making associated with FQPA implementation. Virginia Tech will support the Southern Region IPM Center through its pest management programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs will serve as the state contact project (SCP) for Virginia. This will involve providing oversight of crop profiles and PMSPs for Virginia. Long-term plans are to continue with crop profile and PMSP maintenance and development for the next three years in support of the regional center objectives and priorities and stakeholder needs. RFA: SRIPMC IPM Enhancement State Contact Projects 2005Alabama State Contact Project for Supporting the Communications Network of the Southern Region IPM Center
Project Director: Henry Fadamiro This State Contact Project (SCP) proposal addresses the priorities of the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC) by enhancing the development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in Alabama. The goals are to support the communications network of the SRIPMC, assist the center in meeting the goals of the National IPM Roadmap, and promote IPM knowledge and adoption in Alabama. The project will establish an IPM information program at Auburn University and fund a State Contact Project for Alabama to: 1) Serve as the primary contact in Alabama for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides. The SCP for Alabama will respond to inquiries from entities such as the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) other appropriate federal agencies, state regulatory agencies, and non-governmental stakeholder groups; 2) Establish and maintain a stakeholder network to develop IPM priorities for Alabama. The project director (PD) is already working to establish a broad-based and diverse IPM Advisory Committee for Alabama with appropriate stakeholder representation; 3) Provide planning, coordination and oversight for SRIPMC projects conducted in Alabama, including crop profiles, pest management strategic plans (PMSPs), special projects, and for stakeholder-identified priorities in the state. The list of priorities and the process used in establishing the priorities will be published online and in SRIPMC communication channels, such as the Southern Exposure ; 4) Develop and maintain a project website as required by the SRIPMC; 5) Attend and participate at the annual state contact meeting arranged by the SRIPMC; and 6) Provide important and timely IPM information to stakeholders in Alabama through appropriate media, including fact sheets, pest alerts, newsletters, presentations at grower meetings and IPM workshops, electronic mails, and IPM websites. The expected outcomes of this project include the number of information requests and the quality of the responses provided by the SCP, establishment of a broad-based IPM Advisory Committee and published IPM priorities for Alabama, and a progress report detailing the overall impact of the SCP in facilitating IPM knowledge, education, and implementation in Alabama. Arkansas State Contact Project for SRIPMC
Project Director: J. Ples Spradley The purpose of this proposal is to seek funding for maintaining the position of Arkansas State Contact (ASC) for the purpose of participating in the communications network of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC). In this capacity the ASC will serve as the primary contact to address the informational needs of EPA, USDA, and other stakeholders, concerning integrated pest management, pesticide use practices, crop profiles, pest management strategic plans, pesticide regulation, and other pest management issues that arise during the contract period. The Project Director will work closely with the states IPM and IR-4 Coordinators to plan, integrate, and analyze data requests and submissions. Responses to requests for information and other related activities will be documented and submitted to the SRIPMC by the ASC. A major component in the process will be the input and guidance of the various stakeholders in Arkansas crop pest management. The ASC will maintain and expand the current stakeholder network established by the Project Director to develop state/regional pest management strategic plans and crop profiles. The Arkansas stakeholders represented on pest management advisory and priority setting committees in the past three years include: growers/producers, university researchers, Extension specialists and agents, private consultants, IR-4 representatives, commodity groups, promotion boards, state regulatory agencies, EPA, and USDA. We will continue to expand the network to include representation and expertise for all the major crops of Arkansas. A list of the members of this network as organized by issues/expertise, an organized listing of the various pest management priorities, and an explanation of the process used to establish the priorities will be made available online on a newly created ASC project website. The ASC project website will be developed to match the attributes outlined in the RFA. Arkansas has produced eleven crop profiles and directed regional pest management strategic plans on cotton, rice, and soybeans under the direction of Ples Spradley, the Project Director for this proposal. As the ASC, we will continue to provide oversight and support on the development and completion of crop profiles, strategic plans, and other relevant issues/projects and will report in detail on these activities to the SRIPMC. In addition to these activities, we propose to expand the scope and readership of our Extension Pest Management Newsletter (e-mail and internet) that addresses pest management issues for growers, consultants, and other stakeholders on a weekly basis. Integrated Pest Management Center Network for Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
Project Director: Mark Mossler Florida and the Caribbean Territories Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands share similar regional concerns, especially for tropical or semi-tropical pests. This proposal requests funding to provide ongoing stakeholder information flow from Florida and Puerto Rico as well as extend that network to the Virgin Islands, wherever possible. Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network
Project Director: Jim T Criswell The Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network will be housed in the Oklahoma Pesticide Safety Education office and be the primary contact for pest management related issues, in cooperation with the Integrated Pest Management Program. This Network will facilitate pest management and pesticide related activities, including regulations, education, information acquisition and dissemination, and rapid response to emerging issues. The Pesticide Safety Education Program office allows for a central contact point for Oklahomans with pesticide and pest management questions. The Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network will work closely with the IR-4 liaison, Pesticide Coordinator, IPM Coordinator, state research specialists, state, area, and county Extension specialists, state commodity groups and associations, state agribusiness associations, and state pesticide applicator groups in forming a stakeholder network to identify and set priorities for Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network will prioritize and coordinate the development of crop profiles and pest management strategic plans for Oklahoma with input from stakeholder groups; will continue to contribute to and expand upon the existing pest management information venues, in newsletters, educational programs, manuals, fact sheets, and Web sites; and finally, will continue to participate in the SRIPM Center by attending meetings and providing updates on state progress. State Contact Project for Texas
Project Director: Don L Renchie The Agricultural and Environmental Safety (AES) Unit of Texas Cooperative Extension proposes a State Contact Project (SCP) for Texas to serve as the primary contact for information requests related to pest management and pesticides in Texas. Texas has the largest area of cultivated crops and agricultural enterprises in the United States. To manage pests, weeds and diseases, pesticide treatments are applied by more than 100,000 private applicators and more than 25,000 commercial and noncommercial applicators. Stakeholders and other interested parties generate hundreds of requests annually for information on pest management, pesticide regulations, pesticide use, and pesticide storage and disposal. The development and maintenance of a primary contact source to serve stakeholders is necessary to support information requests by agricultural producers, other stakeholders and the citizens of Texas. Specialists in AES combine to offer more than 69 years of experience in dealing with IPM and pesticides. This experience and the maintenance of stakeholder networks across the state allow AES to remain central to IPM and pesticide-related issues in Texas. Stakeholder networks are derived from participation in numerous meetings both statewide and local. AES specialists travel across the state every week delivering educational programs to IPM stakeholders at county and district-based meetings. In the last year, AES personnel participated in no less than 85 of these meetings. By interacting with clientele