Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lieneke Bakker, Wopke Werf, Felix J. J. A. Bianchi
Summary: This study examined the impact of insecticide use and landscape context on the abundance of beneficial arthropods. The results showed a negative correlation between the quantity of insecticide used in the surrounding landscape and the abundance of arthropods in field margins. The study also found a negative association between conventional management and the abundance of pollinators.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Wopke van der Werf, Felix Bianchi
Summary: Increasing crop diversity can be an important and obvious first step towards more natural pest control, but it is not a silver bullet solution. Adopting a wider definition of integrated pest management (IPM) and including the environmental stewardship role of agriculture can enhance the use of natural mechanisms for pest control, but would also require an economic mechanism to reward stewardship that serves wider societal needs.
OUTLOOK ON AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Liliana Benitez, Amy E. Kendig, Ashish Adhikari, Keith Clay, Philip F. Harmon, Robert D. Holt, Erica M. Goss, S. Luke Flory
Summary: Plant litter and its pathogens negatively impact competition with native plants, favoring invasive species and increasing disease incidence on native species.
Review
Plant Sciences
Norsazilawati Saad, James W. Olmstead, Jeffrey B. Jones, Arvind Varsani, Philip F. Harmon
Summary: The expanding acreage of blueberry plantations worldwide has exposed blueberry plants to existing and emerging viruses, increasing the risk of virus movement between wild and cultivated blueberries. However, the advent of high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic sequence analysis allows for rapid identification of known and novel viruses in blueberry, facilitating proper intervention in response to serious viral diseases.
Review
Ecology
Shanxing Gong, Jenny A. Hodgson, Teja Tscharntke, Yunhui Liu, Wopke van der Werf, Peter Batary, Johannes M. H. Knops, Yi Zou
Summary: Organic farming supports higher biodiversity, but at the cost of lower yields. The trade-off between biodiversity and yield in organic farming varies under different contexts. On average, the proportion of biodiversity gain is similar to the proportion of yield loss. Switching to organic farming can lead to biodiversity gain without yield loss in some non-cereal crops.
Article
Mycology
Norma C. Flor, Amanda F. Wright, Jose Huguet-Tapia, Philip F. Harmon, Daniel Liberti
Summary: This study investigated the species composition and resistance identification of stem blight fungi in blueberry cultivation areas in the southeastern US. It was found that Botryosphaeriaceae was the major pathogen population, and Neofusicoccum and Lasiodiplodia were the predominant genera. N. kwambonambiense, N. ribis, L. theobromae, and L. pseudotheobromae were the most common species isolated.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dieke Boezen, Ghulam Ali, Manli Wang, Xi Wang, Wopke van der Werf, Just M. Vlak, Mark P. Zwart
Summary: This article presents a method for estimating mutation rates in large DNA viruses and provides empirical evidence for a low mutation rate in alphabaculoviruses. Mutation rate estimation is crucial for understanding evolutionary processes and predicting their outcomes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Qian Li, Mengxiao Sun, Yangtian Liu, Bing Liu, Felix J. J. A. Bianchi, Wopke van der Werf, Yanhui Lu
Summary: This study investigated insect communities, pollination deficits, and the contribution of honeybees to pear pollination in Korla fragrant pear orchards in Xinjiang, China. The results revealed that wild bees were the dominant pollinators, and pollination deficits significantly affected fruit set. The study also showed that managed honeybees could mitigate pollination deficits and improve fruit yield and quality.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aruhan Oihnuud, Yunhui Liu, David Makowski, Teja Tscharntke, Catrin Westphal, Panlong Wu, Meina Wang, Wopke van der Werf
Summary: Apple production relies heavily on insect pollination, but the decline in wild pollinator populations raises concerns about the adequacy of pollination services. This global meta-analysis of apple pollination confirms the significant contributions of pollinators to fruit and seed set, while also highlighting the limitations in pollination services, particularly in Asia, Europe, and South America. The study suggests several management strategies to address pollination deficits, including conserving wild bees, using managed bees, selecting low pollinator-dependent varieties, and considering artificial pollination.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Qian Li, Mengxiao Sun, Yangtian Liu, Bing Liu, Wopke van Der Werf, Felix J. J. A. Bianchi, Yanhui Lu
Summary: Korla fragrant pear depends on cross-pollination by honeybees, and the use of synthetic NGP can attract more honeybees to the pear trees, especially in orchards with beehives.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yulin Zhu, Junhui Chen, Yi Zou, Xiaolong Huang, Ting Jiang, Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Wopke van der Werfh, Haijun Xiao
Summary: This study investigated the role of non-crop habitat in modulating the rice stem borer and parasitoid-mediated biological control. The study found that the rice stem borer infestation levels were highest in agriculture-dominated landscapes. The parasitism rate increased with pest pressure but was not related to landscape-level non-crop habitat cover. The landscape-level responses of parasitoids were species-specific and likely modulated by functional traits. More diverse landscapes experienced lower levels of rice stem borer infestation.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Ashish Adhikari, Kristin A. Beckham, Carrie L. Harmon, Nicholas S. Dufault, Erica M. Goss, Philip F. Harmon
Article
Horticulture
Renee M. Holland, Chris J. Peterson, Philip F. Harmon, Phillip M. Brannen, Harald Scherm
Summary: Bark inclusions are a common structural defect in certain southern highbush blueberry cultivars, leading to increased risk of cane breakage and being associated with plant health and stem blight intensity.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Hossein A. Narouei-Khandan, Susan P. Worner, Suvi L. H. Viljanen, Ariena H. C. van Bruggen, Giorgio M. Balestra, Eirian Jones
Summary: In recent years, outbreaks of kiwifruit bacterial canker have caused economic losses to major kiwifruit producers. Three modelling methods were used to evaluate the potential global risk areas of the disease. The models identified current areas of presence as well as novel areas where the disease has not established yet. The results will be useful for disease management and highlight susceptible areas where the disease has not established.
Review
Plant Sciences
Alicyn Smart, Jan Byrne, Ray Hammerschmidt, Karen L. Snover-Clift, James P. Stack, Tania Brenes-Arguedas, Jeffrey B. Jones, Carrie L. Harmon
Summary: The National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) safeguards U.S. plant systems through accurate diagnosis and effective communication, with dual responsibilities to extension clientele and regulatory agencies.
PLANT HEALTH PROGRESS
(2021)
