Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The group met on October 17-18th, 2019 on the Pennsylvania State University campus in University Park, PA. We had 12 participants attending the meeting that was led and organized by Jared Ali. We had many first time participants.  Our goal was to discuss the next directions for the group and how they impact sustainable management practices in the Northeast. To this end, we had a specific theme for this meeting:  “Defining new goals of chemical ecology for sustainable pest management”.  The day was structured into two sessions The first session comprised of talks by each PI geared to touch on the following three topics: A) Talk about how your research has made an applied contribution with specific discussion of what the key features lead to this success, B) Discuss a result you have that you think could be applied, point out what you think the stumbling blocks to application are and get feedback on making this jump, and C) Discuss a totally fundamental idea that you think people with an applied focus should be taking into consideration. In the second session we had a larger group discussion on how we should structure the resubmission of the hatch project and what major themes should be included.

The executive decisions that were made during this meeting were:

• That the next organizational meeting is going to be organized at Cornell University (unless after polling the members not present, via emai,l have an alternative suggestion) and it will be taking place in Fall 2020.
• That the chair of the Executive Committee for the next year was going to be Andre Kessler, with representative at large and the secretary to be decided.
• We decided to re-submit our hatch project for consideration.

MEETING MINUTES (summary of main results and points discussed)

General Topic of this year’s meeting and talk format: “Turning our biological discoveries into useful applications”

1) Morning session

Talks per PI on the following:

1. Talk about how your research has made an applied contribution with specific discussion of what the key features lead to this success
2. Talk about a result you have that you think could be applied, point out what you think the stumbling blocks to application are and get feedback on making this jump
3. Have a totally basic idea that you think people with an applied focus should be taken into consideration

2) Afternoon Discussions

Large group brain storming led by Jennifer to outline the resubmission goals.

Agenda

Thursday: 6 pm group dinner 

Friday meeting the “MorningStar Solar Home” 

9:30 coffee & Bagels

9:45 Welcome & Introductions

10:05- 11:05: Short intro talks  (Cesar, Jennifer, John, Jared, Jim, Will, Sar)

11.05-11:15: break

11:15-12:15: Short intro talks (Tom, Tanya, Rose, Anurag, Kelli, Susan, Flor)

12:15-1:15: Lunch

1:15- 1:25: Group photo

1:30-2:00: Discussing the renewal 

2:00-2:45: Topical Research Brainstorming

2:45-3:30: Reconvene

3:30-4:15: Topical Research Brainstorming

4:15-5:00: Reconvene and goals (Annual report, choosing next leadership, next meeting time and location, renewal process)

6pm Dinner

Outputs: The most significant outputs have been the writing of research proposals based on preliminary data gathered since the establishment of this multistate project. New funded projects that originated from this multistate include projects concerned with the conservation of monarch butterflies, through a better understanding of the interactions with milkweeds; projects investigating the trade-offs between crop protection and pollination services have been initiated that involve PI’s with expertise in pollination, agricultural economics, crop protection, landscape ecology and agroecology; work utilizing indirect predator- prey interactions to protect crops; and a project looking at how the apple microbiome has downstream consequences for insect resistance. Manuscripts have been submitted and published during this time (for details see impact statement below). Most PI’s involved in this multistate have also disseminated their results at national conferences like the Ecological Society of America, Gordon Research Conferences, International Society for Chemical Ecology and the Entomological Society of America meeting. PI’s have also interacted with farmers, and other stakeholders such a beekeepers and crop breeders, to start establishing means by which the performed research can be translated to tools and management strategies to protect pollinators, reduce pest pressure and increase yields.

Activities/Milestones:

This year, Michael Stout’s group focused on the possibility that treating rice seeds with methyl jasmonate could protect rice from pest herbivores by inducing resistance in plants was tested in small-plot field trials in 2017 and 2018.Treatments applied to plots were factorial combinations of 2.5 mM methyl jasmonate (applied by soaking seeds) and repeated applications of a pyrethroid insecticide.  Results showed that methyl jasmonate seed treatments reduced populations of the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus) almost as effectively as insecticide applications. Methyl jasmonate treatments also reduced plant emergence and plant biomass and delayed heading.  Yields, however, did not appear to be reduced. The effect of methyl jasmonate seed treatments on rice plant yields were further investigated in a greenhouse environment lacking pests in 2019, and again no significant effect on plant yield was observed (although plant growth was again reduced).  Thus, treatment of rice seeds with methyl jasmonate may be an effective tool for reducing populations of early-season pests in rice. The results of the field experiments conducted in 2017 and 2018 were published in a refereed journal in fall of 2019. An additional project conducted by an undergraduate investigated the combined effects of low doses of Bt toxins (Cry1Ac) and resistant maize varieties against fall armyworm.  Several putatively resistant and susceptible maize lines (obtained from X. Ni, USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA) were tested and experiments have nearly been completed. The effects of plant resistance and Bt toxin on armyworm growth and mortality were found to be mostly independent of one another; little evidence of synergism or antagonism was found. Another set of experiments has been initiated to characterize the volatiles emitted by rice panicles at several stages of development and to determine which of the volatiles are involved in attraction of rice stink bugs to panicles. To this point, a series of behavioral assays have shown that rice stink bugs prefer to feed on panicles in the milk stage of grain development, and that they may be attracted to previously injured panicles over uninjured panicles.

