Annual Reports2003Competitive Grants Programs
Summaries of research projects are online on the UC IPM Web site. Funded projects (below) are linked to the summaries.
The 2003-04 fiscal year marked the first time since its establishment in 1979 that the UC IPM Competitive Grants Program was not able to fund new projects. Citing the difficult budget situation, Associate Vice President Henry J. Vaux, Jr. asked that the program take on no new funding commitments, although commitments to sixteen ongoing research projects were honored. Before that decision was made, however, the annual process for reviewing new proposals had identified five highly ranked projects for funding. Investigators of those projects (listed below) are to be congratulated on their fine submissions. New projects approved, but not funded for 2003 - 2004Applied Field EcologySpatial distribution and spread of herbicide resistance in two watergrass species (Echinochloa oryzoides and E. phyllopogon) infesting rice fields of California. M. A. Jasieniuk, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis; A. J. Fischer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. Biological ControlsEvaluation of biological control of the red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecomei Moore, on Eucalyptus camaldulensis in California. D. L. Dahlsten, Biological Control, UC Berkeley. Use of predatory mites in the management of banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), on dates. T. M. Perring, Entomology, UC Riverside. Cultural ControlsStand establishment and tillage alternatives to reduce weed seedbanks and herbicide use in rice. J. E. Hill, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis; A. J. Fischer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. Decision SupportDevelopment and validation of sampling plans for pests of Gerbera jamsonii. M. P. Parella, Entomology, UC Davis; R. Y. Evans, Environmental Horticulture, UC Davis; J. P. Newman, UC Coop. Ext. Ventura Co.; S. A. Tjosvold, UC Coop. Ext. Santa Cruz Co.; K. L. Robb, UC Coop. Ext. San Diego Co. Continuing research projects funded for 2003 - 2004Despite the freeze in funding new projects, the UC IPM Program was able to continue funding sixteen ongoing research projects. Nine research projects ended in 2003. View the UC IPM Web site for summaries of all research projects funded by the UC IPM Grants Program. Two ongoing research projects, one on olive fruit fly and the other on curlytop virus, are higlighted below.
A new look at an old pest: What makes lygus hungry for cotton squares. J. A. Rosenheim, Entomology, UC Davis. (Year 3 of 3; $37,879) Biology and overwintering of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, and corn stunt spiroplasm, Spiroplasma kunkelii, and epidemiology of corn stunt disease in the San Joaquin Valley. C. G. Summers, Entomology, UC Davis/Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. (Year 2 of 2; $21,104) Effects of plant age at the time of root knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) infection on yields. A. T. Ploeg, Nematology, UC Riverside. (Year 2 of 2; $29,555) Biological ControlsThe fungus Hirsutella thompsonii for the biological control of the Varroa mite, a pest of honey bees. C. Y. S. Peng, Entomology, UC Davis; H. K. Kaya, Nematology, UC Davis; E. C. Mussen, Entomology, UC Davis. (Year 3 of 3; $22,099) Improved biological control of fire blight of pear and apple by introduction of antagonistic bacteria into unopened flowers. S. E. Lindow, Plant and Microbial Biology, UC Berkeley. (Year 2 of 3; $28,450) Biorational Use of Biotic AgentsControl of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, through postharvest fruit sanitation and spinosad baits (GF-120). R. A. Van Steenwyk, Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley. (Year 2 of 3; $25,739) Bait development for ant control in vineyards. J. Klotz, Entomology, UC Riverside. (Year 2 of 2; $23,487) Cultural ControlsBroccoli residue as a biofumigant for cyst nematode management in cole crops. B. B. Westerdahl, Nematology, UC Davis; E. P. Caswell-Chen, Nematology, UC Davis. (Year 3 of 3; $34,017) Cultural manipulation of crop/weed competitive relations in a rice cropping system. A. J. Fischer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. (Year 2 of 3; $32,380) Implementation value of root-galling resistance and reproduction resistance for root knot nematode management in dry beans. P. A. Roberts, Nematology, UC Riverside. (Year 2 of 3; $33,235) Integrated management of perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). R. S. Wilson, UC Coop. Ext. Lassen Co.; J. M. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops/Weed Science, UC Davis. (Year 2 of 3; $25,455) Decision SupportNorthern fowl mite effects on egg production and feed utilization efficiency. B. A. Mullens, Entomology, UC Riverside; D. R. Kuney, UC Coop. Ext. Riverside Co. (Year 3 of 3; $31,363) California ground squirrel (permophilus beecheyi) foraging behavior: Implications for improved control. T. P. Salmon, Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology, UC Davis. (Year 3 of 3; $24,759) Development and application of a PCR-based detection method for predicting the incidence of beet curly top virus in leafhoppers and in tomato crops. R. L. Gilbertson, Plant Pathology, UC Davis. (Year 2 of 3; $24,000) Decision support system for IPM of prune brown rot. T. J. Michailides, Plant Pathology, UC Davis/Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. (Year 2 of 3; $36,200) Development of an economic injury level and monitoring methods for cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi, and the predatory beetle vedalia beetle, Rodolia cardinalis. E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Entomology, UC Riverside/Kearney Agricultural Center; J. Trumble, Entomology, UC Riverside. (Year 2 of 3; $38,016) Research that ended in 2003Applied Field EcologyEcologically based management of vine decline of melons caused by Monosporascus cannonballus. M. E. Stanghellini, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside. Integrating cultural methods with rice growth to improve weed control and reduce herbicide use. T. C. Foin, Agronomy and Range Sciences, UC Davis; A. J. Fischer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. Vine mealybug and its natural enemies in the San Joaquin Valley. K. M. Daane, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. Evaluation of wheat straw mulches for pest and disease control in cucurbit production systems. J. Mitchell, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis/Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier; C. G. Summers, Entomology, UC Davis/Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier; J. J. Stapleton, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. Biological ControlsCommunity dynamics of microorganisms associated with Heterodera schachtii suppression. J. Borneman, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside; J. O. Becker, Nematology, UC Riverside. Examination of novel strategies to identify biological control organisms and to incorporate them into an avocado integrated pest management program. J. Borneman, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside; J. A. Menge, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside; B. Faber, UC Coop. Ext. Ventura Co. Biological control of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), in southern California. J. M. Heraty, Entomology, UC Riverside. Biorational Use of Biotic AgentsPheromone mating disruption strategies for codling moth in walnuts. S. C. Welter, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley. Decision SupportEconomic 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.
The Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program (EPDRP) is funded through a Special Research Grant provided through USDA-CSREES. In its third year, EPDRP has approved $1.26 million in funding for 13 new projects. This brings the number of projects sponsored by the program to 42, for almost $3.7 million. The annual research workshop sponsored by the Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program was held at UC Riverside, October 8 and 9, 2003. Investigators of 29 funded research projects reported on their progress and answered questions from attendees representing universities, state and federal agencies, and the public. Invited presentations from USDA and CDFA scientists highlighted exotic species challenges and research needs, and rapid response planning for invasive species. Over the past year, the program also co-sponsored the Fruit Fly Symposium #7, the Red Imported Fire Ant Conference, and the 4th Workshop on Transgenesis and Genomics of Invertebrate Organisms. Established in 2001, the Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program is a joint program of the UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research and UC IPM. The program, which targets research on exotic pests and diseases/invasive species important to California, aims not only at improving our knowledge of pests that have already arrived in California, but also at getting a head start on some of those that pose a likely threat to the state. Additional funds are being sought to extend the program and if successful the EPDRP will request new proposals in late winter 2004. Timothy Paine, UC Riverside Entomologist, is the new director of the UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research. In addition to developing the Centers research and outreach efforts, he will work closely with UC IPM Director Rick Roush in leading the Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program. For more information about the program and the projects it sponsors, see the research grants programs section of the UC IPM Web site. New research funded for 2003 - 2006Agricultural SystemsIdentification of the parasitoid fauna associated with California sharpshooters and host specificity testing of exotic mymarid parasitoids released for classical biological control of glassy-winged sharpshooter. M. S. Hoddle, Entomology, UC Riverside. (3 years, $146,429) Control of curly top virus using trap crops and repellents against the vector, beet leafhopper. G. P. Walker, Entomology, UC Riverside. (2 years, $138,997) Development of mimetic insecticidal peptides for glassy-winged sharpshooter control. B. Federici, Entomology, UC Riverside. (1 year, $72,500) Evaluation of the role of arthropods in the persistence and dispersal of exotic Newcastle disease (END) in Southern California. A. C. Gerry, Entomology, UC Riverside; C. J. Cardona, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis (3 years, $173,855) Using population structure to identify effective parasitoid biotypes for biological control of mealy plum aphid, Hyalopterus pruni, in California. N. J. Mills, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley (3 years, $93,238) Origins, thresholds, and management of the tomato psyllid in California. J. Trumble, Entomology, UC Riverside; R. Stouthamer, Entomology, UC Riverside. (3 years, $109,779) Functional use of geographic information systems to model the range and abundance of vine mealybug and its natural enemies. A. P. Gutierrez, Ecosystem Science, UC Berkeley; K. M. Daane, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley. (2 years, $66,500) Release and evaluation of parasitoids for the biological control of the olive fruit fly. C. Pickett, Biological Control Program, CDFA. (1 year, $16,026) Natural SystemsControlling establishing infestations of herbaceous perennials in the Lake Tahoe Basin. M. Renz, New Mexico State University; W. E. Frost, UC Coop. Ext. El Dorado Co. (3 years, $28,788) Genetic and reproductive factors contributing to the invasiveness of Cortaderia jubata and C. elloana in California. M. A. Jasieniuk, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis; J. M. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. (3 years, $116,950) Sabellid polychaete detection in native gastropod populations and control at abalone culture facilities. E. Grosholz, Environmental Science and Policy, UC Davis; J. Moore, School of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Epidemiology, UC Davis. (2 years, $88,387) Disease progression plot monitoring and plotless evaluation of Phytophthora ramorum incidence in different forest types in coastal California. R. B. Standiford, Center of Forestry, UC Berkeley. N. M. Kelly, Ecosystem Science, UC Berkeley. (3 years, $144,720) Urban SystemsQuantifying the risk of pitch canker to susceptible pines in California. T. R. Gordon, Plant Pathology, UC Davis. (3 years, $65,012 Research funded for 2002 - 2005Elucidating mechanisms underlying the suppressiveness of composted organic yard waste towards pupating avocado thrips, Scirtothrips perseae, in avocado orchards. M. S. Hoddle, Entomology, UC Riverside; M. Brownbridge, Entomology, University of Vermont; P. De Ley, Entomology, UC Riverside. Probiotics and bacteriotherapy to improve mass rearing of