INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS OF STRAWBERRY AND SMALL FRUIT CROPS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1021388
• Project Start Date: Nov 21, 2019
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2024
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611

Performing Department
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center

Non Technical Summary
Strawberries and blueberries contribute to a steady source of high revenue generation in Florida. In the 2018-2019 winter strawberry season, Florida, the only producer of winter strawberries in the US, farmed 11,000 acres of strawberries, producing 241 million lbs. However, the small fruit crop industry currently faces several challenges due to the occurrence of a number of native and invasive arthropods. For example, pest thrips (Thysanoptera:Thripidae) species cause damage by feeding on leaves, flowers or fruits, resulting in reduced crop yields and fruit quality. Thrips remove the cell contents of plant tissues using their piercing-sucking mouthparts, causing a bronzing coloration of affected tissue area. Another devastating pest, the herbivorous mites (Arachnida: Acari: Araneae), use chelicerate mouthparts to feed on the contents of a single mesophyll cell at a time, consuming mesophyll parenchyma-localized defense compounds that are easily digested by mites.The key arthropod pests causing significant plant injury and yield loss in strawberry and blueberry production in Florida include the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), common blossom thrips, F. schultzei Trybom, the chilli thrips or yellow tea thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks).The common traits of all these pests include their highly cryptic nature, high reproductive potential, and high incidence of resistance development to conventional pesticides. To manage these pests, small fruit crop growers resort to repeated application of conventional pesticides which negatively impacts the natural enemies present in these agro-ecosystems. It must be noted that the citrus root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is emerging as a pest of blueberries in Florida.The objectives of this project include, 1) identificationthe spatial and temporal distribution of natural enemies/pollinators,and pestiferous thrips in a typical strawberry production system; 2) determination ofthe resistance status of key thrips species in strawberries and develop a program to rotate pesticides with different modes of action to avoid resistance development; 3) developement of an integrated pest management plan for small fruit crops production; and 4) examination ofecological engineering options to facilitate biological control techniques.

Animal Health Component

25%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

25%

Developmental

25%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
211	1122	1130	60%
216	1122	1130	20%
216	1120	1130	20%

Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1120 - Blueberry; 1122 - Strawberry;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;

Keywords

invasive insects

uv-c

biological control

thrips

mites

strawberry

blueberry

Goals / Objectives
ObjectivesIdentify the spatial and temporal distribution of natural enemies/pollinators,and pestiferous thrips in a typical strawberry production system.Determine the resistance status of key thrips species in strawberries and develop a program to rotate pesticides with different modes of action to avoid resistance development.Develop an integrated pest management plan for small fruit crops production.In order to manage key arthropod pests, several techniques will be evaluated for efficacy. These techniques include augmentative biological control, incorporation of biopesticides, treatment of infested plants with steam or ultra-violet spectrum C (UV-C), screening of new pesticides for potential registration.Work with industry to evaluate conventional and biopesticides for management of pests attacking strawberry and other small fruits, and the integration of biocontrol agents with chemical control.Determination of efficacy of entomopathogenic nematode strains and different types of mulches such as fabric mulch, pine bark mulch, or a combination of pine bark and compost mulch, to manage potential outbreak of citrus root weevil, Diaprepesabbreviatus in blueberry. 4. Examine ecological engineering options to facilitate biological control techniques.Evaluation of feasible carbohydrate/pollen/nectar/protein resources that can be incorporated into the strawberry agro-ecosystem to support biological control, including trap crops and banker plants.Determination of plant volatile profile and subsequent placement of attractive semio-chemical lures and repellants to develop a push-pull strategy.