in person, AES specialists are better able to identify and address IPM concerns of agricultural producers, urban clientele, commodity organizations, and others involved with IPM on a regular basis. This interaction allows AES grass-roots level access to information provided directly by IPM stakeholders. Statewide meetings regularly attended by AES include: Texas Turfgrass Association, Texas Pecan Growers Association Meeting, the Texas Farm Bureau state meeting, Texas Nursery Landscape Association, Texas Cattlemen Association, Texas Structural Pest Control Board, Texas Pest Control Association, and Texas Vegetation Management Association. The AES Unit has also established and maintained a multi-state advisory committee that confers regularly to assess pesticide needs and priorities for minor use and ornamental crops. The Minor Use Pesticide Advisory Committee (MUPAC) is comprised of university research and extension personnel, commodity organization representatives, regulatory personnel, and grower representatives from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. AES has developed and maintained a Texas IPM State Contact web site at http://agenvsafety.tamu.edu/IfM_State _Contact/Texas _IPM State _Contact.htm. This Unit has produced more than twenty IPM documents in the last several years and will continue to provide supervision of current and future Crop Profiles and PMSPs. Virginia Pest Management Information Network - State Contact Project (SCP)
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable integrated pest management strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University, and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles and pest management strategic plans for important crops grown in Virginia and North Carolina. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of the FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its pest management programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs will serve as the state contact project (SCP) for Virginia. This will involve serving as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides, establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network to develop state priorities, providing oversight of crop profiles and pest management strategic plans (PMSPs) for Virginia, providing personnel to attend an annual state contact meeting, and maintaining a project web site and portal to share pertinent pest and regulatory information and pest alert newsletters and resources with stakeholders. |
2004 Program YearRFA: Southern Regional IPM Grant 2004Application of NIRS Fecal Analysis for Tick Management on Range Cattle
Project Director: Jerry Stuth USDA, SR-IPM Program Category: Research. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of feces from tick-infested cattle detects and identifies chemical groups absent in the same non-infested animals (pre- and post-infestation compared to infested periods). MRS may be detecting changes in digestive uptake in response to the stress of tick parasitism as modulated by interactions of the immune and endocrine systems. We hypothesize that hIIRS offers a potential decision aid for IPM strategies against ticks that is non-intrusive, economically beneficial and a managerial incentive for adoption of IPM practices. This project will investigate this hypotheses through the following objectives: 1) Determine how tick and nutritional stress effect MRS fecal profiles in cattle, and 2) Evaluate performance of MRS for pest detection and IPM program monitoring on tick infested range cattle. The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, and the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum, are annual pests of range beef cattle in the Southern Region. Direct economic losses to tick parasitism of cattle have been estimated to be in excess of $218 million/yr. Production losses to tick parasitism accrue through bloodloss, irritation, poor rates of gain, weightloss, loss in body condition, and diminished reproductive capacity. The ' impact and management of ticks on the growth, health and well-being of pastured cattle is a priority research need identified in the Strategic Research Plan of the Southern Region SAES, and also as a priority research need identified by the USDA National Program Staff, Section 104. Argentine Ant IPM in the Urban Landscape Employing the Trap-Cropping Concept
Project Director: Jules Silverman Since its introduction to the United States from South America in the late nineteenth century, the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, has become established in numerous urban developments in the southeastern U.S., including North Carolina, and is a serious agricultural and urban pest throughout much of California. In the urban environment, Argentine ant colonies can reach extremely high population levels around homes, schools, hospitals, etc. Management of Argentine ant populations is constrained by many factors, including landscaping practices using mulch in and around planting beds, which provide very suitable conditions for ant nest sites. Currently, only chemical insecticides are used in attempts to control Argentine ants and these are generally inadequate. Since Argentine ant colonies cover large areas and nests are somewhat protected by organic mulch, high volumes of insecticide are frequently needed to provide some level of control. This approach is generally not cost effective for pest management professionals, and regulatory restrictions on the types and classes of pesticides that can be used in urban environments frequently results in the overuse of a narrow spectrum of chemicals resulting in exposure to non-target organisms. The overall goal of this project is to develop an alternative pest management system for Argentine ants and is related to the USDA's national integrated pest management (IPM) initiative that calls for increasing the use of IPM systems to achieve both economic and environmental benefits. Specifically, we aim to develop a novel methodology similar to that used in agricultural settings (trap-cropping) to concentrate ants into preferred nest habitats for subsequent treatment with insecticide. Our earlier work demonstrated that aromatic cedar mulch was highly repellent to Argentine ants and that these ants avoided aromatic cedar mulch as a nesting substrate, favoring anyone of several other organic mulches. Now, we plan to use this information to pursue our objectives by combining both deterrent and non-deterrent organic mulches to concentrate ants and later apply relatively small volumes of pesticide to these infested parcels. We will also conduct surveys of homeowner/enduser perceptions of performance, and develop a workshop demonstrating this ant management approach to county extension agents. Because the Argentine ant is found throughout much of the southeastern U.S. and California and generally nests opportunistically within substrates provisioned by humans, the pest management program developed here, in North Carolina, will apply equally well to other regions of the U.S. Moreover, federal and local regulations have dictated the implementation of IPM programs in and around municipalities (offices, hospitals, schools, recreation areas) and results obtained from research and implementation of this proposal around private residences will be applicable to other peridomestic environments. Cultural Practices for Management of Pod Decay Diseases of Snap Bean
Project Director: John Damicone Snap bean is an important vegetable crop grown. for processing in Oklahoma and the surrounding states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas where up to 20,000 acres are grown. Because snap beans are machine harvested in bulk with non-selective harvesters, the crop is managed to be nearly free of blemishes from disease and without detectable levels of insect and weed parts. An increasing constraint to snap bean production across the four-state region is pod decay. Several water molds, Pythium aphanidermatum, P. ultimum, and a heterothalic Phytophthora spp. have been identified as causal agents in the disease complex. Pod decay is most severe in fields managed for high yield and under a dense foliar canopy. Because the water molds have similar disease cycles, we hypothesize that three mechanisms of pathogen dispersal lead to disease development: 1) direct contact of basal pods with infested soil and water, 2) splashing of infested soil and water on aerial parts and pods, and 3) direct contact of diseased pods with adjacent healthy pods. The proposed research will evaluate cultural modifications to current snap bean production practices in order to disrupt pathogen dispersal using an ecological approach. Planting into a no-till, small grain stubble should reduce splash dispersal, increase the height of lower pods, and provide physical support to reduce lodging. High nitrogen fertility is known to promote lodging, and create a dense foliar canopy which retains moisture and promotes disease development. High and low nitrogen rates will be evaluated under no-till and conventional tillage. Disease development within cultivars with prostrate vs. upright plant habits will be compared. It is anticipated that the combined effects of no-till production, reduced nitrogen, and an upright plant habit will alter plant canopy architecture and resulting microclimate to minimize pod decay without the use of an intensive fungicide program. However, modifications to tillage and fertility systems may also impact arthropod and weed pests. Insect and weed populations will be monitored under the different cultural regimes. Because insects such as thrips have been previously implicated in increasing disease in vegetable crops through wounds caused by their feeding, relationships between insect abundance and disease development will be explored. The impact of additional cultural practices such as row spacing, plant density; and crop rotation will be assessed through surveys of representative commercial fields. Development of Stable and Predictable Deployment Populations of Loblolly Pine to Minimize Fusiform Rust Impacts in Southern Pine Plantations
