Of buds and bits: a meta-QTL study identifies stable QTL for berry quality and yield traits in cranberry mapping populations ( Ait.).

Introduction: For nearly two centuries, cranberry ( Ait.) breeders have improved fruit quality and yield by selecting traits on fruiting stems, termed "reproductive uprights." Crop improvement is accelerating rapidly in contemporary breeding programs due to modern genetic tools and high-throughput phenotyping methods, improving selection efficiency and accuracy.

Phytoplasma infection renders cranberries more susceptible to above- and belowground insect herbivores.

While phytoplasma infections in plants are known to affect their interactions with aboveground herbivores, the impact of different genotypes on these infections and their effects on belowground herbivores remains largely unexplored. In cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), infection by the phytoplasma Candidatus Phytoplasma sp. subgroup 16SrIII-Y leads to false blossom disease.

Managing fruit rot diseases of .

Blueberry is an important perennial fruit crop with expanding consumption and production worldwide. Consumer demand for blueberries has grown due to the desirable flavor and numerous health benefits, and fresh market production in the U.S.

Genotypic Variation and Potential Mechanisms of Resistance against Multiple Insect Herbivores in Cranberries.

Plant genotypes often exhibit varying resistance levels to herbivores. However, the impact of this genotypic variation on resistance against multiple herbivores remains poorly understood, especially in crops undergoing recent process of domestication. To address this gap, we studied the magnitude and mechanism of resistance in 12 cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) genotypes to three leaf-chewing herbivores - Sparganothis fruitworm (Sparganothis sulfureana), spotted fireworm (Choristoneura parallela), and spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) - along a domestication gradient (native 'wild' genotypes, 'early hybrid' genotypes, and 'modern hybrid' genotypes).

Testing the Effects of Prey Type on the Life History and Population-Level Parameters of (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Green lacewings are valuable predators, utilized in augmentative biological control against various agricultural pests. However, further studies are required to comprehend the performance of these predators when consuming natural prey. We investigated the capacity of (Hagen) to utilize the following three distinct prey types: the pupae of the coffee leaf miner (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet), the eggs of the sugarcane borer (F.

A theoretical framework to improve the adoption of green Integrated Pest Management tactics.

Sustainable agriculture relies on implementing effective, eco-friendly crop protection strategies. However, the adoption of these green tactics by growers is limited by their high costs resulting from the insufficient integration of various components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In response, we propose a framework within IPM termed Multi-Dimensional Management of Multiple Pests (3MP).

Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis and Marker Development for Fruit Rot Resistance in Cranberry Shows Potential Genetic Association with Epicuticular Wax.

Fruit rot is a fungal disease complex that threatens cranberry yields in North American growing operations. Management of fruit rot is especially difficult because of the diversity of the infecting fungal species, and although infections take place early in the season, the pathogens usually remain latent in the ovary until the fruit ripen. Control methods heavily rely on fungicide applications, a practice that may be limited in viability long term.

The Role of Fatty Acids from Plant Surfaces in the Infectivity of .

Aqueous extracts derived from flowers stimulate germination, secondary conidiation, and appressorial formation of various latent fruit rotting fungi. Even raindrops passing over flowers accumulate sufficient activity to influence the infectivity of fruit rotting fungi. Using a spore germination bioassay, high levels of bioactivity were found in chloroform extracts from plant tissues, implicating the nonpolar components of the cuticle.

Transforming entomology to adapt to global concerns: 2021 student debates.

The 2021 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were held at the Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. The event was organized by the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC). The theme of the 2021 Student Debates was "Transforming Entomology to Adapt to Global Concerns", with 3 topics.

The contrasting role of climate variation on the population dynamics of a native and an invasive insect pest.

Since 2008, spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has become a major pest of soft, thin-skinned fruits in the USA, causing significant annual yield losses. Historically, the native blueberry maggot fly, Rhagoletis mendax, has been a key blueberry pest in eastern North America and a driver of insecticide usage. After its invasion in 2011 into New Jersey (USA), D.

Cranberry fruit epicuticular wax benefits and identification of a wax-associated molecular marker.

Background: As the global climate changes, periods of abiotic stress throughout the North American cranberry growing regions will become more common. One consequence of high temperature extremes and drought conditions is sunscald. Scalding damages the developing berry and reduces yields through fruit tissue damage and/or secondary pathogen infection.

Population Genetics of the Blueberry Gall Midge, (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), on Blueberry and Cranberry and Testing Invasion Scenarios.

We compared the population genetic structure between populations of the blueberry gall midge- (Johnson) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)-from blueberry and cranberry and determined the genetic relationships among geographical subgroups by genotyping 632 individuals from 31 different populations from their native USA regions (New Jersey, Michigan, and Georgia) and from invaded Korean regions using 12 microsatellite loci. Our population genetic analyses showed a clear separation between the two host-associated populations from blueberry and cranberry. Using data from only the blueberry-associated populations, we identified five genetically isolated subgroups.