Project Methods
Objective 1: Strawberry fields (20-30 acres) will be selected and sampled for thrips species and associated natural enemies during two strawberry seasons.Fields will be sampled on a weekly basis and growth stage of plant will be recorded. Sampling points will be easily identified by use of numbered brightly colored stake flags (Height = 50-cm) associated with their geographic coordinates. At each sampling point, yellow sticky cards will be used as the sampling technique. Additionally, five random plants at each sampling point will be visually rated to assess the leaf damage index according to Krishna Kumar et al. (1996), during each sampling event.Data analysis: A) Population dynamics: A mixed models analysis of variance (ANOVA, PROC MIXED, SAS Enterprise Guide v. 7.1, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA) approach will be used for analysis, and significant differences will be separated using the methods of Tukey(α < 0.05). The effect of the two independent variables, sampling date and sampling location will be assessed on the dependent variable, thrips density. Plant growth stage will be included as a continuous variable. Residual plots will be utilized to make decisions for data transformation to meet assumptions of normality. B) Spatial distribution: The degree of spatial dependence within each thrips species will be analyzed using inverse distance weighting (IDW) and Local Moran's I index method (Anselin 1995, ArcMap version 10.4.1 Environmental Systems Research Institute [ESRI] 2015). This will allow the identification of statistically significant thrips species clustering tendencies in the fields through the crop season.Objective 2: Sampling of both Scirtothripsdorsalis and Frankliniellaoccidentalis populations will be conducted twice during the strawberry field season in at least ten strawberry fields. Collection will occur once during mid-October and again, during mid-February. Each field will be used to collect live thrips (n=50). The thrips populations collected from each field will be kept separately in petri-dishes (10-cm diameter), furnished with moist filter paper and fresh strawberry leaf discs (4-cm diameter). These separately maintained thrips species populations will be assessed for insecticide resistance to several conventional insecticides being used in Florida strawberry production. These populations will be compared withsusceptible laboratory populations of both thrips species that have not received any pesticide exposure for at least 2 years.Using potter tower sprayer, the LC50 and LC90 of the various products will be calculated.Data analysis: Data for both experiments will be analyzed by regression through maximum likelihood using probit analysis method (PROC LOGISTIC, SAS Enterprise Guide v.7.1).Objective 3:One potted strawberry plant will be placed in a 160-micron nylon mesh cage (61 x 61 x 137 cm), followed by inoculation with 30 adult S. dorsalis from a laboratory colony maintained by the Lahiri lab. In control cages, S. dorsalis will be left undisturbed. In experimental cages, after 7 d of inoculation, young leaflets will be collected to assess the nymph and adult population. After this baseline S. dorsalis population assessment, the efficacy of the following ten treatments at manufacturer recommended dosage will be assessed in a completely randomized design: 1) Capsicum oleoresin extract + garlic oil + soybean oil (Captiva Prime, Gowan Company, Yuma, AZ) + Beauveria bassiana strain GHA (Botanigard ES, BioWorks, Inc., Victor, NY); 2) Captiva Prime + Metarhizium anisopliae strain F52 (Met52 EC, Novozymes BioAg, Saskatoon, SK, CAN); 3) Captiva Prime + Orius insidiosus (Minute Pirate Bug, ARBICO Organics, Oro Valley, AZ); 4) Captiva Prime + Amblyseius swirskii (ARBICO Organics); 5) Captiva Prime + spinosad; 6) Captiva Prime; 7) Beauveria bassiana; 8) Metarhizium anisopliae; 9) Orius insidiosus; 10) Amblyseius swirskii; and 