REMOTE SENSING OF LATE-SEASON PEST DAMAGE TO COTTON & WILD HOST PLANTS OF TARNISHED PLANT BUG IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA

Authors: SUDBRINK, JR, D - MISS STATE UNIV; HARRIS, F - MISS STATE UNIV; ROBBINS, J - MISS STATE UNIV; Snodgrass, Gordon; Thomson, Steven

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2000
Publication Date: 6/1/2000
Citation: Sudbrink, Jr, D.L., Harris, F.A., Robbins, J.T., Snodgrass, G.L., Thomson, S.J. 2000. Remote sensing of late-season pest damage to cotton & wild host plants of tarnished plant bug in the mississippi delta. 2000 National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. Vol. 2, 1220-1223.

Interpretive Summary: Pest management is highly dependent upon labor-intensive systems for monitoring pest infestation, pest damage, and detection of wild host plants for tarnished plant bug. Visual symptoms of crop damage are often observed too late for making pest management decisions. To provide early pest detection, remote sensing technologies were investigated to detect late season pest infestations and wild host plants of tarnished plant bug. Preliminary results indicated that plants damaged by spider mite infestations were discernable from cotton using aerial videography. Wild host plants could also be distinguished from non-host grasses and identified using imagery and radiometry.

Technical Abstract: Remote sensing technologies were investigated for use in detection of late-season pest infestations and wild host plants of tarnished plant bug in the Mississippi Delta. Preliminary results indicated that spider mite infestations were discernable from healthy and stressed cotton with aerial videography and spectro-radiometry. Broadleaf wild host plants of tarnished plant bug were distinct from non-host grasses in preliminary imagery and radiometry.