Progress 09/15/03 to 09/14/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In an effort to control black rot in grapes with organic control methods, field planted Norton, Chambourcin and Chancellor grapes were treated weekly with the particle film Surround WP (organically approved), Manzate fungicide, or water (control) from the time of budbreak (late April) to veraison (late August). The number of leaves infected was most severe in vines treated with Surround WP (26%), compared to the control (18%) and Manzate (9%), indicating Surround WP was not effective in preventing infection by black rot under field conditions. In greenhouse experiments to determine if Surround WP could inhibit black rot infection, black rot was isolated from lesions on grape leaves and sporulation was successfully performed with subculture inoculums on 0.5 PDA media for two weeks. However, leaves on a range of cultivars inoculated with 2 x 105 of conidia had similar low infection rates with manzate, Surround, and control treated leaves, suggesting that further refinement of
the greenhouse screening method was required. In an effort to identify grape cultivar preference of Japanese beetles, outdoor cage choice screening studies were conducted that included 32 grape cultivars from various grape species. Feeding preference was determined by examining percent leaves damaged/vine and leaf area loss, which was rated as 0, 0%; 1, 1-10%; 2, 11 to 20%; 3, 21-30%; 4, 31-40%; 5, 41 to 50%; 6, 51-60%; and 7, >60%, by leaf position from the 1st (shoot tip) to 10th leaves. Leaf damage by Japanese beetles varied by leaf position on the shoot; the 4th through 6th leaves from the tip displayed the most severe damage. Generally, cultivars showing an incidence of damage greater than 70% were either European or French Hybrid cultivars and those with less than 70% incidence of damage were either American cultivars or American cultivars with Vitis labrusca background. The grape cultivars Marquis, Reliance, Catawba, Concord Seedless, Concord, Edelweiss, and Einset showed
promise as selections for growers interested in reduced chemical inputs for control of Japanese beetles. Additionally, in a series of cage studies, Surround WP, Neem insecticide, and the synergistic effect between these two substances were examined as organically approved substances for the control of Japanese beetles. Neemix4.5, Surround, and Neemix4.5+Surround were applied to the leaves of 10 cultivars. Leaf damage to plants suggested that there was significant feeding deterrence of Surround and repellence of Neemix4.5 to the Japanese beetles. Surround WP did enhance the feeding deterrent properties of Neem4.5 at a low concentration, but Surround WP was more effective when used alone. One post-doctorate associate, a research technician, three high school students, and four undergraduate students received training in viticulture, entomology and plant pathology through this project. Four grape field days and over 20 presentations and tours were made to growers, especially minority
growers, extension agents, and students. There were over 5200 visits to the developed viticulture website http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/Viticulture/index.htm from July 2004 to September 2007.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target group was small and limited resource farmers in the southeastern United States. As a result of this project, four grape field days and over 20 presentations and tours were made to over 1000 growers, minority growers, extension agents, and students. Several growers were interested in the methods developed for Japanese beetle control and in growing cultivars that were identified in this research effort that were less preferred by Japanese beetles. There were over 5200 visits to the developed viticulture website http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/Viticulture/index.htm from July 2004 to September 2007. There were seven published abstracts and journal articles generated from research supported by the grant, and additional articles will be published.
Impacts
The grape cultivars Marquis, Reliance, Catawba, Concord Seedless, Concord, Edelweiss, and Einset were not preferred by Japanese beetles for feeding. These cultivars can now be planted by growers interested in reduced chemical inputs for pest management of Japanese beetles. This supports the development of sustainable control methods that will help to alleviate environmental and human health concerns due to high levels of toxicity of many chemical compounds used to control grape pests, such as Japanese beetles. Surround WP and Neem oil can be used in organic pest control strategies by grape growers in the southeast region to reduce feeding damage by Japanese Beetles. Black rot continues to be a challenge to grape growers in this region and control strategies examined in this project were not effective. One post-doctorate associate and one horticulture research technician were trained through this project. Three high school students from the USDA Research and Extension
Apprenticeship Program and two undergraduate student workers received training in viticulture, entomology and plant pathology. Two undergraduate students finished BIO410 Special Research Problems in Biology Projects by participating in relevant research in this project. Four grape field days and over 20 presentations and tours were made to growers, especially minority growers, extension agents, and students. There were over 5200 visits to the developed viticulture website http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/Viticulture/index.htm from July 2004 to September 2007.
