Genome-wide association studies for inflorescence type and remontancy in .

Inflorescence type and remontancy are two valuable traits in bigleaf hydrangea ( L.) and both are recessively inherited. Molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) can greatly reduce the time necessary to breed cultivars with desired traits.

Ploidy Level Influences Pollen Tube Growth and Seed Viability in Interploidy Crosses of .

All cultivars tested to date are diploid or triploid and triploid have thicker stems, larger flowers, and larger stoma compared to related diploids. It is unknown whether interploidy crosses between diploid and triploid hydrangeas can be used to develop triploid varieties. The objective of this study was to compare pollen tube development, fruit formation, and seed viability among intra- and interploidy pollinations of and evaluate the genome size and pollen viability of resultant progeny.

Long-Lasting Insecticide Netting for Protecting Tree Stems from Attack by Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are destructive wood-boring insects of horticultural trees. We evaluated long-lasting insecticide netting for protecting stems against ambrosia beetles. Container-grown eastern redbud, , trees were flood-stressed to induce ambrosia beetle attacks, and deltamethrin-treated netting was wrapped from the base of the stem vertically to the branch junction.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) Management in Forest, Landscape, and Nursery Production.

Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Annand) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), has caused significant damage to both eastern [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière] and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana Englemann) (Pinales: Pinaceae) since it was first reported in the eastern United States. This adelgid is particularly damaging to these hemlock species due to a lack of co-evolved plant defenses and natural enemies able to suppress hemlock woolly adelgid populations.

Effect of Organic Inputs and Solarization for the Suppression of in Woody Ornamental Plant Production.

Soilborne diseases are the most economically significant problem faced by Southern region nursery producers. The goal of this research was to improve Rhizoctonia root rot disease management through the use of soil solarization alone and in combination with biofumigant cover crops-arugula 'Astro' ( ssp. ), mustard green 'Amara' (), and turnip 'Purple top forage' (); good quality compost and mustard meal amendment.

Comparative Performance of Fungicides, Biofungicides, and Host Plant Defense Inducers in Suppression of Phytophthora Root Rot in Flowering Dogwood During Simulated Root Flooding Events.

During flooding events in nurseries, Phytophthora root rot caused by Rands often causes damage that leads to complete crop loss. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of fungicides, biofungicides, and host plant defense inducers for preventive and curative control of Phytophthora root rot on flowering dogwood ( L.) seedlings exposed to a simulated flood event of 1, 3, or 7 days.

Worker Size, Geographical Distribution, and Introgressive Hybridization of Invasive Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Tennessee.

Worker size and geographical distribution of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren), black imported fire ants (Solenopsis richteri Forel), and their hybrid (S. invicta × S. richteri) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were evaluated from colonies sampled across Tennessee.

Trap Tree and Interception Trap Techniques for Management of Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Nursery Production.

The majority of wood-boring ambrosia beetles are strongly attracted to ethanol, a behavior which could be exploited for management within ornamental nurseries. A series of experiments was conducted to determine if ethanol-based interception techniques could reduce ambrosia beetle pest pressure. In two experiments, trap trees injected with a high dose of ethanol were positioned either adjacent or 10-15 m from trees injected with a low dose of ethanol (simulating a mildly stressed tree) to determine if the high-dose trap trees could draw beetle attacks away from immediately adjacent stressed nursery trees.

Management of flatheaded appletree borer (Chrysobothris femorata Olivier) in woody ornamental nursery production with a winter cover crop.

Background: The flatheaded appletree borer (Chrysobothris femorata Olivier) (FHAB) is a native pest of fruit, shade and nut trees throughout the United States. Use of cover crops is an effective pest management tool for some key insect pests in vegetable and cereal production systems, but its impact in woody ornamental production systems has not been investigated. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a winter cover crop for management of FHAB in nursery production.

Interaction of a Preventative Fungicide Treatment and Root Rot Pathogen on Ambrosia Beetle Attacks during a Simulated Flood Event.

Flooding can increase tree susceptibility to root rot pathogens as well as attacks by ambrosia beetles attracted to stress-induced ethanol emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of a preventative fungicide treatment and root infection with on ambrosia beetle attacks in flood stressed trees. A fungicide (Pageant Intrinsic) was evaluated in two flood trials using Eastern redbud and tulip poplar trees with treatments including the fungicide with or without pathogen or no fungicide with or without pathogen.

Complete Genome Sequence of a New Isolate of from × Hybrid Ants.

(SINV-3) is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that infects the red imported fire ant, Buren. We report here the full genome (10,383 nucleotides) of an isolate infecting hybrid ants, which we have identified as SINV-3 hybrid.

