| For 2020 and newer grants, please go to https://grants.ipmcenters.org/ |
|---|
|
|
| Home Current RFAs PD User Guide Projects Login |
|
Funded Project |
|
Funding Program:
Enhancement Grants - Special Projects |
|
Project Title:
Management of Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle (Microtheca ochroloma) in Organic and Low-Input Vegetable Production Systems |
Project Director (PD):
|
|
Lead State: AL Lead Organization: Auburn University |
| Undesignated Funding: $24,375 |
|
Start Date: Jun-01-2007 End Date: May-31-2008 |
|
Pests Involved: Yellowmargined leaf beetle |
|
Site/Commodity: vegetables |
|
Area of Emphasis: organic and low-input production systems |
|
Summary:
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.
Objectives: The long-term goal of this project is to develop and identify OMRI-approved and low-input management practices for yellowmargined leaf beetle (YMLB). This IPM seed grant proposal will support the implementation of the first stages of this long-term research and extension plan. Specific objectives of this proposal are as follows: 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 3) Identify the semiochemical cues mediating host location and host preference by YMLB. |
|
Final Report: |
|
Project Type: IPM Seed Grant or IPM Capstone Grant The project is an IPM Seed project. Funding allowed us to initiate work on management of pests in organic vegetable production. |
|
Introduction Organic crucifer vegetable production is an emerging industry in the Deep South. Growth and expansion of this industry is severaly hampered by pests, in particular the yellowmargined leaf beetle (YMLB), Microtheca ochroloma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). This beetle is presently regarded by growers as the most devastating pest of organic crucifer crops. The goal of this project is to develop and identify organically acceptable management practices for YMLB including evaluation of biopesticides such as entomopathogenic fungi, botanical insecticides, and semiochemical-based tactics. |
|
Non-technical summary Insect pests pose a major threat to organic vegetable production in southern U.S. This project was conducted to develop and evaluate low-input management practices approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) against yellowmargined leaf beetle (YMLB), Microtheca ochroloma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), which is the most devastating pest of organic crucifer vegetable production in Alabama and other parts of south. The results of the project have identified effective OMRI-acceptable insecticides and other promising tactics (i.e. attractants and trap crops) for managing pests in organic vegetable production systems. Results of the project have been published and presented at professional and grower meetings, and served as preliminary data for extramural grants. The project has resulted in increased knowledge of pest management in organic vegetable production in Alabama, as well as improved communication and collaboration among researchers, extension agents, organic growers and other stakeholders. |
|
Impacts Improvement in knowledge: The project has resulted in increased knowledge of pest management in organic vegetable production in Alabama. It has also resulted in increased availability of new and effective organically acceptable IPM strategies Change in actions/behavior: Project has resulted in increased application of organic IPM knowledge by vegetable growers, and increased adoption of organic IPM strategies and tools by growers. Project has also resulted in improved communication and partnership among researchers, extension specialists and organic growers Improvement in societal conditions: Project has resulted in increased organic crucifer production in Alabama, as well as reduced potential for human health risks from pests and pesticides. Other impacts: The project has resulted in collaborations among researchers and specialists in the Southern Region. For example, through the project the PI has established collaborations with researchers and specialists at Auburn University including Drs. Joseph Kloepper and Carol Garrett (Plant Pathology), Dr. Ayanava Majumdar (Extension Specialist), Dr. Deacue Fileds (Ag. Economist), and several extension agents. The PI has also established research collaboration on management of insect pests in organic vegetables with specialists at the University of Florida (i.e.., Drs. Oscar Liburd and Ronald Cave) and Alabama A&M University (Dr. Cathy Sabota), and with organic grower associations in Alabama (Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network (ASAN), Florida (Florida Organic Growers), and Georgia (Georgia Organics). The PI and collaborators have recently submitted a grant proposal entitled Development and Participatory Implementation of Integrated Organic Pest Management for Crucifer Vegetable Production in the South to the USDA-NIFA Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative program for funding in the amount of $881,829 to continue the project. Results from the SRIPMC seed grant were presented as preliminary results for the proposal. |
|
Outcomes Objective 1. Evaluate efficacy of select OMRI-approved products including microbials and botanical insecticides for managing yellowmargined leaf beetle (YMLB: Over 12 organically acceptable insecticides were evaluated against YMLB in organic vegetable fields in Alabama from 2007 to 2009. The results of the multiseason trials identified Entrust® (organic formulation of spinosad) and PyGanic® (pyrethrum), applied weekly as the only effective as the only effective organically acceptable treatments for managing the pest. Both insecticides have been recommended to organic vegetable growers in Alabama. The results have been presented at professional and grower meetings and communicated to farmers via extension publication (Timely Information Series) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System program website (http://www.aces.edu/timelyinfo/entomology/2009/April/veg_highlights2009.pdf). The results have also been recently submitted for publication in Journal of Economic Entomology. Studies are ongoing to determine the efficacy of bi-weekly sprays of Entrust® and PyGanic®, identify other effective materials and tactics for rotation or integration with both insecticides, and ultimately develop an organically acceptable integrated pest management program for managing YMLB and other pests in organic crucifer