Photoselective Protective Netting Improves "Honeycrisp" Fruit Quality.

High temperatures, wind, and excessive sunlight can negatively impact yield and fruit quality in semi-arid apple production regions. Netting was originally designed for hail protection, but it can modify the light spectrum and affect fruit quality. Here, pearl, blue, and red photoselective netting (≈20% shading factor) was installed in 2015 over a commercial "Cameron Select Honeycrisp" orchard.

Hidden Host Mortality from an Introduced Parasitoid: Conventional and Molecular Evaluation of Non-Target Risk.

Hidden trophic interactions are important in understanding food web ecology and evaluating the ecological risks and benefits associated with the introduction of exotic natural enemies in classical biological control programs. Although non-target risk is typically evaluated based on evidence of successful parasitism, parasitoid-induced host mortality not resulting in visible evidence of parasitism (i.e.

Coevolution, diversification and alternative states in two-trophic communities.

Single-trait eco-evolutionary models of arms races between consumers and their resource species often show inhibition rather than promotion of community diversification. In contrast, modelling arms races involving multiple traits, we found that arms races can promote diversification when trade-off costs among traits make simultaneous investment in multiple traits either more beneficial or more costly. Coevolution between resource and consumer species generates an adaptive landscape for each, with the configuration giving predictable suites of consumer and resource species.

Management of Pear Psylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Using Reflective Plastic Mulch.

Pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster), has remained the most challenging pest of commercial pears in Washington and Oregon, the top producers of pears in the United States. The lack of effective integrated pest management tactics for this pest has been a major barrier to effective management. In this study, we examined the potential for reflective plastic mulch affixed beneath pear trees to suppress pear psylla.

Pathogenicity and Control of , an Emerging Pome Fruit Pathogen in Washington State.

(anamorph ) is a recently reported quarantine fungal pathogen responsible for postharvest rot in apples and pears. Very little is known about its pathogenicity, epidemiology, and best management practices. We screened pathogenicity of on twigs from seven and fruit from nine major commercial apple cultivars.

Using phenology models to estimate insecticide effects on population dynamics: examples from codling moth and obliquebanded leafroller.

Background: Phenology models based on degree-days were modified to estimate the effects of insecticide applications on the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), and the obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Because the models inherently track stage structure of the population over the course of the season, stage specific mortality can be applied for various durations and intensities allowing the user to simulate different types of pesticides (ovicides, larvicides, organic or conventional materials).

Small Molecules in the Venom of the Scorpion .

Despite scorpion stings posing a significant public health issue in particular regions of the world, certain aspects of scorpion venom chemistry remain poorly described. Although there has been extensive research into the identity and activity of scorpion venom peptides, non-peptide small molecules present in the venom have received comparatively little attention. Small molecules can have important functions within venoms; for example, in some spider species the main toxic components of the venom are acylpolyamines.

Water Deficit Timing Affects Physiological Drought Response, Fruit Size, and Bitter Pit Development for 'Honeycrisp' Apple.

Irrigation is critical to maintain plant growth and productivity in many apple-producing regions. 'Honeycrisp' apple characteristically develops large fruit that are also susceptible to bitter pit. Limiting fruit size by restricting irrigation may represent an opportunity to control bitter pit in 'Honeycrisp'.

The Chimeric Bud-Sport 'Delicious' (Red) Mutant Strain, It, Expresses Lethal-Effect Resistance Against the Obliquebanded Leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

Three 'Red Delicious,' Malus domestica Borkhausen (Rosales: Rosaceae), apple plantings, each representing a different sport, were evaluated for natural resistance against the obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR), Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris). The establishment of neonate larvae on apple foliage was not different between the three 'Red Delicious' plantings. Of the three 'Red Delicious' plantings, the one that most negatively impacted OBLR was the 'It Delicious' genotype.

The Artificial Sweetener, Erythritol, Has Insecticidal Properties Against Pear Psylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae).

Erythritol is a dietary sweetener that is used for low-calorie or diabetic diets. Although safe for human consumption, erythritol is lethal to certain Dipteran pests, but insecticidal effects of erythritol on phloem-feeding insects have yet to be examined. Our goal was to determine whether erythritol has insecticidal activity against pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae).

A Genome Resource for the Apple Powdery Mildew Pathogen .

Powdery mildew, caused by , is an economically important disease of apple and pear trees. A single monoconidial strain (PuE-3) of this biotrophic fungus was used to extract DNA for Illumina sequencing. Data were assembled to form a draft genome of 43.

Plant evolution can mediate negative effects from honey bees on wild pollinators.

Pollinators are introduced to agroecosystems to provide pollination services. Introductions of managed pollinators often promote ecosystem services, but it remains largely unknown whether they also affect evolutionary mutualisms between wild pollinators and plants.Here, we developed a model to assess effects of managed honey bees on mutualisms between plants and wild pollinators.

Opposing influences of TAC1 and LAZY1 on Lateral Shoot Orientation in Arabidopsis.

