Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Monday, 2 March, 2013 Project Re-Write, what topics to include Discussion on Project Objectives Tuesday, 3 March Nominate 2013 Secretary  Bob Koch nominated and elected. Ron Hammond retiring. 12:00 Adjourn

In North Carolina, research and impacts were focused on seven Objectives: Objective 1: To determine the relationship between Helicoverpa zea and associated flower injury during R1 and R2 in relation to yield components. (Impact: The threshold for R1-R2 soybean needs to be defined somewhere above the densities tested in these experiments. Some level of flower feeding should be tolerated, as it does not impact yield when corn earworm densities are 2-3x the current economic threshold for R3-R7 soybeans) Objective 2: To determine Helicoverpa zea survivorship, performance and preference from different soybean tissue types. (Impact: The performance on various tissue types changed as larvae aged. This information will be critical to model effectiveness and the development of resistance for traditional plant breeders and for the development and implementation of transgenic soybeans) Objective 3: To evaluate the economic threshold for stink bugs in soybean. Objective 4: To evaluate the effect of planting date, maturity group, and insecticide treatment on kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria) population densities and soybean yield. (Impact: Scouting and management of kudzu bug should focus on the earliest-planted and earliest-maturing soybeans) Objective 5: To establish the threshold for kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria) in the southeastern U.S. Objective 6: To investigate the potential for first-generation kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria) to reproduce on soybeans. (Impact: Kudzu bug may not need kudzu plants as an obligate host for development. If both generations of kudzu bug can develop on soybeans, this pest has potential to spread beyond the distribution of kudzu plants and may threaten larger areas of soybeans than previously thought.) Objective 7: To determine the efficacy of foliar pesticides against arthropod pests of soybean. (Impact: Although there are products that are effective to manage thrips, yield is not impacted. Although resistance has been detected in isolated areas, pyrethroids are still effective at managing corn earworm in most areas of North Carolina. Using a pyrethroid can save a grower, $5-8 per acre over more expensive alternative chemistries. Effective insecticides were determined for both soybean looper and beet armyworm. Finally, effective insecticides were determined for kudzu bug.) In Virginia, pyrethroid resistance monitoring indicated that 37.1% of corn earworm moths survived the adult vial test (averaged over the entire season), with 3,009 moths tested. Corn earworm moth black light trap captures were continued in 2012. Timely pest status updates, black light trap reports, and recommendations were posted weekly on the Virginia Ag Pest Advisory. Seven on-farm insecticide efficacy trials were established in Orange County to determine the impact of brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) in soybean. In general, high rates of control were achieved with pyrethroids, while carbamates and the growth regulator (at the rates tested) had the least control. A cage study was also conducted in 2011 to study the effect of BMSB feeding on soybean. Seed quality and yield data from this part of the objective were completed in Spring 2012 Densities of four stink bugs per 0.3 row-m resulted in significant seed damage in three of four experiments. The full flowering R2 soybean development stage was least affected by H. halys feeding, while the full pod R4 stage was the most sensitive, and slightly more sensitive than the full seed R6 stage. We examined the effects of both ambient and within-soybean canopy temperature and relative humidity on stink bug vertical distribution in two fields, one in 2010 and one in 2011. No significant relationship was observed between the environmental parameters measured or time of day on the vertical distribution of stink bugs in the canopy. Regardless of environmental conditions, an average of 15-20% of stink bugs was located below the typical 38cm zone of a sweep net sample. Scouts sampled 569 soybean fields in 65 counties throughout Virginia from from late June through early October. BMSB was recorded in soybean fields in 44 counties, over twice as many compared with 2011. In general, northern counties had medium to high populations, with low numbers distributed throughout most of the other soybean growing regions of the state. With the exception of one location (Fauquier Co.), field edge treatments by growers were successful in controlling BMSB populations on 1,885 soybean acres and preventing crop loss. They represented an estimated 30-40% reduction in insecticide use compared with