11) spinosad. Each treatment and control will be replicated six times. Therefore, a total of 66 potted plantswill be required per crop.Data analysis: A mixed models analysis of variance (ANOVA, PROC MIXED, SAS Enterprise Guide v. 7.1) approach will be used for analysis, and significant differences were separated using the methods of Tukey(α < 0.05). The effect of the different treatments will be assessed on the S. dorsalis count, natural enemy count, and final plant damage rating.Ultra Violet-C (UV-C): UV-C application will be made on S. dorsalis and Tetranychusurticae to determine the LD50 and LD90 values of UV-C dose. Quantification of UV-C dosage will be done using a dosimeter on stationary boxes carrying specimens. The duration of exposure to UV-C will be adjusted accordingly, to apply a range of doses to the live experimental specimens. Field application of UV-C will also be done to determine the impact on pest and natural enemy population as well as residual effects of the technique. Sampling of strawberry foliage and flowers will occur 24-hr after irradiation, followed by sampling once every week for four weeks. Five young to medium-sized trifoliates, and five open flowers will be collected from each plot in zip-lock bags and kept in coolers till transportation to laboratory. UV-C application will be done as many times as required to achieve 100% pest control. The frequency of application needed will thus be recorded. In the laboratory, each plant tissue will be separately dipped and shaken in a 60-ml (2 fl oz) plastic cup containing 70% ethanol to dislodge all arthropods present for identification. Fruit yield will be assessed at the end of the experiment.Data analysis: Probit analysis will be conducted to analyze mortality data from laboratory study. The fecundity of irradiated pests will be analyzed by ANOVA, as described above. For field study, a mixed models analysis of variance (ANOVA, PROC MIXED, SAS Enterprise Guide v. 7.1) approach will be used, and significant differences will be separated using the methods of Tukey (α < 0.05). The effect of the different treatments will be assessed on the pest count, plant damage rating, and final strawberry yield in the field study component. Data analysis will be done on transformed data to meet the assumptions of normality.Citrus root weevil in blueberry: For addressing Diaprepesabbreviatusdamage in blueberry, potted plant studies will be conducted to first quantify the damage sustained to blueberry roots from the various juvenile stages of D. abbreviatus. A field study will also be conducted according to a randomized complete block design. A blueberry orchard with three different types of mulches will be constructed, followed by artificial infestation of D. abbreviatus. Multiple strains of entomopathogen nematodes (EPNs) will be tested for efficacy in controlling D. abbreviatus. Interaction of these EPNs with the mulches will also be determined. A mixed models analysis of variance (ANOVA, PROC MIXED, SAS Enterprise Guide v. 7.1) approach will be used, and significant differences will be separated using the methods of Tukey (α < 0.05).Objective 4: The strawberry volatile profile in relation to injury in response to feeding by S. dorsalis and T. urticae will be determined by plant head-space collection using adsorbent tubes, followed by gas chromatography. The Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and associated P values will used to determine the correlation of mean arthropod numbers with the different plant volatiles (PROC CORR, SAS Enterprise Guide v. 7.1,α = 0.05). Based on this volatile profile, Y-tube olfactometer will be used to determine the attraction or repellency to the various volatile profiles on S. dorsalis, T. urticae, and natural enemies. This knowledge will be useful for future development and deployment of semio-chemical lures to be used in conjunction with trap crops and banker crops.

Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period of October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, the target audience reached include: 1. Strawberry and small fruit cropgrowers within Florida and other south eastern states and= 300 2. Extension agents specializing in small fruit crops andintegrated pest management = 75 3. Industry Partners that funded insecticide field trials and attended my research and extension talks= 10 4. Academic colleagues and students reached through collaboration,professional presentations, and workshops = 61 Changes/Problems:Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, a number of professional meetings have been offered virtually. One MS student in my program spent the entire duration in the pandemic without being able to interact with the national or regional entomological society in person. This reduced their professional development avenues.However, he did participate in the virtual professional meetings and was invited to give a talk about the potential of UV-C to manage spider mites in strawberry. He was honored with first position for oral presentation given under MS student category at ESA-southeastern branch meeting in January 2021. Therefore, by staying motivated about the research projects and presenting their findings, my graduate students were able to remain productive even during the pandemic. In terms of funding, even though, chilli thrips, S. dorsalis is a major pest of strawberry and small fruit crops in Florida, funding from regional or national agencies has been limited, partly because this pest has not invaded those areas. This limits my capacity to effectively collaborate nationally as this pest is the primary issue plaguing my stakeholders but is largely perceived as a local problem. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four graduate students, twopostdoctoral research associates, and one undergraduate visiting scholar conducted the various research projects and presented their findings at departmental, regional, and nationalprofessional meetings. Various skills were developed such as thrips pest identification, plant volatile extraction and identification, using statistical and ArcGIS softwares, pesticide usage and application, handling biological control agents, and hands-on farm trial set-up. Grant application, manuscript preparation, and preparation of oral and poster presentations were also taught. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated mainly via oral and poster presentations that were delivered as virtual meetings or in-person meetings when pandemic restrictions were not imposed. Also, pre-recorded presentations on YouTube GCREC channel and Florida Strawberry Growers Association website were submitted to be used by stakeholders, upon request. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period of October 2021 to September 2022: 1. Field and laboratory experiments partly funded by growers association and industry sponsors to investigate role of biological control, biorational pesticides,reflective mulch, host plant resistance, and banker crops, for thrips pest suppression in strawberry will be completed. 2. Submit the manuscript showing results of insecticide resistance in chilli thrips as well as submit another review article discussing recent developments inintegrated pest management of strawberry.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The major accomplishments under the goals were as follows: Identify the spatial and temporal distribution of natural enemies/pollinators,and pestiferous thrips in a typical strawberry production system - Two years of field data collection has been completed, where second year of study has been partly sponsored by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. Natural enemies of thrips such as minute pirate bugs, and generalist predators such as long-legged flies were found to be present at all times but in low numbers. Invasive thrips, chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis and western flower thrips, Frankliniellaoccidentalis were found to be infesting the fields. Currently data analysis and manuscript preparation is underway. Determine the resistance status of key thrips species in strawberries and develop a program to rotate pesticides with different modes of action to avoid resistance development - Findings of this study show that both spinetoram and cyantranilprole were effective in chilli thrips suppression across seven field populations collected when applied at maximum label rate. Similarly, acetamiprid and bifenthrin were effective in five field populations. It was found that early season populations were significantly more susceptible to insecticide applications compared to later in the season. Manuscript preparation is under way. Findings have been shared at strawberry field daymeetings with growers as well as Entomological Society of America (ESA) for graduate student poster competition. PhD student Gagandeep Kaur was awarded second position for this poster presentation at the ESA-southeastern virtual branch meeting, 2021. Develop an integrated pest management plan for small fruit crops production. In order to manage key arthropod pests, several techniques will be evaluated for efficacy. These techniques include augmentative biological control, incorporation of biopesticides, treatment of infested plants with steam or ultra-violet spectrum C (UV-C), screening of new pesticides for potential registration - A two year field study and laboratory studies were completed by graduate student, Joseph Montemayor, who submitted his MS thesis and graduated in August 2021. The findings of these studies were presented at the ESA-southeastern branch meeting where Mr. Montemayor was awarded first place in oral competition. Findings of these studies show that UV-C is effective in significantly suppressing egg hatch of strawberry pest, twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. Laboratory colonies of T. urticae were used to determine LD50 and LD90 values of UV-C needed to kill the adults as well as impact on two biological control agents of thrips and mites. Manuscripts are under preparation currently. Work with industry to evaluate conventional and biopesticides for management of pests attacking strawberry and other small fruits, and the integration of biocontrol agents with chemical control - Biological control agents such as predatory mites, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and fungus (EPFs) based commercial products were evaluated in organic strawberry field plots and were found to be effective by postdoctoral research associate, Dr. Jonathan O'Hearn. Specifically, A. swirskii and N. cucumeris were evaluated and found to be effective in chilli thrips suppression. Two strains of EPNs, S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora, were found to be effective in adult and larval chilli thrips suppression after two applications, 7-days apart. Similarly, EPF B. bassiana was also found to be effective after two applications. Findings were shared as oral presentations and vide presentation for YouTube Channel of Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). A second year of this field study is being repeated currently and a manuscript is under preparation by postdoctoral research associate, Dr. Midhula Gireesh, who is conductingthese studies. Determination of efficacy of entomopathogenic nematode strains and different types of mulches such as fabric mulch, pine bark mulch, or a combination of pine bark and compost mulch, to manage potential outbreak of citrus root weevil,Diaprepesabbreviatusin blueberry - Due to no natural citrus root weevil infestations, this project was terminated and the orchard established at GCREC was abandoned. However, manuscript showing efficacy of EPNs to suppress D. abbreviatus in strawberry was published in Florida Entomologist as an open-access journal. 