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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM)

Project Title: Host Resistance to Balsam Woolly Adelgid in an IPM Strategy for Christmas Trees

Project Directors (PDs): Fred Paul Hain [1] John Frampton [2]

Lead State: NC Lead Organization: North Carolina State University

Research Funding: $59,316

Start Date: Aug-01-2006 End Date: Jan-31-2008

Pests Involved: balsam wooly adelgid

Site/Commodity: christmas trees

Summary: 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. Objectives: 1.Develop reliable techniques for artificially infesting and bioassaying fir seedlings for resistance to BWA. Determine the properties most closely associated with host resistance (e.g., BWA survival, development time, oviposition, fecundity, egg size).2.Begin for host resistance to BWA across multiple fir species and within Fraser fir.

Final Report:

Results From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system PROGRESS: 2006/08 TO 2009/01 OUTPUTS: We have conducted five studies relating to these objectives: 1) An infestation techniques study was conducted from July 2006 to June 2007; three different techniques (tying infested bark to seedlings, placing infested bark at base, hanging infested logs over seedlings) were tested for infesting young Fraser fir trees with BWA. We utilized two ages of Fraser fir (2- and 6-year old seedlings); a total of 144 trees were included in the study. We have developed an effective and efficient technique for infesting Fraser fir seedlings by suspending infested bolts, collected from an abandoned Christmas tree plantation, over the seedlings. 2) We conducted a crawler abundance and dispersal study, in which Fraser fir bolts heavily infested with BWA were suspended over a grid for five days; BWA crawlers fell from the bolt onto the grid and were trapped in an adhesive material. The crawlers were counted and dispersal patterns noted. We learned that seedlings are exposed to thousands of BWA crawlers, and the bolts can be placed approximately one foot apart to affect a uniform pattern of coverage. 3) A novel approach for initial screening trials was tested, in which we infested tips of branches cut from Fraser fir and Veitch fir seedlings and mature trees. Infesting cut branch tips (hydrating the tips in water) is an effective technique for rearing BWA in the lab (a potential source for maintaining BWA throughout the year) and may be used as a method for conducting non-destructive screening throughout the native range of Fraser firs. 4) We conducted a study of Fraser fir resistance to BWA in a clonal seed orchard (October 2006); 1200 trees were included in this study - we correlated BWA infestation levels with various traits such as bark thickness and bark appearance, and calculated the heritability of various traits. Although there was no evidence of immunity to BWA, there do appear to be clonal differences in the degree of infestation. We are conducting a neighborhood analysis to determine how much of the differences are related to spatial autocorrelation rather than genetics. 5) A BWA host resistance screening trial across multiple fir species was conducted from August 2007 to May 2008. Thirteen fir species (three seed sources within Fraser fir) were tested (720 total trees) for comparative responses to BWA infestation. This study is currently being assessed; early results indicate that BWA crawlers settle preferentially on the buds of young fir trees, regardless of species. BWA development from first to second or third instar was observed and individual trees showed signs of reaction to the insect in the form of swelling (gouting) at the feeding site. However, it is too early to form any definitive conclusions. PARTICIPANTS: Leslie Newton, Ph.D graduate student. TARGET AUDIENCES: Fraser fir Christmas tree growers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. IMPACT: 2006/08 TO 2009/01 Our long-term objective is to minimize chemical inputs for BWA control into Christmas tree plantations by developing genetically resistant planting stock. Therefore, one expected measurable outcome would be the reduction in cost for Christmas tree growers to treat for BWA from the current $1.5 million per year. Another measurable outcome will be the number of resistant fir families that are made available to the Christmas tree industry. Both of these outcomes are long-term and can only be met once we have established that resistant fir trees can be produced. PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2006/08 TO 2009/01 No publications reported this period

Outcomes N/A

Impacts From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system Our long-term objective is to minimize chemical inputs for BWA control into Christmas tree plantations by developing genetically resistant planting stock. Therefore, one expected measurable outcome would be the reduction in cost for Christmas tree growers to treat for BWA from the current $1.5 million per year. Another measurable outcome will be the number of resistant fir families that are made available to the Christmas tree industry. Both of these outcomes are long-term and can only be met once we have established that resistant fir trees can be produced.

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