Grant Information

SPLAT ACPAB A&K FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID, THE KEY VECTOR OF CITRUS GREENING

Sponsoring Institution National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Program 8.2 - Plant Production and Protection-Biology
Status COMPLETE
Funding Source SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
Division NIFA Non Formula
Reporting Frequency Annual
Project Director MAFRA-NETO, AGENOR
Accession Number 229991
Grant Number 2012-33610-20322
Project Number CALW-2012-02145
Proposal Number 2012-02145
Dates 2012-09-01 - 2015-08-31
Grant Year 2012
Cumulative Award Amount $450,000.00
Recipient Organization ISCA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2060 CHICAGO AVE STE C2
RIVERSIDE,CA 92507
Keywords attractant,
candidatus liberibacter spp.,
citrus greening disease,
citrus psyllid,
diaphorina citri,
huanglongbing,
integrated pest management.
non-polluting control,
semiochemical,
Research Effort Applied (100%)
Basic (0%)
Developmental (0%)
Classification Parameters
Knowledge AreaSubject of InvestigationField of SciencePercent
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants 3110 - Insects 1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics 80%
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants 920 - Orange 1130 - Entomology and acarology 20%
Non-technical Summary

In Phase II, we intend to further evaluate possible ACP attractant components in order to obtain an optimized, highly effective attractant which will be formulated in SPLAT for use as a lure for monitoring (SPLAT ACPAB), and with a contact insecticide, to create a targeted attract & kill product (SPLAT ACPAB A&K). SPLAT formulations will be tested in field populations of ACP in Florida, Texas and California.

Goals / Objectives
With the recent invasion of California, ACP is now present in all major US citrus producing states. The HLB pathogen invariably follows the vector, with trees showing signs of the disease in approximately one to three years after infection. In Florida, the first detection of HLB in citrus trees in 2005 [20] triggered a concerted effort to detect and remove infected trees, which has now become a monumental task.In this Phase II research, we seek to develop an attract & kill formulation that can be combined with ISCA's Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application Technology (SPLAT) to control the Asian citrus psyllid.
Methods (unparsed)

In this Phase II research, we seek to develop an attract & kill formulation that can be combined with ISCA's Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application Technology (SPLAT) to control the Asian citrus psyllid.In Phase I, we were able to identify the best performing ACP lure that, when added to ISCA's ACP green glue trap, increased psyllid captures. In Phase II, we intend to further evaluate possible ACP attractant components in order to obtain an optimized, highly effective attractant which will be formulated in SPLAT for use as a lure for monitoring (SPLAT ACPAB), and with a contact insecticide, to create a targeted attract & kill product (SPLAT ACPAB A&K). SPLAT formulations will be tested in field populations of ACP in Florida, Texas and California.

Methods

In this Phase II research, we seek to develop an attract & kill formulation that can be combined with ISCA's Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application Technology (SPLAT) to control the Asian citrus psyllid.

In Phase I, we were able to identify the best performing ACP lure that, when added to ISCA's ACP green glue trap, increased psyllid captures. In Phase II, we intend to further evaluate possible ACP attractant components in order to obtain an optimized, highly effective attractant which will be formulated in SPLAT for use as a lure for monitoring (SPLAT ACPAB), and with a contact insecticide, to create a targeted attract & kill product (SPLAT ACPAB A&K). SPLAT formulations will be tested in field populations of ACP in Florida, Texas and California.

Project Timeline Tracking

Outputs

Target Audience
Citrus Industry Citrus growers Entomologists Fruit Juice Industry

Changes / Problems
A major problem identified in this project was the early issues observed with the original blend of attractant compounds in the field. While laboratory experiments suggested good results, field trials with the first SPLAT ACP A&K proved to be inconclusive. ISCA believes that results in the lab did not translate well to the field as the formulation was not exposed to the conditions as those seen in the field, for example an overabundance of visual and chemical stimulation in the way of new flush growth, which the psyllid finds extremely attractive were not seriously considered in early lab evaluations. This problem caused a major change in the project, in which ISCA attempted newly identified semiochemical compounds, especially highlighting the compounds that can compete and perhaps surpass the attractiveness of new flush growth. Field trials with the newly identified compounds proved to be much more successful than the original blend put together in this phase II.

Training & Professional Development
This project allowed ISCA to train workers at the University of Florida on the use of SPLAT control products in citrus. Furthermore, it also allowed these workers on the use of attractive semiochemical products for field evaluations in citrus and the asian citrus psyllid.

Dissemination Streams
Positive results have been disseminated with citrus stakeholders, trade shows and conferences. All results have been disseminated via entomological society meetings and conferences.

Next Reporting Steps
Nothing Reported