Project Number: 5442-21220-027-07
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2012
End Date: Sep 30, 2014

Objective:
Improve site specific synchronization and establishment of pollinators (Blue Orchard Bee) with almond bloom through Fluctuating Thermal Protocols (insect storage) and the use of the Dennis/Kemp phenology model.

Approach:
Almond pollination in the Central Valley of CA is unique in that it requires massive pollinator populations to be deployed over vast acreages for a relatively brief interval (2-3 weeks). This requires extensive resources to be devoted to staging pollinator populations so they are active when the “flash bloom” of this crop occurs each year. Currently, easily deployed site specific bloom forecasting is unavailable and there is interest among beekeepers and almond growers for improved forecasting tools that will assist in real time adjustments to artificial and in-orchard incubation protocols (Blue Orchard Bee) and staging/delivery (Honey Bees). We will employ applicable statistical research in the development and testing of an environmental covariate (chilling degreeday - based) to expand the Dennis/Kemp Phenology Model (Dennis et al 1986 Environ. Entomol. 15:540-546; Dennis & Kemp 1988 Environ. Entomol. 17:887-893) for predictive use in the annual progression of bud development through bloom of the 7-8 most common almond varieties; we have used this construct successfully in other insect and plant systems. Improved almond bloom estimates will in turn be used to develop Blue Orchard Bee Fluctuating Thermal Protocols for both artificial and in-orchard incubation. In addition to two-three anticipated peer reviewed articles, we envision a future collaboration with Blue Diamond which will make improved bloom forecasting accessible to almond growers throughout the entire Central Valley of CA.