Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research
Project Number: 6042-22000-024-010-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2018
End Date: May 31, 2023
Objective:
This project seeks to provide pecan and peach farmers with state-of-the art horticultural and entomological tools and strategies. Specific objectives are to develop improved Integrated Pest Management strategies for peach and pecan against lesser peachtree borer, peachtree borer, plum curculio, pecan weevil, pecan aphids and overall improvement to peach and pecan productivity.
Approach:
The USDA-ARS Southeastern Fruit and Tree-nut Research Laboratory in Byron Georgia, and the University of Georgia Entomology and Horticulture Departments will collaborate on solving peach production and protection problems affecting southeastern peach growers. This collaborative effort focuses on developing improved horticultural and entomological tools and strategies that are designed to meet the needs of commercial-scale peach and pecan producers. Research focuses on development of biological control agents (e.g., nematodes, fungi, and bacteria) to control lesser peachtree borer, peachtree borer, plum curculio, pecan weevil, pecan aphids. Research also potentially addresses chemical and/or biological control of stink bugs, mites and scale. Other inter-related issues to improve overall tree productivity will also be explored from a nutritional and varietal standpoint (e.g. resistance development) in conjunction with impact on pest management.
