Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to
TROPICAL SUBTROPICAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH - CARIBBEAN
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0215337
Grant No.
2008-34135-19505
Project No.
FLA-REA-004750
Proposal No.
2008-03228
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
AH
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2008
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2011
Grant Year
2014
Project Director
Archer, D. L.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
Non Technical Summary
Invasive species threaten plant, animal and human health. The devastating impact of invasive species have been recognized in the field of public health for several centuries, since cross-oceanic voyages ignited epidemics of diseases such as bubonic plague,influenza, smallpox, measles, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid, typhus, malaria, yellow fever,whooping cough, etc. In some countries, agricultural inspection and quarantine at ports of entry have been in place since the late 1800?s. Even in earlier times when the volume of trade and speed of transport were quite modest, highly damaging diseases and pests of crops and livestock occasionally breached port of entry barriers. However since trade has become progressively liberalized during the past 15 years, the volume of perishable cargo together with the number of arriving quarantine pests has been growing exponentially. For example, the volume of air cargo has been doubling every 5-6 years and the number of quarantine pests intercepted at port of entry has similarly increased. Concomitantly the rate of invasion and establishment of harmful organisms has accelerated dramatically. For example, at least one new invasive species per month becomes established in Florida (1,2). Invasive plants are severely damaging many natural ecosystems. Indeed, officials of the Nature Conservancy assert that invasive species are threatening all of the accomplishments of that organization (5). Australian pine encroachment is threatening the critically endangered rock iguanas in the Bahamas,giant milkweed and rubber vine are displacing native flora on the Turks and Cacos. Hydrilla is choking certain rivers in Jamaica. The Old World climbing fern, tropical soda apple, Melaleuca and Brazilian pepper are among the most troublesome invasive plants in Florida. Water hyacinth is a major concern in Guyana and Suriname. Indeed the invasion of native ecosystems by invasive alien species is now widely regarded as a leading threat to biological diversity. TSTAR-C Grants under PL 89-106 will be used to attain new information directed toward reducing and where possible eliminating the harmful effects of invasive species. Projects will address the following subject matter areas:(a) Plant and Animal Pests and Disease, (b) Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Plants, (c) Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Animals, (d) Other Projects as Deemed Important by the T-STAR Caribbean Advisory Committee. These projects are managed under an ?umbrella? management structure. References 1. Frank JH, McCoy ED. 1992. The immigration of insects to Florida, with a tabulation of records published since 1970. Fla Entomol 75(1):1-28. 2. Frank JH, McCoy ED. 1995. Invasive inventive insects and other organisms in Florida. Fla Entomol 78(1):1-15. 3. Sklad EA, Bartuska AM, Randall JM, Rice BA, Tu M, Gordon DR. 2003. The Nature Conservancy?s Conservation Accomplishments at Risk ? Abating the threat of invasive species. Proceedings of the Caribbean Food Crops Society 39(1):95-100.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
70%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020199107010%
1120399205010%
2111099113020%
2021099102010%
2011099108010%
2021499113020%
2011499102010%
3113723110010%
Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 112 - Watershed Protection and Management; 311 - Animal Diseases; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1099 - Tropical/subtropical fruit, general/other; 3723 - Oysters; 0199 - Soil and land, general; 1499 - Vegetables, general/other; 0399 - Watersheds and river basins, general;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 1080 - Genetics; 1020 - Physiology; 1130 - Entomology and acarology; 2050 - Hydrology; 1100 - Bacteriology;
Goals / Objectives
TSTAR-C Grants under PL 89-106 will be used to attain new information directed toward reducing and where possible eliminating the harmful effects of invasive species. Projects will address the following subject matter areas. (a) Plant and Animal Pests and Disease: Enhance the understanding of new and existing plant and animal pests and diseases including their biology and distribution. Develop methods for control and eradication of plant and animal pest and disease threats involving biological and chemical control. (b) Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Plants: Enhance the understanding of entry pathways of terrestrial and aquatic invasive plants and develop biological and chemical control methods. (c) Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Animals: Enhance the understanding of entry pathways of terrestrial and aquatic invasive animals and develop control methods. (d) Other Projects as Deemed Important by the T-STAR Caribbean Advisory Committee.
