Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Monday, 21 February 2011 S1039 Administrative Advisor, Jonathan Edelson -He reminded us to elect officers, confirm 2012 venue and date, complete annual meeting minutes, and update membership list. He is optimistic about an improved economy, and encouraged us to garner support from our state and national commodity groups to fund soybean insect research. He summarized federal budget concerns from the President/House regarding cuts for next fiscal year. Competitive programs (NIFA) versus line items programs (Hatch/Smith-Lever) funds is in debate. Special funding initiatives (e.g., pork) have already disappeared, so he is hoping line item funds remain intact. Hatch funds will be reduced in future budgets. Extension funding will take a severe budget cut. Federal dollars used for salaries have not been distributed yet. National Program Leader, NIFA, Rick Meyer -Rick provided a document (on wiggio) on the President's 2012 budget request. There is a decline in the tripartite land grant mission of research, teaching and extension, and there will be an increase of competitive funding to support research and extension. He encouraged us to visit the House/Senate website and review appropriations and watch hearings live. He suggested we visit the APLU website which provides current documents in NIFA and other funding agencies regarding federal dollars. Future RFA subject areas are determined by stakeholders, congress, administrative staff, President, NPL, and legal review. 4 March 2011 is the final date for consideration of stakeholder input. This is the last year he will be NPL for NIFA. Tuesday, 22 February 2011 Nominate 2012 Secretary and Local Arrangements Chair, and discuss 2012 Meeting Venue and Date -Dave Voegtlin, appointed nomination committee member, opened nominations for the 2012 Secretary. He nominated Andy Michel for the position. Tom Hunt seconded the nomination. The group unanimously voted in approval forAndy in this position. -Ames Herbert agreed to be the 2012 Local Arrangements Chair and suggested Williamsburg, Virginia for the 2012 venue. Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for 20-21 February. JIPM updates -S1039 offered to pay for 15 JIPM articles. Only 2 of 15 proposed articles have been submitted to JIPM. Brian McCornack asked that we acknowledge Dave Boetel in our articles. He suggested that we try to submit articles by March 2011.

Accomplishments: In Alabama, research activities included assessing effects on soybean yield with a complex of threecornered alfalfa hopper and grasshoppers. Pest numbers were significantly reduced in pyrethroid-treated plots and maintained in adjacent unsprayed plots. During the 5 sampling dates numbers of threecornered alfalfa hopper averaged 5 per 10 sweeps in the sprayed plots and 33 per ten sweeps in unsprayed plots. Across all sampling dates, grasshoppers averaged 5.5 per 10 sweeps in the sprayed plots and 9.1 per 10 sweeps in the unsprayed plots. In addition, five experiment station tests and two on-farm tests were conducted to assess the yield response of soybeans to insecticide seed treatments. There were no significant differences among treatments in any experiment station tests. Several other economic pests were evaluated for efficacy in soybean. All chemical treatments except Alias provided a significant reduction in soybean loopers. There was no significant difference in bean leaf beetles among chemical treatments. All chemical treatments had significantly fewer katydids than untreated plots on all sampling dates except Endigo. There were significantly more big eyed bugs and spiders in untreated plots. Studies were conducted to determine yield response of soybean to Dimilin and other insecticides. In Georgia, soybean aphid populations were low in sampled maturity groups. Harmonia axyridis was not commonly observed on soybean in Union County, Georgia. Soybean aphid is now established in north Georgia. Late season (20 September) Mexican bean beetle infestations of over 200 adults and larvae per 25 sweeps caused 75% defoliation in the RT6451N cultivar. Green stink bugs exceeded the economic threshold in maturity groups IV and V in September. In addition, six foliar insecticide treatments were examined for their efficacy in controlling stink bugs on soybean. At 3 and 7 DAT, Brigade, Prolex, Mustang Max, Karate, Endigo and Orthene had stink bug population densities significantly below the untreated control. Six registered soybean plant introductions that possess moderate resistance to stink bug and lepidopteran feeding have been developed through a cooperative Virginia Tech - UGA project and will provide genetic material for future crosses in the pursuit to release new insect resistant soybean cultivars. If developed, insect resistant soybean cultivars would require fewer insecticidal applications to manage stink bug and lepidopteran insect pests. the kudzu bug, were detected in 78 Georgia counties during the 2010 season, following an extensive state-wide survey for establishing distribution records for this invasive pest species. Several insecticide trials for kudzu bug were