Horticulture Commons^™

Genetic Diversity Of Purple Passion Fruit, Passiflora Edulis F. Edulis, Based On Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers Discovered Through Genotyping By Sequencing, Nohra Cecilia Rodriguez Castillo, Xingbo Wu, María Isabel Chacón, Luz Marina Melgarejo, Matthew Wohlgemuth Blair

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Orphan crops, which include many of the tropical fruit species used in the juice industry, lack genomic resources and breeding efforts. Typical of this dilemma is the lack of commercial cultivars of purple passion fruit, Passiflora edulis f. edulis, and of information on the genetic resources of its substantial semiwild gene pool. In this study, we develop single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the species and show that the genetic diversity of this fruit crop has been reduced because of selection for cultivated genotypes compared to the semiwild landraces in its center of diversity. A specific objective of the present study …

Comparative Performance Of Reduced-Risk Fungicides And Biorational Products In Management Of Postharvest Botrytis Blight On Bigleaf Hydrangea Cut Flowers, Ravi Bika, Cristi Palmer, Lisa Alexander, Fulya Baysal-Gurel

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Botrytis cinerea is one of the problematic and notorious postharvest pathogens of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) cut flowers. It causes flower blight, leaf blight, and stem rot, reducing the ornamental value (such as longevity, color, and texture) of flowers, ultimately making them unsalable. The objective of this study was to identify effective conventional fungicides and biorational products for botrytis blight management on bigleaf hydrangea cut flowers that can be easily and readily adopted by growers of ornamentals. Preventive preharvest whole-plant spray and postharvest dip treatment applications were used in this study. For the whole-plant spray applications, bigleaf hydrangea …

Comparative Performance Of Chemical And Biological-Based Products In Management Of Algal Leaf Spot On Magnolia, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Ravi Bika, Christina Jennings, Cristi Palmer, Terri Simmons

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Magnolia trees (Magnolia sp.) are a popular choice for consumers when choosing flowering woody plants for landscapes. Magnolia species grow in a wide variety of both temperate and tropical locations. Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is one of the more popular magnolias due to its pleasing aesthetics: large showy flowers in a range of colors and evergreen foliage. However, magnolias can be affected by algal leaf spot. Algal leaf spot is caused by Cephaleuros virescens, which is a widespread plant parasitic green alga. There has been little research on how to treat algal leaf spot on magnolia …

Evaluation Of Systemic Imidacloprid And Herbicide Treatments On Flatheaded Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Management In Field Nursery Production, Karla M. Addesso, Jason B. Oliver, Nadeer N. Youssef, Donna C. Fare

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

The flatheaded appletree borer, Chrysobothris femorata (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), and related species are deciduous tree pests. Female beetles prefer to oviposit at tree bases, and larvae tunnel beneath the bark, which weakens or kills young or newly transplanted trees. In the first objective of this study, Discus N/G (2.94% imidacloprid + 0.7% cyfluthrin) applied at six lower-than-labeled rates (0.0, 0.98, 1.97, 3.94, 5.91, and 7.87 ml/cm of average trunk dia.) was evaluated for protection of field-grown maples. A second objective evaluated imidacloprid with and without herbicides to assess the impact of weed competition at the tree base on insecticide effectiveness. …

Introgression Of The Afila Gene Into Climbing Garden Pea (Pisum Sativum L.), Oscar Eduardo Checa, Marino Rodriguez, Xingbo Wu, Matthew Wohlgemuth Blair

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

The pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most important crops in temperate agriculture around the world. In the tropics, highland production is also common with multiple harvests of nearly mature seeds from climbing plant types on trellises. While the leafless variant caused by the afila gene is widely used in developing row-cropped field peas in Europe, its use for trellised garden peas has not been reported. In this study we describe a pea breeding program for a high-elevation tropical environment in the Department of Nariño in Colombia, where over 16,000 hectares of the crop are produced. The most …