Project Director: Henry Amerson Fusiform rust disease of pines, caused by the fungus Cronartium quercuum f.sp. fusiforme (Cqf.) is by far the most serious disease in loblolly and slash pine forests of the southern US. Deployment of resistant genotypes is the only viable strategy for controlling the devastating impacts of fusiform rust in southern pine plantations. Until recently, tree breeders believed that resistant pine genotypes were stable and reasonably predictable in performance across sites. However, we have discovered that the most resistant genotypes tend to be highly variable in resistance across different test sites (McKeand et al., 2003). Five of 6 families in that study, deemed highly rust resistant, showed much poorer predictability than the other 38 families evaluated. We hypothesize that this is due to virulence variation for major gene resistance (i.e. Fr genes) at different field locations. Understanding resistance/pathogenicity interactions will be critical for successful deployment of high-value, rust-resistant genotypes in southern pine forests. The proposed study will investigate the stability and predictability of high-yielding families that appear putatively resistant, based on limited testing. These families will be tested across multiple inoculum sources in both greenhouse (GH) and field tests. Included are families from 7 loblolly pine clones that contain 8 different heterozygous fusiform rust resistance genes, tagged with genetic markers. Markers for genes, Fr1--Fr8, will be used to examine pathogen virulence variation across the range of Cqf. and as a possible explanation for the previously observed unpredictability of resistance. Research will be conducted in two large GH tests funded by this proposal, while field studies will be funded and conducted by industry/state partners. Gulf Coast Tick Pheromone: IPM Application Across Geographic Strains
Project Director: Pete Teel Gulf Coast tick losses occurring in 20% of cattle marketed in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas alone is estimated to exceed $2.7 million (1986 value). This tick has been confirmed an efficient vector of a foreign animal disease called heartwater threatening US entry from the Caribbean. Current tick management with insecticide impregnated ear tags is often inadequate for tick suppression; and is also inconsistent with horn fly insecticide resistance management where horn fly resistance is a concomitant problem on pastured cattle. IPM tactics used in horn fly resistance management are ineffective against the Gulf Coast tick. The male aggregation-attachment pheromone (AAP) produced appears to be a powerful tool to attract ticks. New evidence shows pheromone variation across geographic strains may influence AAP applications. Impact of ticks on cattle fulfills strategic research plans of the Southern Region SAES, and meets research needs identified by USDA National Program Staff. Risk of Gulf Coast ticks as US vectors of heartwater prompted the National Cattlemans Beef Association to request Congress and USDA work to address growing concerns about preparedness for US heartwater outbreaks ("US Cattle Producers Set Policy Priorities & Initiatives for 2003" at www.beef.orq). IPM Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool for School Training Sessions
Project Director: Janet Hurley Integrated pest management (IPM) is generally regarded as the most effective and safe form of pest control for sensitive environments, such as schools (GAO, 1999). One of the most controversial components affecting adoption by schools of IPM, however, is the relative cost of implementation compared to more pesticide intensive forms of pest control. Currently there are few resources available to decision-makers that will allow them to make objective decisions about possible changes in costs associated with implementing new IPM programs. An IPM Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool is currently being researched and developed by Texas Cooperative Extension and the Southwest Technical Resource Center for School IPM (SWTRC) with funding received in 2003 from the CSREES SR-IPM program. This decision tool is designed to assist school facility managers and IPM coordinators make informed decisions about IPM implementation. We propose to continue the 2003 project by developing an intuitive, easy to use interface for use with this calculator and marketing the calculator to schools in the region serviced by the SWTRC. A software development engineer will be used to improve the interface of the beta-version of the spreadsheet calculator. In addition, this interface will be published to both CD-ROM and the Internet. One thousand CD-ROM copies of the software will be produced and distributed through training workshops in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arkansas. Classes will be made available at annual conferences for school business officials and during regularly scheduled Advanced Coordinator training in Texas. IPM Economic Threshold for a Two-Pest Complex in Honey Bees
Project Director: Keith S. Delaplane This proposal, IPM Economic Threshold for a Two-Pest Complex in Honey Bees, requests funding for a Research Project under the Improved Pest Monitoring Techniques and Decision Tools emphasis area. The American beekeeping industry has become highly chemical-dependent. Applications of the synthetic acaricides fluvalinate (ApistanTm) and coumaphos (CheckMiteTm) are routinely used to control the exotic bloodfeeding mite Varroa destructor, and coumaphos and permethrin (GardStarTm) are used to control the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), a recently-introduced hive scavenger. The combined effect of these two pests is acute in the Southeast - a region responsible for 13% of the nation's honey production and about half of the nation's queen and package bee output. In this proposal we argue that an effective IPM strategy against this two-pest complex cannot get off the ground before a research-based economic threshold is developed. Thus, in this proposal we offer a protocol for developing an economic threshold for varroa and small hive beetles replicated across three states, GA, SC, and NC. The PDs are well-published in the biology and control of both pests, and two of them (KSD and WMH) were the first to develop a research based economic threshold for V. destructor. Each brings to the project strong professional resources and documented support of clientele beekeeper groups. We estimate that the benefits accruing to the Southeastern states from IPM practices growing from this economic threshold should over a five-season period translate to: 1,023,400 fewer chemical applications for varroa control 190,890 fewer chemical applications for SHB control 719 kg reduction in the active ingredient fluvalinate 1651 kg reduction in the active ingredient coumaphos 179 kg reduction in the active ingredient permethrin $4,488,047 savings in chemical applications IPM for Mosquito Control: Program Development, Training, and Educational Materials
Project Director: Cynthia Rutledge Educational and training materials for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in mosquito control will be developed by Extension Specialists in Florida and Georgia. The educational tools will demonstrate techniques available for mosquito control that do not rely on traditional spraying for adult mosquitoes. The final products will be: 1) a training video targeted to mosquito control employees and 2) a "how-to" guide for homeowners. The training video will demonstrate field and laboratory techniques in mosquito control based on IPM principles. The target audience includes new mosquito control programs, new employees in mosquito control agencies, and existing mosquito control programs that have not incorporated IPM into their control program. The concepts and techniques will be applicable for all states in the Southern Region of the U. S. The video will be distributed to. County Cooperative Extension offices in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and designated county, city, and town governments involved in mosquito control. A "how-to" guide for mosquito-proofing homes, humans, and pets will be developed for use by the general public. This colorful, easy-to-read handbook will provide essential information for personal protection from mosquito bites that is often missing from the one-page fact sheets that are currently available. After completion of the video and guide book, a multi-state in-service training will be conducted for County Cooperative Extension agents in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to introduce the materials and provide training for their use by County Agents. Management Alternatives for Bacterial Spot of Peach
