Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research
Project Number: 2038-22000-020-030-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Feb 1, 2026
End Date: Jan 31, 2031
Objective:
Objective 1: Improve the knowledge of insect pests and viruses affecting vegetable crops. ARS and Cooperator will work together to generate new knowledge on the behavior, biology, and epidemiology of insect pests and plant pathogenic viruses.
Objective 2: Improve the management of insect pests and plant pathogenic viruses of vegetable crops. ARS and Cooperator will work together to assess the efficacy of conventional, organic, and biologically-based methods for managing insect pests and viruses of vegetables.
Objective 3: Improve the knowledge of insect pest-pathogen-plant-ecosystem interactions. ARS and Cooperator will work together to characterize the interactions between insect pests, pathogens, plants (crops and non-crops), and their environment.
Objective 4: Characterize the interactions between plant pathogens and their impact on vegetable crops. ARS and Cooperator will work together to characterize the interactions between viral and soilborne fungal pathogens and how they impact plant health.
Approach:
Objective 1: Experiments and field surveys will be conducted to understand the prevalence, abundance, and biology of insects and viruses in vegetable crops and surrounding landscapes. Plant types will include lettuce, broccoli, and common weed species. Work will be performed in USDA-ARS laboratories, greenhouses, Spence Research Farm, and commercial fields.
Objective 2: Experiments will be conducted to assess the efficacy of various conventional, organic, and biologically-based tools for managing insect pests and viruses. Work will be performed in USDA-ARS laboratories, greenhouses, Spence Research Farm, and commercial fields. Insects will include thrips, aphids, whiteflies, diamondback moth, while viruses will include tospoviruses.
Objective 3: Experiments will assess the interactions between insect pests and beneficials, including predators, parasitoids, and pollinators, and plant hosts. Plant hosts will include vegetable crops, cover crops, and native California plants. Work will be performed in USDA-ARS laboratories, greenhouses, Spence Research Farm, and commercial fields.
Objective 4: Experiments using plant pathogenic viruses and soilborne pathogens will be conducted to assess their interactions and overall impact on plant health. Plants of focus include lettuce and other vegetables. Work will be performed in USDA-ARS laboratories, greenhouses, Spence Research Farm, and commercial fields.