Annual Reports

2001—Competitive Research Grants—List of Funded Projects

Contents

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2001-2002 Applied Field Ecology Biological Controls Biorational Use of Biotic Agents    or Chemicals Cultural Controls Decision Support

PROJECTS THAT ENDED IN 2000-2001 Applied Field Ecology Biological Controls Biorational Use of Biotic Agents    or Chemicals Cultural Controls Decision Support

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2001-2002

Applied Field Ecology

		Role of egg-parazitizing fungal communities in soil suppressiveness against Heterodera schachtii. J. O. Becker, Nematology, UC Riverside. (Year 3 of 3; $21,357) Ecologically-based management of vine decline of melons caused by Monosporascus cannonballus. M. Stanghellini, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside. (Year 2 of 3; $29,323) Integrating cultural control methods with rice growth to improve weed control and reduce herbicide use. T. C. Foin, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis; A. J. Fischer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis; K. Gibson, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis. (Year 2 of 3; $28,082)
Management programs combining fertility and water depth to suppress watergrass, Echinochloa spp., in its early growth in rice fields look promising, according to preliminary research results reported by UC Davis agronomists Ted Foin and Kevin Gibson and weed scientist Albert Fischer.

Pruning for control of Pierce's disease. A. H. Purcell, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley. (Year 2 of 2; $21,776)

Vine mealybug and its natural enemies in the San Joaquin Valley. K. M. Daane, Insect Biology, Berkeley. (Year 1 of 2; $23,723)

Developing and comparing regional management strategies for western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus) in the San Joaquin Valley. P. B. Goodell, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. (Year 1 of 1; $32,000)

Evaluation of wheat straw mulches for pest and disease control in cucurbit production systems. J. P. Mitchell, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier; C. S. Summers, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier; J. J. Stapleton, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. (Year 1 of 2; $21,320)

A new look at an old pest: what makes Lygus hungry for cotton squares? J. A. Rosenheim, Entomology, Davis. (Year 1 of 3; $35,510)

Biological Controls

Prune aphids in California: Introduction of parasitioids and quantification of predation. N. J. Mills, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley. (Year 3 of 3; $24,916)

Life cycle and population dynamics of Pasteuria sp., a host-specific parasite of the sting nematode. J. O. Becker, Nematology, UC Riverside. (Year 3 of 3; $37,346)

Biological control of giant whitefly. T. S. Bellows, Entomology, UC Riverside. (Year 3 of 3; $23,225)

Biological control of the red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimlecombei Moore, a new pest on ornamental Eucalyptus spp. in California. D. L. Dahlsten, Biological Controls, UC Berkeley. (Year 3 of 3; $27,337)

Community dynamics of microorganisms associated with Heterodera schachtii suppression. J. Borneman, Plant Pathology, Riverside; J. O. Becker, Nematology, UC Riverside. (Year 2 of 3; $22,498)

Examination of novel strategies to identify biological control organisms and to incorporate them into avocado integrated pest management program. J. Borneman, Plant Pathology, Riverside; J. A. Menge, Plant Pathology, Riverside; B. Faber, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County. (Year 1 of 2; $27,111)

Biological control of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), in Southern California. J. M. Heraty, Entomology, Riverside. (Year 1 of 2; $36,369)

The fungus, Hirsutella thompsonii, for the biological control of the Varroa mite, a pest of honey bees. C. Y. Peng, Entomology, Davis; H. K. Kaya, Nematology, Davis; E. C. Mussen, Entomology, Davis. (Year 1 of 3; $30,088)

Biorational Use of Biotic Agents or Chemicals

Pheromone mating disruption strategies for codling moth in walnuts. S. C. Welter, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley. (Year 2 of 3; $34,746)

Cultural Controls

Development of an integrated management strategy for root-knot nematode in carrot. P. A. Roberts, Nematology, UC Riverside. (Year 3 of 3; $35,311)

A combination of soil solarization and biofumigation for the control of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). A. T. Ploeg, Nematology, UC Riverside. (Year 2 of 2; $18,412)

Insect management in alfalfa via sheep grazing. E. T. Natwick, UC Cooperative Extension, Imperial County; J. N. Guerrero, UC Cooperative Extension, Imperial County. (Year 2 of 2; $16,744)