conducted in Georgia in 2010. Most products were efficacious seven days after treatment. In Iowa, we observed very few if any outbreaks of the soybean aphid across the state. Populations were well below the economic threshold. Several observations were made of lepidopteran pests attacking soybeans across the state. Although these were not wide-spread and intense, they were noticeable given the rarity of these events. These events outbreaks included armyworm and cutworms and widespread observations of green cloverworm. Current soybean aphid management recommendations were developed for conventional soybeans (7% linolenic acid). Foliar treatments of insecticides, fungicides, and fungicide-insecticide tank mixes were evaluated for impact on soybean aphid populations at three locations. Treatments containing an insecticide, whether alone or with a fungicide, exhibited a decrease in aphid populations as compared to the untreated control. No differences between the R1 and R3 treatment timings were observed, most likely due to the low aphid counts overall. The results suggest that optimal yield for soybean production does not require yearly, preventative application of pesticides. Rather the most consistent treatment was the application of an insecticide applied per an economic thresholds. Fungicides applied during the R3 growth stage did have higher yields than the untreated, but this result was not consistent across years. The extent to which growers respond to these data may affect millions of acres and save growers anywhere from $8-$25 per acre on input costs. We completed an efficacy evaluation for soybean aphid in 2010 to review new products and formulations. Controls plots at both locations were not significantly different in terms of aphid exposure or yield compared to all other treatments. Overall, there was a good knockdown of soybean aphid three days after application of foliar insecticides. We evaluated broad spectrum and selective insecticides for soybean aphid management. We observed that the selective insecticides and broad-spectrum insecticides significantly reduced the cumulative aphid days for both 2009 and 2010 when compared to the untreated control. The insecticides prevented yield loss in 2009, but there was no significant difference in yields for 2010. Another study included optimizing buffer strips for the conservation of beneficial insects. We evaluated soybean aphid host plant resistance in small plot research at four locations in Iowa. Although the economic threshold was never reached, foliar treatments were made in mid-August. Cumulative aphid days were significantly higher in susceptible, conventional treatments at three locations. We compared the development of soybean aphid on soybean lines with Rag1 alone (R1/S2), Rag2 alone (S1/R2), both genes combined (R1/R2), or neither gene (S1/S2). The results indicated that for the biotype used in our study, cultivars with R1/R2 would be expected to have less aphid development and less yield reduction than R1/S2 or S1/R2 lines. Walter Fehr is continuing to develop soybean cultivars that contain both resistant genes and are of an appropriate maturity group for production in Iowa. In Kansas, a web-based sampling tool, SoyPod DSS, was created to help make treatment decisions for soybean aphid. Four field-day demonstrations were made in Iowa. Audience members left with a positive experience of the technology along with a paper brochure (i.e., traditional communication). Growers and crop consultants have free access to a simplified, binomial sequential sampling plan (i.e., Speed Scouting) for making and tracking treatment decisions using a cell phone. We used a modification of the common experimental protocol used to develop the current ET/EILs appropriate for any RagI bearing variety. Based on a preliminary analysis of all combined data, the Rag1 line used in this study appears to tolerate moderately high aphid pressure or CAD levels far exceeding the EIL for susceptible varieties. In recent years, pillbugs and sowbugs have become a recurrent, early season problem throughout Reduced and no-till production soybean fields in south central Kansas. Seed treatments are inconsistent and planting date did not increase the efficacy of the rates tested. Foliar treatments of insecticides were evaluated for management of the Dectes stem borer in soybean. Fipronil was extremely effective and reduced entry nodes by 87 to 90%, tunneling by 88%, and survival of larvae by 93%. Niide reported soybean PI165673 to be a potential source of resistance to the stem borer because plants of this genotype had significantly fewer larvae than plants of susceptible cultivars. Resistance in PI165673 has potential to improve soybean yields in the Midwestern U.S. Research is in progress to determine the inheritance of resistance in PI165673, and to develop a genetic linkage map of the resistance gene(s). Identification of molecular markers linked to genes for resistance in PI165673 will allow breeding efforts to more rapidly and efficiently incorporate these traits into agronomically acceptable soybean varieties. In Kentucky, Dectes stem borer adults were