Project Number: 5344-22620-015-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Nov 08, 2000
End Date: Aug 31, 2005

Objective:
Determine biological, physical and environmental impacts of crop production and other ecological inputs on cotton pests and natural enemies; potential for developing protective natural enemy habitats as well as conservation/ augmentation methods. Determine best application methods and develop thresholds for biological, biorational, conventional chemical controls. Develop ecological approaches for control of invasive species based on biology, ecology, adaptiveness, natural enemies, establishment status. Identify and test assumptions underlying the use of refuges as a means of preventing resistance development in the pink bollworm, emphasizing the need for verification in "real-world" systems of phenomena observed in laboratory-based experiments. Develop, test and optimize strategies, technologies or management practices that can enhance the effectiveness of refuges; or that might serve as alternatives to refuges because of greater effectiveness in suppressing resistant pest populations. This objective may include, as appropriate and feasible, a molecular approach to early identification of the dissemination of resistance genes in pest populations.

Approach:
Key pest management studies will be conducted using manipulations of crop production inputs, genetically modified crops, trap crops, behavioral chemicals and other ecological methods to manage pest and beneficial insect species. Key natural enemies will be identified, their efficacy, adaptiveness and potential for introduction and/or conservation and applications augmentation. Monoclonal antibody techniques will be used in predator efficacy, mark-recapture techniques for dispersal, population dynamics and sampling method research. Interim bridging project for 5344-22620-011-00D 10/00

Project Team

Henneberry, Thomas Byers, John Chu, Chang Chi - C. C. Naranjo, Steve Blackmer, Jacquelyn Hagler, James Castle, Steven

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)

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