Grant Information
| Knowledge Area | Subject of Investigation | Field of Science | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems | 2110 - Ornamental trees and shrubs | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 20% |
| 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants | 1460 - Tomato | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 15% |
| 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants | 2122 - Potted plants | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 15% |
| 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants | 910 - Grapefruit | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 15% |
| 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants | 920 - Orange | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 15% |
| 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants | 1499 - Vegetables, general/other | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 10% |
| 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems | 1429 - Cucurbits, other (includes pumpkin, squash, gourd) | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 10% |
New plantings of citrus will be established and subjected to various insecticide treatments to control the Asian citrus psyllid, vector of huanglongbing disease. The trees will be certified as disease-free at planting and thereafter monitored every three months for the disease.
This project is related to inhouse project Objective 3c: Investigate basic biology and ecology of the Asian citrus psyllid and its natural enemies in Florida citrus. Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating citrus disease vectored by Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Psyllid control is considered vital to HLB management. Information was available on insecticide programs for psyllid control but not on the effectiveness of such programs for keeping HLB out of young citrus. Two experiments were concluded on protecting young citrus from HLB using insecticide programs and other tactics to suppress psyllid infestations. Results of the experiments indicated that up to 8 monthly applications per year of hard insecticides applied on a calendar schedule were ineffective for preventing HLB in young citrus. The programs may have been more effective had citrus in the surrounding areas been subjected to more intensive psyllid control and diseased trees in these areas been removed to reduce inoculum loads. Better ACP and HLB control in the young trees might have been achieved if the trees had been scouted to determine frequency and timing of insecticide treatments.