monitored. This effort was specifically targeted at insuring that the timing adult presence, hence mating and egg lay, in Kentucky soybean is understood. Stink bugs and Western corn rootworm were also monitored along the northern border. No Western corn rootworm were detected, however, stink bugs were collected in all counties sampled. Species from the green and brown complexes were collected, but brown marmorated and bean plataspid were not. Two soybean aphid suction traps were also in operation, although few were collected in 2010. In Louisiana, research to characterize redbanded stink bug oviposition in soybean and estimate adult sex ratios in Louisiana soybean production was developed. During 2008 and 2009, over 2,000 redbanded stink bug adults were collected with a sex ratio of 1.2 females to 1 male. A high frequency (80%) of eggs found in the lower two-thirds of the plant canopy could reduce redbanded stink bug nymph exposure to insecticide sprays. The slightly higher female to male ratio ensures that females are available to selected males during mating. Surveys of stink bug pests were conducted across Louisiana soybean regions from 2008-2010. The predominant species in the complex were redbanded, southern green, green, and brown stink bugs. In 2009 and 2010, the first egg parasitoid survey of the redbanded stink bug in the U.S. was conducted. Data indicates that 30% of P. guildinii egg masses were parasitized. Approximately 90% of emerged egg parasitoids were Telenomous podisi (Ashmead). Results from large scale plots (10 acre) confirmed stink bug field colonization along field edges. Applications along field edges reduced field colonization by two weeks and reduced overall stink bug populations when soybeans had reached R6. Data indicates that redbanded thresholds will need to be lowered. Control of stink bugs was achieved (below economic threshold of 6 per 25 sweeps) while spraying only 25% of the acreage. This saved producers $22.50 per acre, reducing input insecticide costs by as much as 75%. Resistance to methoxyfenizide exists in Louisiana soybean looper populations, needing from 10X to 32X the amount of product to control 95% of the populations as compared to our reference colony. In addition, soybean looper and velvetbean caterpillar were evaluated for efficacy to foliar insecticides. All products significantly reduced defoliation below the action threshold. There were no differences in yield between the untreated control and insecticides. In Mississippi, studies were initiated to characterize insect-soybean interactions. The most damaging pests in 2010 were corn earworm, soybean looper, bean leaf beetle and stink bugs. Insecticidal seed treatments were used on about 70% of soybean acres and 75% of acreage was scouted. Research to determine the relationship between stink bugs and fungal pathogens was completed. Stink bug feeding increase the proportion of seeds with damage and damage seeds were more likely to be infected with fungal pathogens than clean seeds. A survey was conducted to determine the presence of Phomopsis longicolla in relation to stink bug damage. Stink bug-damaged seed were significantly more likely to be infected with fungal pathogens. Soybean defoliation thresholds were evaluated for vegetative and reproductive growth stages. Economic important for corn earworm damage was evaluated to redefine treatment thresholds. Studies were conducted to evaluate stand loss at R2, R3, and R5. Plant density reductions of >20% significantly reduced soybean yield. Numerous insecticide efficacy trials were conducted in 2010, with target pests including bean leaf beetle, soybean looper, velvetbean caterpillar, and green cloverworm. Several bean leaf beetle populations were test for pyrethroids resistance, with some having resistance ratios >40 compared to wild populations. There was minimal residual for protection against stink bugs three days after applications. In Nebraska, soybean aphids were not observed until well into July. Populations remained low and studies requiring significant population increase were a bust. Dectes stem borer remains to be an issue in soybean fields in south central Nebraska. This beetle has been moving into Nebraska from north central Kansas over the last several years, and economic injury is increasing. There were numerous reports of green cloverworm, yellow woolly bear caterpillar, yellow-striped armyworm, painted lady caterpillar, garden webworm, forage looper, alfalfa caterpillar, southern corn rootworm, grasshopper, 1st generation bean leaf beetle, and other defoliating insects in Nebraska soybean fields (particularly in the south). Reports of stink bug continue to increase throughout Nebraska, although economic damage is not usually severe; however, there were reports of brown stink bugs in the northeast and some were at/past the action threshold, possibly because of much reduced treatment of soybean aphids. Bright red/orange gall midges were found infesting soybeans in a localized area in northeast Nebraska (near Emerson, NE). The use of seed treatments (neonicotinoids) on soybeans is becoming more widespread in Nebraska. UNL extension does