Location: Southern Insect Management Research
Project Number: 6066-22000-090-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Jul 13, 2020
End Date: Jul 12, 2025
Objective:
1. Determine current insecticide susceptibilities of major insect pests of row crops in the Southern United States and develop methods to manage insecticide resistance.
1.A. Determine current insecticide susceptibilities of tarnished plant bugs, bollworms, and other major insect pests of row crops in the Southern U.S. through laboratory bioassays.
1.B. Examine insecticide resistance management strategies for insecticides with varying decay rates.
1.C. Identify and characterize resistance mechanisms involved in organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids resistance.
2. Evaluate the impact of agronomic practices (water management, plant nutrition and cultural practices) on tri-trophic interactions to optimize insect pest management in Southern row crops
2.A. Evaluate the impact of water management practices (oxygenated water or nanobubbles) on plant nutrition, root health, crop production and yield, pest management and other above and belowground tri-trophic interactions in Southern row crops.
2.B. Investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMFs) and fungal endophytes on improving plant nutrition, host plant resistance and pest management in Southern row crops.
3. Develop and evaluate novel methods of insect control that can be integrated for optimum effectiveness and determine the sustainability of using multiple insect control tactics together.
3.A. Evaluate methods of insect control as substitutes to synthetic insecticides in row crops of the MS Delta.
3.B. Develop new approaches for the control of insect pests of sweet potato.
3.C: Develop new approaches for the control of insect pests of row crops of the MS Delta.
4. Determine population genetic characteristics of crop pests and beneficial insects including pollinators.
5. Develop and evaluate new bio-control strategies to control sucking insects in cotton crops by focusing on the use of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes, viruses, and parasitoids.
5.A. Quantify the impact of natural control on mirid and pentatomid insect pests’ seasonal abundance and distribution.
5.B. Identify and develop new biological control options including entomopathogens and TPB egg parasitoids, as possible regulators of sucking insect pest populations.
6. Develop and implement semiochemical-based trapping methods to monitor populations of insect pests and their natural enemies in cotton cropping systems.
Approach:
Studies will be carried out on the impact of agronomic practices (water management, plant nutrition, and cultural practices) on tri-trophic interactions to optimize insect pest management in Southern row crops.