Project Methods
There are twenty-eight subprojects that were competitively awarded using previously approved procedures. Those subprojects under this umbrella grant that fall within the following areas: 1. Plant and animal pests and diseases: General scientific approaches will include epidemiology, field study, microscopy, microbiological culturing, viral culturing, morphology, insect trapping, genetics and genomics. Efforts will focus on understanding the biology of the new pest/disease to allow for prevention/destruction. Evaluation will be based on current versus future degree of pest/disease penetration in Florida/Caribbean. 2. Terrestrial and Aquatic Plants: General scientific approaches will include field biology, resistance determination, natural enemy detrmination, genetics and genomics, etc. Studies will include those aimed at finding chemical and biological means of pest plant destruction. Evaluation will be based on current versus future degree of pest plant penetration into Florida/Caribbean. 3. Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Animals: General scientific approaches include field biology, morphology, microscopy, and genetic means of species identification. Studies will focus on preventing and/or destroying invasive animals. Evaluation will be based on current versus future degree of pest animal penetration into Florida/Caribbean.

Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 28 TSTAR research projects begun in FY2008 are listed at: http://research.ifas.ufl.edu/tstar/ Projects are complete. The findings have produced over 110+ publications and many researchers continue to prepare findings for publication in peer review journals, presentations at meetings and conferences, and distribution through extension and other media. PARTICIPANTS: 85 PD's and Co-PD's Primary Institutions participating in the Caribbean basin of TSTAR include: University of Florida, University of Puerto Rico, and University of the Virgin Islands. Other organizations collaborating on projects include: FAMU, USDA-APHIS, University of Minnesota, Cornell University, and the University of South Florida. Administrative group consists of representatives from UF, UPR, and UVI, the SAAES Directors Administrator, USDA-ARS, and USDA-CSREES. TARGET AUDIENCES: Research scientists and government agencies working in partnership to control and eliminate harmful invasive pests, plants, and diseases that threaten harm to natural ecosystems and important food production systems. Also helped are many growers, producers, and other stakeholders in Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean Islands. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
- i. Findings in research with Orange Rust provided the USDA and other breeding programs with the rapid whorl inoculation technique which is becoming the standard throughout world to screen sugarcane for Orange Rust. Importantly, the fungicide research supported by T-Star has identified efficacious fungicides and has provided details on how best to use them, minimizing costs and environmental impacts, while maximizing economic returns. An industry which had no previous experience in applying foliar fungicides now has a critical management tool and 100% of the industry is making use of it on orange rust susceptible acreage. - - ii. The Red Palm Mite was established in several Caribbean countries but was first found in 2007 in West Palm Beach. TSTAR researchers have developed a standardized procedure to spot infestations early on and also discovered a predatory mite Amblyseius largoensis which can play a role in controlling the Red Palm Mite, Raoiella indica.- - iii. Methods were developed to control the Mexican bromeliad weevil which feeds on 12 of the 16 native Florida bromeliad species. A biological control was discovered in Lixadmontia franki, and this research has helped managers establish viable populations of this natural enemy of the weevil so Florida bromeliads could flourish once again.- - iv. Discovery of a novel effector (avirulence gene), avrHah1, that is present in an exotic strain of a tomato pathogen have led to testing of new control strategies in other systems such as citrus canker.- - v. Research and collaboration facilitated by this grant has helped producers in Florida know when and how much fungicide to apply to potato and tomato crops to control late blight disease. A NY based decision system was tested and adapted to the Florida environment to stem Phytophthora infestans which is the fungal cause of late blight.- - vi. The discovery of an important unique trait related to the dispersal of the invasive species, Lantana camara, known as UFGP. Through screening we have discovered how another valuable trait known as NFGP affects triploid production and genetic sterilization which could eliminate the invasiveness of Lantana camara.- - vii. The detection of polymorphisms in nucleotide sequences among weed and cultivated types of Elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum). Researchers have identified plants that have markedly different growth morphology and flowering traits which could lead to this species becoming an important Biomass Crop in the future.- - viii. Generation of several hundred interspecific hybrids between Napiergrass (tetraploid) and pearl millet (diploid) which should yield a biomass variety of Napiergrass that is non-invasive. - Evaluating the influence of the Slick hair gene and coat color on growth and performance of Senepol cattle to mitigate effects of heat stress to produce healthier cattle more rapidly in a tropical environment.