not recommend this practice except for a small percentage of early planted, temporally or spatially isolated soybeans. In addition, host plant resistance was evaluated for soybean aphid, and showed KS4202 to be tolerant to Biotype I soybean aphid. Differences in gas-exchange parameters between control and infested susceptible plants showed that soybean aphid feeding negatively impacts the carbon-linked/dark reactions, specifically the plants ability to regenerate RuBP. Resistant infested plants had similar photosynthetic rates to their control plants, suggesting photosynthetic compensation as a potential mechanism of resistance. Expression profiles from the subtracted cDNA libraries have identified unique defense-related transcripts up-regulated in resistant soybean in response to aphid feeding. Field studies on Rag1 EILs and Late season EILs did not develop significant aphid population, even with artificial infestation. BLB mortality is a good indicator of the effect of thiamethoxam seed treatments. Defoliation is significantly different between VE and VC stage soybeans. Reduced defoliation was observed at thiamethoxam concentrations that did not cause mortality suggesting a behavioral effect of thiamethoxam at lower concentrations. The number of eggs collected appears to be a response to thiamethoxam seed treatments, but variance in timing of collection, age, and reproductive status of BLB are factors that must be considered in interpreting the data. Butterbeans cultivar experienced more C. trifurcata population than Envy during second planting period. Plant-stages both within and between cultivars also showed differences in infestation levels. More beetles were seen during the vegetative stages than reproductive stages in both cultivars at both first and second planting dates. In Concord and Clay Center E. variolarius were found in almost every host plant. Infestation by A. hilare in soybean at Clay Center and Concord started in early September. Populations of predatory stink bug, P. maculiventris increased in late Sept. and early Oct. This species was found mainly on alfalfa. Soybean and corn were the primary crops that harbored E. variolarius and T. accerra. These 2 species also common in weeds. Over 6 species of stink bugs were found with 3 species having the potential to cause significant damage (E. variolarius , T. accerra and A. hilare). Overall, several species of stink bugs were detected, including Euschistus variolarius (Palisot de Beauvois), Thyanta accerra McAtee, Cosmopepla lintneriana Kirkaldy, Podisus maculiventris (Say), Acrosternum hilare (Say), and Holcostethus limbolarius (Stål). Overall, E. variolarius (76%) was the most abundant species followed by T. accerra (16%). The infestation of A. hilare on soybeans started in early September. However, the peak densities of other stink bugs were observed in August and September. In North Dakota, an aphidsusceptible variety and an adapted breeders isoline containing the Rag1 gene were compared. There were no significant differences among treatments. An aphidsusceptible soybean variety and aphidresistant isoline containing the Rag1 gene were evaluated in the laboratory for their effects on the development and growth rate of soybean aphid and their impact on fitness of the soybean aphid parasitoid, Binodoxys communis (Gahan). Soybean aphids reared on the aphidsusceptible soybean cultivar had significantly larger population and per capita growth rate compared to aphids reared on aphidresistant isoline. Adult parasitoids that attacked soybean aphids reared on the aphidsusceptible cultivar produced significantly more mummies, and as a result more adult compared to aphidresistant isoline. Although no difference was observed in terms of development time from mummy to adult parasitoid, the entire development time from attack to adult parasitoid emergence required a significantly longer time on the aphidresistant isoline. No differences were found in the sex ratio of emerged adult parasitoids between the aphidsusceptible cultivar and the aphidresistant isoline. Adult parasitoids that emerged from aphidsusceptible cultivar had significantly longer metatibiae compared to those from the aphidresistant isoline, whereas adult body length was not significant. Binodoxys were successfully released and there was evidence of reproduction in the field, but they did not appear to persist in our field plots. Overall, aphid densities were reduced in plots where Binodoxys were released. However, this effect was transient and was only significant for part of the season. Aphid densities rebounded and exceeded economic thresholds in all 4 treatments. Doubling the number of Binodoxys released did not result in further suppression of aphid densities. In Ohio, extremely low populations of soybean aphid were detected, as we had predicted. Various exotic lepidopteran pests of soybean were surveyed, including the summer fruit tortrix, silver-Y moth, golden twin-spot moth, old world bollworm, and Egyptian cotton leafworm. Numerous counties were included in this survey however none of the species were collected in Ohio. Seed treatments were tested for efficacy