Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research
2022 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Nanoparticle formulations enhance biopesticide efficacy. Environmentally friendly biopesticides, such as entomopathogenic (insect-killing) nematodes and fungi can control various economically important insect pests such as pecan weevil and peachtree borer. The efficacy of these biopesticides, however, can be limited due to sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. Thus, it is critical to develop new formulations that protect the biopesticide organisms from environmental stress. ARS researchers at Byron Georgia and Israeli partners discovered that nanoparticle-based formulations protect biopesticides from ultraviolet radiation and thereby increase pest control efficacy. This technology can lead to improved sustainability in pest management practices. A patent application is being submitted based on the discovery.
2. A bacteria-based biopesticide controls pecan weevil at reduced rates. The pecan weevil is a major pest of pecans. The insect is usually controlled with chemical insecticides, but these insecticides may be harmful to humans and the environment, kill beneficial natural enemies such as lady beetles, and cause flaring of pecan aphids (another group of important pecan pests). ARS researchers at Byron Georgia discovered that low application rates of an environmentally safe biopesticide “Grandevo”, which is based on a naturally-occurring bacterium, caused equal levels of pecan weevil control compared with recommended chemical insecticides. Moreover, in field experiments, the biopesticide contributed to pecan aphid control and conserved beneficial natural enemies. Thus, the bacteria-based biopesticide is a viable eco-friendly tool for control of pecan weevil. Grower adoption has been initiated based on the findings of ARS (Byron, Georgia).
3. Monitoring the whereabouts of a new stink bug pest across orchard and non-crop habitats. The invasive brown marmorated stink bug is a key pest of various crops and thus it is important to understand the insect’s distribution and movement patterns. ARS researchers at Byron Georgia monitored the pest using a grid system of traps across a 400-acre area including pecan and peach orchards in addition to non-crop habitats. Nymphs and adults aggregated primarily in peach and adjacent woodlands followed by pecan. Aggregation levels were highest in July and August. Non-crop host plants play an important role maintaining brown marmorated stink bug populations and growers need to be aware of these sources of brown marmorated stink bugs.
Review Publications
Erdogan, H., Stevens, G., Stevens, A., Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Kaplan, F., Alborn, H.T., Lewis, E.E. 2022. Infected host responses across entomopathogenic nematode phylogeny. Journal of Nematology. 53,e2021-105. https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2021-105.
Erdogan, H., Cruzado-Gutierrez, K., Stevens, G., Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Kaplan, F., Alborn, H.T., Lewis, E.E. 2021. Nematodes follow a leader. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9,740351. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.740351.
Li, Y., Mbata, G., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2021. Laboratory virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes to the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Journal of Nematology. 53. https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2021-096.
Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Wells, L. 2022. Control of Curculio caryae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with reduced rates of a microbial biopesticide. Journal of Entomological Science. vol 57: 310-313. https://doi.org/10.18474/JES21-65.
Usman, M., Wakil, W., Sufyan, M., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2021. Entomopathogenic nematodes as biological control agent against Bactrocera zontat and Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tehpritidae). Biological Control. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104706.
Jagdale, G., Brenneman, T.B., Severns, P.M., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2021. Differences in distribution and community structure of plant-parasitic nematodes in pecan orchards between two ecoregions of Georgia. Journal of Nematology. vol 53:e2021-75. https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2021-075.
Wu, S., Blackburn, M.B., Mizell, R.F., Duncan, L.W., Toews, M.D., Sparks, M., El-Borai, F., Bock, C.H., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2021. Pupal cell antibiosis suppresses plant and insect pathogenic fungi and is associated with a bacterium related to Serratia nematodiphila i. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 184/107655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2021.107655.
Wakil, W., Muhammad, U., Pinero, J., Wu, S., Toews, M., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2022. Combined application of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi against fruit flies, Bactrocera zonata and B. dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae):laboratory cups to field study. Pest Management Science. Vol 78, 2779-2791. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.6899.
Hofman, C.O., Cottrell, T.E., Bock, C.H., Mizell, R.F., Wells, L., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2021. Impact of a biorational pesticide on the pecan aphid complex and its natural enemies. Biological Control. 161/104709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104709.
Muhammad, U., Wakil, W., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2021. Evaluation of locally isolated entomopathogenic fungi against multiple life stages of Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae): Laboratory and Field Study. Microorganisms. 9/1891. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081791.
Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Hazir, S. and Glazer, I. 2022. Entomopathogenic nematodes as models for inundative biological control. In: Glazer, I., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Sternberg, P.W., editors. Nematodes as Model Organisms. Wallingford, UK: CABI. p. 293-308.
Glazer, I. Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2022. Genetic improvement of beneficial organisms. In: Glazer, I., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Sternberg, P.W., editors. Nematodes as Model Organisms. Wallingford, UK: CABI. p. 346-364.
Behle, R.W., Wu, S., Toews, M.D., Duffield, K.R., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2022. Comparing production and efficacy of Cordyceps javanica with Cordyceps fumosorosea. Journal of Economic Entomology. 115(2):455-461. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac002.
Cottrell, T.E. 2022. Black pecan aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) management on pecan when gibberellic acid is applied concurrently with broad-spectrum insecticides. Journal of Economic Entomology. 115(2):611-617. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac009.
Tillman, P.G., Cottrell, T.E., Grabarcyzk, E.E. 2022. Black cherry as a host plant for stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in agroecosystems in Georgia, USA. Florida Entomologist. 105(1):79-86. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0112.
Tillman, P.G., Cottrell, T.E., Balusu, R., Fadamiro, H., Buntin, D., Sial, A., Vinson, E., Towes, M., Patel, D., Grabarczyk, E.E. 2022. Effect of duration of deployment on parasitism and predation of Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) sentinel egg masses in various host plants. Florida Entomologist. 150(1):44-52. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0107.
Grabarczyk, E.E., Mizell, R.F., Greene, J.K., Tillman, P.G., Cottrell, T.E., Herzog, G.A. 2022. Spatiotemporal distribution of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in southeastern farmscapes. Journal of Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab111.
Grabarczyk, E.E., Cottrell, T.E., Tillman, P.G. 2021. Characterizing the spatiotemporal distribution of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) across an agricultural landscape. Insects. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12100854.
Penca, C., Hodges, A.C., Leppla, N.C., Cottrell, T.E. 2021. Analysis of the spatial distribution and development of sequential sampling plans for heteropteran-associated fruit injury in Florida peaches. Journal of Economic Entomology. 113(3), 1347-1355. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa044.