Permethrin Residual Activity Against Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Attacks Following Field Aging And Simulated Rainfall Weathering, Matthew S. Brown, Karla M. Addesso, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Nadeer N. Youssef, Jason B. Oliver

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Adult ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) bore into ornamental nursery trees resulting in trunk vascular tissue damage, which can potentially kill trees. Ambrosia beetle exposure to surface-applied insecticides is minimal after internal trunk galleries are formed, so effective management requires insecticide treatments to be applied near the time of infestation or to have residual activity on the bark. Tree trunk sections (bolts) were used to determine the effect of field aging or irrigation (i.e., simulated rainfall weathering) on permethrin residual activity against ambrosia beetles. In all experiments, 30-cm-long bolts from Liriodendron tulipifera L. (Magnoliales: Magnoliaceae) were hollowed and filled with …

Impact Of Winter Cover Crop Usage In Soilborne Disease Suppressiveness In Woody Ornamental Production System, Milan Panth, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Terri Simmons, Karla M. Addesso, Anthony L. Witcher

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Diseases caused by soilborne pathogens are a major limitation to field grown nursery production. The application of cover crops for soilborne disease management has not been widely investigated in a woody ornamental nursery production system. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of winter cover crops usage on soilborne disease management in that system. Soils from established field plots of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) with and without winter cover crops (crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) or triticale (× Triticosecale W.)) were sampled following the senescence of the cover crops. Separate bioassays were performed using red maple …

Morphological And Agronomic Variability Among Cultivars, Landraces, And Genebank Accessions Of Purple Passion Fruit, Passiflora Edulis F. Edulis, Nohra Rodríguez Castillo, Daniel Ambachew, Luz Marina Melgarejo, Matthew Wohlgemuth Blair

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Global demand for juice of the purple passion fruit, Passiflora edulis f. edulis, is growing, making it a promising species for farmers to grow in the highland tropics, to which it is adapted. However, research centers and private companies have done little to produce new high-yielding varieties. The objective of the present study, therefore, was to evaluate the agronomic and morphological characteristics of 50 passion fruit genotypes across two different elevations and agro-ecological sites as a base for germplasm enhancement. Three groups of genotypes were commercial cultivars (8 genotypes), genebank accessions (8), and landraces (34) collected from throughout the …

Container Type And Substrate Affect Root Zone Temperature And Growth Of ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae, Anthony L. Witcher, Jeremy M. Pickens, Eugene K. Blythe

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Root zone temperature (RZT) in nursery containers commonly exceeds ambient temperature during the growing season, negatively impacting crop growth and quality. Black nursery containers absorb radiant heat resulting in excessive RZT, yet other types of containers and different substrates can moderate RZT. We conducted studies in Tennessee and Alabama to evaluate the effects of container type and substrate on RZT and growth of ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (Thuja standishii × plicata ‘Green Giant’). Trade gallon arborvitae were transplanted into black, white, or air pruning containers filled with pine bark (PB) or 4 PB: 1 peatmoss (v:v) (PB:PM). Plants grown in PB:PM …

Container Color And Compost Substrate Affect Root Zone Temperature And Growth Of “Green Giant” Arborvitae, Anthony L. Witcher, Jeremy M. Pickens, Eugene K. Blythe

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Container-grown nursery crops are commonly exposed to root zone stress due to inadequate moisture and supraoptimal root zone temperature (RZT). Compost substrates can improve water and nutrient retention but plant responses can vary due to physical and chemical properties. Dark color containers absorb solar radiation through the container side wall leading to excessive heat buildup in the substrate, yet white containers can reduce RZT. Compost substrates and container color were examined for effects on RZT and growth of “Green Giant” arborvitae (Thuja standishii × plicata “Green Giant”). “Green Giant” arborvitae were transplanted into white or black containers (11.3 L) filled …

