Research Project: Integrated Production and Automation Systems for Temperate Fruit Crops

Location: Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection

2022 Annual Report

Objectives
Objective 1: Develop improved monitoring and/or management strategies for invasive and persistent native pests in orchard, small fruit, and/or controlled environment agroecosystems. [NP305, C1, PS1B&1D] Sub-objective 1.A. Identify and/or understand the impact of specific biological stimuli on behavior and ecology of invasive and persistent native arthropod pests. Sub-objective 1.B. Utilize behavioral, ecological and biological knowledge of invasive and persistent native arthropod pests to develop improved monitoring and management tools, and technology. Objective 2: Analyze key whole tree and rootstock-scion interactions; and develop and integrate new plant phenotyping systems to assist in the evaluation of key traits in orchard agroecosystems. [NP305, C1, PS1B&1D] Sub-objective 2.A. Generate new knowledge of apple rootstock-scion interactions based on manipulation of the deep rooting 1 (DRO1) gene. Sub-objective 2.B. Develop new knowledge for potential variety releases and optimized production practices for novel ‘Supersweet’ nectarine selections. Sub-objective 2.C. Develop computer vision and/or robotic plant phenotyping systems for shape analysis for use by plant breeders, physiologists, and horticulturists. Objective 3: Develop improved horticultural practices to improve fruit quality, nutrient and water use efficiency, growth habits, harvest, and/or yield in orchard, small fruit, and/or controlled environment agroecosystems. [NP305, C1, PS1B&1D] Sub-objective 3.A. Develop new knowledge and use of shorter ultraviolet irradiation (~220 nm) on growth and development of strawberry plants. Sub-objective 3.B. Use knowledge of adventitious root initiation and subsequent shoot growth on Rubus species to develop improved management tools and technologies for production of primocane-fruiting blackberry and their reproductive development. Sub-objective 3.C. Understand the impact of catching surface design on mechanical blueberry harvester on fruit quality and develop improved fruit catching design. Sub-objective 3.D. Create methods to compute tree architecture and apply pruning protocols to fruit tree models. Objective 4: Develop new alternative management systems for pests and diseases in orchard, small fruit, and controlled environment agroecosystems that control pests and diseases during production and after harvest. [NP305, C1, PS1B&1D] Sub-Objective 4.A. Control of strawberry diseases and arthropods using UV-C/dark period/antagonist treatment and its effect on organoleptic, chemical, and microbial quality of the fruit. Sub-Objective 4.B. Control of postharvest brown rot of stone fruits. Objective 5: Analyze rapid apple decline disease etiology and develop small scale or scale neutral technologies for managing tree fruit diseases to enhance the economic and ecological sustainability of small farm orchard production. [NP305, C1, PS1B] Objective 6: Generate new knowledge of soil-plant interactions on small farm orchards in new production areas and develop new tools and technologies for enhancing marginal soils with sustainable inputs. [NP305, C1, PS1B]

Approach
The goal of our multi-disciplinary project is to enable growers to increase both ecological sustainability and economic competitiveness in modern fruit production systems. Entomological, computer engineering, horticultural and post-harvest plant pathology disciplines, and expertise will be integrated within this project to accomplish proposed objectives and generate new knowledge, technology, and tools. Objective 1 will utilize laboratory, semi-field and field-based behavioral and chemical ecology techniques to study invasive and persistent native pests, and result in monitoring tools and management strategies for invasive and persistent native pests of orchard and small fruit agroecosystems including brown marmorated stink bug, spotted lanterfly, spotted wing drosophila, and apple maggot fly. Objective 2 will include greenhouse and field-based horticultural studies of ‘Supersweet’ nectarine selections and transgenic apple rootstock overexpressing deep rooting gene (DRO1), and development of a simple computer vision and/or robotic system for plant phenotyping. New knowledge generated will provide optimized production practices for ‘Supersweet’ nectarines, new knowledge of whole tree physiology and rootstock-scion interactions enabling growers to customize fruit tree orchards based on production region, and plant phenotyping technology enabling optimal identification of superior cultivars, clones, rootstocks, and rootstock/scion combinations for improved crop quality. Objective 3 will include greenhouse and field studies aimed at improving advanced machine harvesting technology for fresh market blueberry, alternative systems for the management of primocane-fruiting blackberries that can be used to improve and increase yield from late summer to early winter, and new knowledge on plant response to short wavelength light irradiation to enable earlier harvest times; and studies aimed at establishing orchard technology. Objective 4 will include studies of alternative methods for controlling pre- and post-harvest brown rot fruit decays with heat and GRAS materials, and of UV-C irradiation technology with specific dark period and microbial antagonists against pre- and post-harvest diseases and arthropod pests.