against seedcorn maggot in Wooster, OH. The main insecticide tested was NipsIt, a new product containing clothianidin. No yield losses were observed at either location. Foliar efficacy studies were done for foliage insect control. No yield differences were obtained. new breeding lines with two genes from PI 567301B were evaluated. Currently, we have maturity group II and III BC5 (backcross five) lines in the Wyandot background. Microsatellite and SNP markers within less than <2 cM (centimorgan) of both genes of the PI 567301B using a recombinant inbred line population of 400 lines have been mapped. We developed the first substantial molecular resource for soybean aphid using next generation sequencing technologies. Over 278 million bp were sequenced among two methods, resulting in 19,293 transcripts and 56,688 genomic sequences. From this data set, 635 SNPs and 1,382 microsatellite markers were identified. For each sequencing method, different soybean aphid biotypes were used which revealed potential biotype specific markers. South Dakota led a 2010 multistate study looking at the impact of seed treatments and host plant resistance on natural enemy recruitment against soybean aphid. Participating states were SD, ND, KS, MI, IN, WI, MN. Preliminary results from South Dakota are non-significant, due in part perhaps to exceptionally low aphid pressure. South Dakota also led a 2009 study looking at the interaction between host plant resistance and biological control. Results were analyzed in 2010. The main result of this study was that natural enemies have a proportionally greater impact on soybean aphids in susceptible soybeans than in resistant soybeans. We performed follow up monitoring on the classical biological control release program involving the soybean aphid parasitoid Binodoxys communis. We surveyed 12 release locations (2009 releases) in eastern South Dakota. We did not recover B. communis at any of these locations. In Texas, five soybean varieties were evaluated for performance against stink bugs and lepidoptera. Across subplots, populations of stink bugs were not significantly different among varieties; however, yields and seed quality were. Jake produced the highest yield, 38.1 bu/A, which was significantly greater than the other varieties. Also, unprotected plots of Jake out- yielded protected plots of the other varieties. Across main plots, protected plots outyielded unprotected plots about 8 bu/A. In addition, seed quality of Jake was excellent, even in unprotected plots. Two experiments evaluating novel, foliar-applied insecticides for the array of insects attacking soybeans on the Texas Gulf Coast were conducted. Scorpion 35SL---active ingredient dinotefuran---at 7 fl oz/A provided good control of stink bugs (including redbanded stink bug) and threecornered alfalfa hopper, but did not control Lepidoptera defoliators. Leverage 360---active ingredients imidacloprid and beta-cyfluthrin---at 2.8 fl oz/A provided good control of stink bugs (primarily green stink bug and brown stink bugs), velvetbean caterpillar and threecornered alfalfa hopper. Belt 480SC---active ingredient flubendiamide---at 2 and 3 fl oz/A provided good control of velvetbean caterpillar, but not stink bugs or threecornered alfalfa hopper. Stink bugs continue to be problematic for Texas soybean growers. The identification of Jake as a possible adapted soybean variety for SE Texas is probably the most important soybean research accomplishment by the PI in 2010. In Virginia, field cage studies to evaluate impact of green and brown marmorated stink bug damage to soybean seed quality and yield. Yield factors (seed weight and total seed) were reduced as number of BMSB nymphs increased only when cages were initiated at R4. In 2010, results were more variable with the only significant reduction in a yield factor (seed weight) when BMSB nymphs were introduced at the R4 growth stage (Maryland). In addition, pyrethroid resistance levels for corn earworm were monitored in adult pheromone traps. A total of 2,619 moths were tested in 2010, with a mean survival of 29.8% in the cypermethrin-treated vials (some weeks were greater than 40%). These levels indicate a high risk of development of pyrethroid resistance. An on-farm insecticide efficacy trial was conducted to evaluate efficacy of foliar applied insecticides against stink bugs and corn earworm. Results showed that Belay, alone, did not provide adequate levels of control compared with Belay tank mixed with pyrethroids for stink bugs. pyrethroid insecticides, alone, provided the lowest levels of control with non-pyrethroids or pyrethroid/non-pyrethroid insecticide tank mixes or combinations providing the highest levels of control for corn earworm. Two field trials were established to assess efficacy and yield with insecticidal seed treatments on early season insect pests. Results showed that the predominant thrips species were Frankliniella fusca (tobacco thrips) and F. variabilis (soybean thrips). In general, the insecticide seed treatments were effective in reducing the numbers of thrips and their feeding injury, but yields were not significantly affected.

None to report