Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Recently the grape industry lost a number of effective pest management tools, with very few options remaining for controlling insect pests. Meanwhile damage caused by the grape berry moth (GBM), has increased substantially, threatening the future of grape production in the eastern US. The goal of this USDA SBIR project was to develop the pheromone product SPLAT GBM for season-long control of high densities of the grape berry moth, and to mechanize its application with tools available to small farmers. The successful outputs from this research include SPLAT GBM for mating disruption of the grape berry moth, and the SPLAT-O-Gator for the mechanical application of SPLAT GBM in vineyards, including demonstrations to IR-4, regional and national EPA, and NRCS personnel during the Michigan IPM Alliance summer tour. The SPLAT-O-Gator applicator was also demonstrated at the August 2007 IPM Twilight meeting at Lemon Creek vineyards in Berrien County Michigan; a meeting well attended by grape growers. The implementation of ISCA's online ordering system has increased visibility of products and made it easier to order pheromone monitoring lures for the grape berry moth. Pheromone lures were marketed alongside SPLAT GBM and lure sales have increased tremendously. During the 2010 fiscal year, ISCA sold thousands of pheromone lures for grape berry moth, while none were sold during the previous fiscal year. The ISCA marketing team has also developed a specific page in the online store for grape berry moth lures, which has contributed to the increase in sales. One of the additional benefits of these pheromone lure orders has been the overall increase in awareness of integrated pest management techniques and pheromone treatments. As more growers understand and accept IPM techniques and pheromone treatments, it becomes easier for ISCA Technologies to market and sell pheromone products, and in the long term, is also likely to contribute to more economical and ecologically friendly pest management practices. Finally, the research and development of this product would not have been possible without our collaborator, Dr. Rufus Isaacs of Michigan State University. Dr. Isaacs was involved in field testing of SPLAT GBM as well as the development of educational materials related to the product. Dr. Isaacs delivered educational materials on Advanced Grape IPM approaches using a variety of methods of information transfer to reach diverse audiences, with the aim of achieving long-term change in grower behavior to reduce pesticide risks. PARTICIPANTS: ISCA: Agenor Mafra-Neto Lyndsie Stoltman Diego Zeni Lisi Zeni Annlok Yap Carmem Bernardi Brett Roble Walter Boger ISCA Intern(s): Elizabeth Wallin Collaborators: Rufus Isaacs of Michigan State University Luis Teixeira of Michigan State University Dr. Thomas Davenport, Director of Viticulture of the National Grape Co-Op Dr. David Miller, chair of the research and education advisory committee of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council TARGET AUDIENCES: Grape growers, vineyard owners, farm laborers, extension agents, members of the National Grape Cooperative PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
During the first phase of this research, we developed a SPLAT GBM formulation that stuck to foliage and quickly acquired rainfastness. We tested the formulation's application characteristics using conventional backpack and small tractor spray equipment, and field tested the formulation to determine success in controlling low and high densities of GBM. At the end of the first phase of research, SPLAT GBM had been proven effective for promoting mating disruption in the field. We had also successfully developed a prototype mechanical applicator that was able to rapidly deliver SPLAT GBM to the field. In Phase II we utilized the results of field and laboratory aging studies to increase the longevity of SPLAT GBM from four to six months. We also learned valuable information about the correlation between formulation viscosity and flowability through the mechanical applicator. We extended the effectiveness of mating disruption from the interior to the borders of treated vineyards, and optimized the mechanical applicator. Additionally, we worked to define the best timing of application during the field season, optimizing the suppressive effect of SPLAT GBM based on grower's needs. The end result of these many research and development activities was our SPLAT GBM formulation registered with EPA for mating disruption and our optimized mechanical applicator for SPLAT GBM and other SPLAT products.
Publications
- Drotleff, Laura. 2009. "Reducing grape berry moth." American Fruit Grower. 129(4): 37.
- ISCA Technologies. 2009.SPLAT GBM: Mating disruption for the grape berry moth, Endopiza viteana. 2 pp. http://www.iscatech.com/exec/DocLib/ISCA_Product_Brochure_-_SPLAT_GBM .pdf. ISCA Technologies. 2008. Mating disruption fact sheet. 2 pp. http://www.iscatech.com/exec/DocLib/ISCA_Fact_Sheet_-_Mating_Disrupti on.pdf.
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