Location: Application Technology Research
Project Number: 5082-21000-001-055-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2021
End Date: Jul 31, 2025
Objective:
Cooperator will conduct research to address the following objectives:
1) Implement comprehensive management strategies and 2) Transfer research-based information to stakeholders.
Approach:
Cooperator will conduct laboratory and field experiments to assess antagonistic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes against ambrosia beetles and their symbiotic fungi. The first tier of lab experiments will characterize efficacy of antagonistic microbials against ambrosia beetles and their symbiotic fungi. The second tier of experiments will test the most efficacious microbial products under field conditions using stem sections deployed in nurseries and/or orchards. Curative treatments will also be tested under lab and field conditions. Efficacious strains will be further evaluated to endophytically colonize pecan, apple, and/or ornamental seedlings. Adult granulate ambrosia beetle (GAB) and/or black stem borer (BSB) will be introduced to endophytically-colonized and uncolonized saplings and AB mortality and symbiont suppression will be evaluated by dissecting galleries at 14 d after infesting. The most virulent entomopathogenic nematodes will also be tested with the aid of improved formulations and pheromone boosters. Experiments will initially be conducted in lab conditions. The two most promising entomopathogenic nematode species will then be carried forward for additional testing using a similar approach as described for the antagonistic fungi. Laboratory and/or field studies will be conducted using host material representing apple, pecan, and ornamental crops. To transfer research-based information to stakeholders for objective 2, cooperators will conduct traditional in-person meetings, web-based approaches (blogs,YouTube, social media), and outreach publications.
