Project Number: 6217-22000-012-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Feb 25, 2003
End Date: Aug 31, 2005

Objective:
Obtain scientific knowledge and develop technology for cost effective, preventive integrated pest management programs for cereal aphids in wheat, sorghum, and barley. This will involve: (1) achieving detailed understanding of the biological and ecological interactions between cereal aphids, their cultivated and wild host plants, their natural enemies, and the abiotic environment; (2) developing tools, such as population sampling and monitoring methods and plans, remote sensing technology for detecting and delineating cereal aphid infestations in cereal fields, diagnostic markers for detecting predation and parasitism on cereal aphids, and integrated pest management decision support systems; and (3) determining origins and levels of genetic diversity and identifying new virulent aphid genotypes in North America before they attain economic pest status, and devising and implementing control tactics or management.

Approach:
Field and laboratory experiments will be conducted to: (1) develop principles and tools for managing cereal aphids and their natural enemies; (2) develop multi-spectral remote sensing technology to monitor cereal aphid infestations; (3) determine the genetic basis of host races and biotypes in cereal aphids and their natural enemies; (4) identify physiological attributes that confer plant resistance to cereal aphids; (5) develop computer programs to deliver integrated pest management (IPM) tools and information; and (6) survey, sample, and identify new virulent populations of cereal aphids before they attain economic pest status. Scientific knowledge will be generated to facilitate more cost-effective programs for breeding cereal aphid resistant wheat, sorghum, and barley; and to promote greater reliance on the use of biological control and other environmentally benign and economical control tactics in preventive IPM programs for cereal aphids. In addition, technology will be developed to facilitate adoption of research results by our customers. Technology developed will include user-friendly computer programs that provide operational IPM advice, sampling and monitoring tools for cereal aphids and their natural enemies, molecular markers to detect parasitism of cereal aphids in the field, and predictive natural enemy thresholds.

Project Team

Burd, John Elliott, Norman - Norm Kindler, Dean - Dean Puterka, Gary Shufran, Kevin

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003

Related National Programs

Plant, Microbial & Insect Genetic Res., Genomics, & Genetic Improv. I (301)   Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)

Related Projects

DEVELOPMENT OF MOLECULAR MARKERS TO DETECT PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA IN APHIDS    COLD WEATHER ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF CEREAL APHIDS, BARLEY YELLOW DWARF, AND NATURAL ENEMIES