Progress 08/16/11 to 08/15/16
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
PI has a new project where he will be reporting his goals
Publications
|
Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Objective 1: Agrichemical Trials that Benefit Texas Growers. With support from the agrichemical industry, we evaluated several compounds for the control of Frankliniella occidentalis. A select number were also tested for their compatibility with fungal endophytes. Objective 2: Effect of reduced horticultural inputs on common pests - No progress was made on this object due to lack of funding. Objective 3: Use of augmentation biological control in greenhouse and nursery crops. We have been evaluating the role of fungal endophytes on pest management. This research has drawn the interest of floriculture seed companies, growers, and the agrichemical industry. Changes/Problems:1) The graduate student on the fungal endophyte project failed to perform and had to be replaced. We have successfully replaced the student with a new student who is already working on the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have recruited two new graduate students to the project; which should stimulate our activity. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We continue to move our efficacy trials to Arthropod Management Tests (with publications to report for the next reporting cycle) and have planeed two additional publications pending. We are active in communicating with a variety of grower and landscape professional groups in TX. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1) Determine the effects of five different fungal endophytes on the plant performance of marigolds and zinnias. 2) Dettermine the effects of select fungal endophytes on the management of B. tabaci and F. occidentalis. 3) Initiate studies on Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer, a tiny eriophyid mite that is the vector of Rose Rosette Disease. 4) Initiate studies on the importance of genetic variation on the outcome of augmentation biological control.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1) Complete evaluation of several envirnomentally benign products for control of wester flower thrigs. Develop protocols for testing the influence of fungal endophytes on growth characteristics of marigolds and zinnias and for their effects on F. occidentalis and Bemisia tabaci. 2) We have examined the compatibility of AzatinO with a fungal endophyte and discovered no detrimental effects. 3) No progress to report.
Publications
|
Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Objective 1: Agrichemical Trials that Benefit Texas Growers - In conjuction with IR-4 and the agrichemical industry, we evaluated the efficacy of a number of minor use compounds for control of Bemisia tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis. No compound proved to be more efficacious than the standards. Objective 2: Effect of reduced horticultural inputs on common pests - No progress was made on this objective due to a discontinuation of funding. There are no plans to continue with this objective. Objective 3: Use of augmentation biological control in greenhouse and nursery crops - W continued to evaluate the use of fungal entomopathogens as beneficial endophytes for control a species of Liriomyza trifolii. Bemisia tabaci, and Franklinella occidentalis. Surveys of landscape roses detected a high occurence of the endophytes in the tissues of rose plants. Endophyte inoculation was highly variable and depended on inoculation method and host plant. The endophytes had marginal effects on the suppresion of leafminers infesting marigolds and zinnias, but a greater effect on Bemisia tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis infesting these host plants. There were not detectable adverse effects on the host plant growth characteristics.. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We have quickly reported the results of our insecticide trials in Arthropod Managment Tests and we will continue to publish the results of our IPM research in the most appropriate trade journals. My lab is also active in training the next generation of IPM practitioners and researchers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Determine if Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces lilacinus as endophytes of cotton have negative fitness effects on western flower thrips in lab and field conditions Investigate effects of fungal endophytes in marigold and zinnia on plant performance Investigate effects of fungal endophytes in zinnia and marigold on resistance to herbivory Examine interactions of water availability on fungal endophyte inoculated marigolds and zinnias on plant performance
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1) Deveopment and implementation of IPM strategies in ornamental crops remains a top priority for the industry. We will continue to evaluate the use new insecticide-based tactics and their compatibility with augmentative releases of natural enemies. We rapidly push our results out toward the pest management industry as a means to improve and promote effective pest control strategies. A major emphasis of our efforts will be to continue our examination of the efficacy of various fungal endophytes as part of a pest management strategy. Our preliminary results are exciting, and we will forcus on the various mechanisms associated with our observed patterns as a means for improving overall IPM strategies.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
James Sanchez, O. Milo Lewis, Peter Krauter, Carlos Bogran, Kevin M. Heinz. Compatibility of Azadirachtin and Spirotetramat with Diglyphus isaea when hosted by Liriomyza trifolii in Chrysanthemums. 2014. Proceedings of Southern Research Association Conference. Editor-Reviewed
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
O. Milo Lewis, P. Krauter, K.M. Heinz. 2014. Advances in Frankliniella spp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) management in ornamentals. Proceedings of Southern Research Association Conference. Editor Reviewed
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
O. Milo Lewis**, P. Krauter, K.M. Heinz. 2014. Frankliniella tritici (Fitch) control with several bioinsecticides, 2012. Arthropod Management Tests. Editor Reviewed.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
O. Milo Lewis**, Sean Westbrooke^, Peter Krauter, Kevin Heinz. 2014. Efficacy of several products and rotations for managing thrips. Michelle Foo, IR-4 Southern Region Coordinator. 4 pages.