Al-Induced Proteomics Changes In Tomato Plants Over-Expressing A Glyoxalase I Gene, Xudong Sun, Hui Li, Santosh Thapa, Sasikiran Reddy Sangireddy, Xiaobo Pei, Wei Liu, Yuping Jiang, Shaolan Yang, Dafeng Hui, Sarabjit Bhatti, Suping Zhou, Yong Yang, Tara Fish, Theodore W. Thannhauser

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Glyoxalase I (Gly I) is the first enzyme in the glutathionine-dependent glyoxalase pathway for detoxification of methylglyoxal (MG) under stress conditions. Transgenic tomato ‘Money Maker’ plants overexpressing tomato SlGlyI gene (tomato unigene accession SGN-U582631/Solyc09g082120.3.1) were generated and homozygous lines were obtained after four generations of self-pollination. In this study, SlGlyI-overepxressing line (GlyI), wild type (WT, negative control) and plants transformed with empty vector (ECtr, positive control), were subjected to Al-treatment by growing in Magnavaca’s nutrient solution (pH 4.5) supplemented with 20 µM Al3+ ion activity. After 30 days of treatments, the fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots …

The Bacterial Soft Rot Pathogens, Pectobacterium Carotovorum And P. Atrosepticum, Respond To Different Classes Of Virulence-Inducing Host Chemical Signals, Paul A. Agyemang, Md Niamul Kabir, Caleb M. Kersey, C. Korsi Dumenyo

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Soft rot bacteria of the Pectobacterium and Dickeya genera are Gram-negative phytopathogens that produce and secrete plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDE), the actions of which lead to rotting and decay of their hosts in the field and in storage. Host chemical signals are among the factors that induce the bacteria into extracellular enzyme production and virulence. A class of compounds (Class I) made up of intermediate products of cell wall (pectin) degradation induce exoenzyme synthesis through KdgR, a global negative regulator of exoenzyme production. While the KdgR− mutant of P. carotovorum is no longer inducible by Class I inducers, we …

Methods For Management Of Soilborne Diseases In Crop Production, Milan Panth, Samuel C. Hassler, Fulya Baysal-Gurel

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

The significant problems caused by soilborne pathogens in crop production worldwide include reduced crop performance, decreased yield, and higher production costs. In many parts of the world, methyl bromide was extensively used to control these pathogens before the implementation of the Montreal Protocol—a global agreement to protect the ozone layer. The threats of soilborne disease epidemics in crop production, high cost of chemical fungicides and development of fungicide resistance, climate change, new disease outbreaks and increasing concerns regarding environmental as well as soil health are becoming increasingly evident. These necessitate the use of integrated soilborne disease management strategies for crop …

Long-Lasting Insecticide Netting For Protecting Tree Stems From Attack By Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Christopher M. Ranger, Christopher T. Werle, Peter B. Schultz, Karla M. Addesso, Jason B. Oliver, Michael E. Reding

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are destructive wood-boring insects of horticultural trees. We evaluated long-lasting insecticide netting for protecting stems against ambrosia beetles. Container-grown eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, trees were flood-stressed to induce ambrosia beetle attacks, and deltamethrin-treated netting was wrapped from the base of the stem vertically to the branch junction. Trees were deployed under field conditions in Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi with the following treatments: (1) flooded tree; (2) flooded tree with untreated netting; (3) flooded tree with treated ‘standard mesh’ netting of 24 holes/cm²; (4) flooded tree with treated ‘fine mesh’ netting of 28 …

Impact Of Cover Crop Usage On Soilborne Diseases In Field Nursery Production, Sujan Dawadi, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Karla M. Addesso, Jason B. Oliver, Terri Simmons

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Soilborne pathogens are a significant economic problem for nursery production in the Southeastern United States. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of cover crops on soilborne disease suppressiveness in such systems. Soils from red maple (Acer rubrum L.) plantation fields grown with and without cover crops were sampled, either while the cover crops were growing (pre-disked) or post-season, following cover crop incorporation into the soil (post-disked). Greenhouse bioassays were conducted using red maple seeds on inoculated (with Rhizoctonia solani (J.G. Kühn) or Phytophthora nicotianae (Breda de Haan)) and non-inoculated field soils. The damping-off, root rot disease …

Container Size And Shade Duration Affect Growth Of Flowering Dogwood, Anthony L. Witcher, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Eugene K. Blythe, Donna C. Fare

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a valuable nursery product typically produced as a field-grown crop. Container-grown flowering dogwood can grow much faster than field-grown plants, thus shortening the production cycle, yet unacceptable crop loss and reduced quality continue to be major issues with container-grown plants. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of container size and shade duration on growth of flowering dogwood cultivars Cherokee Brave™ and Cherokee Princess from bare-root liners. In 2015, bare-root liners were transplanted to 23-L (no. 7) containers and placed under shade for 0 months (full sun), 2 months (sun4/shade2), …

Evaluation Of Fungicides And Biofungicide To Control Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora Cinnamomi Rands) And Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) On Flowering Dogwoods Exposed To Simulated Flood Events, Matthew S. Brown, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Jason B. Oliver, Karla M. Addesso

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Phytophthora root rot causes major economic losses in woody ornamental nurseries, especially in plants exposed to flooding. Ambrosia beetles, which attack stressed trees, are also important pests of woody plants. In this study, several products were evaluated for control of Phytophthora root rot and ambrosia beetles on containerized flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida L.) exposed to simulated flood events under field conditions. In two trials, preventive (7 days preflooding) or curative (1 day postflooding) sprench (combination spray and drench) treatments were applied to containerized dogwoods artificially inoculated with Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. The plants were flooded by maintaining standing water for 1, …

Effect Of Organic Inputs And Solarization For The Suppression Of Rhizoctonia Solani In Woody Ornamental Plant Production, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Md Niamul Kabir, Prabha Liyanapathiranage

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Soilborne diseases are the most economically significant problem faced by Southern region nursery producers. The goal of this research was to improve Rhizoctonia root rot disease management through the use of soil solarization alone and in combination with biofumigant cover crops—arugula ‘Astro’ (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa), mustard green ‘Amara’ (Brassica carinata), and turnip ‘Purple top forage’ (B. rapa); good quality compost and mustard meal amendment. The experiments were established as on-farm trials in 2016 and 2017 with prevalent Rhizoctonia solani population in propagation beds. All three biofumigant cover crops, arugula ‘Astro’, mustard green ‘Amara’, and turnip ‘Purple top forage’ in …

Impact Of Cover Cropping On Non-Target Arthropod Pests Of Red Maple Trees In Nursery Production, Sujan Dawadi, Jason B. Oliver, Paul A. O'Neal, Karla M. Addesso

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Cropping practices can affect the complement of arthropod pests present in production. The impact of cover cropping on key red maple (Acer rubrum [L.]) (Sapindaceae) nursery pests was evaluated. Cover cropping has been identified as a sustainable management method for a key maple pest, flatheaded appletree borer (Chrysobothris femorata [Olivier]) (Buprestidae), but the impact of the cover crop on other non-target arthropod pests in maple production also must be taken into account when determining the usefulness of cover cropping as a pest management tool. In addition to flatheaded appletree borer, other important arthropod pests of red maple in …

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) Management In Forest, Landscape, And Nursery Production, Elizabeth P. Mccarty, Karla M. Addesso

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Annand) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), has caused significant damage to both eastern [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière] and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana Englemann) (Pinales: Pinaceae) since it was first reported in the eastern United States. This adelgid is particularly damaging to these hemlock species due to a lack of co-evolved plant defenses and natural enemies able to suppress hemlock woolly adelgid populations. Management of hemlock woolly adelgid relies heavily on insecticides to prevent death of vulnerable trees. Biological control programs have released natural enemies of hemlock woolly adelgid to aid in control at the landscape level. …