if entire fields had been treated. For the first time in Virginia, kudzu bugs were found in low numbers in soybean fields in 9 counties, and in co-occurrence with BMSB in an additional 10 counties. A 2-year study was conducted in seedling soybean in Virginia to evaluate the within-plant location of thrips, whether populations from specific plant parts (Terminal, First Trifoliate, Remainder) can be used to accurately estimate whole-plant populations, and to determine the thrips species complex present as well as the evenness (species diversity/species richness) of the sampled population. Results suggest that a subsample consisting of the first fully opened trifoliate can be used to monitor thrips in V3-V4 stage soybean. In 2012, thrips control provided by soybean seed treatments was evaluated in three experiments in Virginia. In general, thrips injury ratings in the insecticide seed treatments were lower than the untreated controls. Yields were not significantly different in any test when analyzed by cultivar. In Minnesota, efforts were focused on six Objectives: 1. Survey for the presence, establishment, and spread of emerging pests Samples of mealy bugs were sent to Ron Hammond. Specimens were identified as clover root mealybug. Apparent associations included low K, soybean cyst nematode and/or alfalfa or field edges. The brown marmorated stink bug was first detected in Minnesota in 2010. In response, intensive surveys were conducted to attempt to delimit this infestation and acquire information on native Pentatomidae. Even though the target exotic species were not detected, this survey is providing a wealth of information on the diversity and abundance of native Pentatomidae, which been a poorly documented group. 2. Understand soybean pest interactions. A study on the effect of late season host plant quality on soybean aphid population and yield is in its third year. Unfortunately, late season aphid populations were unusually low in 2012. 3. Develop insect genetic resources. Aphids were provided for an annual, on-going aphid genomic study by Rosanna Giordano, University of Illinois. 4. Evaluate control efficacy and monitor for resistance. Application of chlorpyrifos did not control mites, but other arthropods including whiteflies, lady beetles and soybean aphids suppressed. Bifenthrin and avermectin performed well in this same trial. Lamberton, MN was a location for a NCSR&PC multi-state study on the effects of neonicitinoid insecticide alone and combined with fungicides on soybean aphids and beneficial. This site/year showed no yield response to seed applied fungicide, insecticide or combination as compared to untreated seed. Economic thresholds were not reached but thiomethoxam reduced cumulative aphid days by approximately 50%. 5. Describe natural enemies and non-target impacts. We have discovered the soybean aphid parasitoid Aphelinus certus throughout soybean growing areas in Minnesota in summer 2012. Since we first documented this species in Minnesota during the summer of 2011, our current finding that it is present throughout the state suggests strongly that it is able to overwinter and is established. Our sampling data also indicate that A. certus densities are higher near wheat fields than near other soybean fields. This is likely due to the fact that this parasitoid attacks grain aphids as well as soybean aphids. In a second development, we have been awarded a permit to release another Asian soybean aphid parasitoid  Aphelinus glycinis. Like A. certus, this species is very promising. We received the permit in October and have done some experimental releases in buckthorn in the fall of 2012 that we are monitoring. We are also planning for large-scale field releases in the summer of 2012. We investigated compatibility between Cruiser seed treatment and parasitism of soybean aphid. The parasitoid we used for these studies was Binodoxys communis. Even though this species has likely not established in Minnesota, we used it as a model organism to investigate interactions between parasitoids and seed treatment. Our studies showed that parasitoids and seed treatment were highly compatible in the sense that (1) there is no detectable toxic effect of the seed treatment passed on through aphids, and (2) the seed treatment lowers aphid densities to a level that produces higher rates of parasitism. We found that success of B. communis is partially impeded by high densities of aphids. Thus, factors such as seed treatments that reduce aphid densities can benefit parasitoids. The parasitoid Lysiphlebus orientalis was discovered attacking soybean aphids in China and we assessed its host range and ability to suppress soybean aphid under laboratory conditions in quarantine. We found that it had a narrow host range but also that it was unable to suppress aphid populations in cage studies despite achieving high levels of parasitism. Further studies revealed that aphids that were stung were able to produce some nymphs prior to mummifying and also that these nymphs had higher fecundity than the offspring of healthy aphids. We are investigating biological control of soybean aphids adjacent to diversified prairie plantings and willow hybrids that are being investigated as feedstocks for transportation bioenergy. Results from the first year of research suggest that suppression of (simulated) soybean aphid outbreaks is stronger adjacent to the biofuel plantings. 