Over the past year the group lead by Scott McArt accomplished several of their multi-state chemical ecology project goals. This year of the project focused on initiating and staffing a multi-residue pesticide detection facility at Cornell that’s available to all multi-state colleagues. This resulted in a facility that can currently quantify 270 pesticides in range of matrices (pollen, flowers, bees, soil, etc.). Next, field experiments focused on understanding co-occurring pesticide exposures to honey bees, bumble bees, and other wild bees during strawberry pollination. Finally, laboratory experiments tested whether common co-occurring exposures resulted in additive or synergistic toxicity to bees. The field and laboratory work is ongoing. In addition to making the multi-residue pesticide facility available to researchers and the public, we have published 1 peer-reviewed paper, 2 pesticide decision-making extension guides, used data from the project to leverage 1 USDA NIFA grant, and have 3 manuscripts in preparation.

The Adler lab has made significant progress in pollinator health. They have published our original findings that sunflower pollen reduced Crithidia in B. impatiens, reduced Nosema in Apis mellifera, and that more sunflower acreage was associated with lower Crithidia infection in wild-caught B. impatiens. They’ve has a manuscript that demonstrates that pollen from many cultivated sunflower cultivars, wild populations, two congeners, and Solidago, a distant relative in the same family, all reduce Crithidia in B. impatiens relative to buckwheat pollen, and most relative to sunflower pollen (LoCascio et al in review). Their other manuscript, which should be submitted in the next month, asks how timing of exposure to sunflower pollen during foraging or after infection affects Crithidia infection in B. impatiens. They’ve found that exposure to sunflower pollen during foraging does not influence infection, but the timing and duration of sunflower pollen after inoculation both affect infection outcomes. Their research is allowing them to identify whether and under what conditions sunflower supplements could be developed and marketed for commercial bumble or honey bee rearing. So far, results seem more promising with bumble than honey bees.

 Yolanda Chen and her research group has meet a major accomplishment this past year. They studied the beetle genome for evidence of genomic features that could contribute to the beetle’s ability to evolve rapidly. Transposable elements contribute to least 17% of the beetle’s highly fragmented genome, suggesting that they may be a larger portion of a completed genomes. We found that the beetle has expansions in gene expansions in digestive enzymes and gustatory receptors. However, contrary to our expectations, CPB does not show expansions in gene families associated with detoxification. We have also found that CPB ranks as one of the fastest to evolve resistance to insecticides. We also published a phylogeographic history study on CPB showing that the pest populations are derived from plains beetles, and beetles in the southwestern US are more similar to Mexico. Finally, we also published a conceptual paper on transgenerational effects of insecticides, as part of a special issue in Current Opinion in Insect Science titled, “Ecological Adaptation in Agroecosystems”.

Kelli Hoover’s group completed studies on impact of phenolic glycosides on Asian longhorned beetle; began studies on pollinator deficiency of black cherry in Pennsylvania; began studies on plant-insect interactions and the requirement for tree-of-heaven for development of spotted lanternfly (SLF) on woody ornamentals and in forest systems. They determined that there is resource partitioning by Asian longhorned beetle and adults on poplars in response to high levels of phenolic glycosides in bark (fed on by adults), but not wood (fed on by larvae). The group also demonstrated that the fungal gut symbiont of ALB is transmitted from mother to offspring during oviposition. In addition, they documented that lepidopterans feeding on the same host plant in the same part of the plant and the same field harbor different gut microbial communities, likely due to an environment X genetic interaction. Lastly, they figured out how to rear spotted lanternfly under greenhouse conditions in quarantine; also set up field experiment with planted trees in replicated plots in SLF quarantine zone to investigate differences in SLF performance on different host plants.

