Source: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY submitted to NRP
BLUEBERRY AND CRANBERRY DISEASE, BREEDING AND INSECT MANAGEMENT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0222512
Grant No.
2010-34155-21149
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2010-02737
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2010
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2012
Grant Year
2010
Program Code
[AY]- Cranberry/Blueberry Disease & Breeding, NJ
Recipient Organization
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
3 RUTGERS PLZA
NEW BRUNSWICK,NJ 08901-8559
Performing Department
Blueberry/Cranberry Research Center
Non Technical Summary
This proposal has three levels of organization where we will: 1) Develop cultural, biorational, and precision management methods aimed at locating and reducing losses to cranberry and blueberry crop production due to disease, insect and climatic factors while minimizing the use of chemical control; 2) Increase levels of genetic resistance to insects and diseases, improve fruit quality and productivity through genetic enhancement; and 3) Identify and utilize the phytochemical potential of these two crop species for both agronomic and human health benefits. Traditional breeding and selection cycle methods will be used for blueberry and cranberry cultivar development. Germplasm and progenies will continue to be screened for novel and enhanced fruit phenolic profiles, pest resistance, and other traits of interest. Phytochemical studies targeting health benefits and identifying healthful components of the cranberry fruit for treating human pathogens such as E. coli will be conducted, as well as research to find biochemical mechanisms for disease and insect resistance. Insect management research will develop IPM strategies such as biological control with insecticidal nematodes, pheromone-based trapping systems, mating disruption, and development of degree-day models. Basic biology, behavior, and seasonal life history of oriental beetle and plum curculio, two major pests, will be investigated. Novel, selective, reduced risk insecticides will be evaluated leading to registration for use in blueberries and cranberries. Disease management research will develop precision-based methods including GIS, GPS and remote sensing to detect and quantify crop loss, and to design implementation maps for cultural control methods such as drainage systems and irrigation timing. In addition, crop loss assessments will provide growers with economic information on specific diseases. Concurrently, plant phenology-based disease prediction models are under development for improved spray timing and will target two diseases, cranberry fruit rot and blueberry anthracnose. The expected outcomes/impacts of this project will be an increase in growers adoption of the proposed new technologies and management practices for pest control, and an increase in the amount of acreage planted with the new Rutgers cranberry varieties will be measurement of their adoption among growers. Anticipated benefits include better pest protection, lower pesticide use, greater adoption of reduced-risk pesticides, and higher yields.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
50%
Developmental
10%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2031120108015%
2031121108010%
2121120110210%
2121121110215%
7021120101010%
7021121101015%
2111120113015%
2111121113010%
Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 702 - Requirements and Function of Nutrients and Other Food Components; 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
1120 - Blueberry; 1121 - Cranberry;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 1102 - Mycology; 1080 - Genetics;
Goals / Objectives
A unique, multidisciplinary team composed of Rutgers University and USDA scientists has been assembled to develop this proposal and the following objectives. We will utilize a wide variety of methodologies to address fourteen specific objectives under four interrelated program areas (breeding, plant pathology, entomology, and human health). The fundamental objective is to develop tools, techniques and technologies to help blueberry and cranberry growers improve on farm efficiency, enhance ecological sustainability and provide increasingly healthful crops for human consumption. Specific objectives are: 1) Evaluate a new pheromone formulation for mating disruption of oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis, in blueberries; 2) Improving entomopathogenic nematode attraction to oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis, grubs through the use of root volatiles; 3) Develop improved strategies for monitoring leafhopper populations in cranberries; 4) Enhance timing of insecticide sprays for cranberry fruitworm using a degree-day model in blueberries; 5) Evaluate new reduced-risk management tools for plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, control; 6) Examine epidemiological components of blueberry anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum acutatum; 7) Examine the cause, life cycle, and control of cranberry canker disease; 8) Develop control methods for the fairy ring disease of cranberry; 9) Conduct an epidemiological study on three cranberry fruit rot causing fungi; 10) Develop cranberry cultivars with improved productivity, increased levels of disease and insect resistance, and enhanced fruit polyphenolic profiles; 11) Breeding and genetics of blueberry aphid resistance in highbush blueberry; 12) Develop blueberry cultivars with improved productivity, winter-hardiness, high fruit quality, disease and insect resistance, extended growing season (early and late maturing fruit), and machine harvestability; 13) Identify genetic variation for fruit chemistry, identify and evaluate bioactive compounds, and develop novel fruit chemistry profiles for beneficial health attributes; 14) Determine if canine E. coli susceptibility to antibiotics changes following exposure to urine collected from canines that have consumed cranberry powder. Expected outputs of this project include increased grower adoption of the proposed new technologies and management practices for pest control, i.e., increases in adoption of new monitoring tools and reduced-risk pesticides; and, increases in the amount of acreage planted with the new Rutgers cranberry varieties will be measurement of their adoption among growers.
