Location: Southern Horticultural Research Unit
Project Number: 6062-30500-001-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Apr 23, 2025
End Date: Apr 22, 2030
Objective:
1. Develop novel technologies and tools that improve efficacy and reliability of sanitation practices to eliminate plant pathogens on vegetatively propagated shrubs, horticultural production surfaces, and in irrigation water.
1.1. Determine efficacy inconsistency patterns associated with disinfestant application on horticultural production surfaces under cool to hot conditions.
1.2. Evaluate spatial distribution of bacteria causing bacterial gall of Loropetalum in commercial nurseries and its association with stem cuttings used for propagation and control potential.
1.3. Develop chlorine dioxide concentration-time activity rates adjusted for interactions due to water quality covariates and temperature to control Phytophthora nicotianae in irrigation water.
1.4. Model the seasonal dispersal of Phytophthora zoospores in a recycled irrigation water system and the resultant disease development of shrubs irrigated with the water with weather conditions of air, growing media and water mediums.
2. Develop new and environmentally friendly management strategies for small fruit diseases, based on non-chemical, biological, and cultural control.
2.1. Determine the effect of ultraviolet light (UV-B, UV-C, Far UV-C) on the growth of small fruit pathogens (Colletotrichum, Botryosphaeria, Botrytis, etc.) in culture, on their infection of host plants (strawberry, blueberry, blackberry), and on pre- and post-harvest fruit quality.
2.2. Assess the effectiveness of renovation of mature blueberry plants to extend their productivity, improve fruit quality, and manage root rot diseases.
3. Develop new, integrated, insecticide-resistance, and pollinator-friendly management strategies for invasive, established, and emerging insect pests of small fruit, vegetable, and ornamental nursery crops.
3.1. Develop a resistance monitoring system for commonly used insecticides against southeastern populations of Spotted-Wing Drosophila (SWD).
3.2. Develop nano-materials (lignified cotton nanofibers, LCNFs, and cotton nanofibers, CNFs, derived from cotton gin waste and gin motes as a formulation by itself or in combination with insecticidal compounds to protect horticultural plants (berries, vegetables, and ornamentals) and their blooms from freeze injury and insect pest damage.
3.3. Assess the safety of nanofiber-based plant protectants from Sub-objective 3.2 to crop tissue and pollinating bees (both wild native bees and honey bees) (Sampson).
4. Develop a cell-based model of honey bee-virus-xenobiotic interactions to be used as a platform for developing mitigation strategies for honey bee abiotic and biotic stressors.
4.1. Characterization of pathogenic effects of honey bee viruses and other biotic factors on honey bee cells in culture
4.2. Testing interactions of abiotic stressors (pesticides and plant-derived phytochemicals) and honey bee viruses using honey bee cell culture.
Approach:
Subobjective 1.1: Determine efficacy inconsistency patterns associated with disinfestant application on horticultural production surfaces under cool to hot conditions.
Subobjective 1.2: Evaluate spatial distribution of bacteria causing bacterial gall of Loropetalum in commercial nurseries and its association with stem cuttings used for propagation and control potential.
Subobjective 1.3: Develop chlorine dioxide concentration-time activity rates adjusted for interactions due to water quality covariates and temperature to control Phytophthora nicotianae in irrigation water.
Subobjective 1.4: Model the seasonal dispersal of Phytophthora zoospores in a recycled irrigation water system and the resultant disease development of shrubs irrigated with the water with weather conditions of air, growing media and water mediums.
Subobjective 2.1: Determine the effect of ultraviolet light (UV-B, UV-C, Far UV-C) on the growth of small fruit pathogens (Colletotrichum, Botryosphaeria, Botrytis, etc.) in culture, on their infection of host plants (strawberry, blueberry, blackberry), and on pre- and post-harvest fruit quality.
Subobjective 2.2: Assess the effectiveness of renovation of mature blueberry plants to extend their productivity, improve fruit quality, and manage root rot diseases.
Subobjective 3.1: Develop a resistance monitoring system for commonly used insecticides against southeastern populations of Spotted-Wing Drosophila (SWD).
Sub-objective 3.2: Develop nano-materials (lignified cotton nanofibers, LCNFs, and cotton nanofibers, CNFs, derived from cotton gin waste and gin motes as a formulation by itself or in combination with insecticidal compounds to protect horticultural plants (berries, vegetables, and ornamentals) and their blooms from freeze injury and insect pest damage.
Sub-objective 3.3: Assess the safety of nanofiber-based plant protectants from Sub-objective 3.2 to crop tissue and pollinating bees (both wild native bees and honey bees) (Sampson).
Subobjective 4.1. Characterization of pathogenic effects of honey bee viruses and other biotic factors on honey bee cells in culture.
Subobjective 4.2. Testing interactions of abiotic stressors (pesticides and plant-derived phytochemicals) and honey bee viruses using honey bee cell culture.
