Article
Microbiology
Antonio Domenico Marsico, Matteo Velenosi, Rocco Perniola, Carlo Bergamini, Scott Sinonin, Vanessa David-Vaizant, Flavia Angela Maria Maggiolini, Alexandre Herve, Maria Francesca Cardone, Mario Ventura
Summary: Research isolated multiple yeast strains from local vineyards, found some strains significantly inhibit the growth of Botrytis cinerea, and produce antagonistic compounds. These yeasts may antagonize in various ways, including producing lytic enzymes and volatile organic compounds. These findings are important for organic agriculture and commercial development.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camilla Oliveira Rios, Advanio Inacio Siqueira-Silva, Eduardo Gusmao Pereira
Summary: The study found that native tropical grasses grown in iron ore tailing showed better photosynthetic adjustments to drought and responded to water stress. After experiencing drought and rehydration, both species were able to fully recover their photosynthetic variables.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Leon Josip Telak, Paulo Pereira, Igor Bogunovic
Summary: Soil degradation in vineyards is a global issue, necessitating sustainable practices. Research in eastern Croatia found that grass-covered vineyards had better soil properties and hydrological responses than tilled vineyards. Tilling resulted in higher sediment, nutrient, and organic matter losses, particularly pronounced in the wet season, highlighting the need for more sustainable practices to mitigate soil degradation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam, Connie O'Driscoll, Mohsin Abbas, Mark O'Connor, Muhammad Waqas, Mohammad Rehan, Abdul-Sattar Nizami, Liwen Xiao
Summary: The study demonstrates that grass seeding on harvested peatlands can effectively immobilize and reduce nitrogen leaching. Seeded grasses have a higher nitrogen uptake efficiency compared to natural re-vegetation over a shorter period of time. Additionally, grass seeding significantly reduces nitrogen leaching in surface runoff and increases nitrogen retention in water courses, making it a sustainable practice for protecting downstream water quality.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kirrilly Pfitzner, Renee Bartolo, Tim Whiteside, David Loewensteiner, Andrew Esparon
Summary: The study used miniaturisation of hyperspectral sensors on drones to monitor non-native grass species, revealing subtle spectral differences that can be used to distinguish between species. The late dry season and end of the wet season provided the best timeframe for obtaining spectral data on non-native grass species.
Article
Entomology
Martina Parrilli, Marco Profeta, Luca Casoli, Fabio Gambirasio, Antonio Masetti, Giovanni Burgio
Summary: The study investigated the use of sugar dispensers as a method to manage ants in vineyards, aiming to enhance parasitization and predation to reduce mealybug infestations. Field trials showed that sugar dispensers reduced ant activity, improved ecosystem services, and decreased mealybug infestation on grapes.
Article
Biology
Tania Zaviezo, Alejandra E. Munoz
Summary: Habitat or vegetation manipulation is a strategy in conservation biological control that has been studied relatively recently and is lacking in many parts of the world, especially when using native plants. A review of 56 studies from 2002 to 2022 on native plants and conservation biological control revealed that most studies were conducted in developed countries and focused on providing flower resources to natural enemies in various crops. The main knowledge gaps included the lack of understanding mechanisms, unknown effects on pest populations, and absence of cost-benefit analyses, similar to studies with non-native plants. Filling these knowledge gaps will enhance the transferability of this strategy in different cropping systems and locations and promote its adoption by farmers.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Agronomy
William P. Kustas, Andrew J. McElrone, Nurit Agam, Kyle Knipper
Summary: This special issue of GRAPEX advances the research on vine water use and stress measurement and remote sensing. The collaborative experiment has led to the development of new tools and techniques to improve irrigation management in vineyards.
IRRIGATION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Amy E. Kendig, Erin R. Spear, S. Caroline Daws, S. Luke Flory, Erin A. Mordecai
Summary: The competence of plant hosts, influenced by their life and evolutionary histories, shapes the composition of pathogen communities and disease severity. Species with longer life spans and evolutionary histories are better defended and pathogens adapt to infect hosts with longer evolutionary histories. Different species densities due to life and evolutionary histories may not significantly affect pathogen community composition and disease severity, pointing to the role of competence in shaping disease dynamics.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Vera Wersebeckmann, Carolin Biegerl, Ilona Leyer, Karsten Mody
Summary: Our study evaluated the effects of vineyard abandonment and shrub encroachment on Orthoptera diversity, and highlighted the value of active vineyard management. We found that woody structures and vineyard abandonment reduced habitat quality for open-adapted Orthoptera species, while management in vineyard inter-rows and terrace embankments supported different species. We emphasize the importance of maintaining viticulture on steep slopes for the preservation of open and herbaceous habitat structures and associated Orthoptera species.
Article
Horticulture
Joseph S. Shelton, Svoboda V. Pennisi, Mark Czarnota
Summary: This study evaluated two bed preparation techniques, glyphosate treatment with no tillage and tillage with soil fumigant (dazomet), and found that the latter method resulted in greater growth and bloom production of native flowering forbs, as well as reduced weed pressure.
Article
Plant Sciences
Cecilio F. Caldeira, Madson O. Lima, Silvio J. Ramos, Markus Gastauer
Summary: This study found that applying nitrogen fertilizer can significantly improve the growth of native grasses during mine land rehabilitation, particularly in the case of P. cinerascens, which can deposit high quantities of carbon and protect soil over the seasons, making them promising candidates for accelerating the return of other species and ecosystem services.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yohan Charbonnier, Daciana Papura, Olivier Touzot, Noriane Rhouy, Gilles Sentenac, Adrien Rusch
Summary: The study found that bats increase their hunting activity significantly when European grapevine moths are present in vineyards. Molecular analysis shows that at least 10 species of bats prey on the three grapevine moth species. This suggests that bats can be natural enemies of grape pests in vineyard landscapes.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Joshua Earl Arnold
Summary: Our findings support the enemies hypothesis in urban agroecosystems, showing that local factors such as mulch coverage, crop richness, and non-crop areas can predict increased abundance of parasitic Hymenoptera and aphid parasitism rates. This study provides guidance for urban farmers to diversify the spatial composition and implement agroecological pest-management practices to reduce pest impacts.
Article
Ecology
Cheryl McIntyre, Steven R. Archer, Katharine Predick, Jayne Belnap
Summary: Biocrusts covering dryland soil interact with vascular plants, potentially influencing plant recruitment safety and susceptibility to invasion by non-native species. The differential effects of biocrusts on native and non-native grass recruitment varied across experiments, suggesting that plant recruitment on biocrusts is driven more by species-specific traits than species provenance. Greenhouse experiments indicate that biocrust topographic relief is an important factor influencing plant recruitment.
Article
Entomology
Robert K. Straser, Kent M. Daane, Elijah Talamas, Houston Wilson
Summary: This study assessed the biocontrol potential of the egg parasitoid Hadronotus pennsylvanicus against the western leaffooted bug, Leptoglossus zonatus. The results showed that H. pennsylvanicus exhibits suitable demographic and reproductive traits as a candidate biocontrol agent for L. zonatus.
Article
Entomology
Paul K. Abram, Xingeng Wang, Tracy Hueppelsheuser, Michelle T. Franklin, Kent M. Daane, Jana C. Lee, Chia-Hua Lue, Pierre Girod, Juli Carrillo, Warren H. L. Wong, Robert R. Kula, Michael W. Gates, Brian N. Hogg, Chandra E. Moffat, Kim A. Hoelmer, Ashfaq A. Sial, Matthew L. Buffington
Summary: This article provides recommendations for sampling and identifying introduced larval parasitoids of spotted-wing drosophila, discussing the methods for estimating parasitism levels and providing identification instructions. It anticipates that these guidelines will form the basis for future research efforts to characterize the impacts of accidentally and intentionally introduced parasitoids.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Kevi Mace, Jessica Rudder, Rachael Goodhue, Tor Tolhurst, Daniel Tregeagle, Hanlin Wei, Beth Grafton-Cardwell, Ian Grettenberger, Houston Wilson, Robert Van Steenwyk, Frank Zalom, John Steggall
Summary: Neonicotinoid insecticides, harmful to bees, are subject to regulations in many countries and states. This study examines the economic and pest management implications of a 2020 draft regulation in California for four neonicotinoids. The research shows that if the regulation had been in effect, pest management costs for crops would have significantly increased.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Kent M. Daane, Paul G. da Silva, Judith M. Stahl, Davide Scaccini, Xingeng Wang
Summary: This study assessed the life history parameters of different stink bug species and found that temperature significantly affects their development and survival rates. The results are important for improving integrated pest management in California pistachios.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Houston Wilson, Kent M. Daane, Jessica J. Maccaro, Reva S. Scheibner, Kadie E. Britt, Amelie C. M. Gaudin
Summary: Habitat diversification has a positive impact on ecosystem services to agriculture, such as biological control of arthropod pests. Cover crops in perennial systems can improve soil quality and provide ecosystem services like pollination and pest management. However, there is limited research on using cover crops to enhance pest control in almond orchards, especially in winter. An experiment showed that winter cover crops reduced overwintering mortality and spring egg deposition of the almond pest, Amyelois transitella, possibly by altering abiotic and physical conditions. Further studies are needed to understand the specific mechanisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jocelyn G. Millar, Yunfan Zou, David R. Hall, Sean Halloran, Juan A. Pajares, Laura Ponce-Herrero, Tessa Shates, Houston Wilson, Kent M. Daane
Summary: The leaffooted bugs Leptoglossus zonatus and L. occidentalis cause significant damage to tree nut crops in North America and pine seed orchards in North America and Europe, respectively. Males of both species produce a unique sesquiterpene called leptotriene, which attracts both sexes.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Margarita C. G. Correa, Ferran Palero, Vitor C. Pacheco da Silva, M. Bora Kaydan, Jean-Francois Germain, Shaaban Abd-Rabou, Kent M. Daane, Arturo Cocco, Elie Poulin, Thibaut Malausa
Summary: This study used molecular tools and morphological analysis to investigate the mealybug Planococcus ficus in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and found two distinct species: P. ficus and P. vitis. These results have direct implications for pest management and may explain the previous failures of biological control programs against this pest in several vineyard regions.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Evelyne Hougardy, Brian N. Hogg, Xingeng Wang, Kent M. Daane
Summary: This study found that the two parasitoid wasps were unable to effectively discriminate D. suzukii pupae that had been parasitized by G. brasiliensis. Pachycrepoideus vindemiae was able to successfully develop on D. suzukii pupae containing all preimaginal stages of G. brasiliensis, while Trichopria drosophilae could only develop on puparia containing early instars of G. brasiliensis.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Charles S. Burks, Foster S. Hengst, Houston Wilson, Jacob A. Wenger
Summary: The mating response of male navel orangeworm to synthetic pheromone showed diel patterns similar to females, but with some differences, such as the presence of males throughout the day and night and the lack of short-term responsiveness to temperature changes. These findings are important for improving management techniques using pheromones to control navel orangeworm.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Artur Taszakowski, Adrian Maslowski, Kent M. Daane, Jolanta Brozek
Summary: This study provides a detailed description of the antennal sensory organs of Leptoglossus occidentalis and Leptoglossus zonatus, using a combination of FE-SEM and AFM techniques. A simplified classification system for sensilla is proposed, eliminating subjective aspects such as shape. Nine types of sensory organs with olfactory functions are identified. The antennal sensory organs are recognized as crucial factors for the evolutionary success and pest status of Leptoglossus species.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Brian N. Hogg, Erik H. Nelson, Kent M. Daane
Summary: Agricultural systems often lack resources for natural enemies. Providing alternative prey can help natural enemies survive in periods of low pest abundance, but this approach is rarely commercially implemented in open field crops. This study evaluated the potential of eight plant species to provide alternative prey for natural enemies in lettuce fields. The results showed that these plants did not serve as sources of the primary lettuce pest, but barley supported high numbers of non-lettuce aphids and provided habitat for hoverfly larvae. However, the presence of lettuce aphids on lettuce early in the season may have overshadowed the effects of non-lettuce aphids on natural enemy populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Judith M. Stahl, Kent M. Daane
Summary: Leptoglossus zonatus is a polyphagous insect pest that attacks various crops. Its pest status depends on overwintering adult survival and reproductive potential, which affect the population size during the susceptible period for nut crops. The reproductive biology of L. zonatus, including ovary development, mating behavior, and the impact of low temperatures on egg hatch, was investigated through laboratory and field experiments. The findings provide valuable information on population dynamics and dispersal from overwintering sites, contributing to the development of monitoring and management tools.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Kadie E. Britt, Phoebe E. Gordon, Ben A. Faber, Sonia Rios, Houston Wilson
Summary: The black fig fly, a pest that exclusively reproduces on fig trees, has recently been found infesting figs in California. This article provides information on the distribution, biology, ecology, monitoring, and management of this pest, as well as the research and extension efforts that have been initiated as a result of this invasion.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(2022)