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Tree Fruit Research |
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Tree Fruit Insect Research Objectives:
- Develop basic knowledge of behavior and chemical ecology of orchard pests,
specifically in relation to developing improved and novel IPM tools and
strategies, including mass trapping, attract and kill, mating disruption,
host-finding disruption, and combinations thereof.
- Develop basic knowledge of pathogens of orchard pests and develop novel
approaches and methods to use pathogens of codling moth, leafrollers, and
other orchard pests as IPM tools that are compatible with mating disruption
and other biointensive techniques.
- Refine commercial mating disruption systems for codling moth (CM) and
leafrollers.
- Develop basic knowledge of insecticide resistance in CM and leafrollers
and incorporate this knowledge into resistance management strategies which
involve restricted use of insecticides combined with alternative management
tactics.
- Study basic biology and genetics of native and exotic natural enemies
associated with codling moth, leafrollers, and pear psylla. Determine compatibility
of enemies with orchard IPM programs, mating disruption, and soft chemicals,
such as soaps and insect growth regulators.
- Determine taxonomic composition of natural enemies in native habitats
surrounding orchards. Monitor and describe use of non-orchard habitats,
alternative prey, and alternative host plants by natural enemies. Study
basic biology of natural enemies in native habitats.
- Evaluate role of orchard cultural practices, particularly ground cover
management, use of windbreaks, and orchard cleanup on density and diversity
of insect pests and natural enemies in orchard ecosystems. Manipulate practices
to enhance natural enemy activity.
- For secondary pests requiring control, develop management methods that
are compatible with mating disruption and biological control for key pests.
- Evaluate approaches and methods for use of sterile insect techniques against
codling moth and in conjunction with other biointensive methods of control.
Researchers Conducting Tree Fruit Insect Research at YARL:
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Dr. Peter Landolt, (Research Leader)
- Dr. Peter Landolt serves as Research Leader for YARL. Dr. Landolt's research
interests include the development of attractants for monitoring and control
of moth pests of tree fruit crops.
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Dr. Lawrence Lacey
- Dr. Lacey's current research includes development of insect pathogens
for control of insect pests of tree fruit and potatoes. Candidate
pathogens for control of codling moth and other tree fruit pest insects
include viruses, nematodes and bacteria.
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Dr. Thomas Unruh
- Dr. Tom Unruh's research involves classical biological control introductions
of parasitoids, studies of natural products for pest control, landscape
ecology studies and molecular studies on pest and natural enemies to evaluate
insecticide resistance, biogeographic and genetic relationships, and, most
recently, to evaluate predation rates.
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Dr. David Horton
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Dr. Alan Knight
- Dr. Alan Knight participated in the highly successful Codling Moth Areawide
Management Project (CAMP). He and his lab technicians are currently at
work on new and exciting projects including field trials of a bisexual
codling moth attractant.
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Dr. Lisa Neven
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Dr. Neven has over 17 years of experience in postharvest technology and
quarantine regulatory Entomology.
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Dr. Neven is working toward providing the tree fruit industry with data
needed to propose irradiation and CATTS as quarantine treatments for a
variety of tree fruits.
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Dr. Neven is working on improving the sterile insect technique (SIT) for
codling moth my producing genetic sexing lines.
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Dr. Neven is also investigating the physiology of codling moth and other
quarantine insects in order to develop better postharvest control measures.
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Dr. Wee Yee
- Dr. Yee's current research at YARL deals with the behavior,
ecology, and control of temperate fruit flies (western cherry fruit fly
and apple maggot), specifically their mating behavior, dispersal behavior,
attraction to traps and lures, and the effects of diet on fecundity.
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Dr. Steve Garczynski
- Dr. Garczynski is the newest member of YARL's scientific team. Steve will
be working on projects to control codling moth using biochemical methods.
Special Tree Fruit Research Information:
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Last Modified: 05/05/2009
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