Preserving plant samples from remote locations for detection of RNA and DNA viruses.

Viral diseases in plants have a significant impact on agricultural productivity. Effective detection is needed to facilitate accurate diagnosis and characterization of virus infections essential for crop protection and disease management. For sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods, it is important to preserve the integrity of nucleic acids in plant tissue samples.

Laboratory studies assessing the microbial biocontrol potential of diverse strains of Beauveria bassiana isolated from coffee berry borer, with emphasis on strains from Hawai'i Island and comparisons to commercial strain GHA.

A series of experiments investigated genetically diverse strains of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) isolated from coffee berry borer (CBB). Objectives included assessment of their biocontrol potential, particularly in comparison to Bb commercial strain GHA currently applied for CBB control, and identification of various attributes potentially contributing to their comparatively greater epizootic potential in CBB populations. Bioassays identified one strain from Hawai'i Island and one from Puerto Rico with virulence greater than GHA based on equal weights of unformulated conidial powder (CP); however, the greater potency of the CPs was ultimately explained by their 2.

A Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly of a Helicoverpa zea Strain Resistant to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac Insecticidal Protein.

Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an insect pest of major cultivated crops in North and South America. The species has adapted to different host plants and developed resistance to several insecticidal agents, including Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins in transgenic cotton and maize. Helicoverpa zea populations persist year-round in tropical and subtropical regions, but seasonal migrations into temperate zones increase the geographic range of associated crop damage.

Evaluation of macadamia felted coccid (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) damage and cultivar susceptibility using imagery from a small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV), combined with ground truthing.

Background: Macadamia felted coccid, Acanthococcus ioronsidei (Williams) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), is a significant pest of macadamia nut, Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche (Protaceae), in Hawaii, and heavy infestations can kill branches, resulting in characteristic dead, copper-colored leaves. Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAV) or 'drones,' combined with spatial data analysis, can provide growers with accurate and high-resolution detection of plant stress due to pest infestations. We investigated the feasibility of using RGB (red-green-blue) color images from sUAV to detect dieback caused by macadamia felted coccid infestation and compared sUAV estimates with ground-based damage estimates (ground truthing).

Simulation-based evaluation of two insect trapping grids for delimitation surveys.

In the United States of America, delimitation trapping surveys with square grids have been used for decades for exotic insects without rigorous evaluation. We used simulations to investigate the effectiveness of two representative designs: an 8-km grid for Acrolepiopsis assectella (leek moth) and a 14.5-km grid for Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly, "Medfly").

Identifying an Optimal Screen Mesh to Enable Augmentorium-Based Enhanced Biological Control of the Olive Fruit Fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The augmentorium is a cost-effective screened enclosure designed to receive fruits infested with insect pests, retain the pests inside but let their natural enemies escape to enhance biological control of pest populations. Screen selection is critical to ensure that an augmentorium is effective for a particular system. Here we tested five types of screens with a mini-augmentorium design and measured the escape of four insect species under laboratory conditions: the pests olive fruit fly Bactocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), and the parasitoids Psyttalia lounsburyi (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Psyttalia ponerophaga (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Coumarinolignans with Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and NF-κB Inhibitory Activities from the Roots of .

Seven new coumarinolignans, walthindicins A-F (, , -, ), along with five known analogs (, -), were isolated from the roots of . The structures of the new compounds are determined by detailed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), circular dichroism (CD) with extensive computational support, and mass spectroscopic data interpretation. Compounds were tested for their antioxidant activity in Human Cervical Cancer cells (HeLa cells).

Nano- and micro-sized carnauba wax emulsions-based coatings incorporated with ginger essential oil and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose on papaya: Preservation of quality and delay of post-harvest fruit decay.

Carnauba wax nano and micro-sized emulsions and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coatings, alone or combined with ginger essential oils (GEO) were applied on papayas and evaluated under several storage conditions. In a first experiment, storage parameters were: 6 days at 22 °C, and 9 days at 13 °C followed by 5 days at 22 °C. In a second experiment, storage was: 5 days at 22 °C, and 10 days at 16 °C followed by 3 days at 22 °C.

Mating Competitiveness of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) Males From a Genetic Sexing Strain: Effects of Overflooding Ratio and Released Females.

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), is a global pest that infests a range of fruit and vegetables. Males are attracted to methyl eugenol, and control is often achieved by the Male Annihilation Technique, where methyl eugenol + insecticide dispensers are deployed to eliminate males, preclude matings, and reduce population growth. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has also been used to control B.