Progress Report
For Objective 1, continued progress on host preferences and dispersal of the invasive spotted lanternfly (SLF) has been made. SLF favors invasive tree of heaven but will feed on cultivated crops including grape, apple and peach with increased frost damage on newly-planted non-bearing peach trees, due to SLF feeding. Pheromone-based decision support tools for brown marmorated stink bug continued to be refined in experimental orchards and in collaboration with commercial growers. For Objective 2, a preliminary study with non-transgenic and transgenic apple, as rootstocks for ‘Golden Delicious’ apple and own-rooted plants, is underway in the greenhouse to evaluate drought resilience associated with root architectural changes due to altered DRO1 function using specialized growing root boxes. An apple rootstock trial consisting of three scions and four rootstocks was planted in a field block in June, 2022, to identify the rootstock-scion interactions under the West Virginia climate conditions. Field nectarine planting of ‘Supersweet’ advanced selections and standard nectarine cultivars on four rootstocks has been initiated to assess fruit development and quality assessment. For Objective 3, work was published on an imaged-based plant shape system using an optimized camera network that is low in cost. This program has evolved to numerical analysis and best methods for essential computer vision problems, such as triangulation. For Objective 4, work was published on impact of UV-C on whiteflies. For Objective 5, samples were collected from apple trees located at orchards in Pennsylvania and West Virginia with a history of rapid apple decline. RNA isolation and PCR testing for apple viruses has been initiated. Field trials were initiated to test the efficacy of methylobacteria sprays in reducing fire blight disease in apple orchards. Pears are harvested prior to ripening and kept in cold storage for several months. While in cold storage, pears are susceptible to many fungal pathogens that can cause fruit decay. Fusarium avenaceum was identified as a cause of fruit decay on European pear (Pyrus communis L.) for the first time in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The fungus was isolated from a decaying pear and identified based on morphology and DNA sequencing. The isolate was used to inoculate additional pears and disease symptoms developed within 48 hours. F. avenaceum can produce mycotoxins which is a concern for the fruit processing industry. Monitoring for this pathogen to prevent losses and mycotoxin contamination of processed fruit products will be important for consumer safety. This research provides new information on a previously unknown pathogen of pear fruit in the Mid-Atlantic region. For Objective 6, a scale-neutral and open-source automated irrigation controller, “Open Irr”, was developed to increase access to precision irrigation management tools. Poultry litter derivatives are being investigated in new production areas for their efficacy in enhancing marginal soils to deliver productive fruit orchards. Extensive planning regarding the establishment of a long-term agroecosystem research orchard for study of orchard sustainability and aimed at measuring carbon sequestration potential was completed; required research equipment has been obtained, materials are being sourced for establishment of the site.

Accomplishments

Review Publications
Hadden, W., Nixon, L.J., Leskey, T.C., Bergh, J. 2021. Seasonal distribution of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) captures in woods-to-orchard pheromone trap transects in Virginia. Journal of Economic Entomology. 115(1):109-115. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab226.
Nixon, L.J., Cloonan, K., Rugh, A.D., Jones, S.K., Evans, B.E., Rice, K., Kirkpatrick, D., Short, B., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Leskey, T.C. 2021. Factors affecting the efficacy of attracticidal spheres for management of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera Drosophilidae). Journal of Applied Entomology. 146(3):243-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12961.
Dechaine, A.C., Sutphin, M., Leskey, T.C., Salom, S.M., Kuhar, T.P., Pfeiffer, D.G. 2021. Phenology of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in Virginia, USA. Environmental Entomology. 50(6):1267-1275. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvab107.
Lampasona, T., Acebes-Doria, A., Leskey, T.C., Nielsen, A.L. 2021. Behavioral effects and retention of protein immunomarkers on plum curculio Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Insect Science. 21(6). Article 11. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab104.
Dyer, J., Talamas, E., Leskey, T.C., Bergh, J. 2022. Influence of trap location in the tree canopy on captures of adventive Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 115(3):904-908. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac039.
Dyer, J.E., Talamas, E.J., Leskey, T.C., J. Chris, B. 2022. Evaluating chemical cues associated with Halyomorpha halys toward enhanced sensitivity of surveillance for Trissolcus japonicus. Environmental Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvac045.
Janisiewicz, W.J., Takeda, F., Evans, B.E., Camp, M.J. 2021. Potential for far ultraviolet (UV) 220 nm light for management of strawberry fungal pathogens. Crop Protection. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105791.
Sargent, S.A., Takeda, F., Williamson, J.G., Berry, A.D. 2021. Harvest of southern highbush blueberry with a modified, over-the-row mechanical harvester: use of soft-catch surfaces to minimize impact bruising. Agronomy. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071412.
Feldmann, M.J., Tabb, A. 2022. Cost-effective, high-throughput phenotyping system for 3D reconstruction of fruit form. The Plant Phenome Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppj2.20029.
Nixon, L.J., Jones, S.K., Tang, L., Urban, J., Felton, K., Leskey, T.C. 2021. Survivorship and development of the invasive Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) on wild and cultivated temperate host plants. Environmental Entomology. 51(1):222-228. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvab137.
Nixon, L., Morrison III, W.R., Rice, K.B., Goldson, S., Brockerhoff, E.G., Khrimian, A., Rostas, M., Leskey, T.C. 2021. Behavioural responses of diapausing Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to conspecific volatile organic compounds. Journal of Applied Entomology. 146:319-327. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12955.
Cai, Y., Takeda, F., Foote, B., Wasko Devetter, L. 2021. Effects of machine-harvest interval on fruit quality of fresh market northern highbush blueberry. Horticulturae. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7080245.
Tang, L., Singh, G., Dewdney, M., Vashsisth, T. 2021. Effects of exogenous gibberellic acid in huanglongbing-affected sweet orange trees under Florida conditions - I. flower bud emergence and flower formation. HortScience. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16080-21.
Singh, S., Livingston, T., Tang, L., Vashisth, T. 2022. Effects of exogenous gibberellic acid in huanglongbing-affected sweet orange trees under Florida conditions - II. fruit production and tree health. HortScience. 57(3):353-359. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16277-21.