Project Director: Harald Scherm The recently published Pest Management Strategic Plan for peaches in the eastern U.S. identified bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap), as a key factor limiting orchard productivity. In recent years, consumer demand for red-skinned peaches has led to the planting of large acreages with cultivars developed in California; these turned out to be highly susceptible to the disease in eastern production regions. In severe epidemics favored by warm and humid weather, control is almost impossible and nearly 100% loss can occur. Even when bacterial spot is managed successfully on less susceptible cultivars, significant losses occur due to the cost of control. To make matters worse, in-season management of the disease during the cover sprays depends almost exclusively on the antibiotic oxytetracycline (Mycoshield); human health and environmental concerns have put. this antibiotic under scrutiny, and there is an ever-present risk for resistance development in the pathogen population due to frequent applications. Thus, there is a critical need for management alternatives that improve control and reduce over-reliance on a single antibiotic for in-season use. Xap overwinters in protected sites such as leaf scars and buds, and possibly epiphytically in cracks on bark, but the relative importance of these different survival niches has not been quantified previously. Bacteria in the overwintering sites multiply in early spring and spread to the developing leaves and fruit. Here, we propose a three-pronged approach to optimize disease control: 1) Quantify the relative importance of overwintering sites of Xap as a basis for developing better targeted management tactics that reduce in-season disease pressure. For example, if leaf scars are the main overwintering sites, efforts to improve management should focus on preventing leaf scar colonization in the fall, perhaps in conjunction with treatments that result in a less protracted defoliation of trees. Conversely, if the incidence of overwintering in buds is high, efforts should focus on eradication of bacteria in buds, e.g., by applying early-season copper sprays in combination with an effective surfactant that facilitates deeper penetration of the active ingredient into the buds. 2) Evaluate alternatives to Mycoshield for use during the cover sprays; these will include two non-antibiotic bactericides, a plant resistance activator, a film-forming antitranspirant, and a newly formulated systemic copper product. 3) Isolate and characterize bacteriophages of Xap and assess their potential as biocontrol agents. Inter alia, this will involve high-throughput screening of UV protectants for their ability to improve persistence of the phages outdoors, which has been a key problem with phage therapy in the past. While not targeted toward short-term implementation, this last objective will be critical for sustainable management of bacterial spot in the longer term. Management of RIPM Panel
Project Director: Ronald E Stinner We propose to manage the Southern Region IPM Competitive Grants Program during 2003/2004 by using a grants manager already involved from previous years, helping to select review panelists, making local and travel arrangements, and all administrative tasks associated with this competitive grants process. Management of Twospotted Spider Mite on Vegetables in a Multicrop Agroecosystem
Project Director: James Walgenbach In recent years, the twospotted spider mite (TSSM) has developed into a key pest of vegetables in the piedmont and mountain regions of the southeastern US. Studies during 2002 and 2003 suggest that in vegetable-producing regions, certain vegetables (primarily tomato and pepper) have replaced corn as a key summer host of TSSM. Factors contributing to this occurrence include a reduction in both corn acreage and use of the soil insecticide turbufos, which greatly accelerates mite population increases on corn, and vegetable cultural and pest management practices that serve to enhance TSSM reproduction and minimize the potential for biological control. Not all mite-susceptible vegetable fields become infested with TSSM, with the previous years' crop, time of harvest (if mite infested), and distance from mite overwintering sites appearing to be important in dictating the potential for infestation. The high value of vegetable crops and lack of basic information related to mite management on these crops has led to frequent and unnecessary acaricide applications. This has contributed to the development of acaricide-resistant TSSM populations, and, in the absence of management guidelines, will likely lead to resistance to new acaricides entering the market. The goal of this project is to better understand the area-wide population dynamics of TSSM so as to identify risk factors for mite infestations in individual fields, and to development strategies for minimizing acaricides use on vegetable crops. Specific objectives include: 1) identify factors contributing to the susceptibility of vegetable fields to infestation by TSSM; 2) determine the effect of late-season weed control in the border of tomato fields on overwintering populations of TSSM; 3) develop a sampling plan for estimating mite populations on tomato and pepper; and 4) determine the mite density-yield relationship on sequential plantings of tomato and pepper. Analysis of the temporal distribution of mites in different habitats and correlation with previous cropping history, planting date, field disking date, distance of vegetable crop from various habitats and weed abundance, will enable us to identify those factors most important in predicting TSSM infestations. This information, together with the development of mite ` sampling plans and an assessment of the economic impact of mites on tomato and pepper, will form the basis of a management program for TSSM on vegetables. Optimizing Alternative Pest Management for Turfgrass in the Southeast
Project Director: Kristine S. Braman Research in this proposal provides additional information to optimize integration of biological control by predators and nematodes with pest suppression by deployment of host plant resistance and alternative pesticide technologies for implementation in turfgrass production, recreation and maintenance industries. The goal is to build complementary multiple strategies rather than to replace one tactic (organophosphate pest suppression) with another (host plant resistance or biocontrol or alternative pesticides). We have already developed good plant-pest resistance profiles, determined effects of alternative controls on target pests and developed preliminary data concerning conservation or augmentation of natural enemies. Teaching Kids About IPM: A Curriculum for K-5 Education in Urban and Landscape IPM
Project Director: Geoffrey Zehnder The rate of conversion of rural acres for urban development is rapidly increasing in South Carolina and in other states in the Southern Region, and the current rate is expected to double over the next decade. Because homeowners in urban and suburban areas may use up to 10 times more pesticide active ingredients on a per acre basis than farmers, increasing rates of urban development pose a significant threat to the environment. Improperly used or stored pesticides also pose a risk to children's health from direct exposure. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach can be used to reduce the need for household pesticides, and homeowners with knowledge of IPM will use pesticides only when necessary or may in fact use preventative practices which obviate the need for pesticides. Unfortunately, most adults will not learn about IPM unless they enroll in special classes or courses. Even if adults receive information, they may not feel comfortable implementing IPM because of preconceived, negative attitudes about pests, and the need for prophylactic, chemical control. Alternatively, children are more likely to be receptive to information on IPM, and if they are educated about pests and IPM, as adults they will be more likely to tolerate low level pest infestations and will be less likely to apply pesticides unnecessarily or unsafely. Because IPM is based on pest identification, biology and ecology combined with the needs of society, IPM is an ideal subject matter topic for the classroom. An IPM activity can touch on many disciplines and can be adapted to many areas in pre-existing curriculum. South Carolina elementary school teachers and principals have indicated a strong interest in adopting IPM topics for teaching life sciences and other disciplines, including mathematics, art and music. IPM topics can be easily adapted for the study areas listed in the K-5 life science curriculum standards established for South Carolina. Training School Purchasing Officers and Extension Agent Trainers to Increase IPM Adoption in Tennessee's Child-Serving Facilities