 Work in Susan Whitehead’s lab is relevant to two of the major goals of the multistate project: (1) Develop chemical ecology tools and information to support sustainable agriculture by reducing damage by pests in crops such as potatoes, brassicas, cucurbits, apples, blueberries, and sweet corn, while maintaining pollinator health in agricultural systems, and (2) Assess the impact of domestication on plant and animal chemical ecology in agricultural fields and identify unifying patterns of human and natural selection on chemical interactions of crop plants.We focus on apples as a model system to address these goals. Apples produce a diversity of both volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites that could function in defense, but their effects on herbivores and natural enemies are almost entirely unexplored. Furthermore, nothing is known about how apple chemical defenses may have been altered during domestication. Our research this year focused on chemical analyses and integrating and analyzing data from past experiments to examine: 1) how apple fruit chemistry mediates resistance to fruit-feeding insects, 2) how fruit chemistry changes in response to insect feeding, and 3) how fruit chemistry has changed during apple domestication. Given that insecticides cost US farmers over $4.3 billion annually, understanding and harnessing natural fruit defenses could be a promising tool to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of apple production.

In this reporting period, Rachel Vannette’s group worked on two projects related to the goal of the multi-state group. Project 1: Microbial communities of floral nectar and effects on chemistry and pollinators.They continued to examine the composition of microbial inhabitants of flowers and their effects on pollinators. Volatile composition of nectar-dwelling microorganisms including 2 fungal species and 2 bacterial species were validated using quantitative methods. This forms an excellent dataset for future manipulative experiments. The effects of microbial volatiles on honey bees was examined. They found that microbial taxa inhabiting nectar produce volatile compounds, that honey bees can detect these compounds, that bees exhibit specific preferences for the volatile blends of particular microbial strains. In particular, the volatiles produced by the nectar yeast Metschnikowia reukaufiiwere distinct and most attractive to honey bees compared to other fungi and bacteria isolated from flowers. They also identified fungal volatiles from field-sampled plants that had high densities of yeasts in floral nectar, suggesting that microbial growth can influence floral scent in field conditions. They screened nearly 50 plant species for abundance of fungi and bacteria in floral nectar. This work is being analyzed and written up. Other related projects also continued. They performed experiments to examine which microbial strains may act as effective antagonists in floral nectar against the pathogen Erwinia amylovoraand identified candidates. They are also performing antagonist trials to examine which floral microbes can suppress the growth of the fungus (Monilinia laxa) that causes blossom blight in almond. Project 2: Effects of soil management on plant chemical defense against pests:They also continued examining how soil management practices influence microbial composition and plant defense. Results were submitted for publication. In summary, They found that organic management significantly influences both bacterial and fungal composition in tomato rhizosphere and are linked to plant defense against phloem-feeders.

Judy Wu Smart’s projects aligns with NE1501 objectives @2,3, and 6.To accomplish these objectives, their project goals are as follows: Examine the role existing tree lines play as drift barriers on crop margins to reduce neonicotinoid dust contamination in non-target areas and reduce Bt toxin exposure on butterflies. 2. Assess benefits of in-field options (winter wheat/legume cover crop mix in the corn-soy rotation) in regards to enhanced bee forage via cover crop on bees and on soil quality and corn yields.3. Assess impact of landscape enhancements (pollinator habitat & drift barriers) on pollinator and other beneficial insect community abundance and diversity.4. Evaluate NE farmer willingness to adopt landscape enhancements using surveys and economic modelling and provide opportunities for outreach and educational events and materials (agroecosystem demonstration farms for other growers, 4-H and K-12 groups, Best Management Practices guidelines).

The Agrawal group has now completed three studies of crop domestication and their impacts on plant secondary metabolites and resistance to insects herbivores using lettuce, sweet potato, and squash. Work involved collaboration with scientists from NC State as well as California. The lettuce results were more promising, and showed that in multiple cultivars, resistance of lettuce varieties was reduced compared to wild lettuce. However, this effect was reversed when latex was deactivated in plants, likely because of higher nutritive value of wild lettuce leaves (in the absence of latex).  We will conduct some final chemical analyses and work towards publication. Work with squashes was detailed at the multi-state meeting and a paper has been submitted (see below). Briefly, we used two distinct domestication events of Cucurbita pepo to identify mechanisms of reduced preference to the striped cucumber beetle (and the interaction between plant traits and pheromone production).

