Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

S1070 Regional Research Project Agenda

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Surendra Dara, Chair

Bob Behle, Vice-chair

Tarryn Goble, Secretary

Jimmy Klick, Member-at-large

Rogers Leonard, Administrative Advisor

 Meeting Room 606, Colorado Convention Center, 700 14^th St, Denver, CO

 8:00 AM          Sign-in

 8:30 AM          PRELIMINARY BUSINESS MEETING

1. Local arrangements report
2. Introductions
3. Minutes of 2016 meeting (Surendra Dara)
4. Chair/Vice Chair report (Surendra Dara and Bob Behle)
5. Administrative Advisor comments (Rogers Leonard)
6. Other?

 9:15 AM          NEW PROJECT REVIEW AND PLANNING-Large acreage crops - Bob Behle and Stefan Jaronski

 10:15 AM        Break

 10:30 AM        NEW PROJECT REVIEW AND PLANNING-Orchard systems - David Shapiro-Ilan

 12:00               LUNCH          (on your own)

 1:30 PM          NEW PROJECT REVIEW AND PLANNING-Small fruits and vegetables - Surendra Dara

 2:30 PM          NEW PROJECT REVIEW AND PLANNING-Urban and natural landscapes, rangelands, and Nurseries - David Oi                        

 3:30 PM          BREAK         

 3:45 PM          NEW PROJECT REVIEW AND PLANNING-Microbial control outreach (New)

                        Extension meetings and materials in California, Interstate outreach activities, Annual extension meetings in California or other places

 4:45 PM          NEW OFFICERS INTRODUCTION

 5:00 PM          ADJOURN

Participants Previously listed: 

 **Additional Researchers from South Africa, Israel, Mexico, Canada, and Honduras also attended the meeting along with US researchers.

Apologies were sent by the following as they could not make it to the meeting: Albrecht Koppenhöfer, Gabriel Mascarin, Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes, Parwinder Grewal, Pasco Avery.

S1070 Regional Research Project Business Meeting Minutes (Summary)

1. Local arrangements report: (Bob Behle and Surendra Dara) 
2. Introductions: Surendra Dara (2017 chair): Welcomed all and began with introductions (18 participants). Attendees introduced themselves including short introduction about their affiliation and work.
3. Minutes of 2016 (prepared by Tarryn Goble): A copy of the 2016 minutes was circulated electronically prior to the meeting and a hardcopy was available at the meeting. A motion to approve the 2016 minutes was made by Stefan Jaronski and was seconded by David Shapiro. The motion passed unanimously. Minutes of the 2017 meeting are required to be posted within 60 days.
4. Chair report (Surendra Dara) was successful in renewal to S1070. The next ESA meeting (2018) will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada along with Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) and Entomological Society of British Columbia (ESBC).
5. NIFA administrators report (Rogers Leonard): Funding for workgroups is generally declining due to the lack of participation and other factors, but getting renewal for this one is an accomplishment. Members should sign-up in NMISS system. Rogers reviews the project report and forwards it to external review.  Elaborated on the comments of different reviews especially the one that pointed out the lack of cohesion among different participants or their work.  Emphasized the need to make entries into Appendix C.  Along with the university and government agencies, industry and student participation is also encouraged.  He sends out a notification to several research stations and other people.  Noted that we need to increase the awareness of the group and participation. Regional review, letter of participation from universities, addition in appendix, letter of participation also need to be addressed.
6. Stefan added that we need to cope with lack of industry representatives and letter of invitation should be send to new people, should search for potential new sponsors. David Shapiro-Ilan suggested sending out emails to entomopathologists that are not a part of the group and encourage them to join.
7. Surendra stated that now Bob Behle will be chair and Stefan Jaronski was voted to serve as the new member at large.  The 2018 Meeting will be held on November 10, 2018, at Vancouver, BC, Canada. 
8. Officers for the 2018 meeting are as follows: Bob Behle, Chair; Jimmy Klick, Vice-chair; Tarryn Goble, Secretary; Stefan Jaronski, Member-at-large; Rogers Leonard, Administrative Advisor

 Concluding Statements

1. Surendra Dara emphasized on official collaboration among the group members as co-authors in publications.
2. Group members discussed regarding the possibility of recording the experiments and uploading them on you-tube.
3. The topic for next year meeting was discussed by members. Surendra suggested topic about synergies. Jason suggested the title: Microbial Synergies and Interaction in Biocontrol Systems.  

