Ambrosia beetles tending to their fungus garden, a source of food for the larvae and adults.
The ethanol produced by stressed trees helps ambrosia beetles find quality host trees. ATRU scientists have demonstrated that ethanol also promotes the growth of their fungal food and suppresses growth of fungal "weeds".
ATRU researchers study how substrate chemical, physical, and biological properties affect container plant growth.
ATRU researchers participate in the IR-4 Project, a national program to assist in registering pesticides for minor-use food and ornamental crops.
ATRU scientists are evaluating environmental parameters, such as light, temperature, and carbon dioxide, and energy-efficient lighting and heating strategies for their influence on growth and development.
ATRU scientists are developing improved techniques for monitoring invasive ambrosia beetles in nurseries based on new knowledge of behavior, movement, and flight activity across different habitats.
ATRU scientists, together with university collaborators, have developed a field sprayer that uses intelligent technology to detect the presence, size, shape and density of target plants.
This technology enables the sprayer to adjust in real time and apply the optimum amount of pesticide.
Mission
To conduct fundamental and developmental research on new and improved application technologies to protect floricultural, nursery, landscape, turf, horticultural, and field crops against damage from diseases, pests, and adverse environmental conditions, while safeguarding environmental quality, food and worker safety. To enhance competitiveness and profitability of controlled environment agriculture (including nursery, greenhouse, high tunnel, vertical farming, plant factory, and other similar systems) through improved engineering of environmental controls, increased efficiency of crop production inputs (water, fertilizer, and other inputs), advances in pest management, and improvement of crop adaptability to these environments.People