Publications
- Gu, Sanjun and Kirk W. Pomper. 2005. Development of a Viticulture Website at Kentucky State University for Growers. HortScience 40:1028.
- Gu, Sanjun, Angie Whitehouse and Kirk W. Pomper. 2006. Grape Cultivar Preference and Organic Control of Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica). HortScience 41:1067-1068
- Gu, Sanjun, Angie Whitehouse and Kirk W. Pomper. 2006. Cultivar Preference and Organic Control of Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) in Grapes. Association of Research Directors, Inc. 14th Biennial Research Symposium Program and Abstracts Book, p. 170
- Whitehouse, Angie, Sanjun Gu, and Kirk W. Pomper. 2007. Organic control of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) in Grapes. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 68:102.
- Gu, Sanjun, Angie Whitehouse, and Kirk W. Pomper. 2007. Can grape black rot disease be controlled with application of the particle film product Surround? Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 68:103.
- Gu, Sanjun, Angie Whitehouse and Kirk W. Pomper. 2007. Varietal Preference and Vineyard Distribution of Japanese Beetles in a Field Choice Study. HortScience 42:458.
- Gu, Sanjun, and Kirk W. Pomper. 2008. Grape Cultivar Feeding Preference of Adult Japanese Beetles. HortScience 43(1):196-199.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
In an effort to identify sustainable control measures against black rot disease, Surround, Manzate and water (control) were applied to three grape cultivars at the KSU research vineyard. Natural foliage incidence of black rot was significantly lower on Norton than on Chancellor or Chambourcin. Although there was a trend for reduced black rot incidence on vines treated with Surround and Manzate, the treatments were not significantly different from the control. Low natural black rot inoculum levels in the vineyard likely contributed to the low disease incidence rate in both treatments and the control. Isolation of the causal agent Guignardia bidwellii was initiated with leaf samples collected from several commercial vineyards. Sporulation and inoculation methods were developed to study the cultivar susceptibility to black rot disease with grape cultivars grown in the greenhouse. Organic control of Japanese beetles (JBs) was conducted both in the vineyard and cages. In
the vineyard, the cultivars Chambourcin, Chancellor and Norton vines that were treated with Surround had a significantly lower number of feeding JBs than those treated with water, indicating that Surround served as a feeding deterrent to JBs. In a caged choice study, Surround, Neemix 4.5 and water (control) treatments were applied to Chambourcin, Chancellor, Chardonnay, and Chardonel vines grown in containers. Surround and Neemix 4.5 significantly reduced the incidence and severity of JB damage to grape leaves, compared to the control vines. Surround also reduced the incidence of damage compared to the Neemix 4.5 treatment. In an additional field study to determine whether JBs had a cultivar preference, JB frequency and population development was monitored in a vineyard with 12 table and 4 wine grape cultivars. All plots were challenged by JBs entering the vineyard, with JBs distributed randomly at the beginning of the study, followed by uneven distribution associated with "hot spots"
of more JBs attracted to certain varieties. Overall, the wine grape varieties examined had greater numbers of JBs than the table grape varieties examined. Based on the number of JBs observed on vines, Chambourcin and Himrod were preferred by JBs while Edelweiss, Mars, Venus, and Concord Seedless were not preferred by JBs. To further explore grape cultivar preference by JBs, 32 grape cultivars from various Vitis species were included in caged choice studies where JBs were released and allowed to continuously feed for 48 hours. There were also significant differences in JB foliage feeding (incidence and severity) among the cultivars. Cluster analysis categorized these cultivars into preferred, attractive, frequently attacked and less attacked groups. Grape cultivars with V. labrusca parentage tended to be less attacked by JBs.