This is a continuing proejct from Project S1050 and the Group continued discussion of projects and research outputs gained from ongoing activities.  Participants talked about Large acreage crops, Orchard systems, Small fruits and vegetables and Urban and natural landscapes, Rangelands, and Nurseries. The discussion was used to plan and coordinate efforts for future work of S1070 members. 

Large acreage crops

David Shapiro-Ilan: Started some work with peanut burrowing bug and maize weevil.

Gadi Reddy: Wheat stem sawfly and wireworm research with nematodes.  PhD student is working on different species of nematodes and planning to do field experiments next year on spring wheat. Thick cuticle of wireworm is one of the reasons for slow outcomes in nematode–wireworm interaction. 

Govinda Shrestha: Bt work on alfalfa weevil to evaluate the impact on population reduction.  BeetleGone provided 50-60% control.  It had no negative impact on parasitoid populations.   Conducted bioassays with a B. bassiana isolate on pea weevil.  Higher dose provided 50-60% control.  XPectro (B. bassiana+pyrethrins) also provided similar control.  Initial assay with lady beetle showed a high mortality to lace wing larvae.  Jasmonic acid+S. feltiae+Barricade at 1% were effective against the orange blossom midge.

Anamika Sharma: Wireworm control with EPF grown on different substrates in field studies. Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium robertsii DWR 356 and DWR2009 (millet and polenta substrates) were used in furrows. Rate and the type of substrate appear to have an impact based on preliminary observations. Millet substrate showed better results. Small lab bioassay showed better results with M. robertsii on millet substrate. 

Stefan Jaronski: Beauveria and Metarhizium infections in diapausing wheat stem sawfly.  Beauveria pseudo bassiana, B. album and M. penthigi were identified and Jaronski and Reddy applied for a patent their use as endophytes through USDA.  Interestingly, neither the commercial Beauveria bassiana nor Metarhizium brunneum are able to colonize the wheat.  There is considerable among wheat varieties in receptiveness to being colonized by these fungi.    Eighteen varieties of wheat have been tested in an attempt to correlate fungal resistance of these wheat varieties to number of plant pathogens pathogens and receptiveness to colonization by the Beauveria or Metarhizium.  Wheat resistance to plant pathogens is semi quantitative at best and also developmental stage dependent, which factors complicate analysis.  Developmental stage of wheat plant seems to have an impact on the endophytic potential of EPF.  Wheat at early elongation stage is most susceptible to fungal colonization, at tiller stage is not receptive, at heading stage is less receptive. Fungal colonization lasts about 2-3 weeks then disaappears in the older plants. Resistance to plant pathogens through endophytic activity of EPF in different wheat varieties is also being evaluated.  A Georgian scientist will be visiting the USDA lab to look at the impact of these fungi on Fusarium, an important pathogen of wheat. New formulations to enhance endophytism from foliar application are being developed.. He also discussed the properties of different isolates, their sporulation potential, commercial formulations, and environmental viability. 

Hector Carcamo: Spoke about role of microbials in cereal leaf beetles. Botanigard was effective against the larvae in greenhouse and field plot studies, and somewhat compatible with the parasitoid Tetrastichus julis, but not economical.

Orchard System

Stefan Jaronski: APHIS has asked Stefan to identify a better EPF than PFR-97 to address the Asian citrus psyllid issue in Texas.  If commercial isolates don’t prove to be effective, indigenous isolates of Isaria will be evaluated in an assay system established at the APHIS facility in Mission TX. Stefan also discussed about the severity of the Asian Citrus Psyllid and its high priority scouting done in Texas and Florida. The ultimate goal is to get away from chemical pesticides for this pest and emphasize biocontrol, for example, releasing the parasitoid Tamarixia sp and using a microbial agent.