Project Methods
We will evaluate the aging effects of a new flowable pheromone formulation for oriental beetle mating disruption on the beetle's behavior. Experiments will be conducted on blueberry fields located at the P.E. Marucci Center. The response of four entomopathogenic nematodes to root volatiles will be compared in choice tests in the laboratory. Choice tests will consist of grub-infested plant vs. blank, grub-infested plant vs. non-infested plant, and grub-infested plant vs. grub. Field experiments will be conducted to examine the attraction of blunt-nosed leafhoppers to different color traps. Experiments will be conducted on four blueberry farms to determine the best timing for insecticide applications against cranberry fruitworm. At each farm, pheromone traps and recording thermometers will be placed to determine time of first male catch and to record daily average temperatures. A study will be conducted to investigate the response of plum curculio to traps baited with benzaldehyde and grandisoic acid. We will also determine the curative activity of several insecticides on plum curculio larvae using field-based assays. We will determine the timing of anthracnose fungal growth, investigate the hypothesis that the fungus grows epiphytically for significant portions of its lifecycle, and test various fungicides for activity in preventing the migration of the pathogen to susceptible host tissues. Experiments will be conducted to determine the extent of endophytic Colletotrichum infections and several fungicides will be tested for efficacy in propagation. We have recent evidence that suggests a basidiomycete in the Pucciniomycotina as the causal agent of fairy ring disease of cranberry. We will investigate components of the disease cycle to determine if an alternate host is required and if the population structure indicates sexual reproduction. Timing of spore production and fruit infection will be examined for important cranberry fruit rot causing fungi. Progeny will be evaluated in the field for horticultural significant traits. Selected progeny from these evaluations will be harvested for quantitative determination fruit chemistry. Aphid resistance heritability estimates will be made. Blueberry progeny and 800 advanced selections will be evaluated at Atlantic Blueberry Co., Hammonton, NJ during the 2010 field season for productivity, season, uniformity of fruit ripening, and fruit quality traits. Fruit chemistry of Vaccinium germplasm will be evaluated. Quantification procedures have been developed by our laboratory for flavonoids. A deidentified collection of canine urine samples, collected at a veterinary university before and 24 days after consumption of cranberry powder will continue to be utilized for ongoing studies. Additional canine bacterial isolates will undergo PCR analysis to determine virulence factors and level of susceptibility to antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections. Results will be presented at various growers' meetings, fact sheets, newsletters, and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Progress 07/01/10 to 06/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Results from our 2010-2012 research were presented at several regional, national, and international meetings. Presentations include seven at international meetings (2011 North American Cranberry Research and Extension Workers Conference, 2011 North American Veterinary Conference, 2011 Berry Health Symposium, and 2012 Gordon Conference on Floral and Vegetative Volatiles), four at national meetings (2011 P.A.G.E., 2011 American Phytopathological Society, and at the 2011 and 2012 Entomological Society of America), three regional meetings (2011 and 2012 Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch; and 2012 American Soc. Hort. Sci. Eastern Branch), and various grower meetings in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Quebec and British Columbia. Pest biology and management and cultivar information were provided to numerous blueberry and/or cranberry growers at local meetings (2011-2012 New Jersey Blueberry Open House, 2011-2012 American Cranberry Growers Association winter and summer meetings, 2011-2012 Ocean Spray grower meetings, and eight NJAES Blueberry and Cranberry Twilight meetings in 2011 and 2012, and at the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania). A national press release was issued for the study presented at the Berry Health Symposium. Growers have adopted the use of our new cranberry varieties and over 1200 acres have been planted resulting in higher productivity in food provision. US patent application was submitted for a cranberry variety, CNJ95-20-20, with exceptional traits for the fresh fruit market. A "Canadian Breeders Rights Appli. Cert. # 06-5575" was obtained for cranberry variety CNJ97-105-4. Genetic markers were developed from "Next-generation sequencing" providing a preliminary cranberry genetic map. Collaborative work was initiated with Dr. Juan Zalapa, USDA-ARS molecular geneticist, and Dr. Shawn Steffan, Department of Entomology University of Wisconsin-Madison. A degree-day model to predict key stages in blueberry development was launched and updated in the world-wide-web site (http://benedick.rutgers.edu/Blueberryweather/). Our outreach programs provided pest biology and management, cultivar, and health benefits information to numerous blueberry and cranberry growers, IPM agents, consultants, government agents, and the general public. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
