APHIS HomeAbout APHISNewsroomCareer OpportunitiesHelpContact Us
Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size
Search

USDA in Facebook APHIS in Twitter APHIS in Youtube APHIS Stakeholder Registry APHIS in Pictures APHIS in Blog APHIS RSS News Feeds

Browse by Subject
Animal Health
Animal Welfare
Biotechnology
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Import and Export
International Services
Permits
Plant Health
Regulations and Assessments
APHIS User Fees
Wildlife Control and Management
Plant Health

Center for Plant Health Science and Technology

CPHST Lab, Gulfport, Mississippi
Divider

Analytical & Natural Products Chemistry Laboratory

Location: 3505 25th Ave., Bldg. 1, Gulfport, MS 39501
Phone: (228) 822-3224
Fax: (228) 822-3102
Contact: Anne-Marie Callcott

The Gulfport Lab consists of an Analytical Chemistry section and an Imported Fire Ant (IFA) section. The Analytical Chemistry section conducts routine sample analysis for detecting the presence of pesticide residues and toxic substances, which directly supports ongoing APHIS operational and emergency programs, such as IFA, Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), boll weevil, grasshopper, and fruit fly. In addition, the section supports APHIS projects by providing chemistry-based options for PPQ field operatives concerning the identification and detection of prohibited commodities as well as the detection of invasive insect species. The lab provides residue analysis for environmental monitoring on a variety of environmental matrices (soil, water, vegetation, etc.), quality assurance of insecticide tank mixes or treatment applications, and lure preparation & verification. Routine work includes sample analysis for PPQ operational programs such as Imported Fire Ant (IFA), Asian longhorn beetle, boll weevil, grasshopper, and fruit fly. Non-routine work includes improvements to in-house procedures and methodologies, as well as providing specialized residue analysis for research on program pests. The Analytical Chemistry section also assists in conducting specialized organic chemistry analysis (trace element analysis) of commodities, especially fruits and vegetables, to determine country of origin. Through organic chemical analysis, we are able to identify commodities, pests, noxious weeds, diseases and pathogens.

The Gulfport Lab-Imported Fire Ant (IFA) section conducts field and laboratory experiments aimed at developing methods and tools for the survey, detection, regulation, and control of the imported fire ant. Technology and scientific information developed by the IFA section is utilized by PPQ, State Plant Regulatory Officials (SPROs), the nursery industry, chemical industry, farmers, ranchers, homeowners, and other stakeholders. The Gulfport Lab is the sole source of developing new quarantine technologies in support of the Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine (Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 301.81) for nursery stock and other commodities of interest. A primary focus continues to be the development of new quarantine treatments for field grown/balled-and-burlapped nursery stock, grass sod and oversight of the APHIS funded phorid fly rearing and release program. Technologies that are developed are transferred to stakeholders through tools such as PPQ manuals, APHIS program aids, online information, and training workshops.

Recent Accomplishments

  • Analyzed 1,230 APHIS routine program-related samples, including environmental monitoring samples and lures along with 390 associated quality control samples.
  • Analyzed 1,400 samples supporting projects requested by other APHIS scientists and program leaders.
  • In support of the APHIS grasshopper program, an improved analytical extraction method was developed and validated for determining diflubenzuron in vegetation. The new method improved detection and reduced solvent use and waste in the extraction phase.
  • In support of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) program, a general method for extraction and analysis of imidacloprid in honey was quickly and successfully developed, validated, and applied to samples.
  • The APHIS-funded IFA Phorid Fly (Pseudacteon species) rearing and release program continued with multiple releases of a third fly species, and production rearing of a fourth species was initiated. Both biological control species are established in more than 50 percent of the IFA quarantined area.
  • Data collected over several years, in collaboration with Tennessee State University’s Nursery Crop Research Station, has led to a new application technique for a more effective IFA quarantine drench treatment of balled-and-burlapped nursery stock and a new insecticide for this use pattern.

Links

Last Modified: April 19, 2012