TAC1 and LAZY1 are members of a gene family that regulates lateral shoot orientation in plants. TAC1 promotes outward orientations in response to light, while LAZY1 promotes upward shoot orientations in response to gravity via altered auxin transport. We performed genetic, molecular, and biochemical assays to investigate possible interactions between these genes.

Freezing stress survival mechanisms in Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. terminal buds.

Plants' mechanisms for surviving freezing stresses are essential adaptations that allow their existence in environments with extreme winter temperatures. Although it is known that Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. buds can acclimate in fall and survive very cold temperatures during the winter, the mechanism for survival of these buds is not known.

AtDRO1 is nuclear localized in root tips under native conditions and impacts auxin localization.

DEEPER ROOTING 1 (DRO1) contributes to the downward gravitropic growth trajectory of roots upstream of lateral auxin transport in monocots and dicots. Loss of DRO1 function leads to horizontally oriented lateral roots and altered gravitropic set point angle, while loss of all three DRO family members results in upward, vertical root growth. Here, we attempt to dissect the roles of AtDRO1 by analyzing expression, protein localization, auxin gradient formation, and auxin responsiveness in the atdro1 mutant.

Floral Colonization Dynamics and Specificity of Strains Used to Suppress Fire Blight of Pome Fruit.

is used as a biocontrol agent for fire blight protection in organic apple and pear production. We assessed colonization of pome flowers by in orchards located near Corvallis, OR and Wenatchee, WA. Blossom Protect, a mix of strains CF10 and CF40, and its citrate-based companion, Buffer Protect, were sprayed at 70% bloom.

Genetic analysis of stilbenoid profiles in grapevine stems reveals a major mQTL hotspot on chromosome 18 associated with disease-resistance motifs.

Grapevine ( spp.) contains a wealth of phytochemicals that have received considerable attention due to health-promoting properties and biological activities as phytoalexins. To date, the genetic basis of the quantitative variations for these potentially beneficial compounds has been limited.

Highly diversified crop-livestock farming systems reshape wild bird communities.

Agricultural intensification is a leading threat to bird conservation. Highly diversified farming systems that integrate livestock and crop production might promote a diversity of habitats useful to native birds foraging across otherwise-simplified landscapes. At the same time, these features might be attractive to nonnative birds linked to a broad range of disservices to both crop and livestock production.

A novel application of the Price equation reveals that landscape diversity promotes the response of bees to regionally rare plant species.

Bees are ecosystem service providers that are globally threatened by losses of plant diversity. However, effects of multi-species floral displays on bees in agro-ecosystems with variable landscape context remain poorly understood, hindering pollinator conservation tactics. We addressed this knowledge gap through a novel application of the modified Price equation to evaluate responses of bees to diverse floral communities on 36 farms in Washington, USA, over 3 years.

Season-Long Monitoring of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Throughout the United States Using Commercially Available Traps and Lures.

Reliable monitoring of the invasive Halyomorpha halys abundance, phenology and geographic distribution is critical for its management. Halyomorpha halys adult and nymphal captures on clear sticky traps and in black pyramid traps were compared in 18 states across the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Pacific Northwest and Western regions of the United States. Traps were baited with commercial lures containing the H.

Developing a Management Strategy for Little Cherry Disease: The Case of Washington State.

Little cherry disease (LCD) threatens the long-term economic sustainability of the Pacific Northwest sweet cherry () industry. Results from a series of partial budget analyses indicate that additional investments in monitoring, testing, spraying to control for insect vectors, and removing infected trees are lower than the reduced profit losses compared with the do-nothing scenario. Also, management can prevent or lessen the negative impacts of higher little cherry virus (Velarivirus little cherry virus 1, Ampelovirus little cherry virus 2) spread rates.

Entomology in the 21st Century: Tackling Insect Invasions, Promoting Advancements in Technology, and Using Effective Science Communication-2018 Student Debates.

The 2018 student debates of the Entomological Society of America were held at the Joint Annual Meeting for the Entomological Societies of America, Canada, and British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Three unbiased introductory speakers and six debate teams discussed and debated topics under the theme 'Entomology in the 21st Century: Tackling Insect Invasions, Promoting Advancements in Technology, and Using Effective Science Communication'. This year's debate topics included: 1) What is the most harmful invasive insect species in the world? 2) How can scientists diffuse the stigma or scare factor surrounding issues that become controversial such as genetically modified organisms, agricultural biotechnological developments, or pesticide chemicals? 3) What new/emerging technologies have the potential to revolutionize entomology (other than Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)? Introductory speakers and debate teams spent approximately 9 mo preparing their statements and arguments and had the opportunity to share this at the Joint Annual Meeting with an engaged audience.

Pesticide residues quantification in frozen fruit and vegetables in Chilean domestic market using QuEChERS extraction with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

Pesticide residues on foods are a global concern due to the impact on human health. Many countries have adopted regulations to establish Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) to control use of pesticides. This study aimed to determine pesticide residues in frozen fruit and vegetables from Chilean retail stores using UHPLC-Orbitrap MS and QuEChERS™ multiresidue-extraction kit.