Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
(N/A)
COLUMBIA,MO 65211
Performing Department
Plant Sciences
Non Technical Summary
A total of three Missouri soybean stink bug studies are relevant to the multi-state research project S1055. Study number one is designed to determine the season movement of various stink bug species through the growing season from field border to 200 ' into the field interior in plots with 7-inch, 15-inch, and 30-inch row spacings. The second study investigates the movement of stink bug species between four different soybean varieties with maturity ratings ranging from 4 through 7. Each soybean variety is planted three times during the growing season and insects numbers determined monthly from seedling emergence through plant senescence. The final study involves a survey of 60 producer fields, located statewide, conducted three times annually to determine levels of the green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare, brown stink bug, Euschistus servus, and the one-spotted stink bug, Euschistus variolarius. Other species of soybean insects commonly collected from these studies also are recorded and seasonal distribution patterns determined. These studies are being conducted prior to the arrival of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, into Missouri and the reintroduction of the red banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii, back into the state to determine current population levels and distribution of these common field crop stink bug species.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Characterize basic insect biology and ecology
Develop coordinated applied best management practices
Educate farmers, industry, colleagues, and agricultural professionals of research findings using traditional and innovative Extension toos and methods
Project Methods
Characterize basic insect biology and ecology. The expansion of invasive pests into new regions and the adaptation of native pests necessitates further research into how insects cope with new selection pressures. Data and information from this objective will not only lead to a better understanding of insect pests, but will be integrated with Objectives 2 and 3 to develop sustainable management recommendations based on biological parameters.a. Survey for the presence, establishment and spread of emerging pests.b. Understand soybean pest interactions. Soybean insect pests interact with not only soybean, but other pests, pathogens (including as vectors for plant disease), natural enemies, host plant quality, resistance and tolerance (i.e., varieties), and abiotic factors (e.g. nutrients, insecticides). Methods will include host-plant resistance screening, evaluation of non-target effects of insecticide treatments (both seed-applied and foliar) and efficacy of virus transmission (referenced in Michel et al. 2011; Hodsgon et al. 2012; Hill et al. 2012)c. Describe insect physiology in a changing climate. Insects are tightly linked with environmental conditions that restrict geographical ranges and influence reproductive rate. As temperatures and climates change, insects may adapt and expand ranges. Research will focus on describing longevity and fecundity of insect pest populations at various temperatures, and predict range expansion.d. Develop insect genetic resources. Modern DNA sequencing technologies have improved our understanding of non-model species, including insect pests. Genetic data will be generated to understand molecular interactions of virulent biotype evolution, insecticide resistance adaptation, and to develop tools for improved diagnostics and detailed dispersal patterns (Bai et al. 2010).2. Develop coordinated applied best management practices. There is an ongoing need to have current and accurate pest management strategies in soybean. Using multiple insecticide applications every year is not a sustainable way to manage insects in field crops.a. Develop sampling protocols and thresholds. Many successful IPM programs include regular sampling as a foundation. This can be especially important for managing erratic and emerging pests in soybean because the timing of insecticidal applications is critical. Developing and implementing economic thresholds is also important for reducing overall inputs and environmental risks, while increasing grower confidence and limiting the propensity of growers to apply treatments prophylactically (Temple et al. 2009).b. Evaluate control efficacy and monitor for resistance. Insecticides are the primary management tools for many of the most damaging and widespread soybean pests. However, overuse of insecticidal modes of action can lead to decreased efficacy and yield loss. Many members of our Working Group participate in efficacy evaluations for both registered and unregistered compounds and resistance monitoring of economically important pests. These programs help document change in product efficacy and describe changes in susceptibility of genetic populations. Established insecticide resistance monitoring programs will continue for key pests in much of the southern US (e.g., corn earworm). For northern states, fellow project investigators from each state will send field-collected populations of soybean aphids to the University of Nebraska insect toxicology laboratory. Aphid populations will be maintained in a plant growth chamber as described by Maghalaes et al. (2008). If necessary, aphid populations will be held and increased in the greenhouse on aphid-susceptible soybean variety. A systemic bioassay developed by Maghalaes et al. (2008, 2009) will be used for soybean aphid bioassays. In brief, the cut petioles of excised soybean leaves are immersed in solutions with different concentrations of technical grade insecticide and a control. Each petiole is infested with 30 aphids. Members have established additional protocols based on previous work (Temple et al. 2009; Musser et al. 2012), providing a solid foundation to expand to new pests, chemicals and environments.c. Describe natural enemies and non-target impacts. Past research by the SDC347 group has demonstrated the value of biological control agents on the soybean aphid and the risks posed by insecticide applications (foliar and seed-applied) to these agents. This work will continue with a suite of new pests in the face of changing management approaches that will emphasize an insurance-based approach to managing multiple pests with broad spectrum insecticides. Members have performed much work in the impacts of natural enemies and developed common protocols (Schmidt et al. 2011; Koppel et al. 2011; Tilmon et al. 2011; Hodsgon et al. 2012; McCarville and O Neal, in press).d. Evaluate new technologies (host plant resistance, transgenics, seed treatments). In the last ten years, there has been an explosion of insect suppression technologies in soybean. Our Working Group participants are the primary contacts for the private sector in evaluating new tools in soybean like host plant resistance, transgenics and seed treatments in both laboratory and field settings.3. Educate farmers, industry, colleagues, and agricultural professionals of research findings using traditional and innovative Extension tools and methods. Many members of our working group have substantial Extension appointments and work extensively with stakeholders at a variety of levels. One delivery method is through mandatory recertification programs: farmers and commercial applicators need continuing education credits to maintain their application certifications. This objective will produce relevant, research-based Extension materials (e.g., fact sheets, newsletters, other publications) on soybean insects and best management practices. Additional material will be generated using more recent social communication and electronic delivery methods. Members of this group are leaders in this effort including novel Smartphone apps such as The Bugspot (McCornack 2012) and the Northern Plains IPM Guide (Tilmon and Hadi 2012). Additional efforts include YouTube presentations (Hammond 2009; Obermeyer 2010; Hodsgon 2012). Often, these outputs are shared among members of the group to avoid duplication of effort and to harmonize our message between states. In addition, members will continue to deliver recommendations to a wide variety of audiences using various communication outlets including presentation, webinars, and social media and field demonstrations. The knowledge and experience gained from field research and demonstrations will enable producers and consultants to make informed decisions about managing insects in soybean, including: 1) gain a better understanding of the pest life cycles, and the implications for genetic resistance and long-term suppression; 2) recognize emerging (and often invasive) pest insects in soybean, and understand the effect of multiple feeders and cumulative damage; 3) identify natural enemies in soybean and their positive effects on pests; and 4) discover how proactive tactics (e.g., sampling and the use of an economic threshold) can ultimately protect yield and increase profits. It is important to highlight the fact that for our clientele, we represent the sole unbiased source for this information. Although there are many industry personnel that serve growers directly and include some of this information, their messages are necessarily influenced by their respective product lines. The information we share at our annual meeting will facilitate developing regional recommendations and multi-state publications as appropriate.