Publications

  • Huang, N., A. Enkegaard, L.S. Osborne, P.M.J. Ramakers, G. Messelink, J. Pijnakker, and G. Murphy. 2011. The banker plant method in biological control: a review. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 30:259-278.
  • Bethke, J., J. Chamberlin, J. Dobbs, M. Faver, K. Heinz, R. Lindquist, S. Ludwig, C. McKenzie, G. Murphy, R. Oetting, L. Osborne, C. Palmer, M. Parrella, N. Rechcigl, R. Yates. 2010. Thrips Management Program for Plants for Planting. 2 pp. http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/DOCUMENTS/ThripsManagementProgram_100308 .pdf
  • Ludwig, S. and L. Osborne. 2010. Thrips Management. Society of American Florists, Proceedings of the 26th Annual Pest and Production Management Conference (P&PMC) 25:50-53.
  • Arthurs, S.P., and G.L. Leibee. 2010. Insecticide trial for thrips control on plumbago. Arthropod Management Tests. 35, G19.
  • Arthurs, S., C.L. McKenzie, J. Chen, M. Dogramaci, M. Brennan, K. Houben, L.S. Osborne. 2009. Evaluation of Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as biological control agents of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on pepper. Biological Control 49:91-96.
  • Hodges, A., S. Ludwig, L.S. Osborne, and G.B. Edwards. 2009. Pest thrips of the United States: Field identification guide. North Central IPM Center. 144 pages.
  • Funderburk, J., S. Diffie, J. Sharma, A. Hodges, and L.S. Osborne. 2009. Thrips of ornamentals in the Southeastern US. EDIS Publication Number ENY-845. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in754.
  • Czarnecki II, D.M. 2011. Genetic sterilization and reproductive biology of Lantana camara. PhD dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
  • Czarnecki II, D.M. and Z. Deng. 2009. Unreduced gametes and polyploidization in Lantana camara. HortScience 44(4):1054 (Abstract).
  • Czarnecki II, D.M. and Z. Deng. 2009. Occurrence of unreduced female gametes leads to sexual polyploidization in lantana. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 134(5):560-566.
  • Czarnecki II, D.M. and Z. Deng. 2010. Assessing the invasive potential of Lantana camara polyploids based on controlled pollination. HortScience 45(8):S279 (Abstract). Czarnecki II, D.M., D.G. Clark, and Z. Deng. 2009. Pollen stainability and seed production of 32 Lantana camara and 2 Lantana montevidensis cultivars. HortScience 44(4):1054-1055 (Abstract).
  • Thomas WK, Porazinska DL, Giblin-Davis RM, Sung W, Bik H, and Fournier DR. 2010. Ecometagenetics for the analysis of nematode communities in a tropical rain forest. Journal of Nematology, 42:273.
  • Porazinska DL, Giblin-Davis RM, Esquivel A, Powers TO, Sung W, Thomas WK. 2010. Ecometagenetics confirms high tropical rainforest nematode diversity. Molecular Ecology 19:5521-5530.
  • Creer S, Fonseca VG, Porazinska DL, Giblin-Davis RM, Sung W, Power DM, Carvalho GR, Blaxter ML, Lambshead PJD, Packer M, Thomas WK. 2010. Ultra-deep 454 sequencing of the meoifaunal biosphere: practice, promises, and pitfalls. Molecular Ecology. 19:4-20.
  • Porazinska DL, Giblin-Davis RM, Sung W, Thomas WK. 2010. Linking operational taxonomic units (OCTU) from parallel ultra sequencing (PUS) to nematode species. Zootaxa. 2427:55-63.
  • Raid, R. N. 2011. Evaluation of three triazole fungicides for control of orange rust of sugarcane, 2010. APS Plant Disease Management Reports 5: V035.
