Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research
Project Number: 6042-22000-024-029-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2024
End Date: Aug 31, 2028
Objective:
Objective 1. Measure phenological shifts of key pests and evaluate reliability of available monitoring tools and models.
Objective 2. Refine IPM tools to ensure compatibility with evolving production practices,
regulatory changes, and climate.
Objective 3. Suppress pest populations across orchard agroecosystems with promising
biocontrol agents and integrate improved IPM tactics.
Objective 4. Assess the socioeconomic impact of enhanced IPM programs to promote grower
adoption and market flexibility.
Approach:
Byron lab (Shapiro-Ilan) will be intricately involved in objective 2. Various species and strains of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi tested for efficacy against the target pests and methods for improvement will be developed (e.g., use of beneficial nematode pheromones and improved formulations). The best treatments will tested widely under field conditions in peach and apple cropping systems.