Evaluation Of A Lignin-Encapsulated Nootkatone Formulation Against Tetranychus Urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), Karla M. Addesso, Paul A. O'Neal, Shannen Leahy, Kevin Trostel, Robert W. Behle

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Botanical-based miticides, such as neem oil, are used in organic and conventional agronomic production as part of chemical rotation plans to suppress pest mite populations. Other plant-based compounds such as nootkatone (a component of essential oils distilled from grapefruit, Citrus paradisi Macfayden (Rutaceae), and Alaskan yellow cedar, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis [D. Don] Spach [Cupressaceae]), also may serve as effective organic miticides in crop production systems. We report on a lignin-encapsulated (LE) nootkatone formulation (previously effective at repelling ticks) that was evaluated as a miticide against the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). At an application rate of 1 g/L …

Interaction Of A Preventative Fungicide Treatment And Root Rot Pathogen On Ambrosia Beetle Attacks During A Simulated Flood Event, Karla Addesso, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Jason Oliver, Christopher Ranger, Paul O'Neal

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Flooding can increase tree susceptibility to root rot pathogens as well as attacks by ambrosia beetles attracted to stress-induced ethanol emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of a preventative fungicide treatment and root infection with Phytophthora cinnamomi on ambrosia beetle attacks in flood stressed trees. A fungicide (Pageant® Intrinsic®) was evaluated in two flood trials using Eastern redbud and tulip poplar trees with treatments including the fungicide with or without pathogen or no fungicide with or without pathogen. Fungicide treated trees had fewer ambrosia beetle attacks, particularly in trees without P. cinnamomi co-infection. In a …

Swirski Mite Controlled-Release Sachets As A Pest Management Tool In Container Tree Production, Karla M. Addesso, Anthony L. Witcher, Donna C. Fare

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Adoption of biological control tools in woody ornamental nursery production has lagged behind other agriculture fields. One of the major obstacles to adoption is lack of information on the efficacy of various biological control agents in nursery production systems. The predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii, sold commercially as “swirski mite,” is a generalist predatory mite that has recently been adopted as a generalist control for a wide range of mite and insect pests, including thrips (Thripidae), whiteflies (Aleyrodidae), eriophyid mites (Eriophyidae), broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus), and spider mites (Tetranychidae). A controlled-release sachet formulation of swirski mite was evaluated …

Bacterial Spot And Blight Diseases Of Ornamental Plants Caused By Different Xanthomonas Species In Turkey, Mustafa Mirik, Yesim Aysan, Fulya Baysal-Gurel

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Putative strains belonging to Xanthomonas spp. causing leaf spot and blight diseases on geranium (Pelargonium peltatum and P. hortorum), begonia (Begonia × tuberhybrida), anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum), Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), and English ivy (Hedera helix) growing in Turkey were isolated. All bacterial strains were classified as Gram-negative, oxidase negative, catalase, levan and starch hydrolysis positive, with hypersensitive reaction positive on tobacco and pathogenic to host plants. Identification of these strains was further confirmed by serological method using ELISA kits, conventional PCR, carbon utilisation, and FAME. Results of the identification showed that 28, 24, 10, 2, and 1 strains were identified …

Stability Of Cacopsylla Pyricola (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Populations In Pacific Northwest Pear Orchards Managed With Long-Term Mating Disruption For Cydia Pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Kaushalya G. Amarasekare, Peter W. Shearer

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

This study focused on conservation biological control of pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola, in the Pacific Northwest, USA. We hypothesized that insecticides applied against the primary insect pest, codling moth Cydia pomonella, negatively impact natural enemies of pear psylla, thus causing outbreaks of this secondary pest. Hence, the objective of this study was to understand how codling moth management influences the abundance of pear psylla and its natural enemy complex in pear orchards managed under long-term codling moth mating disruption programs. We conducted this study within a pear orchard that had previously been under seasonal mating disruption for codling moth for …

Integrating Kaolin Clay For Ambrosia Beetle Management In Ornamental Crops Of Eastern Redbud, Christopher T. Werle, Karla M. Addesso, Blair J. Sampson, Jason B. Oliver, John J. Adamczyk

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Invasive ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are an important pest problem at ornamental tree nurseries. Available chemical treatments are not completely effective and, due to the length of the beetle dispersal period and insecticide breakdown, repeated treatments can become costly in terms of application expense and nontarget impacts. Additional options are needed to reduce application frequency and to provide an acceptable level of crop protection. Four treatments were tested using ethanol-injected eastern redbud trees at research sites in Mississippi (MS) and Tennessee (TN) over 2 years (2014–15), with the number of new ambrosia beetle galleries compared over time on 1) nontreated …

Novel Aspects Of Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Biology And An Improved Method For Culturing This Invasive Species With A Modified D. Melanogaster Diet, Blair J. Sampson, Trevor Mallette, Karla M. Addesso, Oscar E. Liburd, Lindsy E. Iglesias, Stephen J. Stringer, Chris T. Werle, Donna A. Shaw, Drew Larsen, John J. Adamczyk

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumara) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), the spotted wing drosophila, is a global pest of soft fruits now rearable on a standard D. melanogaster (Meigen) diet containing the fly's own natural food: soft-skinned berries. The techniques tested here can save 40% of cultures from microbial contamination that develops after combining artificial food sources (e.g., standard drosophila media) with unsterilized host plant material (berries). A suitable ratio for mixing dietary ingredients for a vial or test-tube rearing system includes, by weight, 1 part berry tissue for oviposition, 1.5 parts dry diet media for carbohydrate, 7 parts clean water for moisture, and ∼5 …

Biology, Ecology, And Management Of Nonnative Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) In Ornamental Plant Nurseries, Christopher M. Ranger, Michael E. Reding, Peter B. Schultz, Jason B. Oliver, Steve D. Frank, Karla M. Addesso, Juang Hong Chong, Blair Sampson, Christopher Werle, Stanton Gill, Charles Krause

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) and Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are two of the most damaging nonnative ambrosia beetle pests in ornamental plant nurseries. Adult females tunnel into the stems and branches of host plants to create galleries with brood chambers. Hosts are infected with symbiotic Ambrosiella spp. fungi that serve as food for the larvae and adults. Plants can also become infected with secondary opportunistic pathogens, including Fusarium spp. Both X. germanus and X. crassiusculus have broad host ranges, and infestations can result in “toothpicks” of extruded chewed wood and sap flow associated with gallery entrances, canopy dieback, stem …

Survey For Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) In The Five-County Nursery Production Region Of Middle Tennessee, Usa, Karla M. Addesso, Jason B. Oliver, Paul A. O'Neal

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Through global trade, spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), a native of Southeast Asia, has spread to at least 3 other continents since 2008. Initial reports of the fly in new regions often are associated with damage in agriculture fields, but the fly may be present in the landscape for years before populations reach a level at which they become a pest in fruit production. In 2012, spotted wing drosophila was reported in blueberry fields in eastern Tennessee, USA, for the first time. In order to determine whether the fly was established in middle Tennessee, we conducted landscape surveys …

Evaluation Of Disinfectants To Prevent Mechanical Transmission Of Viruses And A Viroid In Greenhouse Tomato Production, Rugang Li, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Zaid Abdo, Sally A. Miller, Kai-Shu Ling

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Background

In recent years, a number of serious disease outbreaks caused by viruses and viroids on greenhouse tomatoes in North America have resulted in significant economic losses to growers. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial disinfectants against mechanical transmission of these pathogens, and to select disinfectants with broad spectrum reactivity to control general virus and viroid diseases in greenhouse tomato production.

Methods

A total of 16 disinfectants were evaluated against Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The efficacy of each disinfectant to …