Elnat Zchori-Fein: Mentioned about using insect symbionts in positive way for pest control and reduced plant damage. Harvest and isolate symbionts from leaf hoppers which is vector of phytoplasma in grape vines. When spread on leaves, it eventually reaches phloem tissue and survive for several weeks, symptoms of phytoplasma reduced in sick plants. A new experiment with Liberibacter is being conducted on carrots. The application reduced the disease. This bacterium can be exported to Florida. It works as some kind of antibiotics or induced systemic resistance (ISR).   

Ricardo Alberto Toledo Hernandez: Spoke about problem of tomato-potato psyllid (Bactericerca cockerelli), which is a big issue in Mexico due to availability of ornamental plants which serves as host plant for these psyllids. Trying to control with Isaria and Tamarixia sp. Also talked about problem of coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) for coffee producers. Trying to convince farmers using B. bassiana, since this proved to be very effective. Also trying to use Heterorhabditis sp. for white grubs as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) can be a good solution for the residual inoculum of these grubs in the field. EPNs are produced at university. Koopert is another source but are expensive. Trying to establish lab for in vivo production of nematodes. Since much corn is produced in Latin America, EPNs are being tested for control of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).

David Shapiro mentioned about survival of nematodes in soil to control fall armyworm by using Spodoptera frugiperda nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV). But, virus production is expensive as stated by Ricardo.

Stefan Jaronski: In Puerto Rico and Hawaii, research is focused on improving B. bassiana’s economic feasibility against coffee berry borer.

Tshima: Working with David Shapiro-Ilan. Trying to conserve the beneficial traits in EPNs, using in bred lines to stabilize the traits. Attempts will be made for upscaling the EPN products and commercialize EPNS in South Africa. Effectiveness of EPNs are also tested against black cutworm, diamond back moth, Sesamia, codling moth, false coddling moths and chilo in laboratory and small scale field assay. Working with farmers to maintain the EPN population in fields.

Bob Behle: Testing susceptibility of Walnut husk maggots (Rhagoletis sp.) to entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). Preliminary work is being done. Insect biology is a problem to test the EPFs requiring new protocols to treat the maggots.

Stefan mentioned about inoculating the soil beneath trees with Metarhizium microsclerotia to manage cherry fruit flies.

David Shapiro-Ilan: Grandevo is providing equal levels of control compared to chemical standards against pecan weevil.  Since Grandevo is more expensive than chemicals, he is looking at the efficacy of lower rates and the efficacy against pecan aphids, another important pest complex.  Lady beetles and lacewings are not affected by Grandevo.  In collaboration with Tshima, evaluating the endophytic potential of Beauveria in pecan in South Africa. In peach, using EPNs against the peachtree borer and the additional benefits of controlling plant parasitic nematodes. In peaches, if EPNs are applied at the base of the tree at roughly $15/acre, which still seems expensive compared to chemical insecticides. So other mechanism are being explored to convince the farmers to use biopesticides. EPNs suppress phytoparasitic nematodes. Bacteria in EPNs produce certain metabolites that can suppress root knot nematodes and the mechanism of competition needs study. For plant parasitic nematodes, Steinernema feltiae is highly effective. Role of pheromones in communication in EPNs is being explored and a project is being developed on the same, so release of pheromones can be used to activate the EPNs (in cooperation with Ed Lewis, University of Idaho, and Fatma Kaplan Pheronym, Inc.).  Also looking at bacterial metabolites from nematode symbiotic bacteria in an orchard system. Can we use these metabolites to suppress plant diseases? Bacterial metabolites synergize with commercial fungicides. Using the ‘attract and kill’ technique in apples to control plum curculio using volatiles and EPNs.

Surendra Dara: In Mississippi, a project using epizootic fungus Entomophthora muscae for controlling spotted wing drosophila in fig orchards and other fruits orchards is being established.

 Small Fruits

Ann Hajek: Microsporidia to control brown marmorated stink bugs, they pick up the microsporidia through feeding.

Ricardo Alberto Toledo Hernandez: Exploring control of Cylas formicarius in sweet potato by using EPNs, Steinernema sp. and Heterorhabditis sp.

