Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Brief summary

NCERA 224 meet on Dec 12 2022 at the Dobletree Hilton to discuss state reports in person and by zoom. Members attended an IPM tour of Coastal Georgia Botanical Garden (formerly as the Bamboo Farms), which is managed by University of Georgia (UGA) on Dec 13 2022.Ten state reports were discussed.

Washington, North Carolina, Indiana (2), Minnesota, Tennessee (2), Colorado, Ohio, South Carolina

State reports: 10 state reports attached

Accomplishments 10 state reports were submitted.

Members spoke of their local IPM research and outreach programs on plant diseases and insect issues.

Accomplishments 10 state reports were submitted.

Members spoke of their local IPM research and outreach programs on plant diseases and insect issues.

Gary Chastagner of WSU discussed:

Completed the national CoFirGE project, which evaluated the potential of 60 families of Turkish fir and 40 families of Trojan fir to produce high quality Christmas trees in the PNW. Scions from 10 to 20 top performing trees with excellent needle retentions are being used to establish a series of grafted seed orchards in OR and WA.

Developed an effective heat treatment to eliminate Megastigmus larvae in imported conifer seed and confirmed this treatment has no adverse effect on the germination and viability of seed.

Demonstrated that Botrytis is a limiting factor in the ability to use modified atmosphere systems to prolong the storage of peony flowers.

Data from Postdoctoral Research Associate Joey Hulbert’s Forest Health Watch program is being used by community members to monitor the distribution and severity of  Western Red Cedar decline, leaf blight on Pacific Madrone, and the emerging sooty bark disease on trees in urban landscapes and forests. Surveys and molecular DNA tests on samples from WA, OR, CA, MI, MO, NC, and SC, have detected C. corticale on 31 new potential host species in 19 genera. These results indicate that C. corticale, which causes sooty bark disease on trees and maple bark disease in humans is widespread on declining trees throughout western Washington and has a much broader potential host range and distribution than previously known.

In collaboration with the US Forest Service installed an Oregon Ash common garden trial to evaluate genetic diversity in this species.

Dr. Steven Franks of NCSU discussed:

We conducted research and extension related to IPM and biological control in greenhouses, nurseries, and urban landscapes. 1) Research is ongoing to understand conservation biological control in urban landscapes and specifically the role of urban trees in supporting natural enemy populations. 2) We conducted research on augmentation biological control and microbial control of mealybugs, scales, and other pests in greenhouses and how to integrate biological control with insecticides. 3) Research was conducted to understand the biology and management of European pepper moth. We now have knowledge of the life cycle, feeding preferences, effective insecticides, and we are beginning work with nematodes and other biological control measures. Our extension activities have been increasing since COVID. We gave several presentations and produced other extension resources this year.

Drs. Cliff Sadoff and Jana Beckerman of Purdue discussed:

In recent years, nurseries in multiple states have reported moderate to severe dieback, chlorosis and stunting of redbud, including vascular streaking. This issue is impacting seedlings, grafted plants, older nursery stock produced in container or field production settings and landscape plants. In September, several varieties of redbud being sold from a large nursery at their Noblesville location tested positive for the tentatively identified Rhizoctonia theobromae. An additional finding at an unrelated location was documented, as well. All redbuds from the TN shipping location were destroyed. Oregon redbuds have yet to develop symptoms or test positive. No additional species at that site were found to be symptomatic.

Testing is still ongoing regarding dying sassafras/laurel wilt in southern Indiana.

Endemic pathogens outbreaks were mostly (with some exceptions) mild due in part to an unusually dry spring. Cedar-quince rust (Gymnosporangium clavipes) continues to be severe on crabapples, hawthorns, serviceberry, and even Callery pear. Despite these dry conditions Botryosphaeria canker continues to be a problem on redbud, crabapple, white-cedar, dogwood, and viburnum. Powdery mildew was more severe as well, particularly on lilac, buckeye, ninebark, susceptible roses, and dogwood. A dry August resulted in an excellent mum crop. Phomopsis on Norway spruce continue to plague spruce across the state, replacing Rhizosphaera as the primary problem on (Colorado blue) spruce.