  • Raid, R. N. 2011. Evaluation of Quadris and Tilt alternations for control of orange rust of sugarcane, 2010. APS Plant Disease Management Reports 5: V036.
  • Cruz, S., J. Marengo, L. Colon, De Moraes, G., Pena, J. E., and Rodrigues, J C. 2009. Dinamica poblacional de Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) y su predacion por Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) en palmas de coco de Puerto Rico. Reunion Cientifica Annual SOPCA, p. 58.
  • Carrillo, D., D. Navia, F. Ferragut and J. E. Pena. 2011. First report of Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in Colombia. Florida Entomol94: 370-371.
  • Pena, J. E., Daniel Carrillo y Rita Duncan. 2011. El acaro rojo de las palmas Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), una plaga potencial para America Latina. Memorias, 38 Congreso, Sociedad Colombiana de Entomologia, Socolen, Julio 2011, Manizales, Colombia, pp: 376-384
  • Raid, R. N., Glynn, N., Comstock, J. C., and Baucum, L. 2011. Fungicidal control of sugarcane orange rust, 2010. APS Plant Disease Management Reports 5: V037.
  • Raid, R. N. 2011. Evaluation of BAS 70302F for orange rust control on Florida sugarcane, 2010. APS Plant Disease Management Reports 5: V038.
  • Lopez, Y., J. Seib, C.D. Chase, L.E. Sollenberger, K.R. Woodard, and M. Gallo. 2011. Cross-Taxa microsatellite primers transferability from pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) to elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.). Plant/Animal Genome Conf., San Diego, CA.
  • Sollenberger, L.E., K.R. Woodard, J.M.B. Vendramini, C.D. Chase, Y. Lopez, M. Gallo, J. Seib, K.A. Langeland, and H. Gerardo-Cuervo. 2011. Are all elephantgrasses invasive Characterization of natural populations and cultivated types of a bioenergy grass in Florida. In ASA/CSSA/SSSA, San Antonio, TX.
  • Sollenberger, L.E., K.R. Woodard, J.M.B. Vendramini, C.D. Chase, Y. Lopez, M. Gallo, J. Seib, K.A. Langeland, and H. Gerardo-Cuervo. 2011. Characterization of invasive potential of naturalized populations and cultivated types of elephantgrass, a bioenergy species for Florida. Florida Energy Systems Consortium, Gainesville, FL.
  • Czarnecki II, D.M., G.C. Denny, and Z. Deng. 2010. Physiological traits associated with drought tolerance in lantana. HortScience 45(8):S115-S1116 (Abstract). Czarnecki II, D.M., L. Gong, and Z. Deng. 2010. Existence of multiple modes of reproduction in Lantana camara, an invasive shrub. HortScience 45(8):S147 (Abstract).
  • Deng, Z., D.M. Czarnecki II, and L. Gong. 2010. Developing genetic and molecular tools for assessing and controlling the invasive potential of Lantana camara and protecting native lantana. Program and abstracts of GEER 2010: Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration :88 http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/GEER2010/pdf/Abstract%20BOOK.pdf (Abstract).
  • Deng, Z., D.M. Czarnecki II, and L. Gong. 2010. Developing genetic and molecular tools for assessing and controlling the invasive potential of Lantana camara and protecting native lantana. GEER 2010: Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/GEER2010/Poster%20PDFs/zdeng_Lanta na.pdf (poster).
  • Gong, L. and Z. Deng. 2010. Development and cross-species transferability of microsatellite markers in lantana. HortScience 45(8):S278 (Abstract).
  • Hershberger, A.J., W.A. Parrott, D.M. Czarneckii II, Z. Deng, and C.D. Robacker. 2010. Cytogenetics of Lantana camara cultivars differing in fertility. HortScience 45(8):S277-S278 (Abstract).