Jimmy Klick: Working with fresh market berries. PFR+ Azadirachtin has synergistic effect for broad mite. Other hosts of broad mites are citrus and pepper plants. Drip irrigation for strawberry using PFR 97, Met52, and BotaniGard applied every two weeks for four months. Did not work very well, may be due to the fact that strawberries are in the soil and treatments competed poorly against endemic soil fauna. Also working with two spotted spider mites. Lower fecundity was observed in the mites feeding on entomopathogen-exposed leaves. Also working with giant white fly on blue berries. Screened 30 products, leaf dip method was used.  Mycotrol and Mycotrol+Azadirachtin had good efficacy.

Jason Schmidt: Working on trophic analysis and tested using Drosophila on blueberry. 20 different commercial farms compared as conventional and unmanaged farms. Also spoke about movement of vectors and biocontrol agents between twin crops.

Rogelio Trabnino: Working on synergistic relation between entomopathogenic fungus and Drosophila that reduces fly reproduction, by releasing infected flies from laboratory colony.

Surendra Dara: Several microbial products were applied to zucchini. No difference was found against aphids, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies in pretreatment when used alone. In strawberry studies entomopathogen does not work alone. For specialty crops such as strawberry, we need to look for products which can promote growth and antagonize plant pathogens. 

Urban and Natural Landscapes, Rangelands, and Nurseries

Bob Behle: Working with Koppert in commercializing the microsclerotia-based M. brunneum formulation.  Evaluating black cutworm control in turf with Bt, Bb, and the black cutworm virus.

Ann Hajek: Asian longhorn beetle control with Met52 using the microsclerotia formulation, since non-host specific parasitoid are not working. In 2016, population outbreak of gypsy moth happened and entomopathogen fungus is not working for this in Southern New England because of hot weather conditions during the outbreak in May-June 2016.

Hector Carcamo: At the Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, a biopesticide has been developed for broad leaf weeds such as dandelion. Fact sheet available online: http://www.agr.gc.ca/resources/prod/img/science/pdf/13822/10777E_A52-120-1-2009_eng.pdf.  

Stefan: A new alginate micro-bead-based formulation of Metarhizium (DWR2009) and Beauveria from EcoPesticides have extended persistence under field conditions.  These formulations are effective against chewing insects although the current target is grasshoppers.  The USDA will be getting a locust-active Bt strain from China in the near future with the potential to do field studies next summer.  Also working on management of prairie dog fleas using Beauveria bassiana GHA strain, to reduce the potential of plague in both prairie dogs and humans.  Beauveria treatment resulted in a very high level of infection in prairie dog fleas.  In addition, he found three distinct Metarhizium isolates from prairie dog fleas, 70% of fleas from untreated prairie dog colony were found infected with Metarhizium and the species needs to be identified.

Submitted reports from members not in attendance: Updates on work with various entomopathogens against different pests. 

Steven Valles, Sanford Porter, and David Oi, ARS-Gainesville: The fire ant pathogen, Solenopsis invicta virus-3 (SINV-3), which was released in 2014-15, was surveyed for its continued presence the Palm Desert area of California in 2017.  SINV-3 was detected in 24% and 13% of samples from two release sites.  Positive samples were collected beyond the release sites and the 2016 sampling locations, thus the virus is established and spreading in the irrigated, desert climate of the Coachella Valley of California.  Preparations for releases of SINV-3 in Puerto Rico are now on hold due to Hurricane Maria. 

A fourth virus, Solenopsis invicta virus 4 (SINV-4) has been discovered in red imported fire ants.  The virus was discovered in South American populations of fire ants, but has since been detected in fire ants from the U.S.  SINV-4 exhibits a unique genome structure among RNA viruses leading to the creation of a new virus family, Polycipiviridae.  Viruses within this family appear to infect only ant species.  The first viral pathogen of the invasive, tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva virus 1 (NfV-1), is being evaluated for its potential as a classical biological control agent by comparing egg-laying rates of infected and uninfected queens.  Preliminary results suggested reduced fecundity in infected queens. 