This year, research lead by Jennifer Thaler addressed Objective 2 of the Multistate projectThis year, our research addressed Objective 2 of the Multistate project. Little is known about population variation in predator- prey interactions even though it is critical for understanding how biological control agents will work in different locations. We have been measuring variation in responses to predators between populations of Colorado potato beetles that are resistant or susceptible to insecticides. Colorado potato beetle is well- known for it’s ability to evolve resistance to insecticides, making it a difficult pest to control. In places with a history of intensive insecticide use, resistance has evolved. This may impact interactions with predators because resistant individuals have different behavior and physiology than susceptible individuals. This may impact the effectiveness of biological control agents in populations with resistant individuals. This year, we analyzed the results from the resistant/susceptible populations and began working on writing the manuscript. In addition, we worked on the statistical analysis and writing up the results from the landscape experiment that we conducted in Year 1 of this project looking at how the farm environment affected the prey responses to predators. We found that beetles from farms in low complexity landscapes were more responsive to their predators, suggesting they may be more defended against biocontrol agents.

Katja Poveda has established plots of two varieties of zucchini, one that was more resistant and one more susceptible to striped cucumber beetle summer. Each variety was subjected to different treatments that differed in the way the insecticide was applied to the plant (control, foliar application, seed coating and soil drenching). Soil drenching and seed coating provided the best pest control and reduced leaf damage. They are currently analyzing the results of insecticide residue found in the pollen and nectar to hopefully find insecticide application methods that reduce plant damage and reduce the impact on pollinators. 

The group lead by Jared Ali has three projects. i)Cover crops legacy effects on plant resistance to herbivores: With funding from the USDA theyare investigating how multiple management components can be integrated to enhance plant resilience to stressors and improve productivity. We have found that the species of cover crop farmers choose has legacy effects on the subsequent corn crop’s resistance to the European corn borer, and that this legacy is mediated by soil fertility and/or mycorrhizal colonization. The goal of this proposal is to discover mechanisms that control the cascade of interactions linking cover crops, soil fertility, and corn pest management. ii) Using beneficial nematodes to prime plant resistance to pests: In this project we are studying chemical cues that play important roles in ecological interactions, especially among plants and invertebrates. A relatively recent and exciting discovery is that plants perceive and respond to chemical cues, often detecting herbivore-associated cues as a warning to prepare for future attack. Finding novel ways to harness these natural cues and organismal responses for enhancing crop protection represents a new frontier in agroecology. A major goal of this project is to elucidate indirect benefits of EPNs for plant protection against herbivores. iii)Monarchs, migrations and milkweed: We have initiated a pollinator health conservation project linking variation in milkweed defense biochemistry to variation in larval and resulting adult monarch butterfly fitness traits. We are quantifying variation in plant toxicity traits within and across milkweed species using state-of-the-art methods in chemical ecology to determine how plant defense affects larval growth and subsequent adult fecundity, in reproductively active monarch butterfly cohorts. Using a combination of respirometry, flight kinematic analyses, and studies of lipid metabolism, we are examining how milkweed toxicity experienced during larval stages affects adult flight performance and energetics in migratory monarchs and will link these effects to expression of microRNAs controlling traits associated with migratory phenotypes. This project adds a novel perspective to typical chemical ecology practices to studying plant-herbivore interactions by examining physiological consequences of trophic interactions across the entire ontogeny of an herbivorous insect. The project substantially advances the knowledge of the basic biology of the iconic milkweed-monarch butterfly system, a model migratory insect with a complex ecology.

Cesar Rodriguez-Saona lead a number of projects that align with the goals of the multi-state group.Goal 1: They conducted studies on the chemical ecology of the new invasive pest, spotted wing drosophila (SWD). They evaluated an "attract-and-kill" strategies to control SWD known as "HOOK SWD Lure-and-Kill" (ISCA Technologies, Inc.).” We conducted cage studies to assess the effects of SWD density on the efficacy of this attract-and-kill strategy. They determined that the efficacy of HOOK SWD decreases with increasing SWD densities. Goal 2: In previous studies, they determined that phytoplasma infection of cranberries improves nutrient content and reduces defenses, which in turn improved adult mass of insect vectors but reduced their oviposition. Phytoplasma infection also improved non-vector larval mass and consumption. In 2019, they conducted studies on the effects of various commercially-available activators of the salicylic acid (Actigard, Regalia, LifeGard) and jasmonic acid (Blush 2X) defense pathways on vector and non-vector insects. They found that phytoplasma infection interacted with elicitors to affect vector and non-vector differently. In general, all activators of defenses made the plants more susceptible to these insects. Similarly, phytoplasma infection increased plant susceptibility to herbivores regardless of activator treatment. They are currently analyzing the nutrient content, phytohormone and proanthocyanidin levels, and defense gene expression of phytoplasma-infected and uninfected cranberry plants treated with these various defense activators. Goal 3: They evaluated the effects of domestication on plant defenses against herbivores in blueberries. They tested the preference of the new invasive pest, spotted wing drosophila, between wild and domesticated blueberries. Choice experiments were conducted and headspace volatiles were collected and identified. They found that wild berries more attractive to SWD than cultivated berries. We identified four compounds from wild berries that attract SWD.Goal 4: Ongoing research outlined in this project was presented at national and international scientific meetings, including the 2019 Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting (St. Louis, MO), the 2019 International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) Annual Meeting (Atlanta, GA), the 2019 Asia-Pacific Association of Chemical Ecologists (APACE) Meeting (Hangzhou, China), and at annual blueberry and cranberry growers meetings in New Jersey.