Project Director: Karen Vail Children can spend six to seven hours a ay at school and nine to 12 hours per day at a child care center thereby increasing their risk of pesticide exposure if pesticides have been applied in a manner inconsistent with integrated pest management (IPM). Children are physiologically more susceptible to harm their inhalation rate is greater than that of adults, developing cells are more susceptible to damage, toxins concentrate more rapidly in smaller bodies, their enzyme detoxification systems are not fully developed and their behavior (hand-to-mouth activity and sitting on floors) increases the likelihood of ingesting or being exposed to toxins. While research regarding the extent of harm that pesticides may cause to children continues to emerge, there is sufficient data "to be prudent to reduce or, where possible, eliminate pesticide exposure to children, given their increased vulnerability and susceptibility" (Zahm and Ward 1998). IPM aims to reduce exposure to pests and pesticides and is a process that extends beyond the application of pesticides to include reduction of food, water, harborage, and access used by pests. In an IPM program, pest populations are prevented; pesticides are used only "as needed"; the least hazardous pesticide effective for control of targeted pests is selected; and pesticides are targeted to areas not contacted or accessible to children or staff. Using DNA Diagnostics to Predict Potentially Damaging Isolates of Greenbug
Project Director: Keyan Zhu-Salzman The greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), infests more than 70 cultivated and wild grass hosts. This aphid causes annual losses of $126 million to sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench and $240 million to wheat, Triticum aestivum L., in the Southern Great Plains, of the United States. Use of resistant cultivars is the major IPM strategy for managing greenbugs. However, new resistance-breaking biotypes have been discovered two to five years after release of every resistant sorghum. Without mating, female greenbugs give birth to living young. Because new greenbug biotypes that can damage sorghum have been identified in such rapid succession, populations with great genetic diversity probably exist in nature. No method exists to predict new damaging biotypes. Being able to predict future predominant greenbug biotypes is imperative to breeding resistant sorghum, thus avoiding devastating outbreaks. Despite no apparent morphological differences, variation in genetic information among greenbug populations can be detected by using molecular techniques. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) allows genomewide identification of molecular markers from little DNA and is highly repeatable. When AFLP was used for distinguishing eight greenbug biotypes, biotypes able to damage sorghum in the field shared more common polymorphic markers among themselves than with non-sorghum biotypes, suggesting that a common genetic factor(s) responsible for fitness on sorghum might be shared by sorghum greenbug biotypes. These markers would be useful for monitoring new biotypes. The goal of this research is to use a high-throughput DNA diagnostic method to identify greenbugs with the potential to become pests of sorghum. Greenbugs will be collected and biotyped from cultivated and wild grass hosts. AFLP markers will be used to analyze the DNA and differentiate among the greenbug isolates from the field. Greenbugs with great similarity to known sorghum biotypes will be evaluated for ability to damage resistant sorghums. This information will be provided to extension agents and specialists to provide to farmers and to sorghum breeders who are developing resistant sorghums for release to the commercial seed industry. Thus, greenbugs could be managed before outbreaks occur and sorghum yield would be maintained by an environmentally friendly approach. RFA: SRIPMC IPM Enhancement (Special Projects) 2004Assessing the Pre-Season Risk of Thrips Vectors of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus in Solanaceous Crops
Project Director: David G. Riley Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which is vectored by several species of thrips, e.g. Frankliniella fusca and F. occidentalis, causes severe yearly losses ($100 million in certain years) to crops in the Southeast including tomato, pepper, potato, tobacco, peanut, and ornamentals. Similar losses occur in many Southeastern States. Management of TSWV has proven difficult because both the virus and its thrips vectors have broad and overlapping host ranges and our knowledge of TSWV epidemiology prior to the cropping season is fragmentary. Management of TSWV in susceptible vegetable crops requires multiple, expensive tactics, many of which have to be selected pre-season. The goal of this project is to develop a system for predicting the timing and relative intensity of TSWV spread from overwintering hosts into susceptible crops in the spring. Such a preventative system would allow growers to adjust their selection of TSWV management tactics to the intensity of the TSWV problem and thereby avoid incurring unnecessary management expenses. We propose the following objectives. 1) Conduct an extensive survey of thrips vectors of TSWV around commercial tomato and pepper field sites in Georgia with the intent of identifying pre-season risk to the crop. 2) Develop a standard sampling technique that can be used by crop consultants and extension agents to assess a modified Relative Inoculum Potential (RIP) Index for TSWV developed by North Carolina State University for Georgia conditions. Although various surveys for TSWV have been reported for the Southeast in the last decade, only the RIP index survey provided an assessment of relative risk. This proposed survey will be the first attempt to predict TSWV severity based on a modified RIP index and other factors. It will concurrently provide this information in the form of a pest advisory to commercial growers as the data are gathered. Breeding an Economically Viable Honey Bee for Reduced-Chemical Beekeeping
Project Director: Keith S. Delaplane This proposal seeks funding under the Special Projects category. A case is made that the U.S. beekeeping industry has been slow to adopt pest-resistant honey bee stocks, preferring instead to depend on synthetic in-hive pesticides which raises risks of contaminated honey. This proposal seeks to develop a genetically improved bee stock that will encourage beekeepers to reduce their use of in-hive chemicals, lowering consumer risk of contaminated honey. The products of the program will be (1) a demonstration of the techniques necessary to develop a bee that is both pest resistant and economically viable and (2) an actual bee stock that will be made available to the industry. The program employs queen propagation and mating methods that are easy to understand. Moreover, we have documented that beekeepers rank pest-resistant honey bees as the highest research priority for the industry today. It is estimated that national benefits accruing over 5 years from practices championed by this proposal include: · 8,139,900 fewer chemical applications for varroa control · $29,547,837 savings in chemical applications · 5,722 kg reduction of the in-hive miticide fluvalinate · 11,070 kg reduction of the in-hive miticide coumaphos · reduced risk of contaminated honey · reduced risk to the environment and handler · improved reproductive performance of queen bees Development of a Mosquito Abatement Program in Texas: Monitoring and Predicting Insecticide Resistance
Project Director: Jeffery K. Tomberlin West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and canine heartworm are just a few diseases of concern to Texans either directly, depending on the pathogen, through infection of themselves or their animals, and all are transmitted or vectored by mosquitoes that occur in both rural and urban areas of Texas. Reducing risk of these diseases to Texans and their companion animals will require effective management of their mosquito vectors by all public and private organizations, while reducing insecticide resistance within those mosquito populations being suppressed. However, at this time, all mosquito populations that have been sampled in several areas of Houston, TX are resistant to malathion, which is a common adulticide for mosquitoes. Because of resistance to malathion, the Harris Co. Mosquito Control District has ONLY one available adulticide, which is resmethrin (formulated with a synergist, piperonyl butoxide). Dangerously, low to medium levels of survival to resmethrin in mosquitoes from Area 51 have been detected beginning in 1999, weakening our ability to effectively control mosquito-transmitted diseases. The objectives of this project will improve mosquito control for the Harris County Mosquito District (Houston, TX) by examining populations of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in the urban setting of Area 51 and others in Houston, TX and developing a monitoring program for determining their level of resistance to malathion as well as resmethrin. Resistance will be quantified and analyzed at the population level and the mechanisms studied at the molecular level. Information will be disseminated to the public through the improvement and development of educational materials on mosquito abatement. Such an early warning system would allow appropriate alterations in control measures to be taken in order to reduce resistance levels and continue effective suppression of mosquito populations. The resistance management plans to be developed will focus on, 1) sampling Cx. quinquefasciatus populations being suppressed with malathion, resmethrin, and other adulticides in this district and 2) determining proper timing in alternating available insecticides available for controlling adult mosquitoes in order to minimize the development of resistance in their resident populations. Results generated from this project will also be used to develop new, as well as improve existing, materials utilized for educating the general public on community efforts for suppressing mosquito populations in urban, as well as rural settings. These materials will be made available to the general public through state-wide extension offices, as well as through Texas A&M University websites developed and managed by those participating on this project. Development of Southern Region IPM Organic Tree Fruit Working Group