6. Evaluate new technologies (e.g., host plant resistance, transgenics, seed treatments). Lamberton was the MN location for a multi-state (NCSR&PC-funded) study evaluating host plant resistance with susceptible, Rag1, Rag2, Rag 1+2 isolines developed by Iowa State University. All rag genes were effective. Soybean aphids did not reach economic injury level but the Rag1+Rag 2 pyramid in particular did provide excellent reduction in soybean aphid populations compared to the susceptible isoline. In Alabama, studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Belay 2.13 insecticide in controlling stink bugs. Four days after application, the total number of stink bugs in the Belay treatment was significantly lower than the number in plots treated with bifenthrin (2 oz product per acre) plus non-ionic surfactant. A study was conducted to evaluate the possible yield enhancement effect of Dimilin applied to soybeans at the R3 stage at 3 locations. None of the treatments produced a statistically significant yield increase in comparison to untreated plots at any of the locations. The study indicated that a rate of Dimilin greater than 2 oz/acre would be necessary to reduce an established population of large, medium and small soybean loopers. Three studies were conducted in 2012 to determine the effect on yield of naturally occurring soybean insect pests. In one test, yields were not significantly different among treatments, although there was defoliation present. Good rainfall after test was initiated helped soybeans to yield well after suffering over 30% defoliation. In another test, untreated plots were defoliated more than treated plots, and yield was lower. In the third test, yields were not different among treatments. A sweep net survey of soybean fields in Alabama was conducted to determine which insect pest species were present in different counties, which species were the most abundant, and to maintain awareness among growers. Surveys estimated that over half the states soybean acreage was treated for loopers in 2012. The 3-cornered-alfalfa-hopper was the second most abundant pest detected. The 3rd most abundant pest detected was green cloverworm at a density of 0.27 per sweep. Although kudzu bugs were only collected in 10 fields in 6 counties it was the 4th most abundant pest collected. Velvetbean caterpillars were detected in 12 counties. Pod worm numbers were fewer than in 2011. Total average stink bug density was 0.115/sweep, about half the density observed in 2011. A new species of stink bug, Euschistus quadrator, was found at Prattville. No brown marmorated, red banded or red shouldered stink bugs were collected in 2012. The average density for grasshoppers was 0.047/sweep. Blister beetles, bean leaf beetles, Mexican bean beetles and white fringed beetles were all detected at densities of less than 0.01 per sweep. In Mississippi, research focused on Objective 1. Characterize insect-soybean interactions. For the third consecutive year, corn earworm costs plus losses exceeded stink bugs as the primary pest of soybeans in MS. The stink bug complex in soybeans during 2012 was primarily brown stink bugs (60%) and green stink bugs (35%). Other substantial pests during 2011 were the soybean looper, velvetbean caterpillar, green cloverworm, and bean leaf beetle. Combining the results of threshold trials, a density of 6 three cornered alfalfa hopper adults for 2 weeks did not cause any economic damage during reproductive growth. Threshold cage trials were conducted to establish thresholds for corn earworm on indeterminate soybeans. Based on the regression equation, for every corn earworm damaged pod, yield was reduced by 0.04 bu/ac. Also, for every corn earworm larvae present per 2.5 row feet, yield was reduced by 1.3 bu/ac. To determine the effect of pod loss due to simulated corn earworm feeding, two separate experiments were performed on an indeterminate maturity group 4 variety and a determinant maturity group 5 variety. It was found that yields were significantly reduced with each increase in pod removal level for both studies. Also, the R5 growth stage removals yielded significantly less than all other stages, indicating that R5 could be the most critical time to experience fruit loss. Significant maturity delays were also observed for the R5 removals compared to all other treatments in both studies. Numerous insecticide efficacy trials were conducted during 2011. Insects targeted were pea weevil, stink bugs, and soybean looper. Data are posted at http://www.mississippi-crops.com/trial-data/. In Nebraska, a large-scale field study was planted in 2012. Unfortunately, extreme heat during June-August limited population growth of soybean aphids, so the necessary soybean aphid population levels were not reached. The coinciding of R6 soybeans with patterns of high soybean populations in Nebraska indicate that using early maturity class soybeans should provide important information on the effect of soybean aphid injury to R6 soybean. Oxidative enzyme assays were conducted to decipher the role of peroxidase in the tolerance response of KS4202. The differences in peroxidase activity observed between infested and control V3 KS4202 plants throughout the course of the experiment suggest that peroxidases may be playing multiple roles in the tolerant plants. We are in the process of functional annotation and mining of candidate soybean aphid-susceptible and resistant genes in soybean using various databases of proteins (UniProKB), pathways (KEGG) and gene ontology and computational tools. . The illumine sequence data generated from NCSRP funding during the past three years provides a comprehensive data set that will allow us to characterize transcriptional changes in response to aphid feeding to better understand the underlying mechanism(s) and genes contributing to the tolerant response. Aphids were monitored for resistance to insecticides. Some significant differences can be observed based on non-overlapping confident intervals, but are unlikely to indicate significant levels of resistance. These data provide a baseline for future assessments. Teachers K-12 (primarily K-5), learned about the soybean from pod to plate, built a model for correlation of existing curriculum, worked alongside UNL scientists, conducted hands-on lab experiments to use with units on insects, and developed curricula. In Texas, research was focused on three Objectives. Objective 1: To characterize basic insect biology and ecology. More redbanded stink bug were found along the Texas Upper Gulf Coast than any other soybean-attacking stink bug. High populations were found on durano clover and a legume commonly found in disturbed areas in Southeast Texas. From cage studies, high populations of redbanded stink bug were associated with delayed maturity and flat pod syndrome. No evidence for translocation of a toxin or microorganism was found. Objective 2: o develop coordinated applied best management practices. Seed treatments of unknown composition were evaluated for control of Lepidoptera defoliators. Several of these seed treatments provided excellent control---at least 60 days after planting. Besiege at 9 fl oz/A provided good control of red banded stink bug and three cornered alfalfa hopper in a small plot experiment. Surprisingly, Steward applied at 6.7 fl oz/A provided control of red banded stink bug. Objective 3: to educate farmers, industry, colleagues and agricultural professionals of research findings using traditional and innovative Extension tools and methods. Findings were presented at a meeting in Vero Beach, FL hosted by Syngenta, This meeting was attended by colleagues and crop consultants. Area farmers consulted with Way in person, via email/phone and at the 16th Annual Cotton and Rice Conservation Tillage Systems Conference in Baton Rouge, LA concerning soybean pest management. An Extension bulletin on soybean insect pest management, co-authored by Way, will be completed in 2013. This bulletin will be available as a hard-copy and electronically. In Iowa, research was focused on seven objectives. Objective 1: Survey for the presence, establishment, and spread of emerging pests. We observed a significantly higher abundance of Japanese beetles in fields located in a High landscape compared to a Low landscape. In general, we observed very few stink bugs and no significant differences in their abundance in fields of differing surrounding landscape diversity. Although a few brown marmorated stink bugs have been found in Iowa during 2012, we have not yet observed them in any commercial or research soybean fields. Native stink bug populations were also relatively low in soybean fields in 2012. Objective 2: Understand soybean pest interactions. Greenhouse and field cage experiments were performed to characterize the effect of soybean aphid feeding on soybean cyst nematode (SCN) survival and reproduction. Results indicated that 3 weeks of feeding by soybean aphid populations below the economic threshold (i.e., <250 aphids/plant) increased SCN reproduction by 33%. During 2012 we compared alate captures of the soybean aphid and 5 combined species of non-colonizing aphids to the monthly prevalence of Soybean mosaic virus (SMV). This study indicated that the soybean aphid can be an important vector of SMV, but that non-colonizing aphids continue to play an important role in the transmission of SMV. Objective 3: Develop sampling protocols and thresholds. We analyzed pollen from bees captured in bee bowls to determine if these attractive traps captured bees that were foraging on soybean flowers. From a subset of the most abundant female bee species collected during soybean peak bloom, we estimated that 24% and 42% of the female bees carrying pollen had grains of soybean pollen either alone or intermixed with other types of pollen, in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Objective 4: Evaluate control efficacy and monitor for resistance. Foliar insecticides reduced Japanese beetle densities to less than two per sweep while the untreated control was 6 per sweep, The foliar applications killed the beetles in plots, but did not provide sufficient residual to control populations beyond seven days. Objective 5: Describe natural enemies and non-target impacts. In 2011, occurrence of fungal entomopathogens on Galleria mellonella cadavers and the abundance of M. brunneum were significantly lower in conventional fields compared to organic fields and their respective margins, and several factors involving soil properties and cropping systems affected the abundance of M. brunneum. Continuing on from 2011 into 2012, the impact of cover crops and extended rotations on arthropod communities were investigated within soybean and corn grown within a rotation. Another goal was to determine if the abundance of ecosystem service providing insects is equal along a gradient of different land use types. We observed significant year-to- year variation, with beneficial insect abundance and diversity being significantly greater in 2010 than 2011 and activity-density being significantly greater in 2011 than 2010. Despite the differences in beneficial insect communities between years, abundance and activity-density of pollinators (bees and syrphid flies) and natural enemy (predators and parasitoids) was significantly greater in buffer strips in both years. The diversity (species richness and evenness) was not consistently greater in buffer strip, as for abundance and activity-density; as we did not always observe significant differences in beneficial insect diversity between the organic farms and buffer strips. Beneficial insect diversity and abundance was consistently lowest in row crops. Objective 6: Evaluate new technologies (e.g., host plant resistance, transgenics, seed treatments). This study utilized four near-isogenic experimental soybean lines differing in their resistance to the soybean aphid (susceptible, Rag1 alone, Rag2 alone, and Rag1 + Rag2). Plants with the Rag1 and Rag2 genes had low populations of soybean aphids throughout the majority of the growing season. Evidence for late-season declines in the efficacy of either gene were inconsistent between 2011 and 2012, however in both years a decline in efficacy was observed for at least one of the genes. However, the efficacy of a Rag1 + Rag2 pyramid was consistently greater than lines carrying either gene alone. A thiamethoxam seed treatment equally reduced aphid population growth on the susceptible line, the Rag1 line, and the Rag2 line, indicating combining thiamethoxam and host plant resistance genes has an additive effect on reducing soybean aphid population growth. During the summer of 2012 we conducted an experiment to examine the effects of seed mixtures of resistant and susceptible seed on populations of the soybean aphid. Although soybean aphid populations were low for the 2012 growing season we did observe a significantly greater amount of cumulative aphid days for the 100% susceptible treatment when compared to the other treatments. There were no significant differences for yield among the treatments. Regardless of the low soybean aphid populations we did observe natural enemies in soybean. We observed significantly more natural enemies in the 5% susceptible: 95%resistant and 100% resistant treatments. Objective 7: Educate farmers, industry, colleagues, and agricultural professionals of research findings, using traditional and innovative extension tools and methods. We created a variety of extension materials to increase awareness of soybean pests, including: publications, presentations, blog articles, tweets, and a short video (see details in outcomes section). Our timely programming did help farmers and scouts assess pest populations and make foliar insecticide applications to protect yield. In Kentucky, the 2012 soybean production season marked the s third and final year of a survey of stink bugs in Kentucky grown soybeans. The green stink bug complex dominated the captures with 302 individuals, with only 58 bugs from the brown stinkbug complex. No invasive stink bugs were captured in the 2012 survey. Western corn rootworm soybean variant survey (2012). From all of the samples no western corn rootworm adult beetles were observed. Corn growers, using this information in 2013 should be able to plant corn hybrids that do not have the Bt rootworm protection in fields following soybeans in order to save considerable input costs. Impact of planting date, maturity group and insecticide application on incidence and yield reduction of Dectes stem borer on soybean. Maturity Group shows a numerical advantage (reduction) in level of infestation from MG III through MG IV to MG V, but advantage is not statistically significant, and there appears to be an interaction. This will require additional analysis to resolve. Impact of seed applied pesticides on growth and yield of soybean. This analysis indicates to us that, leaf area index did not differ by pesticide type, location and planting date variables had major impact on yield, the impact of planting date on yield varied by location, there were no differences among pesticide treatments, and the lack of difference in pesticide treatment did not vary by location or planting date. Thus pesticides had no measurable impact on yield. From USDA-ARS, North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory at Brookings, SD, the research focused mainly on evaluation and characterization of soybean lines for resistance to soybean aphid and also monitoring of natural enemies in soybean. To identify new sources of SA resistance in early maturing soybeans, a total of 334 soybean genotypes including resistant and susceptible checks were tested in the greenhouse and field. PI 603712 was only genotype which consistently exhibited resistance to SA in all tests, even higher than that of other known sources of SA resistance in the field. This suggests that PI 603712 might be a new source of SA resistance. In addition, the relatively high levels of SA colonization on a Rag1 genotype (PI 548663 or Dowling) in greenhouse tests suggest that the colony used in greenhouse tests might be virulent on Rag1 and thus might be biotype 2. Three pest management systems that vary in the intensity with which they rely on herbicides and insecticides (chemically intensive, reduced chemical, and spring cover crop treatments) affect insect pest populations, arthropod predator communities, weed assemblages, and soybean yield and profitability were analyzed. Although input costs of the cover crop and reduced chemical treatments were lower than the chemically intensive treatment, the chemically intensive treatment was most profitable of the three. Nevertheless, we contend that cover crops can be managed more efficiently in order to increase the profitability and competitiveness of this treatment while gaining the long-term benefits gleaned from conserving biodiversity in our agroecosystems. In this study, previously identified resistant lines were evaluated in laboratory tests against field-collected populations of soybean aphid and in field-plot tests over two years in South Dakota. Virulence in soybean aphid populations studied was variable and dynamic over the years of the study. These results, coupled with previous reports of biotypes virulent to Rag1, suggest that deployment of lines with a single aphid-resistance gene is limited for soybean aphid management, and that deployment strategies relying on multiple resistance genes may be needed to effectively use plant resistance against soybean aphid. In Ohio, three objectives were researched. Objective 1: Establish or modify thresholds of important regional pests to account for maturity group, planting systems, plant age, and natural enemy populations. No aphids were found in the state. A few other state conducted limited surveys, and a few specimens that were found were sent for identification. None were the trochanter mealybug. A new soybean pest, the brown marmorated stink bug, was found at low numbers in soybean fields throughout the state, suggesting they are finally moving into soybeans in Ohio; however, none were at economic levels. Numerous soybean fields were also seen with higher populations of green and red-shouldered stink bugs, with some of those fields at economic levels. We continue to anticipate that stink bugs will become a greater concern in future years because of global warming, with the potential to cause significant yield losses. Objective 2: Efficacy of seed treatments for seedcorn maggot. Efficacy trials with seed treatments conducted on soybean against seedcorn maggot proved fruitless because of the earliness of adult flies; oviposition had occurred well before the study commenced. Objective 3: Screen, characterize, and incorporate host plant resistance to soybean aphid and other key insects. Collaborative efforts including a USDA soybean breeder continued in the development of soybean resistant to the soybean aphid. Based on the data, the spread and increase of virulent biotypes will be more dependent on the complicated life history of the aphid, including environment (e.g. drought), movement to buckthorn and selection pressure (as measured by the acreage of Rag soybean).