In 2011-12, we continued testing two sex pheromone formulations, plastic bubbles and SPLAT, for oriental beetle mating disruption and found that both provide good control. We facilitated registration of the plastic bubbles (AgBio Inc.), which will become available to growers in 2013. We surveyed entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) three times during the 2011-12 blueberry growing season to isolate and identify EPNs effective against oriental beetle grubs. The flight activities of Sparganothis fruitworm males were monitored in four blueberry and four cranberry farms, respectively; these data will be used to develop degree-day models. Pyramid traps baited with grandisoic acid and benzaldehyde were tested to monitor plum curculio populations. New unregistered insecticides were evaluated for efficacy against several blueberry and cranberry pests. Aphid-resistance crosses were made in highbush blueberry and 2000 blueberry progeny were evaluated for season, machine harvestability, and fruit quality. Top performers were moved to an advanced selection block, and some were propagated for machine harvesting trials. In cranberry, crosses were made to improve fruit rot-resistance, yield, and fruit chemistry traits. Over 1500 progeny were evaluated for rot resistance, and resistant individuals were found. An additional 600 progeny were planted in field plots. Fruit was analyzed for flavonoid classes. Advanced selections were planted in trials at Wisconsin and British Columbia farms. In blueberry, the fungicide azoxystrobin was found to inhibit movement of Colletotrichum acutatum from its overwintering reservoir in inflorescence bud scales to the flower receptacles and developing fruits. In cranberry, combination of azoxystrobin and fenbuconazole increased the spectrum of action sufficiently to control most of the common fruit rotting fungi. The fairy ring fungus (Helicbasidium sp.), in one phase of its life cycle, was found to infect the aerial pustules of certain rust species and fenbuconazole was found to reduce infection of these rust species. Finally, Blueberry scorch virus (BbScV) was shown to infect nursery mother stock without symptom development. The main outcome from health benefit studies was a comparison of MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) results before and after exposure to pre and post cranberry urines from canines. Results suggest that cranberry consumption in canines can reduce the MICs of key antibiotics used to treat UTI. For several of the bacteria with pap gene clusters encoding P fimbriae, there was a reduction in MICs of Amoxicillin: Clavulanate acid, Enrofloxacin, and Cephalexin, but no change in MICs for Amoxicillin. These strains may serve as potential sources of infection in the human population. Since the canine UTI bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, these results could lead to increases in long-term potency and usefulness of antibiotics used to treat canine UTIs. These results were utilized in the development of a cranberry powder tablet for canines, to maintain urinary tract health, and enhance susceptibility to antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections.

Publications

  • Rodriguez-Saona, C., Isaacs, R., and Blaauw, B. 2012. Manipulation of natural enemies in agroecosystems: habitat and semiochemicals for sustainable insect pest control. In: Integrated Pest Management and Pest Control, Current and Future Tactics. ISBN 978-953-307-926-4. S. Soloneski and M. L. Larramendy (Eds.). InTech.
  • Oudemans, P.V., B.I. Hillman, D. Linder-Basso and J.J. Polashock (2011) Visual Inspections of Nursery Stock Fail to Protect New Plantings From Blueberry Scorch Virus Infection. Crop Protection 30: 871-875
  • Georgi, L., R.H. Herai, R. Vidal, M.F. Carazzolle, G.G. Pereira, J. Polashock, N. Vorsa. 2011. Cranberry Microsatellite Marker Development from Assembled Next-Generation Genomic Sequence. Molecular Breeding: DOI 10.1007/s11032-011-9613-7.
  • Singh, A. P., T.S. Lange, K.K. Kim, L. Brard, T. Horan, R.G. Moore, N. Vorsa and R.K. Singh. 2011. Purified cranberry proanthocyanidines (PAC-1A) cause proapoptotic signaling, ROS generation, cyclophosphamide retention and cytotoxicity in high-risk neuroblastoma cells. Int. J. Oncol. DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2011.1225. Vorsa, N., J. Johnson-Cicalese. 2011. American Cranberry, Chapter 6 In M.L. Badenes and D.H. Byrne (eds.), Fruit Breeding, Handbook of Plant Breeding 8, Springer Science & Business Media, LLC, p. 191-223, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-0763-9_6.