Project Director: Donn T. Johnson Organic agriculture is increasingly gaining importance in agricultural economies because of the many economic, environmental and social benefits associated with organic production as well as consumer awareness of these benefits. These benefits and consumer awareness have contributed to an annual 20% growth in the organic industry. Although there has been continuous increase, the South has only 14% of the certified organic production in the US, of which 82% was found in Texas. Most Universities in the Southern region have some research, Extension publications or workshops in organic weeds, nutrients or vegetable production but there is little information on organic fruit production, especially tree fruit production. Considering the lack of information on organic deciduous tree fruit production in the South, most organic practices have been developed in other regions of the country. Much of this information is not applicable to the South because of our hot and humid spring and summers that contributes to many fungal diseases and multiple generations of insect pests. Science and systems-based organic pest management information is necessary to overcome these pest challenges while maintaining environmental and economic viability. The Southern region has a growing organic tree fruit industry that consists of many small acreage fruit and vegetable farms, where many sell through a growing network of local farmers markets and organic produce retailers. The ultimate goal will be to organize a Southern Region Working Group for Organic Tree Fruit Production that would share insights and promote submission of grant proposals that address the prioritized needs for organic tree fruit research, extension and demonstration and information transfer system that are economically and environmentally viable. Our organic tree fruit industry would greatly benefit from such an organized planning group. Thus, our objectives are: 1) To organize and facilitate four in-state (AR, GA, NC, SC) Focus Group meetings that will identify interested people and support industries, available and needed publications on organic production, and research and extension demonstration projects that will enhance and promote organic deciduous tree fruit production so it is more sustainable in the southern region. 2) To organize and facilitate a meeting that will prioritize issues, research and extension needs from the four Focus Group meetings and use this information to implement a formal application to CSREES for creation of a Southern Region Organic Tree Fruit Working Group. One goal of that Working Group would be to submit a proposal to support a meeting to compose a Pest Management Strategic Plan for Southern Region Organic Deciduous Tree Fruit Production. Integrated Pest Management of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Texas High Plains Cotton
Project Director: Steven G. Davis It is the intent of this `special' research project to further the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Program (SRII'M) in upland cotton and other warm season crops on the High Plains of Texas. This project will utilize multidisciplinary research, education and extension involvement in addressing IPM and Conservation Reserve Programs (CRP) locally established in Crosby and Floyd Counties of Texas. The time frame proposed is a two-year study with the first year in this localized two-county area. A much broader area of the South Plains along the Llano Estecado Escarpment (six county area) will be involved as the project is extended to the second year. Texas Cooperative Extension (TCE), through the local Extension Agent - IPM, will initially survey, collect specimens and record grasshopper population data regarding species emerging from CRP acres adjacent to high value production fields. Timely recommendations will be made, as needed, for applications with approved pesticides. This project begun out of necessity to; 1) initiate a species diversity data base to recognize predominant species or combination of species which are the most detrimental to cotton and other crop production sites; 2) aid in reducing the threat of insect damage by proactive field-scouting; 3) reduce the use of broad-spectrum insecticides which may prove to be harmful to the environment; and 4) educate and involve agricultural producers in the scouting practices, pest recognition and pro-active treatment of potential grasshopper problems with acceptable practices. CRP acres total in excess of 187,000 in Crosby and Floyd Counties due to provisions of the last two Federal Farm Bills. Ultimately, a full 25% of all cultivated acres could become CRP qualified, according to current provisions, if sign-up is extended. With the extreme populations of grasshoppers that have been experienced in this area for the last two years, potential for extended hot and dry climatic conditions, and the projected numbers from the Hopper® Computer Model for 2004, agricultural producers could experience significant economic in the very near future by these pests. Integrating Pest Management Tools for a Sustainable Strawberry Crop in Florida
Project Director: Silvia I. Rondon This proposal is designed to reduce the dependency on pesticides on a strawberry crop in Florida by demonstrating the economic efficacy of integrating conventional pest management practices and biological control by using the twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus californicus McGregor) as a model. Also, it proposes to create a forecast model that will determine optimal time of spraying to control strawberry diseases such as gray mold (Botrytis cinerea L.) and anthracnose (Collelotrichum acutatum L). Recent assessment of priorities identified as a main concern the need for more information and training materials in biological control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, as well as the need to educate growers and pest managers with new pest management methods. Our project intends to conduct on-farm demonstrations with growers, extension personnel, and crop consultants. This project will identify and present the latest information on effective insect and disease control in strawberries as well as the revise scouting protocols for the strawberry growers. The trials will be conducted with growers on their fields. Information will be disseminated to growers in collaboration with Cooperative Extension personnel and the Florida Strawberry Growers Association by means of field days, intensive workshops on IPM, and through presentations at producerss meetings. As a result of this effort we expect to document an increase in the number of growers using IPM/ Biocontrol, with a corresponding decrease in the use of insecticides as documented by growers pesticide application records. A decrease in environmental pesticide loading should be substantial and should lead to a reduction in pesticide occupational exposure risk to farm workers. Leveraging Federal Conservation Programs to Increase Adoption of Integrated Pest Management in Western North Carolina Christmas Tree and Nursery Production