  • Wilson, S.B., G.W. Knox, Z. Deng, and R. Freyre. 2011. Characterizing the invasive potential of ornamental plants. Acta Horticulture (in print)
  • Evans, E., W. Klassen, C.G. Davis, and F. Ballen (editors). 2011. Invasive Species Safeguarding: The Nexus of Invasive Species, Climate Change, and Food Security. Gainesville, FL: Florida Agricultural Experiment Station (in press)
  • Klassen, W., C.G. Davis, E.A. Evans, and S. Nalampang (editors). 2010. Invasive Species Safeguarding: Imperative for Caribbean Regional Agricultural Diversification and Food Security. Gainesville, FL: Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Klassen, W., C.G. Davis, E.A. Evans, and S. Nalampang (editors). 2009. The role of the Caribbean Invasive Species Surveillance and Information Program (CISSIP). In The Regional Agriculture Repositioning Strategy, Invasive Species Symposium, pp. vii:177. Gainesville, FL: Florida Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Evans, E.A., J. Crane, A. Hodges, and J. Osborne. 2010. Potential economic impact of Laurel Wilt Disease on the Florida avocado industry. HortTechnology 20(1):234-238
  • Meissner, H., C. Bertone, L. Ferguson, M. Lemay, L. Newton and K. Schwartzburg. 2010. Evaluation of Pathways for Exotic Plant Pest Movement into and Within the Greater Caribbean Region. Available at http://caribbean-doc.ncsu.edu/index.htm
  • Cooper, T.M. 2008. Seasonality and abundance of Metamasius callizona (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae), an invasive insect herbivore, on two species of Tillandsia in Florida. Journal of Natural History 42: 2721-2734.
  • Cooper, T.M. 2009. An assessment of a biological control agent, Lixadmontia franki (Diptera: Tachinidae), to control Metamasius callizona (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an invasive herbivore destroying Florida's native bromeliads. Dissertation, Gainesville, FL, University of Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0041114
  • Cooper, T.M., Frank, J.H., Cave, R.D., Burton, M.S., Dawson, J.S., Smith, B.W. 2011. Release and monitoring of a potential biological control agent, Lixadmontia franki, to control an invasive bromeliad-eating weevil, Metamasius callizona, in Florida. Biological Control (IN PRESS), NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2011.08.005
  • Cooper, T.M. 2011. Abstract of a talk (which is accepted) to the 2nd World Conference on Biological Invasions and Ecosystem Functioning (BIOLIEF 2011).
  • Porazinska DL, Sung W, Giblin-Davis RM, Thomas WK. 2010. Reproducibility of read numbers in high-throughput sequencing analysis of nematode community composition and structure. Molecular Ecology Resources. 10:666-676.
  • Porazinska DL, Giblin-Davis RM, Powers TO, Farmerie W, Kanzaki N, Morris K, Sung W, and Thomas WK. 2009. Evaluating High Throughput Sequencing as a Method for Metagenomic Analysis of Nematode Diversity. Molecular Ecology Resources. 9:1439-1450.
  • Sung, W., Porazinska, DL, Creer, S, Giblin-Davis, RM, Thomas, WK. 2009. OCTUPUS: A package for defining operational clustered taxonomic units from parallel-tagged ultra-sequencing. Journal of Nematology, 41:383.
  • Porazinska DL, Giblin-Davis, RM, Powers, TO, Sung, W, Thomas, WK. 2009. Linking operational clustered taxonomical units to nematode species in parallel-tagged ultrasequencing. Journal of Nematology, 41:371.
  • Langeland, K.A. 2010. Permit Requirements for Planting Non-Native Energy/Biomass Crops in Florida. SS-AGR-329. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. March 2010. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
  • Fox, A.M., D.R. Gordon, J.A. Dusky, L. Tyson, R.K. Stocker, K.A. Langeland, and A.L. Cooper. 2009. IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Floridas Natural Areas: Status Assessment. SS-AGR-225. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Revised June 2008, April 2009. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
  • Fox, A.M., D.R. Gordon, J.A. Dusky, L. Tyson, R.K. Stocker, K.A. Langeland, and A.L. Cooper. 2009. The Story Behind the IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Floridas Natural Areas. SS-AGR-86. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. First printed October 2000; revised September 2005, November 2009. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
  • Chaudhari, S., B. A. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and S. V. Rockwood. 2011. Cultural techniques to manage paragrass in wetlands. Proc. South. Weed Sci. Soc. 64:331.
