Progress 04/01/04 to 03/30/08
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Determine the relative attractiveness of extrafloral nectar from different peach cultivars and the effects on natural enemy life history and biological control efficiency. Determine the effect of extrafloral nectary resources on natural enemy abundance and biological control on apple trees. Determine the spatial dynamics and distance at which extrafloral nectaries affect natural enemy effectiveness, and develop prototypical orchard designs for implementing natural enemy management practices in commercial orchards. Approach (from AD-416) Extrafloral nectar from peach leaves will be collected and tested for attractiveness to natural enemies with a gas-chromatography and electro- antennal detection system. Nectar will also be provided as diet to natural enemies to investigate nutritive qualities of the nectar. Field cage and orchard studies will be done to examine the effect of nectar sources on biological control of insect pests on apple. Both abundance of natural enemies and the number of pests killed will be used to evaluate the impact of nectar. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This research project addresses NP 305 Crop Production, Component I: Integrated Sustainable Crop Production Systems, Problem Statements 1B.1, Develop Integrated Strategies for the Management of Pests and Environmental Factors that Impact Yield, Quality, and Profitability of Perennial Crops and 1B.3, Develop Perennial Crop Production Systems that are Productive, Profitable, and Environmentally Acceptable. Laboratory feeding trials demonstrated that the parasitoid, Goniozus floridanus, was able to live longer when fed with peach extrafloral nectar than without, but parasitism rates were not affected by the presence or absence of nectar. Nectar did not affect longevity of the lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, but the presence of nectar did result in a greater number of eggs being laid compared with the presence of aphids without nectar. Relative concentrations of the five primary sugars in peach extrafloral nectar had the same relative abundances across all cultivars tested, but Garnet Beauty had significantly greater amounts of sugar than other cultivars. The ADODR has monitored activities through calls and monthly meetings with the co-PI.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Determine the relative attractiveness of extrafloral nectar from different peach cultivars and the effects on natural enemy life history and biological control efficiency. Determine the effect of extrafloral nectary resources on natural enemy abundance and biological control on apple trees. Determine the spatial dynamics and distance at which extrafloral nectaries affect natural enemy effectiveness, and develop prototypical orchard designs for implementing natural enemy management practices in commercial orchards. Approach (from AD-416) Extrafloral nectar from peach leaves will be collected and tested for attractiveness to natural enemies with a gas-chromatography and electro- antennal detection system. Nectar will also be provided as diet to natural enemies to investigate nutritive qualities of the nectar. Field cage and orchard studies will be done to examine the effect of nectar sources on biological control of insect pests on apple. Both abundance of natural enemies and the number of pests killed will be used to evaluate the impact of nectar. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document research conducted under a reimbursable agreement between ARS and Shepherd University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 1931-21000-015- 00D Integrated Orchard Management and Automation for Deciduous Tree Fruit Crops. In collaboration with Dr. Clarissa R. Mathews, Shepherd Univ. experiments are being conducted to investigate the interaction between nectar as an alternative food source and natural enemies of insect pests of apple. Feeding trials continue to study the parasitic insect Goniozus flavadana, a biological control of the tufted apple budmoth, a serious pest of apple in the eastern US. Investigations are studying the life span of the parasitoid and the number of budmoth it can kill in the presence of extrafloral nectar. Analysis of the nectar is being done to determine the types of sugar in different cultivars of peach and if these sugars have a differential effect on parasitoid effectiveness. Progress of the project has been monitored through quarterly meetings, site visits and telephone calls as needed to keep the research on target to meet the goals.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a reimbursable agreement between ARS and Shepherd University, Institute of Environmental Studies. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent 1931-21000-015-00D Integrated Orchard Management and Automation for Deciduous Tree Fruit Crops. In collaboration with Dr. Clarissa R. Mathews, Shepherd Univ., and Dr. Aijun Zhang, USDA, ARS, Chemicals Affecting Insect Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville, it was shown that the multicolored Asian Lady beetle did not respond to odors of extrafloral nectar from peach. The attraction to these food sources was concluded to be due to feeding on the nectar once encountered while searching for food, whether it is for aphids or other sources. Studies have been initiated to evaluate the tufted apple budmoth parasitoid, Goniozus flavadana, to nectar. Further studies on rearing of the lady beetle and parasitoid in the presence
of nectar, with and without hosts has also begun. This project supplements the parent CRIS by providing detailed information on Component 1 (Integrated Production Systems), problem statement 2 (Integrated Pest Management) in National Program 305.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a cooperative agreement with the Institute for Environmental Studies, Shepherd University. Additional details of this research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 1931-21000-015-00D, Integrated Orchard Management for Deciduous Tree Fruit Crops. Nectar production from peach extrafloral nectar was found to be greatest in the early morning and also greater June than in July and August. Nectar production also varied among cultivars. Electroantennograms, conducted in collaboration with the Chemicals Affecting Insect Behavior Laboratory in Beltsville, showed that the ladybeetle Harmonia axyridis cannot detect volatiles emitted by peach extrafloral nectar. Feeding on nectar by this ladybeetle is therefore a result of foraging along the stem rather than a directed search specifically for the nectar. This project supplements the parent CRIS by providing detailed information on the
interaction between biological control and extrafloral nectar, contributing to objective 2a, enhancing natural biological control of insect pests of apple.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? D. Progress Report: This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and Shepherd College. Additional details of research can be found in the final report for the parent CRIS 1931-21220-011-00D, Integrated Orchard Management for Deciduous Tree Fruit Crops, and the report for the new CRIS, 1931-21220-015-00D of the same name. Laboratory and greenhouse rearing of oriental fruit moth and its parasitoid Macrocentris have been initiated. Extrafloral nectar collections are being made to determine the daily pattern of nectar production on peach leaves. The parent CRIS has the objective of enhancing native biological control of insect pests of apple; this project supplements this objective by providing detailed information on the interaction between nectar production and insect natural enemies, especially the parasitoid of oriental fruit moth.
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