4. Examine ecological engineering options to facilitate biological control techniques- Funding was obtained from competitive grant application process of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association to assess the efficacy of banker crop strips containing banker crops such as sweet alyssum, ornamental pepper, sunn hemp, cowpea, and buckwheat in conventional strawberry field study. Study is being conducted by graduate student, Allan Busuulwa. Evaluation of feasible carbohydrate/pollen/nectar/protein resources that can be incorporated into the strawberry agro-ecosystem to support biological control, including trap crops and banker plants - Study currently under way. Determination of plant volatile profile and subsequent placement of attractive semio-chemical lures and repellants to develop a push-pull strategy - This study has been completed by PhD student, Gagandeep Kaur. Two strawberry volatiles have been identified as potentially repellant to chilli thrips. Manuscript is under preparation. G. Kaur will present the findings at ESA, Annual Meeting at Denver, CO, in November to participate in the graduate student competition.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Lahiri, S., and A. Yambisa (undergraduate international visiting scholar). 2021. Efficacy of a biopesticide and predatory mite to manage chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in strawberry. Florida Entomologist. 104: 322-324.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Renkema, J. M., K. L. Krey, and S. Lahiri. 2021. Control of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with Steinernema riobrave (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) in plasticulture Florida strawberry. Florida Entomologist. 104: 124-130.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Panthi, B. R. (graduate student), J. M. Renkema, S. Lahiri, and O. E. Liburd. 2021. Spatio-temporal distribution and fixed-precision sampling plan of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Florida blueberry. Insects. DOI: 10.3390/insects12030256
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Panthi, B. R. (graduate student), J. M. Renkema, S. Lahiri, and O. E. Liburd. 2021. The short-range movement of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and rate of spread of feeding injury among strawberry plants. Environmental Entomology. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa149
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Montemayor, J. D. 2021. POTENTIAL OF UVC IRRADIATION FOR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT OF STRAWBERRY. M.S. Theses, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Lahiri, S., J. S. OHearn (postdoc), and H. A. Smith. 2021. Drone-released versus hand-released predatory mites for biological control of strawberry pests in Florida. Oral Presentation at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Whitaker, V. M., N. A. Peres, S. Lahiri, S. P. Brown, and C. K. Chandler. 2021. Growing strawberries in the Florida home garden: HS1154/HS403, rev. 9/2021. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS403
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Whitaker, V. M., N. S. Boyd, N. A. Peres, J. Desaeger, S. Lahiri, and A. Agehara. 2021. Strawberry Production. Publication HS 736. Chapter 16, Vegetable Production Handbook for Florida, 2019-2020 edition. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/cv/cv13400.pdf
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Busuulwa, A. (undergraduate international visiting scholar), and S. Lahiri. 2021. Predation efficacy of commercially available Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) on strawberry pest Tetranychus urticae Koch (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae). Oral Presentation at Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Graduate Student and Postdoc Association Seminar Series, Wimauma, FL.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Montemayor, J. D. (graduate student), H. A. Smith, N. A. Peres, and S. Lahiri. 2021. Suppression of Tetranychus urticae Koch egg hatchability using UVC in open-field strawberries and effects on predatory mites used for biological control. Graduate Student Competition 10-Minute Oral Presentation, MS Category at Entomological Society of America-Southeastern Branch Meeting, Virtual.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: OHearn, J. S. (postdoc), H. A. Smith, and S. Lahiri. 2021. Could cultural control slow population increases of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, in strawberry fields? On-Demand Oral Presentation at Entomological Society of America-Southeastern Branch Meeting, Virtual
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Kaur, G. (graduate student), and S. Lahiri. 2021. Insecticide resistance development in Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Florida strawberry. Virtual Poster Competition, PhD Category at Entomological Society of America-Southeastern Branch Meeting, Virtual.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Panthi, B. R. (graduate student), J. M. Renkema, S. Lahiri, and O. E. Liburd. 2020. Determining the critical density, the spatial distribution, and a sequential sampling plan for Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Florida strawberries. On-Demand Graduate Student Competition 10-Minute Oral Presentation, PhD Category at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Virtual.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Kaur, G. (graduate student), and S. Lahiri. 2020. Spatial and temporal distribution of pest thrips in strawberry in Florida. On-Demand Graduate Student Competition 10-Minute Oral Presentation, PhD Category at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Virtual.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Montemayor, J. D. (graduate student), and S. Lahiri. 2020. Suppression of Tetranychus urticae Koch egg hatchability using UVC in open-field strawberries. On-Demand Graduate Student Competition 10-Minute Oral Presentation, MS Category at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Virtual.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Perry, C. (graduate student), and S. Lahiri. 2020. Common arthropod pests of blackberries and pomegranates in Florida: A Survey. On-Demand Oral Presentation at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Virtual.