Monitoring of Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Resistance Status Using a RAPID Method for Assessing Insecticide Sensitivity Across the United States.

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) has spread rapidly, challenging berry and cherry crop production due to its ability to lay eggs into ripening fruit. To prevent infestation by this pest, insecticides are applied during fruit ripening and harvest. We field-tested the Rapid Assessment Protocol for IDentification of resistance in D.

Contrasting a reference cranberry genome to a crop wild relative provides insights into adaptation, domestication, and breeding.

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a member of the Heath family (Ericaceae) and is a temperate low-growing woody perennial native to North America that is both economically important and has significant health benefits. While some native varieties are still grown today, breeding programs over the past 50 years have made significant contributions to improving disease resistance, fruit quality and yield. An initial genome sequence of an inbred line of the wild selection 'Ben Lear,' which is parent to multiple breeding programs, provided insight into the gene repertoire as well as a platform for molecular breeding.

Application of Plant Defense Elicitors Fails to Enhance Herbivore Resistance or Mitigate Phytoplasma Infection in Cranberries.

Synthetic elicitors of the salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) plant defense pathways can be used to increase crop protection against herbivores and pathogens. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that elicitors of plant defenses interact with pathogen infection to influence crop resistance against vector and nonvector herbivores. To do so, we employed a trophic system comprising of cranberries (), the phytoplasma that causes false blossom disease, and two herbivores-the blunt-nosed leafhopper (), the vector of false blossom disease, and the nonvector gypsy moth ().

The abundance and diversity of fruit flies and their parasitoids change with elevation in guava orchards in a tropical Andean forest of Peru, independent of seasonality.

Lower elevations are generally thought to contain a greater abundance and diversity of insect communities and their natural enemies than higher elevations. It is less clear, however, how changes in seasons influence this pattern. We conducted a 2-year study (2013‒2014) in guava orchards located in a tropical Andean forest of Peru to investigate differences in fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their parasitoid communities at two elevations and over two seasons.

Characterizing the Feeding Injury Caused by Phylloscelis rubra (Hemiptera: Dictyopharidae) to Cranberries.

Due to changes in pest management practices, farmers' reports of severe feeding injury to cranberries, Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton Ericales: Ericaceae, caused by the cranberry toad-bug, Phylloscelis rubra Ball, have increased in recent years in New Jersey (United States). Currently, however, limited information is available on the effects of P. rubra feeding or density of individuals needed to cause injury to cranberry vines and fruit.

Plant guttation provides nutrient-rich food for insects.

Plant guttation is a fluid from xylem and phloem sap secreted at the margins of leaves from many plant species. All previous studies have considered guttation as a water source for insects. Here, we hypothesized that plant guttation serves as a reliable and nutrient-rich food source for insects with effects on their communities.

Interactive Effects of an Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatile and Color on an Insect Community in Cranberry.

Synthetic herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) could be used to monitor insect populations in agroecosystems, including beneficial insects such as natural enemies of herbivores. However, it is unknown whether insect responses to HIPVs are influenced by visual cues, e.g.

Interpreting Temporal and Spatial Variation in Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Trap Captures in Highbush Blueberries.

Integrated pest management (IPM) programs for the spotted-wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) rely on insecticide applications to reduce adult populations and prevent fruit infestation. Although monitoring traps are used for early D. suzukii adult detection to time the start of insecticide applications, it remains unclear whether trap counts can be used to determine the efficacy of these programs and predict the risk of fruit infestation.

The Role of Flowers in the Disease Cycle of and Other Cranberry Fruit Rot Fungi.

Floral extracts (FEs) can influence the infectivity and epidemiology of fruit infecting species. In this study, responded to cranberry FEs with an increased rate and magnitude of secondary conidiation and appressorium formation. Four other cranberry fruit rotting species also showed an increased rate of germination in the presence of FEs.

Methyl Salicylate Increases Attraction and Function of Beneficial Arthropods in Cranberries.

Methyl salicylate (MeSA) is an herbivore-induced plant volatile (HIPV) known to attract the natural enemies of herbivores in agro-ecosystems; however, whether this attraction leads to an increase in natural enemy functioning, i.e., predation, remains largely unknown.

Transcriptome analysis identifies genes related to the waxy coating on blueberry fruit in two northern-adapted rabbiteye breeding populations.

Background: Blueberry is of high economic value. Most blueberry varieties selected for the fresh market have an appealing light blue coating or "bloom" on the fruit due to the presence of a visible heavy epicuticular wax layer. This waxy layer also serves as natural defense against fruit desiccation and deterioration.