Assignments

For the next teleconference, Committee members are requested to prepare 4-6 researchable points for the indicated areas, and be prepared to rate their assigned research topic in relation to the others. 

 

                         Topic                                                  Responsible

            Biological Control                                         Phil Stansly, T. X. Liu

            Microbial Control                                           Lance Osborne

            Ecology                                                          David Byrne, Steve Naranjo

            Virus & Host Plant Resistance                    Judy Brown

            Cultural Control                                              T. X. Liu

            Sampling & Thresholds                                Peter Ellsworth

            Chemical Control                                          Christi Palmer,.Bob Nichols

            Regulatory Control                                        Phil Berger, Bob Staten

            Extension Education                                    Scott Ludwig, Tim Dennehy

            Systems & Integration                                  Bob Nichols, Lance Osborne

 

 

Viruses & Host Plant Resistance

The laboratories with these capabilities and expertise are fairly well known to the group.  My lab is interested in the certain topics as indicated below; with sufficient funding, we could address obj #2,3,4,5, but would need collaborators in the virus (breeding/we have a project in transgenic tomato) and vector management objectives- e.g. my lab can provide tools for tracking/detection/ID virus in the cropping systems and for working with emerging viruses (begomoviruses, criniviruses). We are capable of carrying out certain objectives under Whitefly Biology/Ecology; obj#2 is in progress; others have the expertise here too.

Research Objectives: Virus-Vector Biology and Virology

 

1.  Transmission parameters (AAP, IAP, latent, competency) for Q vs B biotypes and New World begomoviruses (SLCV, CLCrV, CuLCV) + TYLCV; CYSDV, criniviruses (2 years).

 

** No funding available.

 

2.  Virus resistant varieties: Squash (summer and winter), melon, tomato – breeding or transgenic (2-3+ yrs).

 

**Little if any funding available in the USA (USAID funds work overseas)

 

3.  Biochemistry and genetic mechanisms (host plant responses) underlying feeding disorders + stresses induced by feeding and virus infection; e.g. Silvering in squash, irregular ripening in tomato – is this phenotype B biotype specific? + begomoviruses  in same hosts- induced stress responses (5 yrs). 

 

**Ft Pierce lab has worked on aspects of this topic; JK Brown lab has a graduate student working on a proteomics assessment but we have no outside funding.

 

4.  Transmission pathway: whitefly and viral factors influencing transmission and competency; route and receptors in whitefly vector; endosymbiont involvement (GroEL) (3-5 yrs). 

 

*Some work is underway between the USDA Ft. Pierce-McKenzie/Shatters and UAZ-Brown labs in this arena. Insufficient funding is available.

 

5.  RTPCR for begomovirus and crinivirus detection/identification

**Brown lab can do this, no funding available.

 

6.  Integrated management of virus diseases in vegetable crops/cotton cropping systems approach (2+ yrs).

 

**Funding could probably be obtained through western region IPM and other CSREES programs already in place.

 

Research Objectives: Whitefly Biology/Ecology

1.  Host range-experimental with relevant species and natural: reproductive vs. feeding host (2 yr).

 

**No funding available

 

2.  Mating studies, including backcrosses and viability of F2/F3 offspring,

 between biotypes in the USA (2 yr)

**in progress and funding available, Brown lab.

 

3. Life history traits: fecundity, developmental time on key host species (2-3 yr).

 

**No funding available
 

Ecology

1. Comparison of the fitness of B and Q in the absence of pesticides, 
     particularly as it pertains to intraspecific competition
2. Comparison of rates of parasitism for B and Q by native versus 
     exotic parasitoids
3. Comparative rates of mortality of B vs. Q by natural enemies and 
     other factors (life tables?)
4. Comparative ability of Q to differentially vector viruses relative 
     to B
5. Comparison of dispersal characteristics of B and Q
6. Comparison of the spatial (sampling) distributions of B and Q on 
    major hosts
 

Microbial Control

(make this part of the biological control section)


1)     Evaluate efficacy of pathogens produced "on-farm" as a component of IPM systems.
2)     Evaluate cost/benefit for cottage industry production of insect pathogens.
3)     Evaluation of tank mixes of insect pathogens and conventional pesticides for compatibility.
4)     Develop predictive models for initiation of epizootics.
 
