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Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
CPHST Lab, Mission, Texas |
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Location: 22675 N. Moorefield Rd., Edinburg, TX 78451 |
As a result of several new pest and disease threats, the CPHST Mission Lab’s focus has shifted over the past few years from one solely dedicated to biological control to a laboratory that is multifaceted in developing new methods in molecular biology, integrated pest management, plant disease epidemiology, and biological control in support of PPQ programs. Because of these changes, the lab continues to grow in these new directions. For example, Mission Lab’s studies support fruit fly sterile insect technique (SIT) diet work and fruit fly trapping and monitoring. These efforts are geared toward providing more effective SIT management options. We continued to evaluate diagnostic methods for important fruit fly pests, including Anastrepha, Bactrocera, and Ceratitis species. Offshore initiatives nearing completion include integrated pest management studies of the chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis), giant African snails (Achatina fulica), and Cuban slugs (Veronicella cubensis). The offshore work dovetails with ongoing molecular diagnostic work occurring at the lab with chilli thrips and gastropods.
In addition, monitoring continues to track populations of the Asian cycad scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui, on sago palms in the Rio Grande Valley. For citrus, the current plant health issue focus is on Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening. As such, the Mission Lab is collaborating with the Texas A&M Citrus Center in Weslaco, TX, on a pilot, areawide management program for the vector of HLB, the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri). In Florida, citrus canker work continues in collaboration with ARS personnel with special emphasis on infected fruit.
Recent Accomplishments
- A novel light brown apple moth (LBAM) diagnostics enhancement included the development of a tortricid moth DNA barcode tool, which included generation of a database of over 300 DNA sequences of LBAM from around the world to enhance the LBAM DNA barcoding and compare genetic variation over its range.
- Identified and developed an additional DNA marker for LBAM diagnostics based on a PCR-agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) method.
- Processed 14 geographic populations of the Mexican fruit fly using the inter-simple sequence repeat-PCR technique, which allows the genetic variation in the microsatellite DNA to be studied.
- Recovered the biological control agent Gratiana bolivianaon tropical soda apple in east Texas.
- Completed a giant African snail molluscicide trial, including a bio-assay and field trial in Barbados.
- Completed a trapping test examining the quantity of Mexican fruit flies captured when different substances were utilized as an attractant. Torula yeast with Prestone Low-Tox propylene glycol captured significantly fewer flies than the torula yeast with water.
Links
- 2011 Mission Lab Annual Report (PDF; 7.18 Mb)