  • Chaudhari, S., B. A. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and S. V. Rockwood. 2010. Control of paragrass in Florida wetlands. Proc. South. Weed Sci. Soc. 63:216.
  • Pena, J. E., J. C. Rodrigues, L. Osborne and A. Roda. 2009. The red palm mite, Raoiella indica: Effect of Resident and Commercially Produced predators against a recently introduced pest in Florida, USA. Proc. 3rd International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Pena, J. E., Rodrigues, J C., Roda, A., Carrillo, D and L. Osborne. 2009. Predator-prey dynamics and strategies for control of the red palm mite (Raoiella indica)(Acari:Tenuipalpidae) in areas of invasion in the Neotropics. Integrated Control of Plant-Feeding Mites, IOBC/wprs Bulletin Vol. 50, 2009 pp. 69-79
  • Carrillo, D., Pena, J. E., Hoy, M., and Frank, H. 2010. Development and Reproduction of Amblyseius largoensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feeding on Pollen, Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), and other Microarthropods inhabiting Coconuts in Florida. Experimental and Appl. Acarology (In Press)
  • Carrillo, D., and Pena, J. E. 2012. Prey-stage preference, functional and numerical responses of Amblyseius largoensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Exp. & Appl. Acarol. (Accepted for publ.)
  • Carrillo, D. 2011. Reproductive Biology and Prey Preference of Predatory Arthropods Associated with Raoiella indica: Implications for their Potential Control of this Invasive Species, PhD Dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  • Carrillo, D., and Pena, J. E. 2010. Studies on the biology of native predators associated with Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in Florida, USA: Implications on their potential as biological control agents of this exotic species. International Congress of Acarology, Recife, Brazil, August 21-27, 2010 (Abstract)
  • Carrillo, D., Amalin, D., Hosein,F., Roda, A, Duncan, R., and Pena, J. E. 2011. Host plant range of Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in areas of invasion of the new world. Experimental and Appl. Acarology, Accepted, July 2011
  • Pena, J. E., Carrillo, D., Duncan, R., and Ana Barrios. 2010. Dynamics of Raoiella indica in Florida on coconuts. Florida Entomol. Soc., Annual Meeting (Abstract)
  • Carrillo, D., and J. E. Pena. 2011. Potential of Florida populations of Amblyseius largoensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as biological control agents of the invasive species Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). 3rd Meeting of IOBC Working Group, Integrated Control of Plant Feeding Mites, Cesky Krumlov, Sep 13-16
  • Raid, R. N., Comstock, J. C., and Glynn, N. C. 2009. Evaluation of Fungicides for Control of Orange Rust on Sugarcane. J. Amer. Soc. Sugar Cane Tech. 29: 82-83.
  • Raid, R. N. 2009. Influence of fungicides on orange rust severity of sugarcane in Florida. APS Plant Disease Management Reports 3:V138.
  • Raid, R. N. 2009. Evaluation of fungicides for orange rust control on sugarcane. APS Plant Disease Management Reports 3:V139.
  • Raid, R. N., Comstock, J. C. , and Glynn, N. C. 2009. Evaluation of Fungicides for Control of Orange Rust on Sugarcane. Sugar Journal 72 (1):13.
  • Raid, R. N., Comstock, J. C., and Glynn, N. 2010. Orange rust of sugarcane: Its importance and prospects for its control. Symposium on Invasive Species. Proc. of the 46th Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Food Crops Society. 76: (in press).
  • Raid, R. N., Glynn, N., Comstock, J. C., and Baucum, L. 2011. Influence of fungicides on orange rust severity of sugarcane in Florida, 2010. APS Plant Disease Management Reports 5: V039.
  • Raid, R. N., Comstock, J. C., Glynn, N., and Baucum, L. 2011. Influence of two fungicides containing cyproconazole on orange rust severity and yield of sugarcane. APS Plant Disease Management Reports 5: V040.
  • Raid, R. N. 2010. Factors influencing orange rust severity. University of Florida, Everglades Research and Education Center, 2-page grower handout.