Project Director: Lawrence Elworth Increased funding levels authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offer an unprecedented opportunity to increase the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) in specialty crops. However, due to a lack of awareness and knowledge, the enormous potential of the conservation programs to increase IPM adoption is being lost. Specialty crop growers need a basic awareness and understanding of the benefits and opportunities under EQIP, the knowledge and assistance necessary to successfully apply and participate in EQIP, and concrete evidence in their cropping system that growers can successfully make use of EQIP in their operations. CAPs project provides a targeted information, recruitment, and assistance program to increase grower participation in western North Carolina Christmas tree and nursery production. By providing growers with the awareness and knowledge necessary to successfully apply to EQIP for support in the use of IPM practices and by conducting a targeted recruitment and assistance program, the project offers the means to make the potential for EQIP to increase IPM adoption a reality. In doing so, it will serve as a model for other crops in other southern states of how growers can take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to advance IPM adoption. Photo Guide of Pest and Beneficial Insects of Corn, Soybean, and Wheat in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Project Director: Ames Herbert The proposed project, Photo Guide of Pest and Beneficial Insects of Corn, Soybean, and Wheat in the Mid-Atlantic Region, is seeking resources from the Special Projects section of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Centers IPM Grants Program. Accurate identification of insect pest and beneficial species is essential to practicing IPM. However, proper identification of insect pests continues to challenge growers and agriservice personnel involved in pest management in field crops. Of the 13 Pest Management Strategic Plans completed in the Southern Region, the top research and top education issue highlighted by 90% of the stakeholders was scouting and pest identification (Shani File, IPM Facilitator, Southern Region IPM Center, Raleigh, NC). In addition, an IPM survey of Virginia corn, soybean, and wheat growers by Herbert et al. (2002) found that many often misidentified insect pests. For example, green cloverworm larvae are often confused with soybean looper larvae. Some clientele have trouble differentiating armyworms from corn earworms, or bean leaf beetles (a pest) from lady beetles (a beneficial). Inaccurate pest identifications such as these lead to unnecessary or off-label pesticide applications. Photographs and drawings of insect pests and beneficials are available in numerous books, but they are not specific to the Mid-Atlantic region, include many insects not found in this region, and omit some of the major pest species. Likewise, several Internet sites with high-quality photographs exist, but results of the recent Virginia IPM survey show that a very small percent of growers are accessing these sites (Herbert et al. 2002). Survey respondents were unanimous that it was critical to have hard copy information in the truck where many of the daily pest management decisions are made. Extension Agents, growers, consultants, and scouts need a durable, pocket-sized, high-quality color insect photo guide that will aid them in making proper identification and improve their pest management capabilities.The proposed insect photo guide will provide clear photos of approximately 40 insect pest and 10 beneficial species of corn, soybean, and wheat specific to the Mid-Atlantic region. Identification keys will be included for easy separation of some of the most commonly misidentified species. High-resolution photographs will be compiled from personal collections, Internet resources, and use of a digital camera. The pocket-sized, full-color booklet will be laminated and have plastic coil bindings for durability. The photo guide will also be made available via compact disc and on Virginia Tech, University of Delaware, and University of Maryland websites. Survey of Pest Management Practices in Arkansas Schools
Project Director: John D. Hopkins Currently, there is no specific program promoting integrated pest management (IPM) in Arkansas in schools. Survey results from Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania indicate that most schools rely on pesticide applications to manage their pest problems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency promotes School IPM programs as a means to protect human health by suppressing pests that vector diseases, reduce losses from pest damage, reduce environmental pollution, and reduce human exposure to pesticides.The primary goals of this project are to establish a relationship with key school officials in Arkansas and encourage their support in promoting School IPM, to conduct a survey to assess current pest control measures and awareness of integrated pest management in the state, and to identify schools that would be supportive of implementing a Voluntary School IPM Program. The State IPM Coordinator and the State Pesticide Assessment Specialist will serve as technical resources for the Project Director in the development of the survey and the analysis of survey results.The Project Director will be responsible for developing the survey, disseminating it to Arkansas elementary and secondary public schools, and then evaluating and summarizing the results. The information obtained will be used to assist in the transfer and implementation of IPM technology within the Arkansas school system. Additionally, the information obtained will help identify schools that would be willing to participate in a pilot Voluntary School IPM Program to be developed as part of the University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Services Urban Entomology Program. RFA: SRIPMC IPM Enhancement (State Contact) 2004Arkansas State Contact Project for Southern Region IPM Center
Project Director: J. Ples Spradley The purpose of this proposal is to seek funding for the establishment of an Arkansas State Contact (ASC) to participate in the communications network of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC). In this capacity the ASC will serve as the primary contact to address the informational needs of EPA, USDA, and other stakeholders, concerning integrated pest management, pesticide use practices, crop profiles, pest management strategic plans, pesticide regulation, and other pest management issues that arise during the contract period. The Project Director will work closely with the states IPM and IR-4 Coordinators to plan, integrate, and analyze data requests and submissions. Responses to requests for information and other related activities will be documented and submitted to the SRIPMC by the ASC. A major component in the process will be the input and guidance of the various stakeholders in Arkansas crop pest management. The ASC will maintain and expand the current stakeholder network established by the Project Director to develop state/regional pest management strategic plans and crop profiles. The Arkansas stakeholders represented on pest management advisory and priority setting committees in the past three years include: growers/producers, university researchers, Extension specialists and agents, private consultants, IR-4 representatives, commodity groups, promotion boards, state regulatory agencies, EPA, and USDA. We will continue to expand the network to include representation and expertise for all the major crops of Arkansas. A list of the members of this network as organized by issues/expertise, an organized listing of the various pest management priorities, and an explanation of the process used to establish the priorities will be made available online on a newly created ASC project website. The ASC project website will be developed to match the attributes outlined in the RFA. Arkansas has produced eleven crop profiles and directed regional pest management strategic plans on cotton (completed) and rice (near completion) and soybeans (under development) under the direction of Ples Spradley, the Project Director for this proposal. As the ASC, we will continue to provide oversight and support on the development and completion of crop profiles, strategic plans, and other relevant issues/projects and will report in detail on these activities to the SRIPMC. In addition to these activities, we propose to expand the scope and readership of our Extension Pest Management Newsletter (e-mail and internet) that addresses pest management issues for growers, consultants, and other stakeholders on a weekly basis. Arkansas has had great success with competitively funded county Extension IPM programs for row crops and diversified agriculture over the past 3-4 years. The programs promote the use of IPM through on-farm demonstrations, research, and multi-media educational efforts and funding is provided to assist the county with the effort. Established criteria are used to determine county funding levels and a full report of the countys activities towards the objectives of the project must be submitted to the advisory committee yearly. We believe this program as well as other IPM activities in the state will allow us to provide detailed success stories to SRIPMC related to IPM education and adoption in Arkansas. Integrated Pest Management Center State Contact for Florida
Project Director: Mark Mossler The Florida component of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) has cooperated with the USDA CSREES Integrated Pest Management Centers (formerly Pest Management Centers) since the implementation of the project through the auspices of the Pesticide Information Office at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Under program grants, the PIO has provided top-down and bottom-up Florida-specific information to federal agencies and other stakeholders through its communication network. Future funding ensures the viability of this network, in addition to expanding the stakeholder arena to include public health and natural resources aspects of integrated pest management. The PIO will also continue to revise crop profiles, while exploring special topics, such as toxicological profiles. Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network
