Source: MICHIGAN STATE UNIV submitted to NRP
REBUILDING BERRY IPM PROGRAMS IN AN ERA OF SPOTTED-WING DROSOPHILA
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1030987
Grant No.
2023-70006-40602
Cumulative Award Amt.
$324,904.00
Proposal No.
2023-02945
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[ARDP]- Applied Research and Development Program
Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
(N/A)
EAST LANSING,MI 48824
Performing Department
ENTOMOLOGY
Non Technical Summary
This project will advance the goals of integrated pest management for berry crops that are threatened by the invasive spotted-wing Drosophila fly. By combining fruit sampling to make informed decisions about the status of fruit, with an understanding the biological control agents that are developing on this pest, we aim to reduce dependence on insecticides and increase grower confidence in IPM programs to reduce the economic and environmental costs of fruit production.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
80%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
21631101130100%
Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3110 - Insects;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
1. Test an IPM decision tool to reduce insecticide applications.2. Implement effective SWD sampling for decision-making at commercial fruit farms.3. Determine distribution, phenology, and host use of SWD parasitoids in crop and natural areas.4. Deliver a coordinated training program for SWD sampling.
Project Methods
This project will advance IPM programs by developing and implementing fruit sampling to allow informed decision-making in berry crops. We will also monitor new bioloigical control agents to inform IPM programs. Recent development and refinement of a fruit sampling method for SWD larvae shows the great promise of this approach for significant reduction of the current extensive insecticide use for this pest. We will conduct replicated tests of fruit sampling and a decision matrix to guide informed decisions about the need to apply insecticides. We will also implement on-farm evaluations of fruit sampling for SWD at blueberry and blackberry farms to compare against current calendar spray programs to determine potential changes in sprays, applications, and costs. We will also determine the abundance and distribution of two potentially important parasitoid wasps of SWD detected for the first time in 2022 in the collaborating states. We will also deliver an updated SWD IPM program that is informed by the research in this project. This project will support improved pest control, reduced applications, lower environmental impact, and will allow for greater biological control in these crops. The information from this project will be integrated into our existing extension programming to advance the goals of IPM and the CPPM Program.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Blueberry growers, extension educators, and crop consultants in Michigan, North Carolina, and Oregon, and surrounding regions Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Information from the project was integrated into presentations to the MSU Extension Fruit Team, to crop consultants, and to undergraduate students working in fruit crops across the three cooperating states. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Grower extension meetings during the winter and spring/summer field training workshops were used to disseminate information from this project. Overall, our team has develivered information on this approach to ~200 growers, representing ~10,000 acres of fruit crop production, What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will be publishing the information of our sampling scheme and the SWD parasitoid sampling in 2025, and will be continuing to gather information on implementing this approach in different fruit crops.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Test an IPM decision tool to reduce insecticide applications.This approach to SWD management was tested extensively in MI, NC, and OR fruit crops and the results have been developed into a manuscript for submission to the Journal of Economic Entomology led by Dr. Levenson, titled "Crop edge sampling and early life stage detection results in improved detection of spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii)". This research has demonstrated that egg and larval sampling can help detect SWD populations and reduce the need for insecticide applications in some settings.It can also identify when applications are needed to avoid crop loss from infestations. 2. Implement effective SWD sampling for decision-making at commercial fruit farms.We worked with multiple fruit farmers to implement weekly SWD sampling to guide spray decisions on their farms, and also gained feedback from the growers at the end of the season. These trials demonstrated ability to reduce aplications in years when SWD development was relatively slow, and to focus attention on this pest in years when SWD development was rapid due to early spring weather or mild winters. 3. Determine distribution, phenology, and host use of SWD parasitoids in crop and natural areas. Parasitoid sampling in wild and crop areas has demonstrated their earlier activity in wild habitats on native and invasive host plants. We also found parasitoids of Drosophila in a range of host plants that ripen from the spring through to fall, providing a resouce to sustain their populations through the growing season. 4. Deliver a coordinated training program for SWD sampling.Workshops were delivered to bluebery growers in spring to prepare for the field season, and we also ran some targeted trainings with groups of crop scouts and consultants. A video of the sampling method was also developed and posted online at the national SWD Management site to help get a wide distribution of the information.

Publications