Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to
THE WORKING GROUP ON IMPROVING MICROBIAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
REVISED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1001834
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
FLA-APO-005287
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
S-1052
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Dec 19, 2013
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2017
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Osborne, LA.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka
Non Technical Summary
Broad-spectrum chemical insecticides continue to be the mainstay for control of arthropod pests in most agricultural systems as well as other natural and urban landscapes. While chemical pesticides are capable of rapidly killing various pests, heavy reliance on their use has generated various problems including safety risks due to human poisonings and death, outbreaks of secondary pests normally held in check by natural enemies, environmental contamination, decreases in biodiversity, and insecticide resistance. Thus, there is an urgent need to accelerate the development and implementation of cost-effective, environmentally safe alternatives to chemical pesticides for arthropod control. Changes in pest management programs, such as the reduction in organophosphate use dictated by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), necessitate the development of new management tactics that are environmentally sound and compatible with current production practices. One viable alternative to chemical insecticides is the use of biological control agents. In contrast to chemical insecticides, biological control agents are generally not harmful to humans or the environment, and have minimal or negligible potential to cause resistance or harm non-target organisms. Biological control includes the use of insect predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. The focus of this project is on the development and advancement of entomopathogens for biological pest suppression.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
50%
Developmental
25%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2112110113015%
2112130113015%
2112199113015%
2152110113015%
2152130113015%
2162199113015%
2162110106010%
Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
2130 - Turf; 2110 - Ornamental trees and shrubs; 2199 - Ornamentals and turf, general/other;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
Advance the role of entomopathogens in natural and urban landscapes (= Med/vet, turf, ornamental, urban, forests). The overall goal of the project is to improve and expand the use of entomopathogens in biological arthropod pest suppression in the following cropping systems. The goal in each objective is enhanced safety, sustainability, and productivity in US agriculture, forest, and urban systems. Additionally, each Subproject will address the following approaches to enhance microbial control efficacy:Entomopathogen discovery and characterization, including biology and ecology.Entomopathogen production, formulation, application methods, and integration into management systems.
Project Methods
General Methods & Approach Across Sub-Projects: Building upon the research accomplishments from the previous project, research will target discovery of new entomopathogens, improving production and formulation technology, and enhanced implementation of microbial control in IPM systems. Research will also elucidate the basic biology and ecology of entomopathogens. The basic scientific approaches will be organized among three Subprojects and will be similar as outlined in the General Methods section. This process will facilitate the development of useful protocols that are transferrable among cropping systems. All Subprojects will include substantial participation and collaboration among state universities, USDA-ARS and other USDA agencies, industry, and extension personnel. The Project Chair and Subproject Chairs will then coordinate efforts (from shared protocols to reporting) among all project participants to tie together the collaborative efforts and leverage findings into improved IPM strategies with broad impact. Significant research efforts will also be directed toward the use of entomopathogens to manage current pests as well as those recently introduced invasive species in North America. Efforts to discover new entomopathogen strains and species will include the most recent techniques for surveying, isolating, identifying and examining pathogenicity of nematodes, bacteria, viruses, and fungi (including Microsporidia). Foreign exploration and implementation of new biopesticides will adhere to all APHIS and EPA guidelines. Nematodes and Hypocreales fungi will be isolated by baiting soil samples with sentinel insects, as well as surveying live insects, and grown on appropriate media or recycled in vivo for testing. Surveys for viruses and microsporidia will be conducted by collecting diseased individuals in the field and, if necessary, stressing the pests to induce epizootics of latent infections. New entomopathogens will be identified using morphological and molecular techniques. Virulence and pathogenicity of selected entomopathogens will be determined in laboratory assays against a range of appropriate target pest insects. Entomopathogens showing potential for commercial development will be tested in semi-field and field evaluations to determine efficacy potential. Entomopathogen production and formulation technology will be advanced through various approaches. Improvements to in vitro pathogen production (e.g. fungi or nematodes) will be based on optimization of media and bioreactor parameters. Improvement in in vivo production will be based on mechanization. Novel technologies will reduce costs and provide ample quantities of high quality microbial agents. Formulation research will develop of grower-adoptable materials, improve protection from environmental stresses, and extend shelf-life. Novel formulations will be compared with standards targeting appropriate economic pests. Enhanced implementation of microbial control in diverse systems will be achieved in a multi-faceted approach. Entomopathogen strain improvement techniques will be implemented to enhance efficacy. Efficacy will also be improved by developing novel application techniques and optimizing parameters such as application rates and timing. Efforts will include conservation, classical introduction, and inoculative or inundative approaches to biocontrol. Research will also be directed toward understanding fundamental entomopathogen biology and ecology. These studies will provide novel insights that can be leveraged to improve biocontrol efficacy. Ecological studies will focus on epizootiology (using molecular and non-molecular approaches), microhabitat preferences, as well as infection dynamics. Genetic studies will include new projects on sequencing and annotation of entomopathogen strains and species, as well as elucidation of beneficial trait changes during culturing. The following projects and experiments divided by Subproject represent critical research needs within specific commodities that will lead to major advances in safe and effective pest management.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:We targeted users and producers of fungal pathogens. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have developed methods growers and use to test efficacy of commercially available products. We currently evaluating them for their utility.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have established methods that can help insect pathogenic fungi be more effective in the field by testing their compatibility with other controls measures such as soaps and oils.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kumar V., A. Francis, P. Avery, C. L. McKenzie and L. S. Osborne. 2018. Assessing compatibility of Isaria fumosorosea and buprofezin for mitigation of Aleurodicus rugioperculatus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) - a new invasive pest in the Florida landscape. Journal of Economic Entomology. (In review).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kumar V., P. Avery, J. Ahmed, R. Cave, C. L. McKenzie and L. Osborne. 2017. Compatibility and efficacy of Isaria fumosorosea with horticultural oils for mitigation of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Insects. 8(4):19. doi:10.3390/insects8040119.