Mediterranean fruit flies and performance of SIT male medflies. C. R. Lauzon, Biological Sciences, California State University, Hayward. The alimentary tract of glassy-winged sharpshooter as a target for control of Pierces disease. B. Federici, Entomology, UC Riverside. Determining the area of origin of avocado thrips using molecular techniques. R. Stouthamer, Entomology, UC Riverside; M. S. Hoddle, Entomology, UC Riverside. Studies on flight behavior of red imported fire ants. L. Greenberg, Entomology, UC Riverside Predicting and controlling building infestations of the pest ant, Linepithema humile, by urban landscaping. P. Nonacs, Ecology and Evolution, UC Los Angeles; J. H. Klotz, Entomology, UC Riverside Updating integrated pest management systems for pitch canker: Known and potential insect vectors. D. L. Wood, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley Impacts and control of an invasive seaweed in California marine protected areas. J. H. R. Goddard, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara; C. A. Blanchette, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara. Managing the impacts of the European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in coastal estuaries. E. Grosholz, Environmental Science and Policy, UC Davis Impacts and control of giant reed, Arundo donax, in riparian habitats. J. S. Holt, Botany and Plant Sciences, UC Riverside Intensive grazing practices and revegetation for controlling medusahead in California grasslands. E. A. Laca, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis; M. R. George, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis. Biological control of the spotted gum psyllid, Eucalytolyma maidenii: A new pest on urban eucalyptus. T. D. Paine, Entomology, UC Riverside Genetic selection and behavior modification to circumvent differential susceptibility of eucalyptus longhorned borers to attack by the egg parasitoid, Avetianella longoi. J. G. Millar, Entomology, UC Riverside; T. D. Paine, Entomology, UC Riverside Distribution and control of an exotic pest wasp, the German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica), in southern California. P. K. Visscher, Entomology, UC Riverside Research funded for 2001 - 2004Characterization of California and Australian isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum. M. Davis, Plant Pathology, UC Davis Management of the citrus root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.). E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Entomology, UC Riverside; J. E. Pena, Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida; R. F. Luck, Entomology, UC Riverside; C. W. McCoy, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida; K.E. Godfrey, CDFA, Biocontrol Program Management of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus, by augmentative releases of parasites and ant control. J. Klotz, Entomology, UC Riverside; C. Gispert, UC Coop. Ext. Riverside Co. Resistance of alfalfa against silverleaf whitefly: Breeding and mechanisms of resistance. G. Walker, Entomology, UC Riverside; L. Teuber, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis Cape ivy distribution, ecology, and reproductive biology. J. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops/Weed Science, UC Davis Integrated management of medusahead and other noxious annual grasses and restoration of degraded grassland to desirable species. J. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops/Weed Science, UC Davis Ecological approaches for management of artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus) spread. J. Holt, Botany and Plant Sciences, UC Riverside Effects of invasive woody plant species in California: A nascent protocol for an impact assessment. M. Rejmanek, Evolution and Ecology, UC Davis; C. E. Elmore, Vegetable Crops/Weed Science, UC Davis Spatial distribution and host associations of Phytophthora ramorum, causal agent of sudden oak death in California. D. Rizzo, Plant Pathology, UC Davis; M. Garbelotto, Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley Reproductive biology and populations genetics of fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum Forskal), an invasive species in California. J. Waines, Botany and Plant Sciences, UC Riverside Impacts and mangement of roof rats (Rattus rattus) in riparian areas in California. D. Whisson, Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, UC Davis; A. Engilis, Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, UC Davis Threshold temperature and thermal time requirement for life cycle of the sting nematode. J. O. Becker, Nematology, UC Riverside The impacts of pitch canker on susceptible pines in California. T. Gordon, Plant Pathology, UC Davis; D. Wood, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley. Integration of tactics for management of invasive insect pests: Adaptations for an expanding community of pests and natural enemies in the urban forest. T. D. Paine, Entomology, UC Riverside; J. G. Millar, Entomology, UC Riverside Biology and ecology of Psyllaephagus spp. parasitic on the red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimlecombei Moore. K. Daane, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley; D. Dahlsten, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley |