Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Summary of key items from meeting minutes: 2015 S1055 meeting will be held in Biloxi, MS on 18 March (noon – 5 pm) and 19 March (9 am to 5 pm) and will be coordinated to follow the 2015 South Eastern Branch meeting, which is planned for 15-18 March 2015. Fred Musser is local arrangements for the branch meeting and will do local arrangements for the S1055 meeting. S1055 is in good shape as a multistate project. Updates were provided on Federal budget. Project revisions are performed every 5 years and the next revision will occur in 2017. Mary Purcell is the federal NIFA rep. Louis Hesler was nominated and accepted to serve as secretary for 2015.

In North Carolina, research focused on six objectives. The relationship between Helicoverpa zea and associated flower injury during R1 and R2 was examined by manipulating populations with insecticides. Number of injured flowers was positively correlated with corn earworm density, but total number of flowers and all yield components were not. Survivorship, performance and preference of Helicoverpa zea on different soybean tissue types were determined. Early-instar larvae (L2) preferred to feed on leaf tissue and undeveloped pods (R4). Later instar larvae (L4) did not prefer one tissue type over another, but developed the best on fully developed (R6) pods. The effect of planting date, maturity group, and insecticide treatment on kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria) population densities and soybean yield was evaluated. Earlier-planted and earlier- maturing soybeans were more attractive to kudzu bug adults. Effects on yield were independent of planting date and maturity group in North Carolina, but were affected by insecticide spray, with sprayed soybeans yielding higher than unsprayed soybeans. Work was conducted to develop a threshold for kudzu bug on soybean. Three experiments were planted and established to evaluate the yield loss potential and to establish an economic threshold for kudzu bug. Kudzu bug was not present in sufficient densities to influence yield in North Carolina. However, results were combined with those from Georgia and South Carolina for threshold development. Preference of kudzu bug among soybean genotypes was evaluated. Soybean leaf size and shape may play a role in kudzu bug recruitment. Effect of soybean genotype is significant in recruitment of kudzu bug populations. Narrow leaf genotypes N7013 and Vance had consistently fewer kudzu bug egg masses, nymphs and adults than other genotypes tested, and may be a source of resistance for soybean breeders. Some Benning insect resistance lines (Benning H, Benning MG) also generated fewer kudzu bug nymphs and adults than other genotypes and may also provide sources of resistance for soybean breeders. Efficacy of foliar pesticides against arthropod pests of soybean was examined. Various chemicals were tested against soybean looper in soybeans. Interestingly, the performance of diamides was inconsistent. In Mississippi, insect losses plus costs were similar for corn earworm, stink bugs, bean leaf beetle and soybean looper, estimated between $8.70/acre and $10/acre for each of these pests. Kudzu bug was first found and treated in soybeans in MS during 2013. Research focused on characterizing insect-soybean interactions. The impact of threecornered alfalfa hoppers (TCAH) on soybeans during soybean reproductive growth was studied using field cages. Sixty adults / row ft. were placed on soybeans during R3-R4 stages for 2 weeks. At harvest, these plots were compared to adjacent plots that were caged but not infested. As in the same trial conducted during 2012, no yield loss was measured. To convert this density into a sweep net threshold, a second trial was conducted infesting a range of TCAH in large field cages (20’ x 20’). These cages were sampled with a sweep net to estimate sweep net efficiency. Combining the results of the trials, this would suggest that a density of 6 TCAH adults for 2 weeks did not cause any economic damage during reproductive growth. To determine the effect of pod loss due to simulated corn earworm feeding, experiments were performed in Stoneville, MS at the Delta Research and Extension Center. The variety chosen for the experiment was Asgrow 4605, a popular indeterminant cultivar in Mississippi. Pods were removed by hand at four different growth stages: R2, R3, R4, and R5. There were three removal levels at each growth stage: 0, 50, and 100%. Delayed maturity measurements were taken for the experiment. Plants were then harvested and yield measured to determine at which growth stages and damage level corn earworm feeding was most critical. There was a significant interaction effect between growth stage and damage level on the percentage of dropped leaves in each plot 137 days after planting, percentage of green stems present in each plot 139 days after planting, yield. With the decrease in the amount of leaf shed and increase in green stems present at both damage levels of R5, growers are facing significant maturity delays when faced with later season corn earworm infestations. Yield losses appear to be potentially less than originally thought at earlier growth stages (R2 and R4). At R5, however, it appears that damage is more detrimental to final yields than at earlier growth stages. Resistance monitoring of the corn earworm was conducted during 2013 as in previous years. Pyrethroid resistance remained low in Mississippi even though it was substantially higher in nearby Louisiana. In Nebraska, research addressed several topics. Field Evaluation of KS4202 soybean tolerance to soybean aphid was performed. In an EIL field study of soybean aphid resistant KS4202 (tolerance), aphid populations developed nicely. The lack of high yield loss for most CAD treatments, and the relatively low yield loss of the 38,936 CAD treatment indicates that KS4202 has tolerance to soybean aphid feeding. At the highest CAD, KS4202 had a yield loss of approximately 12.6%, when we would have expected a yield loss of about 27% (6.8% loss/each 10,000 CAD, Ragsdale et al. 2007). Dr. George Graef is incorporating KS4202 into his soybean breeding program. We have completed the 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. We have selected 2 peroxidase genes (Glyma09g02610; glyma06g15030) to further investigate in order to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanism(s) and genes contributing to the tolerant response. Work was performed on an adjusted soybean aphid EILs for R6 soybeans. Use of early maturing soybean appears to be suitable for matching the natural soybean aphid population growth curve during R6, but it is difficult to achieve moderate to high CAD solely during R6 (started in R5). Planting dates were late due to rain, so MG 0.6 soybean was planted on 6/10, 2013 and infested with soybean aphids on 8/2 (R5). Populations peaked approx. 8/30 (R6.5). No treatments reached the 250 aphid/plant ET (only 2 plots exceeded 250/plant). Cumulative aphid- days were 19.2 CAD in no-aphid check and 1,563-2,073 CAD in treatments (9/6, R7.5), with no significant differences in yield observed between treatments. Soybean aphid resistance to insecticides was also monitored on regional scale. The two bioassay methods developed, systemic and glass vial, indicated soybean aphids from eleven populations from the North Central region (NE, SD, ND, MN and WI) had no significant level of resistance to thiamethoxam. Toxicity of seed treatments to natural enemies was also examined. The predators Orius insidiosus and Crysoperla rufilabris were exposed to different concentrations of thiamethoxam in soybean leaves and in soybean aphid using different laboratory methodologies. A study was performed to reduced agent and area treatments for soybean. Initial findings indicate leaving untreated strips of at least 8 rows between spray zones may be an effective management strategy for soybean aphid in areas where aphids are relatively late to colonize soybean (mid-late July) and temperatures are relatively high during treatment (e.g. Nebraska with 90°F high temperatures). Natural enemies are preserved to help manage remaining insect pests or subsequent soybean aphid re-infestations. It would be expected to use this strategy in conjunction with other management tools as part of an overall IPM strategy. Active extension and outreach programming was continued. In Kansas, research focused on several pests. Image processing algorithms are being developed to automate soybean aphid counts on leaflets. Combining sophisticated algorithms with a mobile device to count aphid densities could improve these estimates. We designed the computer algorithm to incorporate built?in MATLAB image processing code to perform edge detection, thresholding, and object?based counting. We found a strong positive relationship between the aphid counts in the MATLAB processed images and manual counts (R2 = 0.75). This relationship was then validated using an independent dataset (R2 = 0.93). Our data indicates that the accuracy of the MATLAB code was similar to manual counts. Effects of temperature on soybean resistance to biotype 1 soybean aphids was also examined. The overall goal is to determine if/how various demographic responses of soybean aphid developing at different temperatures when reared on Rag1 resistant soybean plants. Specific responses include: preimaginal development, preimaginal survival, time to first reproduction, fecundity, and adult longevity. Screening and categorization of soybean genotypes for resistance to biotypes 1, 2, and 3 soybean aphids is also being performed. We found significant differences in chlorophyll loss between infested and un?infested leaves in three susceptible genotypes (KS4202, K072623 and LD05?4485) to biotype 1. Similarly three susceptible genotypes (KS4202, K072623 and K1639) showed significant difference in chlorophyll content to biotype 2. But this trend was absent in resistant genotypes, suggesting a level of tolerance in the genotypes that showed resistance to one of these two biotypes. In plant damage studies, we found 4 susceptible genotypes that were statistically different in their damage rating, compared to resistant genotypes. Even in susceptible genotypes, some were found to have some degree of tolerance to the aphid attack. Resistant genotypes showed varied classes of damage rating in between them. We developed F3 generations for QTL mapping studies of Kansas genotype, K1621. Site- specific management of D. texanus stem borer is also being evaluated. The objective of this field study was to examine the movement of D. texanus in soybean production fields of using protein markers. Four D. texanus infested soybean production fields in Kansas were sampled from June to August in 2013. Protein markers (bovine casein and chicken egg albumin) were sprayed along two edges (4 x 400?500 m) within each soybean field (target field) every 10 d during D. texanus adult activity. Fields were grid sampled and we sweep netted (80 sweeps per point) for D. texnaus adults and other key pests at all waypoints; size of a soybean field determined the number of waypoints. Specimens collected were analyzed for presence of protein using enzyme? linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Preliminary results suggest that adult colonization patterns vary between fields and through time. Electronic monitoring of Helicoverpa zea is being developed. Our goal for the first year of the study was to expand our electronic trapping and monitoring system in Kansas and evaluate the ability of our trap design to predict severity of infestations in nearby sorghum fields. We tested the ability of each trap to estimate catches across a range of densities, geographic locations and trap dates in Kansas during the 2013 field season. In general, moth activity was high across all locations with total number of moths captured ranging from 1,945 to 6,383 moths per trap. In general, the new traps performed similar to previous units where each individual trap estimated real moth counts within 93.3 to 99.9% accuracy. Although moth captures were high, this did not always translate into a treat decision. Extension work included IWheat.org, MyFields.info,and MySoybean.org. We expanded existing Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program to other elementary schools in Kansas. Teachers developed a total of 27 lesson plans that could be incorporated into a soybean?based science unit. In Louisiana, research was related to two broad objectives. Four projects aimed to characterize basic insect biology and ecology. Surveys were conducted for the presence, establishment and spread of emerging pests. We surveyed for soybean aphid (leaf sampling, visual surveys, and pan trapping), brown marmorated stink bug (sweep sampling and blacklight trapping) and kudzu bug (sweep sampling). Neither soybean aphid nor brown marmorated stink bug were detected. Kudzu bug was found in soybean in four northeast parishes: East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, and Tensas. Levels were at 1 per 100 sweeps. Soybean-pest interactions elucidated. We screened 10 high producing current commercial varieties (5 MGIV and 5 MGV) in replicated trials at two locations for redbanded stink bug damage. As per past results, current cultivars differ in their susceptibility to stink bug damage and this can be used in an IPM program. However, commercial soybean cultivars may be available only 1 year and are rarely available for purchase past 3 years. We also screened 45 PI from MGIII to MGVI which were identified as tolerant to redbanded stink bug damage in laboratory screenings. Finally, we are working with University of Arkansas and are screening their advanced soybean selections for stink bug tolerance. All screenings involve taking yield, 100 seed wt., and quality. Insect physiology in a changing climate was evaluated. We having been conducting supercooling and lower temperature survivorship studies for redbanded stink bug. Our research has found that the supercooling point for redbanded stink bug is -4°C. Lethal temperature exposures occur at 23°C, with 50% of the population dying if exposed for 4 hr and 95% of the population dying if exposed for 7 hr. To develop insect genetic resources, work is being performed on microsatellites for redbanded stink bug. Two projects aimed to develop coordinated applied best management practices. 2. Develop coordinated applied best management practices. Sampling protocols and thresholds were developed. We have established an action threshold for redbanded stink bug of 4 insects per 25 sweeps based on damage potential, quality, and yield loss. We are also re-evaluating threecornered alfalfa hopper thresholds. Control efficacy was evaluated and monitor for resistance was conducted. We have been monitoring for resistance to acephate in redbanded stink bug. In 2010, it was 4X more tolerant than southern green stink bug. This year, we had field failure of redbanded stink bug control with acephate at 0.5 lb/A. Redbanded stink bug tolerance to acephate has risen to 13X of southern green stink bug. We are also conducting an area wide resistance monitoring program for soybean looper to methoxyfenozide. In Wisconsin, research related to two broad objectives. Basic insect biology and ecology was characterized. The distribution of virulent soybean aphid biotypes in Wisconsin was determined. A two year survey (2012-2013) of soybean aphids in Wisconsin fields for Rag-virulent biotypes revealed a relatively low prevalence. The drought in 2012 significantly reduced the number of soybean aphid populations able to be sampled; nevertheless, 1 out of 13 field collections contained virulent aphids. These aphids, found in Monroe Co., performed similarly to those found in Dodge Co. in 2011 (Rag1-and 2-virulent). In 2013, four fields contained Rag1-virulent aphids, two fields contained Rag2-virulent aphids and one field Rag1-and 2-virulent aphids (out of 24 fields sampled). Differences in weather and number of sampling sites preclude interpretation of these findings as evidence for increasing prevalence of Rag-virulent biotypes; however, it should be known that virulent soybean aphid biotypes are indeed present and abundant in certain regions of Wisconsin. Landscape ecology of soybean aphid was examined. Soybean aphid and natural enemy densities across the state have been surveyed and were compared with landscape, pest management and climate variables to discern the main drivers in soybean aphid population dynamics in Wisconsin. Work was conducted to develop coordinated applied best management practices, by evaluating new technologies. Field evaluation of Rag1, Rag2 and Rag1+2 aphid-resistant lines as part of a continuing study were conducted at Arlington Agricultural Research Station (AARS). Aphid free subplots were treated once in July 11 at soybean aphid densities of ~20/plant to maintain <50/plant. Aphid densities did not reach economic threshold (250 aphids/plant) at any time throughout the experiment. Aphid samples were sent to Dr. Andy Michel at Ohio State University for monitoring of Rag-virulent aphid biotypes. Field evaluation of seed treatment efficacy (Cruiser and Apron Maxx) was also conducted at AARS. Soybean aphids and natural enemy densities were low throughout the season, with 0.2 to 2.8 Minute pirate bug (Orius insidiosus) nymphs and adults per plant and only one lady beetle egg mass <0.5 nymphs per plant at any time during the experiment. In Minnesota, focused primarily on coordinated applied best management practices. The response of early-maturing soybean to feeding by brown marmorated stink bug was evaluated via a caged field study. At R4 plants were caged and infested with 0, 1, 2, 4 or 8 fourth instars per row-foot with 6 replications of each treatment and nymphs fed for 15 days. Plant maturity was significantly delayed in cages with the highest bug density. Increasing stink bug density resulted in increased percentage of soybean seed injured. However, soybean plants compensated for the injury and reduced number of seed per pod by producing larger seed at higher stink bug densities. This compensation resulted in no significant differences in yield across the stink bug densities. The spectral response of soybean leaves to infestations of soybean aphid was evaluated to reduce costs (i.e., time) of soybean aphid scouting and improving pest management decision making. Two experiments were conducted (aphids manipulated with cages and aphids manipulated with insecticides. The number of aphids per plant per plot was recorded at approximately weekly intervals and spectral reflectance of the plants was recorded on several dates. Aphid pressure in the open field study was low and no relationship was found with spectral reflectance. In the cage study, however, aphid pressure was much higher. A significant negative relationship between plant reflectance (NDVI) and cumulative aphid pressure. Insecticide resistance monitoring was performed for soybean aphid and two-spotted spider mites. In 2013, soybean aphids were collected from soybean fields in seven locations in Minnesota. A leaf-dip bioassay was used to assess the susceptibility of these populations relative to a laboratory population that has not been exposed to insecticides since arrival in North America. Commercial formulations of lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II, Syngenta Crop Protection). Preliminary results indicate that there was variation among aphid populations in susceptibility to lambda-cyhalothrin. One population from Fergus Falls, MN had an LC50 significantly greater than that of the laboratory population. However, the magnitude of this difference was less than fourfold, which may not be biologically relevant. In 2012, a population of spider mites from southwest Minnesota (Lamberton) was confirmed to have 5-10 fold resistance to chlorpyrifos compared to a known susceptible laboratory population. In 2013, spider mites were collected from soybean fields from seven locations in Minnesota. Resistance ratios for field populations compared to the known susceptible laboratory population were all less than four, which is likely not biologically significant. Two new Aphelinus species are being evaluated for biological control of the soybean aphid. One species, A. certus is a non-native, generalist parasitoid. This species was not intentionally released in North America, but did arrive and is spreading through the eastern U.S. and parts of Canada. An experimental release of Aphelinus glycinis was conducted in St. Paul during summer 2013. Two release densities were used (ca. 400 per site vs. ca. 4,000 per site) and sampling was conducted over the first 2 generations post-release at various distances from the release sites. Screening for aphid-resistance in early maturing soybean germplasm was also performed. Laboratory screening was used to assess aphid resistance in 75 new plant introductions (M.G. 000-1) obtained from the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection and previously untested lines for the U of MN Soybean Breeding Program. Assays were performed with unifoliate plants grown in small pots in growth chambers with known susceptible resistant varieties included as checks. Plants were manually infested with soybean aphids and populations counted after 9 and 14 days. Two of the new PIs may have putative resistance to the soybean aphid. These PIs clustered near the known resistant lines in terms of the mean number of aphids per plant. In South Dakota, research focused on soybean aphid and a new defoliating insect. Few studies have evaluated wild soybean for resistance to soybean aphid. In this study, initial screening assays indicated 20 wild soybean lines with resistance to soybean aphid, and three of the 20 lines had notable resistance in subsequent choice and no-choice assays. Significantly fewer soybean aphids settled on lines PI 468397 A and PI 479749 than on susceptible lines in choice assays, and aphid populations were low and moderately low on these two respective lines in no-choice assays. Populations of soybean aphid on a third line, PI 549046, were equal to or less than those on a resistant check over 3 wks in a no-choice assay. Based on results of the respective choice and no-choice assays, resistance to soybean aphid was manifested as both antixenosis and antibiosis in PI 468397 A and PI 479749, and as antibiosis in PI 549046. This is apparently the first report of resistance to soybean aphid in these three lines, and they provide soybean breeders and pest management practitioners new sources for developing aphid-resistant soybean lines. Field tests conducted independently at multiple sites showed that soybean aphid populations peaked in late summer on lines with Rag1 or Rag2 and reached economically injurious levels on susceptible lines, whereas lines with a pyramid of Rag1 + Rag2 held soybean aphid populations below economic levels. In the regional test, aphid populations were generally suppressed by lines containing one of the Rag genes. Aphids reached putative economic levels on Rag1 lines for some site years, but yield loss was moderated, indicating that Rag1 may confer tolerance to soybean aphid in addition to antibiosis and antixenosis. Moreover, no yield penalty has been found for lines with Rag1, Rag2, or pyramids. Results suggest that use of aphid-resistant soybean lines with Rag genes may be viable for managing soybean aphids. However, virulent biotypes of soybean aphid were identified before release of aphid-resistant soybean, and thus a strategy for optimal deployment of aphid resistant soybean is needed to ensure sustainability of this technology. Cupido comyntas, the eastern tailed-blue (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), is a legume- feeding caterpillar native to North America. One of its three subspecies, Cupido comyntas comyntas (Godart), is distributed over the eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. This subspecies was recorded for the first time feeding on cultivated soybean. Caterpillars fed upon soybean at various developmental stages, ranging from seedlings to podded plants, in several fields within a 5-km radius in Brookings County, South Dakota, from July 1 – 25, 2013. Feeding was confined to leaves, and no pod damage was observed. The caterpillars occurred at relatively low densities that were unlikely to have affected yield of soybean crops. An early maturity soybean line, H007Y12, had a lower incidence of eastern tailed-blue caterpillars than a relatively later maturity line, H19Y11. Eastern tailed-blue butterflies were observed feeding from soybean flowers on multiple dates in July and early August. As the geographic distribution of C. comyntas comyntas considerably overlaps the area where soybean is grown, entomologists should watch for and document any additional infestation of soybean by these caterpillars. In Kentucky, research focused on the stink bug complex. In the previous three years (2010-12) we conducted field sampling in soybeans in 16 KY counties for the presence of domestic stinkbugs (pentatomidae) and to detect the presence of the invasive “stinkbugs” brown marmorated stinkbug (BMSB) & Kudzu bug; pentatomidae & plataspidae. Data from these efforts indicated that no Kudzu bugs and only a single juvenile BMSB were capture in Kentucky soybeans. In a continued effort to monitor the spread of these pests in 2012 we established black light trapping locations on two UK experiment stations in Lexington, and Princeton, KY, and continued informal collection of distribution information concerning these two pests. At this time BMSB was known to be in the commonwealth but Kudzu bug had not been captured. Subsequently Kudzu bugs were collected from three counties in Southeastern, KY in August of 2013. Both Brown Marmorated Stinkbug and Kudzu Bug are in Kentucky. With the exception of the winter weather BMSB is expected to be problematic in the urban areas of Louisville, Lexington and Ashland. Black Light Trap Data Indicate: More stink bugs were captured in 2012 than in 2013, could this be due to drought of 2012? Green stink bug genera far more common than brown stink bug genera. More stink bugs captured in Princeton (west) than in Lexington (east) KY. In Princeton: more stink bugs captured around the orchard / pasture area than the field crops area (Luttrell tract). Most common genera collected Chinavia. Genera collected thus far: Chinavia, Banasa Chlorochroa, Thyanta, Euschistus. Trapping may continue for 2014-2015 at both locations. In Virginia, research focused on several topics. We monitored pyrethroid resistance in Helicoverpa zea by testing 1,412 moths in 2013, with a seasonal average of 22.7% of moths surviving the 24-hour cypermethrin exposure period. Weekly peaks never exceeded 31% survival in 2013. These numbers are the lowest we have seen since 2008 in Virginia, but are still high enough to be of concern. The field corn survey, which is used to predict corn earworm infestation levels in soybean, found a statewide average of 18% ears infested in mid-July. Corn earworm moth black light trap captures were continued in 2013. Timely pest status updates, black light trap reports, and recommendations were posted weekly on the Virginia Ag Pest Advisory. BMSB were recorded in 35 soybean-growing counties in 2013. In general, northern and central counties had the highest peak populations of BMSB, with lower numbers in southern and southeastern Virginia. Edge-only insecticide treatments in BMSB-infested fields were very successful in keeping BMSB populations low, and this could be an economical and effective management tactic in Virginia soybean. A comparison of BMSB sampling methods found that visual counts had higher overall mean values than sweep nets, particularly at higher counts (>25). Kudzu bugs were widespread in Virginia in 2013, reported in 65 counties (on soybean in 47 counties and on other hosts in 18 counties). This was the first season in Virginia where kudzu bug populations reached threshold levels (five per plant for first generation adults or one nymph per sweep for second generation kudzu bugs). A pyrethroid was highly effective against kudzu bugs in our first-ever kudzu bug efficacy test in Virginia (Brunswick County). Beneficial arthropod and pest densities were examined pre- and post- insecticide application in six large- plot experiments in Virginia and North Carolina soybean. The pesticides tested ranged from broad-spectrum to selective, consisting of pyrethroid and anthranilic diamide classes. Many beneficial species were found, but they did not always occur at the same time, and population densities varied and overlapped among species during the season. Impacts S1055 scientists continue to evaluate insecticide performance against soybean pests. Additional work has been focused on evaluation and development of host-plant resistance. These summary reports of efficacy and yield response are available through individual state extension programs. Many participating S1055 states documented the spread and importance of exotic hemipteran pests, including stink bugs and kudzu bug. These documentations will serve to increase education in the appropriate areas, as well as expand the focus of research as range expansion increases. Strong Extension and outreach programs are providing necessary information of pest diagnostics, biology, impacts and management throughout the soybean producing region of the country.