Milesstones: As a group we have reached several milestones pertaining to our different objectives. Most activities have been focusing on defining the variability of chemical mediated interactions between pests, crops and beneficial organisms in terms of plants chemistry, species interaction and landscape factors in the Northeast (Objective 2). Here we have an overall better understanding of which chemical cues are mediating interaction between plants and their herbivores, how the landscape is shaping interaction between crops, herbivore pests, and predators, how plant quality can affect pollinator health and how the quality of the crop influence their interactions with herbivores. Regarding our second objective on developing chemical ecology tools and information to support sustainable agriculture by reducing damage by pests in crops such as potatoes, brassicas, cucurbits, apples, blueberries, and sweet corn, while maintaining pollinator health in agricultural systems we have definitively started to identify the main chemical cues that are involved in important interaction between plants and their pests or vectors of important diseases. There are promising tools that can help control Spotted Lanternfly, Spotted Wing Drosophila, while other information could be used as tools for more sustainable agriculture. Our 5^th objective of establishing a chemical ecology analytical facility in the Northeast has progressed. By further establishing ties between Cornell's and Pennstate's Chemical ecology Core groups and facilities we have begun to work out funding structures and pipelines to process samples and/or analyze behavior.  The shared expertise among members of this multistate have allowed for the availability of shared equipment across the NE, fulfilling this objective.

Training 

Several postdocs, technician and PhD students have been trained across these projects with planned travel and cooperation between universities. They are not just receiving training on the chemical ecology of plant interactions and their potential use for sustainable agriculture, but also receiving substantial professional development. 

Planned activities for the next year

In the coming year, we have planned to resubmit for renewal of the chemical ecology research multi-state network.  Also grant proposals will continue to be written based on preliminary data generated in the course of this multistate.  We will continue developing all proposed objectives, and work on new items in our developing project renewal. All groups that have obtained funding through this multistate will also present the results to the research community at national meetings and will disseminate their work also at local farmer meetings.

