Grant Information
| Knowledge Area | Subject of Investigation | Field of Science | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems | 999 - Citrus, general/other | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 60% |
| 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants | 999 - Citrus, general/other | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 30% |
| 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants | 999 - Citrus, general/other | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 10% |
More than 270,000 acres of citrus, including lemons, navel oranges, Valencia oranges, mandarin types and grapefruit are grown in California and 75% of this acreage is found in the San Joaquin Valley region. The goal of this program is to develop ecologically and economically sound methods of controlling insect and mite pests of San Joaquin Valley citrus using integrated pest management (IPM) methods. Currently, key pests in this region include California red scale, citrus thrips, citricola scale and katydids. Depending on the current state of knowledge about these pests, the research program may include developing sampling protocols, utilizing pheromone traps for monitoring the pest or for mating disruption, determining fruit or yield damage thresholds, evaluating natural enemy releases, screening pests for pesticide resistance and testing new pesticides for efficacy against the pests and selectivity favoring their natural enemies. With an effective IPM program, citrus can be grown with a minimal number of insecticide treatments, thereby protecting humans and the environment, reducing pesticide resistance, and creating a sustainable crop system. In recent years, a number of exotic pests have invaded California citrus, including glassy-winged sharpshooter, citrus leafminer, Diaprepes root weevil, and Asian citrus psyllid. These invasions have a strong impact on the IPM program because exotic pests can be highly damaging, they generally arrive without adequate biological control and eradication or suppression efforts often require broad spectrum insecticide treatments. The research and education program must respond to these new invasions in order to maintain the citrus IPM program. The research results are communicated to California citrus growers, pest control advisors, nurserymen, packing houses, field workers, retailers, Master Gardeners and homeowners through newsletters, web sites, presentations, courses and brochures.
To develop ecologically and economically sound methods for controlling citrus arthropod pests that reduce dependency on broad spectrum pesticides and maximize nonchemical methods of control.
1) Develop arthropod sampling methods, degree-day estimates and economic thresholds of damage where needed. Work with other researchers and PCAs to devise sampling schemes in commercial orchards that reveal economically damaging levels of pests. Population levels that do not cause long-term yield or fruit quality reductions would be considered below an economic threshold. Evaluate pheromone traps and degree-day units to predict pest population development. Provide the degree-day information on a web page (www.uckac.edu/citrusent/). 2) Evaluate timing, rates, and methods of application of pesticides to improve selectivity favoring natural enemies, prevent phytotoxicity to the tree, and effectively reduce pest populations. A combination of laboratory bioassays and field plot tests continue to reveal new insecticides that have potential for controlling key citrus pests while allowing natural enemies to survive. Pests, natural enemies, tree yield and fruit scarring is evaluated on individual trees at harvest. 3) Screen pests and natural enemies for resistance to pesticides. For arthropods with well-established responses to pesticides, we use discriminating concentrations that kill 90% of susceptible strains to monitor for populations in the San Joaquin Valley that are resistant to pesticides. For new pesticides or pests, subjects are tested with 6-10 pesticide concentrations to define their baseline response. Monitoring is done yearly both to detect and document the severity of resistance, but also to determine if changes in pesticide practices result in a reduction in resistance. 4) Study natural enemies and demonstrate that they have an economic impact on their host or prey. We are currently monitoring citrus peelminer and citrus leafminer parasitoids in 6 San Joaquin Valley citrus orchards and evaluating their success. This is done by making weekly collections of the pests, rearing out the parasitoids, and identifying them. 5) Develop pest management strategies for responding to invasive pests and diseases. As pests and the diseases they vector approach California, develop informational brochures, teach courses, participate in workgroups and task forces, keep abreast of research occurring in the pests region of origin, conduct collaborative research before the pest arrives, and prepare pest management strategies for the growers when pest arrives in California. 6) Maintain a state-of-the art extension program, communicating citrus pest management information to the agricultural and urban communities. Procedures include photographing and video taping insect life cycles, producing color brochures, interactive online training courses for citrus pests, conducting a Positive Points system for growers to self-assess their sustainable practices, using a mobile teaching lab in citrus orchards to train in pest identification and sampling, conducting in-depth workshops on citrus pests and maintaining a web site with current information on citrus pests.
Target Audience
The target audiences included the scientific community,governmental agencies, citrus industry representatives (growers, packinghouses, nurserymen and pest control advisors), master gardeners, landscapers, students, educators, homeowners and foreign visitors.
Changes / Problems
Nothing Reported
Training & Professional Development
During 2010-2015 Grafton-Cardwell presented 12 talks to the scientific community and gave >110 extension presentations, maintained three web sites, a blog and a twitter account, developed and conducted 17 workshops on citrus pests, and made >75 contributions to grower magazines, newspapers, radio and videos on various citrus entomology topics for growers, pest control advisors, nurserymen, master gardeners, packinghouse personnel and the general public. Turning technologies quizzing units were used in 6 of the presentations to record audience knowledge and learning following training on citrus pests.
Dissemination Streams
The results have been disseminated to the citrus industry and the general publicthrough oral presentations, workshops providing detailed descriptions of pests and their management, through University of California Ag and natural resources online courses and production manuals, UC IPM guidelines and manualsfor citrus, websites, blogs, and twitter, classroom lectures,trainings forMaster Gardeners, and interactions with the media (tv, radio, and print). Some of the print materials, radio announcements and courseswere translated into Spanish.
Next Reporting Steps
Nothing Reported