|
Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Peer Scientists Growers Pest Management Practitioners Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Efficacy trials are conducted in partnership with a grower operation in Independence, TX who also has a wholesale and retail business. The grower is involved with the trial, sees the methods and results first hand, and shares results with colleagues and customers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Conduct surveys of endophytes associated with ornamental plants in Texas. Conduct additional product testing trials.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Fungal entomopathogens as endophytes in food and floriculture crops Potentially beneficial endophytic fungi can live asymptomatically inside plants and may provide protection to plants against herbivores and other stressors. The aims of my study were to (1) survey the diversity of fungal endophytes naturally present in ornamental roses, and (2) test whether two different fungal entomopathogens could endophytically colonize and potentially protect a range of agricultural and floriculture crops. In manipultative experiments, we attempted to endophytically inoculate Tomato, Wheat, Marigolds and Zinnia with two different fungal entomopathogens, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus. Plants were inoculated with fungal spores either as soaked seeds or soil drenched at planting. Effects of the fungi on plant growth and resistance to insects were assessed in greenhouse trails. Tomato and Marigold were shown to have positive endophytic colonization and were subsequently tested for effects of the endophytes against whiteflies and thrips. Endophytic colonization success and protection from insects was differentially affected by the different inoculation methods. Overall, these results illustrate the potential application of beneficial fungal endophytes as part of Integrated Pest Management strategies and could ultimatley provide an alternative to environmentally hazardous pesticides. Efficacy of several products against western flower thrips The trial was conducted outdoors at Antique Rose Emporium, Independence, TX, a potted rose grower/seller. Plots were six roses (in two-gallon liners) by six roses for a total of thirty-six rose plants per plot. Treatments were replicated six times (four replications were cv. “Belinda’s Dreams” and two replications were cv. “Caldwell Pink”). To sample for thrips, three rose flowers from each plot were removed and inserted into plastic containers. Flowers were emasculated, inserted into another plastic container and shaken. Thrips were extracted (via aspiration) into alcohol vials from the container walls until no thrips were found after thirty seconds of searching. Each plot sample was shaken and extracted four times. Immature and adult thrips were counted separately under a stereomicroscope. Prior to beginning the trial, a sampling was performed and plots were assigned treatments so that there was no statistical difference between treatments. Insecticide applications were made using a two-gallon hand pump sprayer with a flat jet nozzle. Foliage and flowers were sprayed until runoff was achieved. On weeks where sampling and spray applications were made on the same day, sampling always preceded spray applications. Since raw data was non-normally distributed and the square root(x) nor the log(x) data transformation resulted in a normalized distribution of data, the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to determine significance.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Heinz. K.M., D. Krejsa, and R.F. Medina. 2013 Genetic variation in insectary-produced biological control species. Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthopods. 4 pages.
|
Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1: Agrichemical Trials that Benefit Texas Growers - Evaluated the Syngenta product A16894B for control of Bemisia tabaci infesting Hibiscus as well as its compatibility with the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis for biological control of twospotted spider mite. Good suppression of the whitefly (relative to the control) was achieved. Compatibility with the predatory mite could not be adequately assessed as our releases of the predator decimated the prey mite and hence prevented establishment of the predator (in any of the treatments). Objective 2: Effect of reduced horticultural inputs on common pests - No progress was made on this objective due to a discontinuation of funding. There are no plans to continue with this objective. Objective 3: Use of augmentation biological control in greenhouse and nursery crops - Within the context of mass-rearing of beneficial arthropods, we compared the genetic fingerprint of field-and lab-produced populations of two biological control species: the haplodiploid parasitoid wasp, Diglyphus isaea (Hympenoptera: Eulophidae), and the diploid predator green lacewing, Chrysoperla rufilabris (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). DNA extraction followed by AFLP marker analysis assessed the degree of genetic variation among populations. Our data did not find significant loss in variation between insectary-produced individuals and their wild-caught relatives of either species. Similarly, no significant differences in genetic variation were observed among insectary-reared populations in any of the two natural enemies studied. In a separate set of preliminary studies, we examined the use of fungal entomopathogens as beneficial endophytes for control a species of Liriomyza trifolii. Endophyte inoculation was highly variable and did not have a direct effect on the suppression of the leafminers. PARTICIPANTS: Connor Fair. NSF Funded Research Experience for Undergraduate Student. Dianna Krejsa. NSF Funded Research Experience for Undergraduate Student. Greg Sword. Professor of Entomology. Texas AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University. Raul Medina. Associate Professor of Entomology. Texas AgriLife Reserach and Texas A&M University. Peter Krauter. Research Associate. Department of Entomology. Texas A&M University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Bemisia tabaci remains a key pest of many ornamentals. Identification of chemistries capable of suppressing target pests without upsetting an entire IPM program are needed by the industry. The Syngenta product A16894B provided good whitefly suppression but we were unable to effectively assess its compatibility with natural enemies within and IPM context. Our natural enemy genetic variability results did not support the hypothesis of reduced genetic variation among collections from insectaries versus field locations, nor did we find evidence of genetic variation among collections from insectaries. Heterozygosity values among C. rufilabris from different locations were very similar. Patterns of polymorphic variation also repeated without substantial change among the insectary-reared and wild-caught D. isaea. However, there did appear to be a species-specific difference in the patterns of polymorphic variation within collection locales. All C. rufilabris examined belonged to the same genetic group, whereas within each D. isaea collection location wasps belong to either one of two groupings. The mechanisms generating these patterns are largely unknown.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|