1. Iverson, A. L., C. Hale, L. Richardson, O. Miller and S. H. McArt. 2019. Synergistic effects of three sterol biosynthesis inhibiting fungicides on the toxicity of a pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticide to bumble bees. Apidologie 50:733-744.
2. Van Dyke, M., E. Mullen, D. Wixted and S. H. McArt. 2018. A pesticide decision-making guide to protect pollinators in landscape, ornamental, and turf management. 36 pp.
3. Van Dyke, M., E. Mullen, D. Wixted and S. H. McArt. 2018. A pesticide decision-making guide to protect pollinators in tree fruit orchards. 31 pp.
4. Bjorklund N., Lamke K., Gupta Vakil S., and Wu-Smart J. (2018) Alfalfa leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata F.) arthropod pests and management. Pacific Northwest Insect Pest Management Handbook.
5. Mollet K., Gupta Vakil S., and Wu-Smart J. (2018) Alkali bee (Nomia melanderi Ckll.) arthropod pests and management. Pacific Northwest Insect Pest Management Handbook.
6. Lamke K. and Wu-Smart J. (2018) Blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria Say) arthropod pests and management. Pacific Northwest Insect Pest Management Handbook.
7. Brummel S., Brummel C., Scholl D., and Wu-Smart J. (in review) Getting Honey Certified in Nebraska. Neb Guide Publication.
8. Lamke K., Schacht W., Wedin D., and Wu-Smart J. (in review). Conserving Biodiversity: A Bee’s Role in Prairie Grasslands. Nebraska Extension Circular.
9. Mollet K., Peterson J., Schacht W., and Wu-Smart J. (in review). Pollinator Habitat Program for Public Land Managers in Nebraska. Neb Guide Publication.
10. Chen, J. *, M.J. Stout, J. Beuzelin, T. Smith, D. Labonte, and J.A. Davis. 2019. Host preference of sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers): an example of Hopkins' host-selection principle. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-019-09704-0.
11. Kraus EC, Stout MJ (2019) Seed treatment using methyl jasmonate induces resistance to rice water weevil but reduces plant growth in rice. PLoS ONE 14(9): e0222800. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222800.
12. Salamanca, J., Brigida Souza. B., Vera Kyryczenko-Roth, V., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2019. Methyl salicylate increases attraction and function of beneficial arthropods in cranberries. Insects, Special Issue on “Semiochemicals and Insect Behavior,” 10, 423, doi: 10.3390/insects10120423.
13. Pradit, N., Mescher, M., De Moraes, C., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2019. Phytoplasma infection of cranberry affects development and oviposition, but not host-plant selection, of the insect vector Limotettix vaccinii. J. Chem. Ecol. doi: 10.1007/s10886-019-01137
14. Brzozowski, L.J., J. Gardner, M.P. Hoffmann, A. Kessler, A.A. Agrawal, M. Mazourek. (in review) Attack and aggregation of a major squash pest: parsing the role of plant chemistry and beetle pheromones.Ecological Entomology.
15. Schaeffer RN, C Rering, I Maalouf, JJ Beck, Vannette RL, Microbial metabolites elicit distinct olfactory and gustatory preferences in bumblebees, Biology Letters 15 (7), 20190132.

16. Schmidt, JE, Igwe AI, Blundell R, Gaudin A, Casteel, C, Vannette RL, “Effects of agricultural management on rhizosphere microbial structure and function in processing tomato” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, AEM. 01064-19.

17. Lee, C*. Tell L, T Hilfer*, Vannette RL. 2019. Microbial communities in hummingbird feeders are distinct from floral nectar and influenced by bird visitation. Proc R Soc B. 286 (1898), 20182295.
18. Zemenick, A., Rosenheim, J, Vannette RL. Legitimate visitors and nectar robbers of Aquilegia formosa have different effects on nectar bacterial communities , Ecosphere e02459.

19. Rering C, Beck JB, Vannette RL, Willms SD. Quantitative assessment of nectar microbe-produced volatiles. Role of Natural Products for Biorational Pesticides in Agriculture. ACS. Book Chapter
20. Blundell, R, Schmidt JE, Igwe AI, Cheung AL, Vannette RL, Gaudin A, Casteel, C “Organic management promotes natural pest control through enhanced plant resistance to insects”, in revision and at biorxiv https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/787549v1
21. Zemenick, A. Vannette RL, Rosenheim J. Floral visitation networks shape plant-microbe interactions, on biorxiv https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/847376v1.abstract
22. Davidson-Lowe, E., Szendrei, Z., & Ali, J. (2019). Asymmetric effects of a leaf-chewing herbivore on aphid population growth. ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, 44(1), 81-92. 

23. Stelinski, L. L., Willett, D., Rivera, M. J., & Ali, J. (2019). ‘Tuning' communication among four trophic levels of the root biome to facilitate biological control. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL., 131, (pp. 49-53). 

24. Helms, A. M., Ray, S., Matulis, N. L., Kuzemchak, M. C., Grisales, W., Tooker, J. F., & Ali, J. (2019). Chemical cues linked to risk: Cues from below-ground natural enemies enhance plant defences and influence herbivore behaviour and performance. FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, 33(5), 798-808.

25. Paudel, S., Lin, P.-A., Foolad, M. R., Ali, J., Rajotte, E. G., & Felton, G. (2019). Induced Plant Defenses Against Herbivory in Cultivated and Wild Tomato. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY, 45(8), 693-707.
26. Markovic, D., Colzi, I., Taiti, C., Ray, S., Scalone, R., Ali, J., Mancuso, S., & Ninkovic, V. (2018). Airborne signals synchronize the defenses of neighboring plants in response to touch. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 70(2), 691-700.
27. Ray, S., Helms, A. M., Matulis, N. L., Davidson-Lowe, E., Grisales, W., & Ali, J. G. (2019). Asymmetry in Herbivore Effector Responses: Caterpillar Frass Effectors Reduce Performance of a Subsequent Herbivore. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 1-8.