production. Objective 2. Evaluate response of YMLB to synthetic secondary plant metabolites of crucifer plants: In order to identify an attractant for YMLB, we evaluated electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioral response of the pest to select synthetic glucosinolate compounds which are known attractants for other beetle pests of crucifer plants. Compounds evaluated included allyl isothiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate, ethyl isothiocyanate, butenyl isothiocyanate, methyl-4-isothiocyanate, n-butyl isothiocyanate, butenyl thiocyanate, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate, 4-pentenyl isothiocyanate, phenylacetronitrile and 4-pentenenitrile. YMLB demonstrated significant EAG response to some of the compounds including allyl isothiocyanate, ethyl isothiocyanate, and butenyl isothiocyanate. However, none of the compounds was attractive to the beetle in behavioral olfactometer bioassays. This result may suggest that YMLB uses novel compounds as attractants. 3) Identify the semiochemical cues mediating host location and host preference by YMLB: We tested the attraction of adult YMLB to different host plants (turnip, cabbage, collard and napa cabbage) in greenhouse cage experiments and laboratory four-choice olfactometer bioasays. In greenhouse experiments, more beetles were recorded on turnip and napa cabbage compared to cabbage and collards. Similar results were obtained in laboratory four-choice olfactometer behavioral bioassay. These results showed that turnip and napa cabbage are preferred hosts of YMLB. Ongoing studies focus on the identification of semiochemical attractants for YMLB and the evaluation of border plantings of turnip or napa cabbage as traps crops for managing YMLB in organic vegetable production. Publications: Fadamiro, H.Y., E. Maxwell, R. Balusu, and A. Majumdar. 2009. Highlights from AU Vegetable Entomology Research: Focus on the Development of Reduced-risk Insecticides. Alabama Cooperative Extension System Timely Information. Entomology Series, April 2009. Publication posted online for distribution http://www.aces.edu/timelyinfo/entomology/2009/April/veg_highlights2009.pdf Balusu, R., and H.Y. Fadamiro. Evaluation of organically acceptable insecticides as stand-alone treatments and in rotation for managing yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochloroma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in organic crucifer production. Journal of Economic Entomology. In review (submitted February 2011). Presentations: Fadamiro, H.Y. 2010. Managing yellowmargined leaf beetle and other key pests in organic cruciferous crops in the South. In: Symposium: Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production: Challenges to IPM Research, Education, and Technology Adoption. 58th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, San Diego, California, December 14, 2010 (invited lecture). Fadamiro, H.Y. 2010. Pest Management in organic vegetable production systems. Invited Departmental Seminar, Department of Crop Science and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. June 17, 2010 (invited lecture). Balusu, R., and H.Y. Fadamiro. 2010. Semiochemical mediated host plant preference in the yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochroloma Stal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). 58th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, San Diego, CA, December 12-15, 2010. Balusu, R., and H.Y. Fadamiro. 2009. Semiochemical mediated host plant preference in the yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochroloma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). 57th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN, December 13-16, 2009. Balusu, R., and H.Y. Fadamiro. 2009. Field evaluation of select OMRI listed biorational insecticides against yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochloroma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in organic crucifer vegetables. 83rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Branch of Entomological Society of America, Montgomery, Alabama March 8-11, 2009. Fadamiro, H.Y., and R.R. Balusu*. 2009. Field evaluation of some biorational insecticides against yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochloroma in organic crucifer vegetables. Sixth International IPM Symposium, Portland Convention Center Portland, Oregon, March 2426, 2009. Fadamiro, H.Y., and R.R. Balusu. 2008. Management of yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochroloma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Southern Region IPM Center Advisory Board meeting. June 2008 (invited lecture). Balusu, R.R., and H.Y. Fadamiro. 2008. Field evaluation of some biorational insecticides against yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochloroma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in organic crucifer vegetables. 56th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Reno, Nevada, November 16-19, 2008. Balusu, R.R., and H.Y. Fadamiro. 2008. Laboratory evaluation of formulations of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana against yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochroloma Stål (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). 82nd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Branch of Entomological Society of America, Jacksonville, Florida. March 2-5, 2008. Grants submitted: USDA-NIFA Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative Program. Development and Participatory Implementation of Integrated Organic Pest Management Strategies for Crucifer Vegetable Production in the South. Submitted Feb. 2010 for $730,027. (H.Y. Fadamiro, PI; J. Kloepper, C. Garrett, A. Majumdar, D. Fields, O. Liburd,R. Cave, co-PIs). Panel Ranking: High Priority. Grant resubmitted Feb. 2011. USDA-NIFA Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative Program. Development and Participatory Implementation of Integrated Organic Pest Management Strategies for Crucifer Vegetable Production in the South. Submitted Feb. 2011 for $881,829. (H.Y. Fadamiro, PI; J. Kloepper, C. Garrett, A. Majumdar, D. Fields, O. Liburd,R. Cave, co-PIs). Number of growers and students trained: 15 |
|
Appendices |
| Report Appendices |
| Close Window |
|
Southern IPM Center North Carolina State University 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 110 Raleigh, NC 27606 p. 919.513.1432 f. 919.513.1114 |
 |
Developed by the Center for IPM © Copyright CIPM 2004-2025 |
|