Project Director: Jim T Criswell The Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network will be housed in the Oklahoma Pesticide Safety Education office and be the primary contact for pest management related issues. This network will answer pest management and pesticide related questions that deal with regulatory issues. Being housed in the Pesticide Safety Education Program office allows for a central contact point for Oklahomans with pesticide and pest management questions. The Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network will work closely with the IR-4 liaison, Pesticide Coordinator, IPM Coordinator, state research & extension specialists, state commodity groups, and state pesticide applicator groups in forming a stakeholder network to set priorities for Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network will manage all crop profiles and pest management strategic plans produced for Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Pest Management Communication Network will also attend the Southern Region States meetings and provide a web site to the Southern Region IPM Center guidelines on the Oklahoma Pesticide Safety Education Program web site. A Pest Management newsletter will be produced to keep Oklahomans in touch with changing guidelines in pest management. State Contact Project for Texas
Project Director: Don L Renchie The Agricultural and Environmental Safety group of Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University proposes a State Contact Project (SCP) for Texas to provide the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides Texas, to receive and reply to regulatory questions related to pest management and the use of pesticides, to establish and maintain a stakeholder network to develop state pest management priorities, to provide oversight of crop profiles and pest management strategic plans (PMSPs), to maintain a SCP website and to serve as a node in the support network of the Southern Region IPM Center at the University of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC. Texas has the largest area of cultivated crops and agricultural enterprises in the United States. To manage pests, weeds and diseases, these receive pesticide treatments applied by more than 100,000 private applicators and more than 10,000 commercial applicators. Stakeholders and other interested parties generate thousands of requests annually for information on pest management, pesticide regulations and pesticide use. The development and maintenance of a primary contact source to serve stakeholders is necessary to support information requests by agricultural producers, other stakeholders and the citizens of Texas. Proposal objectives include the integration of a statewide pest management advisory committee representing key institutions, agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Texas into the stakeholder network to develop state priorities, including oversight of the development of pest management decision support documents such as crop profiles and pest management strategic plans (PMSPs). Objectives also include attendance at the annual state contact meeting arranged by the Center, and the maintenance of an up-to-date State Contact Project (SCP) website. Outcomes of the specific objectives will include the number of information requests and responses and by the SCP to questions related to pest management and pesticides. Expected results will be responses and reporting on the number and complexity of requests and answers and the publication on the SCP website of a publicly available (online) list of members of the stakeholder network for Texas organized by issues, expertise and priority. Results also will include an explanation of the process used to establish the priorities, the publication of a report on project oversight of the development of Crop Profiles and PMSPs detailing numbers and criteria used in this oversight, attendance and participation at the annual state contact meeting arranged by the Center in consultation with the PIs, and the redesign, updating and maintenance of a current SCP website. Within the stakeholder network, a plan will be developed to strengthen the connection between pest management stakeholders in the region and ideas on how to involve Texas commodity interests in pest management center activities. Cooperation will continue with current standing committees that have a pest management oriented mission. These include the Texas Weed Information Group (TWIG), the Minor Use Pesticide Advisory Committee for Texas (MUPACT), Texas Imported Fire Ant Research & Management Account Advisory Committee and the Texas Agricultural Council. The state contact will coordinate and oversee the development of information and data for crop profiles and PMSPs, which will come from existing National Agricultural Statistics data, published literature, Extension crop production and pest control guides, key producers and producer organization, and from focus groups. Tennessee Pest Management Information Network (TPMIN) State Contact Project
Project Director: Darrell D Hensley The University of Tennessee seeks funding for developing and maintaining a State Contact Project (SCP). If funding is received, The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology will assist the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) in maintaining a communication network that will enhance and facilitate the flow of resources and information in integrated pest management on a statewide basis as well as a regional basis. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, Tennessee Pest Management Information Network (TPMIN) will serve as a primary resource for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides. Responses to informational requests made through the SRIPMC will be forwarded to an online reporting system developed by the SRIPMC. The TPMIN will establish and maintain a stakeholder network to continue to develop state priorities. An annual state contact meeting will be held with stakeholders to aid in developing state priorities. The Universitys IPM Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinator and IR-4 coordinator, industry representatives; a representative from Tennessee State University; grower groups and growers will be asked for their input in developing state priorities. Developed priorities will be placed online for public access. Stakeholder information will be displayed within a developed state web site. The State Contact Project will provide oversight of state-developed Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSP). Developed crop/pest profiles and PMSPs will conform to the Centers standards for content, format and distribution. Occasionally, information concerning pests, outcomes and successes will be reported in annual reports and on the networks web site. The SCP will contribute to departmental and state programs by supplying information concerning pest management and pesticides. This information will be distributed across the state in the form of newsletters, pest alerts and e-mailings. Virginia Pest Management Information Network - State Contact Project (SCP)
Project Director: Michael J. Weaver Since the inception of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) there has been an increased national emphasis to maintain viable pest management strategies for economically important crops. FQPA has affected the availability of many existing pest management tools, especially pesticides. This has potentially disrupted the ability of growers to implement effective integrated pest management strategies, to manage pest resistance, and to compete in the world market. USDA has funded four regional integrated pest management centers to work with the States to focus on enhancing economic benefits, protecting human health, and preserving natural resources. This includes the preservation of viable integrated pest management strategies. Virginia Tech is working with the Southern Region IPM Center, North Carolina State University, and important agricultural stakeholders to create a series of crop pest management profiles and pest management strategic plans for important crops grown in Virginia and North Carolina. These documents communicate crop/pest/pest management concerns that may occur as a result of the potential impact of the FQPA and the associated needs of stakeholders. Virginia Tech will support the Center through its pest management programs and as a resource center to stakeholders. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs will serve as the state contact project (SCP) for Virginia. This will involve serving as the primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides, establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network to develop state priorities, providing oversight of crop profiles and pest management strategic plans (PMSPs) for Virginia, providing personnel to attend an annual state contact meeting, and maintaining a project web site and "pest central" portal to share pertinent pest and regulatory information and pest alert newsletters and resources with stakeholders. |
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