Insect Update

Relatively dry conditions during spring and summer facilitated spider mite outbreaks, and borer problems on landscape flowers and trees.  Borer problems were also exacerbated by dry conditions.

Exotic invasive species continue to dominate the entomological landscape. Spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) caused significant defoliation in the northern tier counties of Indiana. Examination of larvae by Indiana  DNR personell indicated a enough  nuclear polyhedrosis virus and Entomophaga maimaiga fungus in the current population to help reduce outbreaks next year. Nevertheless we worked with the Indiana DNR to develop protocols to apply for suppression funds for this pest.  

Emerald ash borer is still active in much of Indiana, albeit to a lesser extent due to the death of most ash trees. Resurgence is being seen in areas that stopped treating as well as ash forests that have regrown since

Dr. Vera Krischik of UMN discussed:

First introduced to the US from Japan in 1916, Japanese beetle was commonly found in MN by the 1990’s. Adult feeding by Japanese beetle results in damage to foliage and fruits, reducing food for bees and wildlife.

The long term research outcome is to establish an endemic pathogen to kill Japanese beetle. The pathogen Ovavesicula popilliae was first described in CT and was introduced by researchers into MI, KY, AR, CO, and KS.

For short-term management, research on the efficacy of new EPA approved microbial products, GrubGone (Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae), soil applied fungus Beauveria bassiana, parasitic nematodes, and bee-friendly insecticide chlorantraniilprole will be studied. The outcome will be site specific IPM protocols, demonstration projects in parks, and educational programs for outreach to increase implementation.      

Overwintering success of infected grubs and adult fecundity is reduced by as much as 50%. Beetle populations can decrease by 60 % in 5 years and 75% over 20 years. The pathogen has been found in MN through collaboration with Michigan State University.

Outcomes are to provide IPM management that protects pollinators in established bee lawns and restorations using biocontrol to reduce non-target effects from insecticides for native pollinators and beneficial insects. Websites, talks, and field days are important for education to tell the difference between deadly wasps and polite ground nesting bees.

Demonstration projects in parks will help with IPM adoption. For instance consumers need to know the difference in management for JB grubs that does not effect ground nesting bees or flower visiting bees. Bee identification is important so native ground nesting bees are not killed as consumers think that the bees are ground nesting wasps.

The Minneapolis Park and Rec Board, Lyndale Gardens, Hiawatha Golf Course, Washington Co Parks, Washington Co Conservation District, UM Hort Display Gardens, and Twin Cities Seed are cooperating with us on establishing a outside poster with information on IPM, managing JB with microbial insecticides, and the establishment

Dr. Pierluigi (Enrico) Bonello of OSU discussed:

Ohio State University mapped the environmental risk for beech leaf disease (BLD) across northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania and western New York.

Ohio State University showed the deleterious effects of climate change on the physiology of tree responses to Diplodia pinea that make the host much more susceptible to disease.

Ohio State University clarified the temporal expression of the various BLD symptoms.

Ohio State University formalized methodological pipelines on the use of metabarcoding for the diagnosis on novel tree diseases.

Dr. Ada Szczepaniec of CSU sent a state report:

Emerald ash borer status: EAB is active in the Front Range of Colorado and active infestations have been identified in major Northern Colorado cities, e.g., Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins. Infestations appear localized, and some municipalities like Fort Collins have been proactive in treating ash trees and assessing the extent of spread. Releases of parasitoid wasps are planned in collaboration with the City of Fort Collins Forestry Division in 2025, given the low populations of beetles that are localized to two sites in the northern part of town.

Japanese beetle: Japanese beetles remain the key pest of Colorado landscapes and are now well established in the western part of the State.

Ips spp. status: Bark beetles remain a key pest of spruce, elm, and ash trees weakened by EAB infestations. Recent wet spring and summer have alleviated the impact some, but infested trees continue to decline.