  • Howell, A.B. 2010. Cranberry supplements for urinary tract health in companion animals. Canadian Vet 5:18-19.
  • Rodriguez-Saona, C., Kaplan, I., Braasch, J., Chinnasamy, D., and Williams, L. 2011. Field responses of predaceous arthropods to methyl salicylate: A meta-analysis and case study in cranberries. Biological Control 59: 294-303.
  • Rodriguez-Saona, C., Parra, L., Quiroz, A, and Isaacs, R. 2011. Variation in highbush blueberry floral volatile profiles as a function of pollination status, cultivar, time of day and flower part: implications for flower visitation by bees. Ann. Bot. 107: 1377-1390.
  • Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2011. Herbivore-induced blueberry volatiles and intra-plant signaling. J. Vis. Exp. 58: e3440.
  • Rodriguez-Saona, C.R., Byers, J.A., and Schiffhauer, D. 2012. Effect of trap color and height on captures of blunt-nosed and sharp-nosed leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and non-target arthropods in cranberry bogs. Crop Protection 40: 132-144.
  • Ali, J.G., Alborn, H.T., Campos-Herrera, R., Kaplan, F., Duncan, L.W., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Koppenhofer, A.M., and Stelinski, L.L. 2012. Subterranean, herbivore-induced plant volatile increases biological control activity of multiple beneficial nematode species in distinct habitats. PLoS Biology 7(6): e38146. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038146.


Progress 07/01/10 to 06/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Results from our 2010-2011 research were presented at several regional, national, and international meetings: Presentations include six at an international meeting (North American Cranberry Research and Extension Workers Conference, North American Veterinary Conference, Berry Health Symposium), three at national meetings (P.A.G.E., American Phytopathological Society, Entomological Society of America), one regional meeting (Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch), and grower meetings across North America including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington State, Quebec and British Columbia. Pest biology and management and cultivar information were provided to numerous blueberry and/or cranberry growers at local meetings (New Jersey Blueberry Open House, American Cranberry Growers Association winter and summer meetings, Ocean Spray growers meeting, and four NJAES Blueberry and Cranberry Twilight meetings, and at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania). A national press release was issued for the study presented at the Berry Health Symposium. Growers have adopted the use of our new cranberry varieties and over 1200 acres have been planted resulting in higher productivity in food provision. US patent application was submitted for a cranberry variety, CNJ95-20-20, with exceptional traits for the fresh fruit market. Canadian Breeders Rights Appli. Cert. # 06-5575 was obtained for cranberry variety CNJ97-105-4. Genetic markers were developed from "Next-generation sequencing" providing a preliminary cranberry genetic map. Collaborative work was initiated with Dr. Juan Zalapa, USDA-ARS molecular geneticist. A degree-day model to predict key stages in blueberry development was launched and updated in the world-wide-web site (http://benedick.rutgers.edu/Blueberryweather/). Our outreach programs provided pest biology and management, cultivar, and health benefits information to numerous blueberry and cranberry growers, IPM agents, consultants, government agents, and the general public. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Cesar Rodriguez-Saona (PI), associate professor in Entomology, supervised all aspects of entomological research. Dr. Nicholi Vorsa (co-PI), professor in Plant Biology and Pathology, supervised all research on plant breeding. Dr. Peter Oudemans (co-PI), associate professor in Plant Biology and Pathology, supervised research on blueberry/cranberry pathology. Dr. Amy Howell (co-PI), research associate in Plant Biology and Pathology, conducted research on health benefits. Dr. James Polashock (co-PI), research scientist USDA-ARS, assisted with pathology and breeding research Persons who worked on project: Dr. Faruque Zaman, research associate in Entomology, worked on evaluation of reduced-risk insecticides against plum curculio. Monique Rivera, graduate student in Entomology, worked on assessment of entomopathogenic nematodes to control oriental beetle. Vera Kyryczenko, soil and plant technician, helped develop a degree-day model for cranberry fruitworm. Dr. Jennifer Johnson-Cicalese, research associate in Plant Biology and Pathology, helped develop cranberry cultivars with improved productivity, increased levels of pest resistance, and enhanced fruit polyphenolic profiles, helped breeding for blueberries with high aphid resistance, helped identify genetic variation for fruit chemistry, bioactive compounds, and