 

Systems & Integration
 

USDA-ARS coordinated two consecutive five-year plans to combat the effects of the introduction of Bemisa tabaci biotype B = B. argentifolii on U. S. agriculture. A summary report was prepared and includes a compilation of research progress and recommendations for future research to evaluate integration of management techniques at the crop and multi-crop system levels (Castle, 2002). I have re-read Steve Castle's report, and have received some suggestions from Lance Osborne.  I suggest that management systems progress through three phases, 1. development, i.e. identification of promising techniques and components 2/ assembly of practices and verification of favorable effects, and 3. management for sustainability. Therefore, I propose the following scheme.

 

Points for research proposals:

 

1. Identify beneficial management practices - cultural, chemical, and biological.

 

2a. Assemble beneficial practices into a system's approach for a single crop.      

2b. Evaluate possible single-crop systems for efficacy and economics.

2c. Assemble and evaluate multi-crop systems on an area basis.

 

3a. Establish a resistance monitoring program for key insecticides identified.  

3b. Establish a work group to review the monitoring data and revise recommended management practices at least annually.   

 

Obviously this will need further work, but overall I envision that there needs to be a new management program for South Western low desert agriculture, possibly a new system for the San Joaquin Valley, and one or two for Florida, perhaps a system for field grown tomatoes and one for green house production, for vegetables and ornamental horticultural.

 

Literature Cited:

 

Castle, S. 2002. Section F. Research Summary - Integrated and Area-wide Pest Management Approaches and Crop Management Systems pp. 213-217. in Henneberry, T. J., R. M. Faust, W. A. Jones, and T. M. Perring, eds. Silverleaf Whitefly: National Research Action and Technology Transfer Plan: Fourth Annual Review of the Second 5-Year Plan and Final Report 1992-2002. 446 pp.      

 
 

Culture Control 

Objectives:

 

  • To determine the effects of weed control and destruction, sanitation and tillage system on population dynamics of biotype Q
  • To determine the effects of trap crops, cover crops and mulches (colored plastic and living mulches) on biotype Q
  • To determine the effects of irrigation and fertilization on biotype Q on various crops, with emphasis on N and water stress on whitefly population dynamics
  • To determine the potential of row cover and other exclusive barriers for management of biotype Q
  • To determine the effects of planting dates and crop sequence under mono-crop and multi-crop systems on population dynamics of biotype Q
 
 

Chemical Control

 

Resistance Profile Q-Biotype Poinsettia04 Strain - Lab Bioassay

Resistance Profile Q-Biotype Poinsettia04 Strain - Translation to Whole Plant Applications

Bemisia tabaci Management - Development of Discriminating Dose Bioassay

Bemisia tabaci Management - Efficacy and Residual Activity on Local Populations

Bemisia tabaci Management - Rotational Program Efficacy

 

Extension Education

 

TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT 1-12 MONTHS

1.  Materials targeted at University, Extension faculty, and Regulators

  • The Bemisia complex—relevance to agriculture. 

>Fact Sheet

>Powerpoint presentation (modeled after the pink hibiscus mealybug presentation)

2.  Materials targeted at Producers and Specific Industries

  • The Bemisia complex—relevance to specific commodities

>current commodity-specific fact sheets on the distribution of the Q biotype

>current, commodity-specific fact sheets on management and status of B resistance 

 

 

TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT 1-5 years: (depends a lot on how widespread Q established?)

  • Summaries of new information on management of the Bemisia complex
  • Summaries on new information on resistance of the Bemisia complex

 

 

Biological Control

Regulatory Control

Extension Education

Sampling & Thresholds