Source: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OAKLAND submitted to NRP
EXOTIC PESTS AND DISEASES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0192117
Grant No.
2002-34439-11905
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2002-06072
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2002
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2005
Grant Year
2002
Program Code
[QW]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OAKLAND
1111 FRANKLIN, 6TH FLOOR
OAKLAND,CA 94607
Performing Department
INDEPENDENT
Non Technical Summary
Exotic pests and diseases can become established and cause billions of dollars in damage to California's urban, agricultural, and natural environments. This project supports research to determine how various exotic pest species invade California; factors which determine whether or not they will become established; and how incipient, low-density infestations are best detected and managed.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
40%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2022499106010%
2022499107010%
2112499106010%
2112499107010%
2122499106010%
2122499107010%
2132499106010%
2132499107010%
2142499106010%
2142499107010%
Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 214 - Vertebrates, Mollusks, and Other Pests Affecting Plants; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
To provide funding to Experiment Stations and other research institutions for projects that address exotic pests/invasive species pertinent to California, by means of a peer-reviewed grants program.
Project Methods
Through the Exotic Pests and Diseases Research Program (EPDRP), established in 2001 under a CSREES Special Research Grant, the UC Statewide IPM Program (UCIPM) and the UC Center for Invasive Species Research (CISR) coordinate research that addresses invasive species which have, or could become established in California. This research provides the science on which policy decisions can be made and management strategies developed. The EPDRP solicits proposals from scientists affiliated with public research institutions, both within and outside of California, through a Request for Proposals (RFP). Funding is not restricted to UC investigators, although it is suggested that at least one investigator on each proposal be a UC DANR academic to ensure relevance to exotic pests/invasive species of particular importance to California, and linkage to the Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension system. Multidisciplinary and multi-institutional proposals are encouraged to address specific issues and to allow the results of sponsored research projects to have broader utility. Proposals are solicited to study exotic pests/invasive species in agricultural, natural and urban systems. The grants program is managed by UCIPM. The Program Director works closely with a stakeholders' Program Advisory Committee, to establish program direction and priorities. The RFP is distributed through the Western Experiment Station Directors and Deans, to deans or research offices of other public universities and research institutions with evidence of strong exotic pest programs, and to USDA Regional Pest Management Center Directors. Scientific review panels evaluate the proposals, considering the Advisory Committee's recommendations and priorities as to critical needs, appropriateness of the proposal to meet those needs, experimental design, and adequacy of the personnel and facilities to ensure the fulfillment of the proposal objectives. A Technical Committee integrates rankings across science panel research areas, and the Advisory Committee reviews all information and makes funding recommendations to the program directors. An annual research workshop provides an opportunity for researchers to report on their findings and allow a forum for discussion about other exotic pest research related to California environments.

Progress 09/01/02 to 08/31/05

Outputs
This grant, a collaboration between UC Statewide IPM Program and UCR Center for Invasive Species Research, sponsored the UC Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program (2002-05). The grant funded projects that addressed exotic pests/invasive species of importance to California. Descriptions can be found at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/calludt.cgi/GRANTSSEARCH?FUNDTYPE=Exoticpests. Agricultural systems ++Effectiveness of composted yard waste against avocado thrips: mulching promotes numbers and activity of natural enemies. ++Determining the area of origin of avocado thrips using molecular techniques: distinguishes origins of avocado thrips species to help identify thrips found in California. ++Improving mass rearing of Mediterranean fruit flies and sterile male performance: some probiotic formulations result in improved mating performance, calling activity, or life expectancy. ++Targeting the glassy-winged sharpshooter alimentary tract for control of Pierce's disease: identified antibodies that bind to and interfere with proteins in GW

Impacts
Specific impacts of individual projects: ++Natural enemies found in mulch around trees reduces avocado thrips emergence; specifically amended mulches may reverse trend for growers to use insecticides. ++Probiotics reduce costs of preservatives and antimicrobials used in mass-reared fruit fly diets. ++Varying ability of beetles to transmit pitch canker pathogen help predict future distribution of disease on other hosts, and help to focus on key vectors. ++Guidelines can be used to train volunteers in community-based Sargassum muticum removal programs to control the alga in marine reserves. ++Guidelines for reducing local crab populations help shellfish growers or natural area managers to restore native oyster populations without increasing green crabs. ++Invasive characteristics of giant reed allow researchers to recommend timing and level of removal needed to provide conditions for native species restoration. ++Intensive animal grazing for short periods in late spring or mid and late spring reduces medusahead cover by more than 80% and can reduce dependency on chemical and fire as controls.