Albrecht Koppenhofer’s group - Rutgers University: At Rutgers University (NJ, Koppenhöfer), the compatibility of Metarhizium brunneum F52 microsclerotia with common golf turf fungicides from different classes was tested.  Fungicides were incorporated into 1.2% water agar at rates that included and exceeded typical field rates and clay-based microsclerotial granules were added.  Chlorothalonil did not inhibit fungal growth; iprodione was slightly inhibitory at higher concentration; propiconazole, Twinline and Stratego, strongly inhibit fungal growth except at the lowest concentration.  In greenhouse studies, propiconazole, iprodione, and chlorothalonil were applied to pots with creeping bentgrass to which microsclerotia granules had been applied 1 day earlier.  After 10, 20 and 30 days, the number of fungal colony forming units (CFUs) in the top 2.5 cm of soil and the grass was significantly inhibited only by propiconazole. 

In greenhouse experiments, different rates of M. brunneum microsclerotia had no significant effect on survival of annual bluegrass weevil adults and larval population densities.  However, in a field experiment, microsclerotia and the insecticide imidacloprid provided additive control, albeit at a low level (44%).  Future experiments in greenhouse and field will compare the control efficacy of microsclerotia with that of commercial conidial spore formulations alone and in combinations with hydrogel and/or imidacloprid.

Pasco Avery - Horticulture and Fruit Pests /IFAS/Indian River Research and Education Center. Fort Pierce, Florida. Sri Lankan weevil.  Cocoplum leaves were sprayed with biopesticide treatments, 10 adult weevils were added to each container arena, and mortality was recorded daily. Each block of 24 containers was repeated in four laboratory trials and the data pooled. Adult weevils suffered significantly greater mortality with Entrust^® SC and BotaniGard^® ES. AzaMax and Sevin caused significantly more mortality than the control treatment of water only. Six trials with three repetitions per treatment were analyzed to compare mortality adult weevils on caged peach leaves treated with PFR-97™ 20% WDG, BotaniGard, Met 52^® EC, Aza-Max™, or water only. BotaniGard caused greater mortality compared to the other treatments.

Ambrosia beetles. Three entomopathogenic fungal products were tested for agrochemical compatibility for synergistic use in management of the ambrosia beetles that vector the laurel wilt pathogen in avocado trees. PFR 97 is not compatible with the following: fungicides - Abound, Flopan 80, Ridomil Gold SL, and Tilt; insecticides - Danitol, Hero, Malathion, Permethrin, Agrimek, VErtimek or Epimek, Talstar, and Mustang; and adjuvants - citrus oil, L1700, and Keyplex 350. BotaniGard is not compatible with the following: fungicides - Abound, Flopan 80 WDG, Switch 62.5 WG, and Pro Phyt Phosphonate; and insecticides - Danitol, Malathion, and Permethrin. Met 52 is not compatible with the following: fungicides - Flopan 80, Tilt and Pro Phyt Phosphonate; insecticides: Danitol and Malathion; and adjuvant - Keyplex 350 and should not be applied along with either of the individual fungal product.  Laboratory studies with direct exposure to the selected fungicide Cuprofix in combination with BotaniGard demonstrated they are compatible and resulted in the ambrosia beetles dying faster than if using BotaniGard alone.  Among insecticides, Hero and Talstar as well as permethrin (previously indicated to be incompatible) did not inhibit infection by the fungus in BotaniGard and allowed for the external growth of the fungus on the beetle which is necessary to kill the brood inside the tree. All of these compatible insecticides killed the beetles in less than 3 days after treatment and prevented them from boring into wood. These findings are important information for avocado growers in South Florida so that they know which synthetic pesticides can be applied with biopesticides.

ESA-PIE Section Symposium was sponsored by S-1070 (Surendra Dura, David Shapiro-Ilan Co-organizers) titled “Leveraging non-traditional uses of microbial control agents for broad application in crop protection and production”, November 8, 2017.  This outreach opportunity allowed members to update peer scientsits from other specific entomological disciplines on the outputs of the S1050/S1070 projects and expand their network of information dissemination. 

No publications included.