  • Raid, R. N. 2010. Sugarcane orange rust: Observations and considerations for management on select cultivars. University of Florida, Everglades Research and Education Center, 1-page grower handout.
  • Comstock, J. C., Sood, S. G., Glynn, N. C., Shine Jr, J. M., McKemy, J. M. and Castlebury, L. A. 2008. First report of Puccinia kuehnii, causal agent of orange rust of sugarcane, in the United States and Western Hemisphere. Plant Disease 92:175.
  • Ovalle, W., Comstock, J. C., Glynn, N. C. and Castlebury, L. A. 2008. First report of Puccinia kuehnii, causal agent of orange rust of sugarcane, in Guatemala. Plant Disease 92:973.
  • Chavarria, E., Subiros, F., Vega, J., Ralda, G., Glynn, N. C., Comstock, J. C. and Castlebury, L. A. 2009. First report of Puccinia kuehnii, causal agent of orange rust of sugarcane in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Plant Disease. 93:425.
  • Flores, R.C., Loyo, J.R., Ojeda, R.A., Rangel, O.C.A., Ceron, F.A., Marquez, W., Guerra-Moreno, A.S., Hernandez-Ibarra, H.M., Gonzalez, R.E., Castlebury, L.A., Dixon, L. J., Glynn, N.C., Comstock, J.C., Flynn, J., Amador, J. 2009. First Report of Orange Rust of Sugarcane Caused by Puccinia kuehnii in Mexico, El Salvador and Panama. Plant Disease. 93:1347.
  • Sood, S.G., Comstock, J.C., Glynn, N.C. 2009. Leaf whorl inoculation method for screening sugarcane rust resistance. Plant Disease. 93: 1335-1340.
  • Zhao, D., Glynn, N. C., Glaz, B., Comstock, J. C., and Sood, S. 2011. Orange rust effects on leaf photosynthesis and related characters of sugarcane. Plant Dis. 95:640-647.
  • Schultz, D. Donahoo, R.S., Perez, F.G.M., Tejeda, S, Roberts, P.D., and Deahl, K. 2010. A survey of tomato and potato fields in Florida reveals unique genotypes of Phytopthora infestans between 2005 and 2007. HortSci 45:1064-1068.
  • Hu, C. H., Perez, F. G., Donahoo, R., McLeod, A., Myers, K., Ivors, K., Roberts, P. D., Fry, W. E., Deahl, K. L., and Ristaino, J. B. 2011. Genetic structure of populations of Phytophthora infestans in eastern North America, 2002-2009. Phytopathology (submitted Sept 2010)
  • Rana, N., B. A. Sellers, J. A. Ferrell, and G. E. MacDonald. 2011. Management techniques for smutgrass control in bahiagrass pastures. Proc. South. Weed Sci. Soc. 64:294.
  • Comstock, J. C., Glynn, N. C. and Davidson, R. W. 2010. Sugarcane rusts in Florida. Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol. 27:1-9.
  • Dixon, L.J., Castlebury, L.A., Aime, M., Glynn, N.C., Comstock, J.C. 2010. Phylogenetic relationships of sugarcane rust fungi. Mycological Progress. 9: 459-468.
  • Glynn, N.C., Dixon, L.J., Castlebury, L.A., Szabo, L.J., Comstock, J.C. 2010. PCR assays for the sugarcane rust pathogens Puccinia kuehnii and P. melanocephala and detection of a SNP associated with geographic distribution in P. kuehnii. Plant Pathology. 59:703-711.
  • Martins, T. D., Raid, R. N., Burnquist, W. L., Urashima, A. S., Filho, A. B., Comstock, J. C. 2010. Influence of temperature and leaf wetness duration on orange rust of sugarcane. Phytopathology S78-S79.
  • Saumtally, A.S., Viremouneix, T.R., Ahondokpe, B., Girard, J-C.R., Castlebury, L.A., Dixon, L., Glynn, N.C. and Comstock, J.C. 2011. First report of orange rust of sugarcane caused by Puccinia kuehnii in Ivory Coast and Cameroon. Plant Dis. 95:357.
