Project Number: 6615-22430-001-01
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Aug 18, 1999
End Date: Aug 17, 2004

Objective:
Determine the mechanisms by which plants respond to insect herbivore damage and biosynthesize and release volatile chemicals that attract insect parasitoids.

Approach:
Cotton, corn and other plant species will be damaged by herbivorous insects, or treated with oral secretions of herbivorous insects or elicitors isolated and identified from the oral secretions of herbivorous insects. Volatile compounds released by plants treated in various ways will be collected, analyzed and the constituents identified. The foraging behaviors of natural enemies (parasitoids) of the herbivores in response to the plant volatiles will be investigated. The biochemical mechanisms by which plants respond to herbivore produced elicitors will be investigated to include endogenous plant signaling pathways. Also, other factors that may affect the tritrophic interactions will be studied. The goal is to understand these interactions and to use this knowledge to develop more effective strategies for biological control of insect pests.

Project Team

Teal, Peter - Peter Drion Boucias - Professor 352-374-5730

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001   FY 2000   FY 1999

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)