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Joined the project after the end of the reporting period.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Scientists, graduate students, extension agents, master gardeners and others. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I served as chair of this project and organized our regional meeting in Minneapolis, MN,with 22 participants.I co-organizeda member symposium entitled "Ecological Engineering to Improve Microbial Control Agents" with 8 speakers. We obtained $1500 funding through ESA to support Dr. Ivan Hiltpold attending from Western Sydney University. We also had a member symposium "Regional Status of Microbial Control Programs" with 10 speakers accepted for the 2016 International Congress of Entomology. We were awarded Complimentary Registrations and $2,000 Travel Stipend from ESA. 1 MS student partially supported (graduted in 2015)]. I have 3 visiting scholars from Pakistan and China (2) work in my lab for approximately 4 months in 2015. All of them worked to some extent on objectvies in this project and learned techniques that they can take back to their countries. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Provided 9 presentations, workshops and other training events reaching > 300 participants. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Published several works pertaining to major project goals [3 peer-reviewed journal article, 4 non-peer reviewed articles and 2 book chapters (in production), Gave twointernational presentations and support several international visiting scholars worked in my lab.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Tian J., Diao H., Liang L., Arthurs S., Mascarin G., Ma R. Host plants influence susceptibility of whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae). Biocontrol Science and Technology (in press DOI:10.1080/09583157.2015.1129393)
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Tian J., Diao H., Liang L., Arthurs S., Ma R. 2015. Pathogenicity of Isaria fumosorosea to Bemisia tabaci, with some observations on the fungal infection process. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 130: 147-153
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Aristiz�bal L.F. Ortiz A.L., Quintero J.C., L�pez-Nu�ez J.C., Arthurs S.P. 2015. Effect of Colombian strains of Steinernema colombiense (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) against Eurhizococcus colombianus (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) and Aeneolamia sp. (Hemiptera: Cercopidae). Florida Entomologist 98: 981-983.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Guar�n-Molina J.H., Mascarin G.M., Arthurs S.P., Humber R.A., Moral R.A., Dem�trio G.B., Delalibera I. Seasonal prevalence of the fungal entomopathogen Colletotrichum nymphaea in Brazilian citrus groves under different pesticide regimes. Fungal Ecology (in revision).
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Biopesticides: Innovative Technologies and Strategies for Pest Control, invited talks on Baculovirus commercialization and Mycoinsecticides used against ornamental plant pests, Swansea University, U.K.
    • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Arthurs S., Bruck D. Microbial control of nursery ornamental and landscape plant pests. In: Lacey L.A. (ed.) Microbial Control of Insect and Mite Pests From Theory to Practice. L. A. Lacey (Ed.). Academic Press
    • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Shapiro-Ilan D, Arthurs S., Lacey, L.A. Microbial control of arthropod pests of orchards in temperate climates (ed.) Microbial Control of Insect and Mite Pests From Theory to Practice. L. A. Lacey (Ed.). Academic Press


    Progress 12/19/13 to 09/30/14

    Outputs
    Target Audience: 3 presentations at national meetings (estimated 100 members audience) Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? I hosted 4 visiting scholars in my lab in 2014; from Mexico, Pakistan, and China (2).The outcome is that these scholars are being trained in techniques that they can transfer to their countries. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? I have 13 presentations to clientielle groups in 2014, to an estimated 260 people. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? This group met for its annual meeting in Portland, OR, on November 15th, 2014. Project updates were provided by all 21 participants who attended. The annual reprt was submited to the NIFA project coordinator (B Rogers Leonard) for posting on the website. I served as chair and helped compiled the report. I conducted research with several project collaborators. 3 peer-reviewed papers were published focussing on aspects of integration of entomopathogens against several pests, i.e. tropical sod webwrm, Asian citrus psyllid and silverleaf whiteflies.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Mascarin, G.M., Kobori, N.N., Quintela E.D., Arthurs, S.P., and J�nior, I.D. Toxicity of non-ionic surfactants and interactions with fungal entomopathogens toward Bemisia tabaci biotype B. BioControl, 59, 2014, 111-123.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Avery, P.B., Pick, D., Aristiz�bal(g), L.F., Kerrigan, J., Powell, C., Rogers, M., and Arthurs, S.P. Compatibility, efficacy and virulence of Isaria fumosorosea (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) blastospores with agricultural chemicals used for management of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Insects, 4, 2013, 694-711. http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/4/4/694
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2104 Citation: Tofangsazi(g), N., Cherry, R., and Arthurs, S.P. Susceptibility of tropical sod webworm (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae). Journal of Applied Entomology 138, 2014, 656-661.