Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit
Project Number: 2072-22000-044-004-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: Aug 1, 2019
End Date: Oct 31, 2021
Objective:
The primary objective of this proposal is to improve and evaluate the efficacy of an innovative novel deterrent for Spotted-Wing Drosophila (SWD).
Approach:
A deterrent for SWD was recently discovered which resulted in significant decreases in fruit damage. We plan to conduct this work in both laboratory and field conditions. To improve the formulation of the deterrent, we will test the contributory role of the respective compounds in order to improve the efficacy and longevity. The respective ingredients/volatiles will be assayed individually to verify its deterrence to SWD. The initial assay work will be conducted on blueberry, cherry, winegrape, strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. As soon as
the respective deterrent qualities of the individual ingredients have been determined, we will conduct tests at different ratio’s of the individual ingredients. The most refined formulation efficacy will be determined under both no choice and two-choice behavioral experiments.
SWD field trials using the optimized deterrent will be conducted under commercial
standard field conditions on blueberry. Fruit clusters within field arenas will
contain 10-23 berries. After the SWD exposure period, berries will be checked in the laboratory under a dissecting microscope, and the number of eggs in each berry reported. All soft or damaged fruits will be excluded from the analysis. Whole-bush exposure trials will be conducted in order to determine efficacy in a larger space. Entire bushes will be covered and berries will be sprayed with the optimal deterrent concenmtration.
