Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-30400-001-028-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2026
End Date: Feb 28, 2027
Objective:
Ensure pest-free security of California pistachios via the development of efficient, economical, and environmentally benign treatments. Specifically determine the pheromone that attracts males to a female Gill’s mealybug.
Approach:
Using an approach rooted in cooperation with industry, conduct research in phases to begin unlocking the keys to the use of pheromones in Gill's mealybug mating. This is Phase 2 research, as previous Phase 1 research proved that males were indeed attracted to a pheromone produced by the female. Phase 2 involves pooling specimens and preparing extracts across a polarity gradient (water, methanol, methyl t- butyl ether, hexane). The extracts will be concentrated and residues placed in bioassays to re-evaluate Phase 1 results. Finally, if a chemical “emitter” is identified, Phase 3 will progress in which specimens will be pooled to collect volatiles. A methyl t- butyl ether extract of the volatiles will be concentrated and place its crude residue placed in the bioassay to re-evaluate Phase 1 and Phase 2 results. ARS will also work with industry to transfer results to industry, USEPA, and USDA APHIS.