  • Rana, N., B. J. Wilder, B. A. Sellers, and J. A. Ferrell. 2010. Effect of environmental conditions on smutgrass seed germination. Proc. South. Weed Sci. Soc. 63:157.
  • Castillo, M.S., L.E. Sollenberger, J.M.B. Vendramini, K.R. Woodard, J.T. Gilmour, G.A. OConnor, Y.C. Newman, M.L. Silveira, and J.B. Sartain. 2010. Municipal biosolids as an alternative nutrient source for bioenergy crops: II. Decomposition and organic nitrogen mineralization. Agron. J. 102:1314-1320.
  • Castillo, M.S., L.E. Sollenberger, J.M.B. Vendramini, K.R. Woodard, G.A. OConnor, Y.C. Newman, M.L. Silveira, and J.B. Sartain. 2010. Municipal biosolids as an alternative nutrient source for bioenergy crops: I. Elephantgrass biomass production and soil responses. Agron. J. 102:1308-1313.
  • Castillo, M.S., L.E. Sollenberger, J.M.B. Vendramini, K.R. Woodard, G.A. OConnor, M.L. Silveira, and J.B. Sartain. 2011. Incorporation of municipal biosolids affects organic N mineralization and elephantgrass biomass production. Agron. J. 103:899-905.
  • Kannan, B., Sollenberger, L. and Altpeter, F. 2010. Development of a non-invasive high-biomass crop by interspecific hybridization between elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.). The 6th International Symposium on the Molecular Breeding of Forage and Turf. Buenos Aires, Argentina. March 2010. P-115, p. 172.
  • Dogramaci, M., S.P. Arthurs, J. Chen, C.L. Mckenzie, F. Irizarry, and L.S. Osborne. 2011. Management of chilli thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on peppers by Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). Biological Control (in press). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2011.09.008
  • Dogramaci, M., J. Chen, S.P. Arthurs, C.L. Mckenzie, F. Irizarry, K. Houben, M. Brennan, and L.S. Osborne. 2011. Mini aspirator: a new device for collection and infestation of small arthropods to plants. Florida Entomologist 94:22-27.


Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 28 TSTAR projects begun in 2008 are listed at: http://research.ifas.ufl.edu/tstarCurrentProjects.asp Projects are all significantly underway and many of them are preparing results for publication in peer review journals and other media. PARTICIPANTS: 85 PD's and Co-PD's Primary Institutions participating in the Caribbean basin of TSTAR include: University of Florida, University of Puerto Rico, and University of the Virgin Islands. Other organizations collaborating on projects include: FAMU, USDA-APHIS, University of Minnesota, and the University of South Florida. Administrative group consists of representatives from UF, UPR, and UVI, the SAAES Directors Administrator, USDA-ARS, and USDA-CSREES . TARGET AUDIENCES: Research scientists and government agencies working in partnership to control and eliminate harmful invasive pests, plants, and diseases that threaten harm to natural ecosystems and important food production systems. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Preliminary data indicates results such as: - The predatory mite Amblyseius largoensis can play a role in controlling the Red Palm Mite, Raoiella indica. - Discovery of a novel effector (avirulence gene), avrHah1, that is present in an exotic strain of a tomato pathogen have led to testing of new control strategies in other systems such as citrus canker. - The discovery of an important unique trait related to the dispersal of the invasive species, Lantana camara, known as UFGP. Through screening we have discovered how another valuable trait known as NFGP affects triploid production and genetic sterilization which could eliminate the invasiveness of Lantana camara. - The detection of polymorphisms in nucleotide sequences among weed and cultivated types of Elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum). Researchers have identified plants that have markedly different growth morphology and flowering traits which could lead to this species becoming an important Biomass Crop in the future. - Generation of several hundred interspecific hybrids between Napiergrass (tetraploid) and pearl millet (diploid) which should yield a biomass variety of Napiergrass that is non-invasive. - Evaluating the influence of the Slick hair gene and coat color on growth and performance of Senepol cattle to mitigate effects of heat stress to produce healthier cattle more rapidly in a tropical environment.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period