Dr. Karla Addesso of TSU sent a state report:

In 2023, we had our first report of major flea beetle management problems in a middle Tennessee nursery. There have been sporadic reports of flea beetles in the last few years, but no known established farm populations. This population was causing heavy damage to Itea, despite contact sprays being applied to control the adult population. We conducted a sweep net survey of the infested containers and blocks of host and non-host areas adjacent to the Itea. Sweep samples of the Itea collected 73 beetles on average. Fothergilla, a plant which was adjacent to the Itea and had minor evidence of feeding, had 8 beetles when directly adjacent to the Itea and 7 beetles in a plot located directly across a gravel driveway to the left of the Itea. One beetle was recovered from the boxwood block directly adjacent to the Itea with no visible feeding damage. A sweep was also made of the woodline located across a gravel drive on the right of the Itea. One beetle, on average, was collected in those sweeps.  Media/root cores were taken from the containers to see if eggs or larvae were present. Core samples were taken from 10 pots in each of the previously described plot locations. The plants were being grown in felt bags, so root balls could not be removed to look for larvae, as is commonly done with plastic containers. The cores were held for a week and observed for eggs or larval hatch. No definitive sign of flea beetle larvae or eggs were present in the media samples. The grower was provided with management suggestions for control.

Dr. William Kilingemn of UTN sent a report:

Research team members are involved in several projects to evaluating disease diagnostics and insect monitoring approaches for horticultural landscape and native plant pests. Molecular markers (SSRs) and TaqMan fluorescing probes are being developed and screened for detecting DNA of plant pathogenic diseases including

Laurel Wilt Disease, Harringtonia (syn. Raffaelea) lauricola; Oak wilt disease, Bretziella fagacearum, and other plant pathogens of interest (including vascular streak disease, Diplodia corticola and other canker-forming pathogens on oaks). Several of these pathogens have been found infecting host plant tissues and insects associated with host plants in Tennessee. Other diseases occur in adjacent states and potentially threaten TN (and SEUS) urban/forest and landscape hosts and insects may become candidate vectors in pathogen spread and persistence. Trapping optimization studies are being employed, with captured adult Chrysobothris beetles being used for molecular systematics in the genus and between C. femorata species group members, as part of a larger USDA NIFA SCRI project.

Two new faculty have joined the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department at UT as Assistant Professors with responsibilities in specialty horticulture/landscape crop IPM: Dr. Nar Ranabhat (Plant Pathologist) and Dr. Midhula Gireesh (Entomologist). Dr. Gireesh also works with arthropod pests in turfgrass systems.

Dr. JC Chong of Clemson U discussed:

Crapemyrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) has expanded its distribution in South Carolina since its first detection near Columbia, SC, in 2019. While available information indicated that this invasive felt scale species is distributed in two counties (Richland and York; https://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/uscounty.cfm?sub=80722), this team has received information on its establishment in at least seven other counties throughout the state. More importantly, this invasive species has been spread into nursery production in the state, causing significant damage to nursery growers who produce and sell crapemyrtles. The distribution and impact of this invasive species throughout SC and the southeastern US is likely to expand in the coming years.

Research team at Clemson University had conducted 30 trials in 2021-2022 to evaluate the efficacy of reduced-risk insecticides and miticides (e.g., afidopyropen, flupyradifurone, spiromesifen), biopesticides (e.g., Beauveria bassiana), and novel chemistries and biopesticides (e.g., ISM-555, SP3014, and V-10433) against sweetpotato whitefly, western flower thrips, Madeira mealybug, striped mealybug, redheaded flea beetle, omnivorous leafroller, and twospotted spider mite.

Impacts

All research and outreach programs were concerned with using IPM principles to reduce pesticide use, better time pesticide use, use cultural management, better identify pests, and protect pollinators and improve worker safety. Please see the individual state reports for details.

Publications

All members submitted citations on research and outreach papers. Please see the individual state reports for details.

All research and outreach programs were concerned with using IPM principles to reduce pesticide use, better time pesticide use, use cultural management, better identify pests, and protect pollinators and improve worker safety. Please see the individual state reports for details.