Grazing management practices for long-term yellow starthistle control in established perennial grasslands. S. B. Orloff, UC Cooperative Extension, Siskiyou County; D. J. Drake, UC Cooperative Extension, Siskiyou County; K. W. Tate, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis. (Year 2 of 2; $22,680)

Broccoli residue as a biofumigant for cyst nematode management in cole crops. B. B. Westerdahl, Nematology, Davis; E. P. Caswell-Chen, Nematology, Davis. (Year 1 of 3; $30,681)

Decision Support

Integrated use of prescribed burning and clopyralid for yellow starthistle control and optimum rangeland health. J. M. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops/Weed Science, UC Davis. (Year 3 of 3; $23,329)

The isolation and characterization of squash bug, Anasa tristis, pheromones and the development of a management program using pheromones in mating disruption. C. G. Summers, Entomology, UC Davis/Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. (Year 3 of 3; $18,884)

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) management systems for field-grown cut flowers. C. Wilen, UC Cooperative Extension, San Diego County; R. Smith, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County; C. L. Elmore, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. (Year 2 of 2; $12,528)

Economic injury levels, within-plant vertical distribution, population dynamics, and sampling technique for tetranychid mites on corn. L. D. Godfrey, Entomology, UC Davis; J. J. Cisneros, Entomology, UC Davis. (Year 2 of 3; $31,645)

Northern fowl mite effects on egg production and feed utilization efficiency. B. A. Mullens, Entomology, Riverside; D. R. Kuney, UC Cooperative Extension, Riverside County. (Year 1 of 3; $29,383)

California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) foraging behavior: implications for improved control. T. P. Salmon, Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation, Davis. (Year 1 of 3; $24,494)

PROJECTS THAT ENDED IN 2000-2001

Applied Field Ecology

		The development of a marking method for assessing field survival and dispersal of Aphytis melinus and other augmentative biological control agents. J. G. Morse, Entomology, UC Riverside; R. F. Luck, Entomology, UC Riverside. Application of UV-absorbing plastic film for pest control in greenhouse-grown crops. H. S. Costa, Entomology, UC Riverside. The effects of vineyard cultural practices on grape mealybug and its natural enemies. K. M. Daane, Biological Control, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley.
The type of plastic used in greenhouse structure may affect population levels of insect pests such as aphids, thrips, and whiteflies. Research by UC Riverside entomologist Heather Costa is looking into applications for UV-blocking plastics in IPM Programs.

Biological Controls

None

Biorational Use of Biotic Agents or Chemicals

None

Cultural Controls

		Acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide fumigation for postharvest control of insects and mites on strawberry fruit. E. Mitcham, Pomology, UC Davis. Biological control of a newly introduced pest, the eucalyptus tortoise beetle, Trachymela sloanei. J. G. Millar, Entomology, UC Riverside; T. D. Paine, Entomology, UC Riverside; M. Hoddle, Entomology, UC Riverside. Cultural practices for management of Verticillium wilt of strawberry in California. J. M. Duniway, Plant Pathology, UC Davis. Determining seed bank levels in citrus orchards: a basis for designing a weed control program. K. J. Hembree, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno. Improved integrated management of cotton aphids in California through an understanding of cotton aphid biology and response to nitrogen fertilization. L. D. Godfrey, Entomology, UC Davis; R. Hutmacher, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis/UC Cooperative Extension, Shafter Field Station.
Research by UC Davis entomologist Larry Godfrey and agronomist Robert Hutmacher shows that cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii, are exacerbated by high nitrogen rates and applications of pyrethroid insecticides. The UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines for cotton have been adjusted to reflect these findings.

Decision Support

Development of thresholds for twospotted spider mite on greenhouse-grown bent cane cut roses. M. P. Parrella, Entomology, UC Davis; J. H. Lieth, Environmental Horticulture, UC Davis.

Improved sampling methods for major stink bug pests of California agriculture. J. G. Millar, Entomology, UC Riverside.

Pesticide runoff from orchards: multi-scale field measurements and modeling. W. W. Wallender, Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis.

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