Location: Horticultural Crops Research Unit
Project Number: 2072-22000-040-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Oct 26, 2015
End Date: Oct 25, 2020
Objective:
OBJECTIVES:
Objective 1: Determine risk across landscapes to improve management of pests such as spotted wing drosophila by understanding their behaviors (i.e., host range and preference, dispersal).
Obj. 1.1: Describe flight parameters and energy used in flight of spotted wing drosophila.
Obj. 1.2: Compare effects of temperature and sugar feeding on spotted wing drosophila.
Obj. 1.3: Monitor and mitigate impacts of invasive and emergent pests.
Objective 2: Develop biological control strategies for pests such as spotted wing drosophila, brown marmorated stink bug, and azalea lace bug, using commercially available and endemic natural enemies and habitat conservation.
Obj. 2.1: Study endemic natural enemies of spotted wing drosophila, and pupation habits of spotted wing drosophila.
Obj. 2.2: Study endemic natural enemies and using the volatile methyl salicylate for brown marmorated stink bug.
Obj. 2.3: Study endemic natural enemies, augmentative release and methyl salicylate for azalea lace bug.
Objective 3: Develop RNAi technology to control pests such as spotted wing drosophila by finding and evaluating target genes, and developing large-scale production methods.
Obj. 3.1: Identify potential RNAi target genes from spotted wing drosophila.
Obj. 3.2: Evaluate RNAi impact(s) on development of spotted wing drosophila.
Obj. 3.3: Develop large-scale dsRNA production methods.
Objective 4: Develop receptor-based drug discovery for pests such as spotted wing drosophila by finding and evaluating insect neuropeptides and receptors to disrupt critical physiological signals in the pests.
Obj. 4.1: Cloning and functional expression of the specific G-protein coupled receptors from spotted wing drosophila and other pests.
Obj. 4.2: Develop receptor-based screening method.
Approach:
Objective 1 includes studying spotted wing drosophila (SWD) on a flight mill or other suitable arenas and measuring their nutrient reserves, such that basic flight parameters and energetics can be obtained. For SWD, its movement across landscapes may be influenced by its ability to find resources in the surrounding habitat and temperature and nutrient stores. Collaborative work on pests such as spotted wing drosophila, brown marmorated stink bug, and azalea lace bug includes improving our knowledge of insect behaviors, life cycle and host preference such that alternative tools can be developed to mitigate the their impacts in the landscape. Collaborative work on monitoring systems will assist decision support for pest management.
Objective 2 includes surveying the endemic natural enemies present that attack important pests such as SWD, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), and azalea lace bug (AzLB). Trials will determine if the release of predators or use of attractive plant volatiles can improve control of these pests in nursery and fruit crop fields.
Objective 3 will identify genes in SWD for RNAi targets, and measure the impact on treatment on SWD longevity and activity. Also, a large-scale method to produce dsRNA will be tested using E. coli with inserted vectors.
Objective 4 will screen G-protein coupled receptors that are important in the development or adult stages of SWD, and will clone and test expression of them.