Publications

  • Bybee, L., J. G. Millar, T. D. Paine, K. Campbell, and C .C. Hanlon. 2005. Effects of single versus multiple mates: monogamy results in increased fecundity for the beetle Phoracantha semipunctata. Insect Behavior 18: 513-527.
  • DiTomaso, J.M., G. B. Kyser, N. K. McDougald, R. N. Vargas, M. P. Doran, R. Wilson and S. Orloff. 2005. Medusahead control. In Proceedings, California Weed Science Society.
  • Federici, B. A. 2003. Development of glassy-winged sharpshooter mimetic insecticidal peptides, and an endophytic bacterial system for their delivery to mature grape. In Proceedings of the Pierce's Disease Research Symposium, December 8-11, 2003. Coronado, California. pp. 288-291.
  • Federici, B. A. 2004. The alimentary track of glassy-winged sharpshooter as a Target for control of Pierce's disease and development of mimetic insecticidal peptides for glassy-winged sharpshooter control. In Proceedings of the Pierce's Disease Research Symposium, December 7-10, 2004. Coronado, California. pp. 330-333.
  • Lauzon, C. 2003. Symbionts of Tephritids In Insect Symbioses, ed. K. Bourtzis and T. A. Miller. Boca Raton: CRC Press. pp. 115-130.
  • Lauzon, C. R. and S. E. Potter. 2005. Radiation-induced tissue and cellular damage in the midgut of Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) used for sterile insect technique. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. In press.
  • Lauzon, C. R., S. D.McCombs, S. E. Potter, and N. Peabody. 2005. Establishment and vertical passage of Enterobacter agglomerans and Klebsiella pneumoniae through all life stages of Ceratitis capitata Weidemann, the Mediterranean fruit fly. In review by USDA.
  • Luhring, K. A., J. G. Millar, T. D. Paine, D. Reed, and H. Christiansen. 2004. Ovipositional preferences and progeny development of the egg parasitoid Avetianella longoi: Factors mediating replacement of one species by a congener in a shared habitat. Biological Control 30: 382-391.
  • Bybee, L. F., J. G. Millar, T. D. Paine, K. Campbell and C. C. Hanlon. 2004. The seasonal development of Phoracantha recurva and P. semipunctata in southern California. Env. Entomol. 33: 1232-1241.
  • Bybee, L. F., J. G. Millar, T. D. Paine, K. Campbell, and C. C. Hanlon. 2004. The effects of temperature on fecundity and longevity of Phoracantha recurva and P. semipunctata. Env. Entomol. 33: 138-146.
  • Niyazi, N., C. R. Lauzon, and T. E. Shelly. 2004. The effect of a probiotic adult diet on fitness components of sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) under laboratory and field conditions. J. Econ. Entomol. 97(5): 1570-1580.
  • Paine, T. D., J. G. Millar, and L. M. Hanks. 2004. Host preference testing for parasitoids of a Eucalyptus borer in California, In Assessing Host Ranges of Parasitoids and Predators Used for Classical Biological Control: A Guide to Best Practice, ed R. G. Van Driesche and R. Reardon. U.S. Dept of Agriculture Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. pp. 138-142.
  • Rugman-Jones, P. F., A. R. Weeks, M. S. Hoddle, and R. Stouthamer. 2005. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the avocado thrips Scirtothrips perseae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Molecular Ecology Notes 5644-646 doi: 10.1111/j.1471-8286.2005.01012.x
  • Storer, A. J, D. L. Wood, T. R. Gordon. 2004. Twig beetles, Pityophthorus spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), as vectors of the pitch canker pathogen in California. The Canadian Entomologist 136: 685-693.


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
This grant, a collaboration between UC Statewide IPM Program and the UCR Center for Invasive Species Research, sponsors the UC Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program (2002-05). These 14 new research projects address exotic pests/invasive species of current or likely importance to California. They are led by researchers at UC and other public research institutions and were approved for two or three years of work. Descriptions of progress can be found at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/calludt.cgi/GRANTSSEARCH?FUNDTYPE=Exoticpe sts. During their first year, projects address problems and report progress as noted: Agricultural systems Effectiveness of composted yard waste against avocado thrips (Scirtothrips perseae): composted organic mulches, used for avocado root rot, can significantly reduce adult thrips emergence from soil; Using glassy-winged sharpshooter alimentary tract against Pierce's disease: study of alimentary tract proteins; foundation of antibody-based approach to sharpshooter and Pierce's disease control; Determining area of origin of avocado thrips using molecular techniques: study to identify source of recent invasion in California to prevent future ones and to find source of natural enemies; Improving mass rearing of Mediterranean fruit flies and sterile male performance: beneficial gut bacteria can keep medfly diets free of pathogens and free gut of other stresses, to improve production and performance; Flight behavior of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta): study of flight capabilities related to humidity, to possibly narrow quarantine ranges; Controlling Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) infestations in buildings: identifying indoor and outdoor attributes that predict severe ant problems Natural systems Managing insect vectors of pitch canker: study of efficiency of pitch canker spread by twig, bark, and cone beetles; risk of spread by moving infested wood; Managing European green crab (Carsinus maenas) in coastal estuaries: studying whether green crabs will colonize oyster plots and their effects on native species survival; Impacts and control of an invasive seaweed, Sargassum muticum: study of ecological effects, and ways to decrease abundance and mitigate impacts; Impacts and control of giant reed (Arundo donax) in riparian habitats: study to characterize traits related to invasiveness and develop control strategies; Intensive grazing and revegetation to control medusahead: study of effects of intensive grazing on revegetation efforts Urban systems Biological control of spotted gum psyllid (Eucalyptolyma maidenii) in eucalyptus: developing a biological control program using introduced parasitoids; Differential susceptibility of eucalyptus longhorned borers (Phorachantha spp.) to an egg parasitoid: study of two host-parasitoid relationships to develop more effective parasitoid strains; Distribution and control of German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica): mapping distribution and seasonal activity pattern relative to native yellowjackets; study of baits and low-impact toxicants

Impacts
This research program aims to reduce the impacts of exotic pests and diseases that have invaded or are invading California's agricultural, natural, and urban environments. Projects develop environmentally sound and least-disruptive strategies to exclude pests, allow rapid response to address newly arrived pests, and manage pests that have become established. In addition to protecting California's resources, this program is critical to making sure that California's farm and nursery products are acceptable for export to other states and nations.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period