Trap Style, Bait, and Height Deployments in Black Walnut Tree Canopies Help Inform Monitoring Strategies for Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

Knowledge about which bark and ambrosia beetle species are active and at what heights in black walnut canopies is not well understood. Neither is the role of these beetles in spreading Thousand Cankers Disease. To assist with future planned research, which will assess the extent to which these beetle species are associated with Geosmithia morbida Kolařík, Freeland, Utley, and Tisserat (Ascomycota: Hypocreales: Bionectriaceae), experiments were undertaken to monitor bark and ambrosia beetles in urban landscapes and parks in Tennessee between 2011 and 2013.

Efficacy of Nootka Oil as a Biopesticide for Management of Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Recent concerns regarding the impact of traditional synthetic pesticides on nontarget organisms have generated demand for alternative products with lower environmental impact. This demand has led to increasing focus on plant essential oils as sources of new biopesticides. In this study, we demonstrate that the essential oil of the Alaskan yellow cedar, Cupressus nootkatensis (D.

Rapid, Effective DNA Isolation from Osmanthus via Modified Alkaline Lysis.

Variability of leaf structure and presence of secondary metabolites in mature leaf tissue present a challenge for reliable DNA extraction from Osmanthus species and cultivars. The objective of this study was to develop a universal rapid, effective, and cost-efficient method of DNA isolation for Osmanthus mature leaf tissue. Four different methods were used to isolate DNA from 8 cultivars of Osmanthus.

Movement of Xylosandrus germanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Ornamental Nurseries and Surrounding Habitats.

Some exotic ambrosia beetles are damaging pests in ornamental nurseries. Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) is the most problematic ambrosia beetle in Ohio nurseries. Movement of X.

Preharvest quarantine treatments of chlorantraniliprole, clothianidin, and imidacloprid-based insecticides for control of Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and other scarab larvae in the root zone of field-grown nursery trees.

Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is an important quarantine pest of nurseries. Nursery plant movement from P. japonica-infested regions is regulated by the U.

Field evaluation of essential oils for reducing attraction by the Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Forty-one plant essential oils were tested under field conditions for the ability to reduce the attraction of adult Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), to attractant-baited or nonbaited traps. Treatments applied to a yellow and green Japanese beetle trap included a nonbaited trap, essential oil alone, a Japanese beetle commercial attractant (phenethyl proprionate:eugenol:geraniol, 3:7:3 by volume) (PEG), and an essential oil plus PEG attractant. Eight of the 41 oils reduced attractiveness of the PEG attractant to the Japanese beetle.

Surface-applied insecticide treatments for quarantine control of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), larvae in field-grown nursery plants.

Background: Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica Newman, are a quarantine challenge for nursery shipments from infested to non-infested states. Marathon (imidacloprid) and Discus (imidacloprid + cyfluthrin) are approved preharvest nursery treatments (US Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan; DJHP). This study evaluated approved and non-approved (acephate, carbaryl, clothianidin, dinotefuran, halofenozide, thiamethoxam, trichlorfon) preharvest treatments, optimal rates (labeled 1x, 0.

Drench treatments for management of larval Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in field-grown balled and burlapped nursery plants.

Insecticide drenches were applied to postharvest field-grown nursery plants harvested as 60-cm-diameter balled and burlapped (B&B) root balls for controlling third instars of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin, and thiamethoxam were drench-applied in fall and spring tests at volumes of runoff (1X; approximately equal 2.57 liters per drench per root ball) or twice runoff (2X).

Chlorpyrifos immersion to eliminate third instars of Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in balled and burlapped trees and subsequent treatment effects on red maple.

This study examined chlorpyrifos immersion of balled and burlapped (B&B) nursery trees for elimination of third instars of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), and for phytotoxicity on red maple, Acer rubrum L. Trees were harvested as 45- and 60-cm-diameter B&B and immersed in chlorpyrifos at U.S.

Survival of adult Tiphia vernalis (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) after insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide exposure in laboratory bioassays.

Tiphia vernalis Rohwer is a hymenopteran ectoparasitoid of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, larvae. The adult wasps feed on nectar or honeydew between mid-April and late June. Adults may contact pesticides when landing on foliage or when females hunt for grubs in the soil.

Effect of insecticides on Tiphia vernalis (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) oviposition and survival of progeny to cocoon stage when parasitizing Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae.

The effect of insecticides on oviposition of Tiphia vernalis Rohwer and subsequent survival of parasitoid progeny to the cocoon stage was determined in the laboratory by using larval Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, as the host. Insecticides tested were imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, halofenozide, chlorpyrifos, and carbaryl at labeled rates. Female T.