Northeast Region IPM Grants Projects Funded, FY 2002

Project Title:

Multi State Evaluation of Trichogramma ostriniae in Vegetable Production

*Award shown is total amount to be used over the course of the project term.

Executive Summary

European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis, is a damaging pest of vegetables in the northeastern U.S. and elsewhere. IPM needs assessments identified management of ECB in sweet corn, pepper and potatoes as priorities needing research.

Biological control of ECB can provide an alternative to reliance on insecticides. Trichogramma ostriniae is a small wasp that parasitizes ECB eggs, and research since 1996 provides impressive evidence that inoculative releases of T. ostriniae can successfully reduce ECB population levels and concomitant damage to sweet corn. The wasp has been shown to efficiently disperse and parasitize egg masses. Overall field parasitism can reach as high as 97%, ECB survival has been reduced as much as 30%, and ear damage has been reduced by 50%. Combining T. ostriniae with inclusion of egg parasitism in scouting protocols can substantially reduce the number of insecticide applications.

We propose to research and demonstrate augmentative biological control of ECB with R. ostriniae by evaluating its performance in Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. Testing efficacy over a wide range of environmental conditions is a prerequisite to commercialization of the tactic in the northeast and elsewhere. Specifically, we propose to:

1. evaluate the effectiveness of inoculative releases of T. ostriniae for suppression of ECB in fresh and processing sweet corn in several states and under a variety of pest pressures and agronomic environments.
2. Integrate inoculative releases of T. ostriniae into pest management decision-making in sweet corn.
3. Conduct cost benefit analysis of the release program for sweet corn.
4. Assess the potential for releases of T. ostriniae for control of ECB in peppers and potatoes.
5. Extend information on releases of T. ostriniae to vegetable producers in the northeast.

There is high probability for implementation, and we anticipate that much of the sweet corn and pepper acreage in the Northeast and elsewhere might benefit economically from biological control of ECB with T. ostriniae. The proposed release method of T. ostriniae is simple, inexpensive, and can be incorporated into existing IPM programs. Most of the proposed research will be conducted on-farm and in cooperation with Cooperative Extension personnel and private advisors. Results from this research/extension proposal will impact the entire region. Widespread adoption is further assured, because a commercial insectory has agreed to mass produce and market T. ostriniae.

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Objectives

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of inoculative releases of T. ostriniae for suppression of European corn borer in sweet corn in several states and under a variety of pest pressures and agronomic environments.
2. Integrate inoculative releases of T. ostriniae into pest management decision-making in sweet corn.
3. Cost benefit analysis of the release program for sweet corn.
4. Assess the potential for releases of T. ostriniae for control of European corn borer in peppers and potatoes.
5. Extend information on releases of T. ostriniae to vegetable producers in the northeast.
   

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Index of Funded Projects 2002 Northeast IPM Funded Projects

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