Impacts
With the declining tobacco industry in the southeastern United States, the grape and wine industry offers a long-term economic alternative to farmers formerly dependent on tobacco production. However, there are increasing human health concerns due to the high levels of toxicity of many chemical compounds used to control pests and diseases in the production of fruit crops such as grapes. This research project focuses on determining the cultivar feeding preference of Japanese beetles and will be useful to growers when selecting cultivars for new or existing plantings, thereby allowing a reduction in the use of pesticides for production. This proposal supports the development of sustainable or organic control measures for Japanese beetles and black rot that will promote sustainable, environmentally safe pest management practices that reduce the usage of conventional chemical pesticides while improving the yield and quality of grapes.
Publications
- Gu, S., A. Whitehouse, and K. W. Pomper. 2006. Grape Cultivar Preference and Organic Control of Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica). HortScience 41:1067-1068
- Gu, S., A. Whitehouse and K. W. Pomper. 2006. Cultivar Preference and Organic Control of Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) in Grapes. Association of Research Directors, Inc. 14th Biennial Research Symposium Program and Abstracts Book, p. 170.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
An experiment to examine grape cultivar feeding preference by Japanese beetles was conducted in a choice study in 18 x 9 x 6 foot cages with the cultivars Chambourcin, Chancellor, Chardonel, Edelweiss, Frontenac, LaCrosse, Marquis, Norton, Seyval, Traminette and Vignoles. Japanese beetles were captured with hormone traps and introduced into cages (15 beetles/vine) within 2 hours after capture. Leaf damage was evaluated after 48 hours as a percentage of damaged leaves and leaf area loss. The number of leaves damaged varied by cultivar, Chardonel had significantly less damage than Edelweiss, Norton, Seyval and Vignoles. Estimated leaf area loss rating ranged from one (least area lost) in Lacrosse to three in Seyval (most leaf area lost). Organic control of Japanese beetles was investigated in a choice cage study with Chardonel, Traminette and Vignoles grapes. Treatments included Surround, Neemix 4.5 (at 0.5 tsp/gal and 1.0 tsp/gal, respectively), and water (control).
Surround and Neemix 4.5 applied at 0.5 tsp/gal significantly reduced the number of leaves damaged by Japanese beetles compared to the control and Neemix 4.5 applied at 1.0 tsp/gal. The loss of leaf area due to the feeding of Japanese beetles, however, was the greatest on vines treated with Neemix 4.5 at 1.0 tsp/gal and the least on those treated with Surround, although this loss of leaf area was not significant between the two Neemix 4.5 treatments. The causal agent of black rot disease, Guignadia bidwellii, was isolated from mummified fruits for inoculation of grape vines for future greenhouse and field experiments. A new research vineyard for Japanese beetle and black rot study was established with cultivars Chambourcin, Norton, Chancellor and Frontenac at the KSU farm. A viticulture website was developed in July, 2005 to provide information to the public concerning grape growing in Kentucky and KSU research studies on the sustainable control of Japanese beetle and black rot. The
web site can be found at: http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/Viticulture/index.htm.
Impacts
The grape and wine industry offer a long-term economic alternative to farmers dependent on the declining tobacco industry in the southeastern United States. However, there are environmental and human health concerns due to high levels of toxicity of many chemical compounds used to control grape pests and diseases. This research project on the determining cultivar feeding preference of Japanese beetles will be useful to growers when selecting cultivars for new or existing plantings. The development of sustainable or organic control measures for Japanese beetles and black rot will promote sustainable, environmentally safe pest management practices that reduce the usage of conventional chemical pesticides while improving the yield and quality of grapes.
Publications
- Gu, S. and K. W. Pomper. 2005. Development of a Viticulture Website at Kentucky State University for Growers. HortScience 40:1028.
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