Progress 11/21/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience: National: Strawberry growers of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina. Also, County Extension Agents of these states and industry partners. International: Strawberry growers associated with Ekland Marketing Co., Inc. such as growers based in Egypt, North Africa,and India. Ekland Marketing Co., Inc. was created to make the strawberry cultivars developed by the University of Florida available to the international strawberry producers. My role is to provide pest management recommendations and pest identification guides to these stakeholders to grow UF cultivars, successfully. Changes/Problems:The major change in mode of information dissemination and research productivity was due to the COVID-19 shutdown. However, we are currently maintaining social distancing protocols and making good use of virtual meeting avenues to continue data sharing and manuscript preparation, while students conduct field research with minimal personal contact. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1. Training and professional development of graduate students: During this project period, I mentored two Ph.D, three MS students, one undergraduate student intern from Earth University, Costa Rica, and a veteran participating in the Veteran's Florida AgricultureProgram of University of Florida. Graduate students learnt skills such as pest and plant damage identification, plant and insect rearing techniques, methods for experimental design, data analysis using SAS statistical software, poster making and presentation, grant proposal writing for the Southern-SARE graduate student Research Grant, and professional oral presentation technique. The veteran and student intern also learnt pest identification, strawberry hand-planting and maintenance techniques andproduction practices. 2. Training and professional development of extension agents: Approximately 250extension agents and growers in the southeastern US region and international strawberry growerswere directly engaged through in-person talks delivered at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA, in January and several online webinars and virtual meetings attended through September. Training provided included pictures of pest and plant injury to help with identification, a list of pesticides for use in a rotation program to manage key arthropod pests in strawberries, more cooperation with extension agents who send plant samples and request guidance regularly, and awareness regarding biological control options. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated as journal publications, in-person and virtual meetings, telephonic conversation and sharing of information via media such as institutional news outlets and UF/IFAS-GCREC YouTube channel. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish the goals, I plan on continuing the data collection for a second season and identify potential collaborators to conduct follow-up research. I also, plan to assist the graduation of one of my PhD students, and one MS student. One study by Dr. Babu Panthi, my student, has already been published and we plan to continue the process of manuscript preparation and publication from these studies.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objectives Identify the spatial and temporal distribution of natural enemies/pollinators,and pestiferous thrips in a typical strawberry production system: Data for one field season between November 2019 to February 2020 was collected from four fields and another data collection for upcoming field season planned. Determine the resistance status of key thrips species in strawberries and develop a program to rotate pesticides with different modes of action to avoid resistance development: Data was collected and analysed. Prelimimary results were shared with growers (n=30) in the form on extension presentations. Manuscript under preparation with assistance from PhD graduate student. Develop an integrated pest management plan for small fruit crops production. In order to manage key arthropod pests, several techniques will be evaluated for efficacy. These techniques include augmentative biological control, incorporation of biopesticides, treatment of infested plants with steam or ultra-violet spectrum C (UV-C), screening of new pesticides for potential registration: Data for a full field season 2019-2020 was collected as part of graduate student thesis and dissertation work. Research is on-going for a second field season 2020-2021. Work with industry to evaluate conventional and biopesticides for management of pests attacking strawberry and other small fruits, and the integration of biocontrol agents with chemical control:Results were published in the journalArthropod Management Tests to share findings widely. The plan is to continue data collection for field season 2020-2021 and publish findings. Determination of efficacy of entomopathogenic nematode strains and different types of mulches such as fabric mulch, pine bark mulch, or a combination of pine bark and compost mulch, to manage potential outbreak of citrus root weevil,Diaprepesabbreviatusin blueberry: Blueberry orchard set-up has been completed and currently allowing orchard to develop and pest numbers to increase. 4. Examine ecological engineering options to facilitate biological control techniques: Collecting preliminary data regarding flowering weeds around strawberry fields as potential thrips refuge. Evaluation of feasible carbohydrate/pollen/nectar/protein resources that can be incorporated into the strawberry agro-ecosystem to support biological control, including trap crops and banker plants. Determination of plant volatile profile and subsequent placement of attractive semio-chemical lures and repellants to develop a push-pull strategy: Materials and experimental set-up organized and experiments are underway currently. This is also a graduate student dissertation topic.

Publications

• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2020 Citation: B. Panthi. 2020. ECOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND MANAGEMENT OF SCIRTOTHRIPS DORSALIS HOOD IN FLORIDA STRAWBERRY AND BLUEBERRY. Ph.D Dissertation, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: S. Lahiri and B. Panthi. 2020. Insecticide efficacy for chilli thrips management in strawberry, 2019. Arthropod Management Tests. 45: tsaa046.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: B. Panthi, O. Liburd, S. Lahiri, and E. Rhodes. 2020. Efficacy test of various insecticides to control Scirtothrips dorsalis in southern highbush blueberries. Arthropod Management Tests. 45: tsaa073.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Thrips management in Florida strawberries. 2020. S. Lahiri and Babu Panthi. Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA.