Influence of Temperature and Photoperiod on Survival and Development of (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

The Mexican rice borer, (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an economically important pest of sugarcane, rice, and corn in Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico. This pest is considered invasive in the US and is expanding its range northward. Due to its subtropical origin, 's northern distribution might be limited by cold tolerance.

Metabolomic Evenness Underlies Intraspecific Differences Among Lineages of a Wetland Grass.

The metabolome represents an important functional trait likely important to plant invasion success, but we have a limited understanding of whether the entire metabolome or targeted groups of compounds confer an advantage to invasive as compared to native taxa. We conducted a lipidomic and metabolomic analysis of the cosmopolitan wetland grass Phragmites australis. We classified features into metabolic pathways, subclasses, and classes.

Morphoanatomical and biochemical factors associated with rice resistance to the South American rice water weevil, Oryzophagus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The rice water weevil, Oryzophagus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an economically important pest of flooded rice paddies throughout South America, and species with similar life histories are present in many rice-producing regions globally (collectively referred to here as RWWs). Plant resistance is a key strategy for management of RWWs; however, the mechanisms responsible for rice resistance to RWWs are poorly understood. We investigated morphoanatomical and biochemical plant traits potentially involved in rice resistance to O.

Varietal Resistance and Chemical Ecology of the Rice Stink Bug, , on Rice, .

The rice stink bug, F. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a key pest of heading rice in the southern United States. Chemical insecticide application is currently the primary method of control of , warranting an improved management program for this species.

Assessment of Silicon- and Mycorrhizae- Mediated Constitutive and Induced Systemic Resistance in Rice, L., against the Fall Armyworm, Smith.

Induced resistance provides protection in plants against insect herbivores. Silicon and mycorrhizae often prime plant defenses and thereby enhance plant resistance against herbivores. In rice, L.

Epicuticular Wax Rice Mutants Show Reduced Resistance to Rice Water Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Plant structural traits can act as barriers for herbivore attachment, feeding, and oviposition. In particular, epicuticular waxes (EWs) on the aerial surfaces of many land plants offer protection from biotic and abiotic stresses. In rice (Oryza sativa L.

Reexamination of the Influence of Oebalus pugnax (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Infestations on Rice Yield and Quality.

The rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.), is the most important pest of headed rice, Oryza sativa L., in the United States.

Residual Effects of Termiticides on Mortality of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on Substrates Subjected to Flooding.

Concerns on efficacies of termiticides used for soil treatment to prevent Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) infestations have prompted pest control companies to suggest that retreatments are necessary after flooding of homes. Therefore, to address concerns about the efficacy of termiticides after flooding, we designed a flooding simulation experiment in the laboratory. We used four formulated termiticides containing fipronil, imidacloprid, chlorantraniliprole, or bifenthrin as active ingredients (a.

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on rice-herbivore interactions are soil-dependent.

The effect of soil type on establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and their effects on plant growth and resistance to rice pests are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of inoculation with AM fungi on rice plants in two different unsterilized field soils under greenhouse and field conditions in two consecutive years in Louisiana, United States. We tested whether inoculation with AM fungi in the two soils changed plant biomass, nutrient concentration, resistance to pests, and yields.

Seed treatment using methyl jasmonate induces resistance to rice water weevil but reduces plant growth in rice.

The jasmonic acid cascade plays a pivotal role in induced plant resistance to herbivores. There have been a number of investigations into the potential uses of derivatives of this hormone for pest management. Understanding the phenotypic plasticity of plant defense traits interactions in agricultural systems may facilitate the development of novel and improved management practices, which is desirable as management of insects in most agricultural systems is currently heavily reliant on insecticides.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Herbicides on Insect Herbivores in Rice, Oryza sativa.

Densities of insect pests in agricultural communities may be affected by herbicides commonly used for weed management via several routes. First, herbicides may cause direct mortality to insects present both during and immediately following application. Second, herbicides may induce plant defenses that increase resistance to insect herbivores.

Efficacy of reduced rates of chlorantraniliprole seed treatment on insect pests of irrigated drill-seeded rice.

Background: For the past decade, insecticidal seed treatment has been the most widely used control tactic against insect pests of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the USA. Seed treatments are used primarily to control the most economically important early-season pest of rice, the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel).

Effects of exogenous methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid on rice resistance to Oebalus pugnax.

Background: After herbivore attack, plants express inducible resistance-related traits activated by hormones, mainly jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Methyl jasmonate (MeJa) is a biologically active methyl ester of JA. Exogenous applications of JA, SA, and MeJa induce responses similar to herbivory by insects.

Varietal Resistance Against the Rice Water Weevil in Field and Greenhouse Studies.

The resistance of commercial rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties widely grown in Louisiana was assessed against the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the major insect pest of rice in the United States, in a 5-yr field study that included conventional inbred, herbicide-tolerant, and hybrid varieties. Resistance was evaluated by comparing densities of immature rice water weevils (larvae and pupae) in root-soil core samples taken at two time points after flooding.

Integrating Soil Silicon Amendment into Management Programs for Insect Pests of Drill-Seeded Rice.

Silicon soil amendment has been shown to enhance plant defenses against insect pests. Rice is a silicon-accumulating graminaceous plant. In the southern United States, the rice water weevil and stem borers are important pests of rice.

A fungal endophyte helps plants to tolerate root herbivory through changes in gibberellin and jasmonate signaling.

Plant-microbe mutualisms can improve plant defense, but the impact of root endophytes on below-ground herbivore interactions remains unknown. We investigated the effects of the root endophyte Piriformospora indica on interactions between rice (Oryza sativa) plants and its root herbivore rice water weevil (RWW; Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus), and how plant jasmonic acid (JA) and GA regulate this tripartite interaction. Glasshouse experiments with wild-type rice and coi1-18 and Eui1-OX mutants combined with nutrient, jasmonate and gene expression analyses were used to test: whether RWW adult herbivory above ground influences subsequent damage caused by larval herbivory below ground; whether P.

Factors Influencing Expression of Antixenosis in Soybean to Anticarsia gemmatalis and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

This study aimed to evaluate some factors that influence the expression of antixenosis in soybean genotypes against Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner and Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Comparative Effectiveness of Potential Elicitors of Plant Resistance against Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Four Crop Plants.

Feeding by insect herbivores activates plant signaling pathways, resulting in the enhanced production of secondary metabolites and other resistance-related traits by injured plants. These traits can reduce insect fitness, deter feeding, and attract beneficial insects. Organic and inorganic chemicals applied as a foliar spray, seed treatment, or soil drench can activate these plant responses.

Induced jasmonate signaling leads to contrasting effects on root damage and herbivore performance.

Induced defenses play a key role in plant resistance against leaf feeders. However, very little is known about the signals that are involved in defending plants against root feeders and how they are influenced by abiotic factors. We investigated these aspects for the interaction between rice (Oryza sativa) and two root-feeding insects: the generalist cucumber beetle (Diabrotica balteata) and the more specialized rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus).

Integrating flood depth and plant resistance with chlorantraniliprole seed treatments for management of rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Chlorantraniliprole seed treatments in rice provide effective suppression of rice water weevil populations in the United States; however, heavy reliance on prophylactic insecticide treatments as a sole strategy could destabilize management programs for this insect. The present research evaluated the compatibility of seed treatments with two other potential management tactics-plant resistance and shallow flooding-by conducting two split-plot experiments in 2009 and 2011. In both experiments, no substantial antagonism was found among the 3 different tactics.

Reevaluating the conceptual framework for applied research on host-plant resistance.

Applied research on host-plant resistance to arthropod pests has been guided over the past 60 years by a framework originally developed by Reginald Painter in his 1951 book, Insect Resistance in Crop Plants. Painter divided the "phenomena" of resistance into three "mechanisms," nonpreference (later renamed antixenosis), antibiosis, and tolerance. The weaknesses of this framework are discussed.

Effect of depth of flooding on the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, and yield of rice.

The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Kuschel) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a semi-aquatic pest of rice and is the most destructive insect pest of rice in the United States. Adults oviposit after floods are established, and greenhouse studies have shown that plants exposed to deep floods have more eggs oviposited in leaf sheaths than plants exposed to a shallow flood. Experiments were conducted in three mid-southern states in the USA to determine if the depth of flooding would impact numbers of L.

Activity of chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam seed treatments on life stages of the rice water weevil as affected by the distribution of insecticides in rice plants.

Background: The systemic insecticides chlorantraniliprole (CAP) and thiamethoxam (TMX), applied to rice as seed treatments, may affect multiple life stages of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus. Effects of CAP and TMX on adult survival, egg-laying and first- and late-instar survivals were determined by infesting plants treated as seeds with different rates of insecticides. The biological activity was related to insecticidal concentrations in leaves, shoots and roots.