Main

 

 

 

Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit's Mission Statement:

The mission of the Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit (TTFVRU) located in Wapato, Washington, is to seek new and more effective means to control insect pests of tree fruit and vegetable crops. The Management Unit conducts research under National Program Code 304; Crop Protection and Quarantine. Emphases include development of biological control and bio-intensive methods for insect management and the expansion of fundamental knowledge of the biology of major pests. The program seeks novel approaches and techniques for integrated pest management systems that will reduce pesticide use. These approaches include the application of molecular methods, parasites, predators, and semiochemicals of pest insects. Pests of primary concern are codling moth, pear psylla, apple maggot and brown marmorated stink bugs on apple and pear, cherry fruit fly and spotted wing drosphila on cherries, and green peach aphid, wireworms, leafhoppers, potato psyllid, and green peach aphid on potato. These objectives include improving quarantine treatments to eliminate pests in fruits for export, and assessing risk probabilities for pest introductions. Additionally, the IR-4 minor use pesticide program continues to quantify pesticide residues on crops, and to determine phytotoxicity of pesticides to crops.