Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Craig Rothrock opened the meeting and introduced Greg Weidemann, the new administrative advisor for S-302. After a few opening remarks by Dr. Weidemann, Craig Rothrock reviewed the results of the regional trials forwarded by Bill Batson. Data presented included the effects of treatments on final cotton and snap bean stands over all sites, significant treatment effects at selected sites, and the related stability analyses. In her e-mailed reports, Monica Elliott outlined the protocols used for the regional trials to assay levels of bacterial and fungal biological control agents on cotton and snap bean seed and presented the 2001 results of her seed assays of these agents at the time of delivery to cooperators and at the time of planting.

Problems and possible changes to the regional trials were discussed. Many of the cooperators present expressed a desire to switch to a Roundup Ready (RR) cotton variety, though one problem with many of the current varieties is getting seed of the same variety for more than one year. Craig Rothrock thought that an appropriate RR cotton variety could be identified. Interactions between soil temperature, GB03, and Lorsban were noted. GB03 + Lorsban appeared better than GB03 alone in cool soils but not in warm soils. A desire for more yield data was expressed, as well as a desire to look at the effects of the biological control agents on more than one variety. Craig Canaday suggested a possible change to the snap bean protocol to evaluate two snap bean varieties, two bacterial and two fungal biocontrol agents, with and without chemical seed treatments, plus two additional Awild card@ entries (without chemical seed treatment) that would maintain the size of the current regional tests. No change in the crops used for the regional trials were desired. Other possible modifications included looking at interactions between biologicals and insecticides used as seed treatments and looking at sampling at different times for seedling diseases.

Cooperators expressed their appreciation to Bonnie Ownley for her work on attempting to get the grant for the regional project and to Monica Elliott for her work on getting project results published in Pest Management Science.

Individuals reported on their project-related research by objective and state.

NEW BUSINESS. It was decided that the proposed new protocol for evaluation of snap bean seed treatments (see above) should be taken to committee members not present at the Knoxville meeting before it is accepted for the 2002 tests. Craig Canaday will prepare a draft of the proposed 2002 snap bean protocol and send it to committee members for comment/approval. It was also decided that a RR variety should be selected for use in the 2002 evaluation of cottonseed treatments. Craig Rothrock will identify an appropriate variety.

By unanimous vote the committee offices of vice chairman (who has no duties) and secretary were combined. Don Huber was nominated for the new position for the 2002 meeting, the nomination was unanimously approved, and he accepted. Mike Benson and Marc Cubetta offered to host the 2002 meeting in North Carolina. The offer was unanimously accepted. Location and date(s) will be announced later.

Please see accomplishments at: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu:8050/research/s302/2001_annual_report.htm

Batson, Jr., W. E., Caceres, J., Benson, M., Cubeta, M. A., Elliott, M. L., Huber, D. M., Hickman, M. V., Keinath, A. P., Dubose, V., McLean, K. S., Ownley, B., Canaday, C., Rushing, K. W., and Kenny, D. S. 2001. Evaluation of biological seed treatments for control of the seedling disease complex of snap bean, 2000. Biological and Cultural Tests for Control of Plant Diseases, 2001: V81, 2 pp. http://www.scisoc.org.online/B&Ctests/2001/.

Batson, Jr., W. E., Caceres, J., Benson, M., Cubeta, M. A., Elliott, M. L., Huber, D. M., Hickman, M. V., McLean, K. S., Ownley, B., Newman, M., Rothrock, C. S., Rushing, K. W., Kenny, D. S., and Thaxton., P. 2001. Biological seed treatment evaluations for control of the seedling disease complex of cotton, 2000. Biological and Cultural Tests for Control of Plant Diseases, 2001: F12, 2 pp. http://www.scisoc.org.online/B&Ctests/2001/.

Elliott, M. L., Des Jardin, E. A., Batson, Jr., W. E., Caceres, J., Brannen, P. M., Howell, C. R., Benson, D. M., Conway, K. E., Rothrock, C. S., Schneider, R. W., Ownley, B. H., Canaday, C. H., Keinath, A. P., Huber, D. M., Sumner, D. R., Molsenbocker, C. E., Thaxton, P. M., Cubeta, M. A., Adams, P. D., Backman, P. A., Fajardo, J., Newman M. A., and Pereira., R. M. 2001. Viability and stability of biological control agents used for disease management on cotton and snap bean seeds. Pest Manag. Sci. 57:695-706.

Elliott, M., Des Jardin, E., Batson, Jr., W., Caceres, J., Brannen, P., Howell, C., Benson, M., Conway, K., Rothrock, C., Schneider, R., Ownley, B., Keinath, A., Huber, D., Summer, D., Molsenbocker, C., Thaxton, P., Cubeta, M., Adams, P., Backman, P., Fajardo, J., Newman, M., and Pereira., R. 2001. Tracking biological control agents on cottonseed from delivery to planting. Pages 65-74 in: D. M. Huber (ed.). Biocontrol in a New Millenium: Building for the Future on Past Experience. Proceedings Joint Regional Biological Control Conference, Oct. 26-29, 2000, Estes Park, CO.

Additional publications may be viewed at: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu:8050/research/s302/2001_annual_report.htm