novel chemical profiles for beneficial health attributes. Dr. Laura Georgi, post-doctoral researcher, helped develop cranberry cultivars with improved productivity, increased levels of pest resistance, and enhanced fruit polyphenolic profiles. Christine Constantelos, senior lab technician, worked on epidemiological components of blueberry anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum acutatum, cranberry canker disease, fairy ring disease of cranberry, and cranberry fruit rot. Karen DeStefano, greenhouse technician, provided assistance to the breeding program John Headley, farm crew, soils and plant technician. Anthony Colon, farm crew, soils and plant technician Marilyn Hughes, GIS expertise, provided assistance to the pathology and entomology programs. Ajay Singh, research associate, provided assistance to the breeding program. Jennifer Vaiciunas, lab and field technician, provided assistance to the pathology program. Susan Vancho, greenhouse technician, provided assistance to the breeding program. Partner: USDA-ARS (James Polashock) Collaborators: Dr. Albrecht Koppenhofer (Rutgers University) Dr. Tracy Leskey (USDA-ARS) Dr. John Wise (Michigan State University) Dr. Loredana Quadro (Rutgers University) TARGET AUDIENCES: Blueberry and cranberry growers, industry, agents, consultants PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
In 2011, we continued testing two sex pheromone formulations, plastic bubbles and SPLAT, for oriental beetle mating disruption and found that both provide good control. We surveyed entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) three times during the blueberry growing season to isolate and identify EPNs effective against oriental beetle grubs. Red, green, and yellow color traps were attractive to blunt-nosed leafhoppers, a key pest of cranberries. The flight activity of cranberry fruitworm and Sparganothis fruitworm males was monitored in four blueberry and four cranberry farms, respectively; these data will be used to develop a degree-day model. Pyramid traps baited with grandisoic acid (aggregation pheromone) and benzaldehyde (plant volatile) were tested to monitor plum curculio populations. Several insecticides were tested for curative control against plum curculio larvae. New unregistered insecticides were evaluated for efficacy against blueberry maggot, blueberry aphids, and Sparganothis fruitworm. Aphid-resistance crosses were made in highbush blueberry and 2000 blueberry progeny were evaluated for season, machine harvestability, and fruit quality. Top performers were moved to an advanced selection block. In cranberry, crosses were made to improve fruit rot-resistance, 1500 progeny were evaluated for rot resistance, and 600 progeny were planted in field plots. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of fruit flavonoids was detemined for various varieties. Advanced selections were planted in trials at Wisconsin and British Columbia farms. The main outcome from health benefit studies was a comparison of MIC results before and after exposure to pre and post cranberry urines from canines. Results suggest that cranberry consumption in canines can reduce the MICs of key antibiotics used to treat UTI. For several of the bacteria with pap gene clusters encoding P fimbriae, there was a reduction in MICs (2- to 3-fold) of Amoxicillin:Clavulanate acid (5:1 ratio), Enrofloxacin, and Cephalexin, but no change in MICs for Amoxicillin. These findings are important because canines harbor genetically identical strains of uropathogenic bacteria to those that infect humans. Thus, these strains may serve as potential sources of infection in the human population. Since the bacteria that cause canine UTI are becoming resistant to antibiotics, these findings suggest long-term potency and usefulness of antibiotics maybe enhanced with concurrent cranberry component admistration in the treatment of canine UTIs. Results from this study were utilized to help in the development of a cranberry powder tablet for use in canines to mainta in urinary tract health and enhance susceptibility to antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections.

Publications

  • Rodriguez-Saona, C., Kaplan, I., Braasch, J., Chinnasamy, D., and Williams, L. 2011. Field responses of predaceous arthropods to methyl salicylate: A meta-analysis and case study in cranberries. Biological Control dx.doi.org 10.1016 j.biocontrol.2011.06.017
  • Rodriguez-Saona, C., Parra, L., Quiroz, A, and Isaacs, R. 2011. Variation in highbush blueberry floral volatile profiles as a function of pollination status, cultivar, time of day and flower part: implications for flower visitation by bees. Ann. Bot. 107: 1377-1390.
  • Georgi, L., R.H. Herai, R. Vidal, M.F. Carazzolle, G.G. Pereira, J. Polashock, N. Vorsa. 2011. Cranberry Microsatellite Marker Development from Assembled Next-Generation Genomic Sequence. Molecular Breeding: DOI 10.1007/s11032-011-9613-7.