In vivo efficacy of pyrantel pamoate as a post-exposure prophylactic for rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis).

Rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) is a neurotropic nematode, and the leading cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide. The parasite is usually contracted through ingestion of infected gastropods, often hidden in raw or partially cooked produce. Pharmaceutical grade pyrantel pamoate was evaluated as a post-exposure prophylactic against A.

Complete genome organization and characterization of Hippeastrum latent virus.

The complete genome sequences of two carlaviruses were determined by high-throughput sequencing of RNA extracted from ringspot and mosaic, disease symptoms on leaves of spider lily plants (Crinum asiaticum, family Amaryllidaceae) growing as landscape plants in Hawaii. One, named Nerine latent virus (NeLV)-Hawaii with a genome of 8281 nucleotide exhibited the highest nucleotide identity and amino acid similarity of 95.5% and 96.

Antimicrobial Activity of Ohelo Berry () Juice against and Its Potential for Milk Preservation.

is a foodborne pathogen and causes illnesses with a high mortality rate in susceptible populations. Several dairy-related outbreaks have been attributed to contamination by , which requires antimicrobial interventions to enhance the safety of these products. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of the ohelo berry (), a Hawaiian wild relative of cranberry, against in culture media and milk products.

Aqueous chlorine dioxide generated with organic acids have higher antimicrobial efficacy than those generated with inorganic acids.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO) is commonly generated by mixing sodium chlorite and acid. This study aimed to evaluate how acid affects the release kinetics and antimicrobial property of ClO. Solutions made with weak acids released ClO more slowly and had higher stability than those made with hydrochloric acid.

Poor Host Status of Australian Finger Lime, , to , and (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawai'i.

We examined the host status of the Australian finger lime, F. Muell. (Rutaceae), to Hawai'i's tephritid fruit fly pests using laboratory and field studies.

Coffee Leaf Rust () from the Recent Invasion into Hawaii Shares a Genotypic Relationship with Latin American Populations.

Hawaii has long been one of the last coffee-producing regions of the world free of coffee leaf rust (CLR) disease, which is caused by the biotrophic fungus . However, CLR was detected in coffee farms and feral coffee on the island of Maui in February 2020 and subsequently on other islands of the Hawaiian archipelago. The source of the outbreak in Hawaii is not known, and CLR could have entered Hawaii from more than 50 coffee-producing nations that harbor the pathogen.

Silver nanoparticles-essential oils combined treatments to enhance the antibacterial and antifungal properties against foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms.

Plant-derived essential oils (EOs) and commercial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were tested to evaluate their antibacterial and antifungal efficiency against two pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium) and three spoilage fungi (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Mucor circinelloides). A broth microdilution assay was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EOs and AgNPs. In the MIC assay, the cinnamon EO, Mediterranean formulation, citrus EO and spherical-shaped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (AGC 1, AGC 0.

A single-walled carbon nanotubes-based electrochemical impedance immunosensor for on-site detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

Real-time and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria in food is in high demand to ensure food safety. In this study, a single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)-based electrochemical impedance immunosensor for on-site detection of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) was developed.

Mixture design methodology and predictive modeling for developing active formulations using essential oils and citrus extract against foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in rice.

The antibacterial and antifungal effects of six plant-derived essential oils (EOs) and two types of citrus extracts (CEs) were studied against two pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7) and three fungi (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Mucor circinelloides). A broth microdilution assay and checkerboard method were used to measure the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each extract and the possible interactions between them. The MIC assay showed that cinnamon EO, Mediterranean EO, Southern formulation, citrus EO, organic citrus extract (OCE), and natural citrus extract (NCE) had the highest antimicrobial and antifungal activity.

Vacuum Steam Treatment of Logs for Eradication of and .

A new and devastating disease, rapid ohia death (ROD), in Hawaii led to a state quarantine that regulates interisland transport of ohia wood and plant material to prevent spread of the causal pathogens. Heat treatments of ohia logs in commercial trade were considered for phytosanitary treatment. Vacuum steam (VS) was evaluated for its ability to eradicate the pathogens, and , in main stem logs from ROD-affected forest trees.

Targeted transcriptomics reveals signatures of large-scale independent origins and concerted regulation of effector genes in Radopholus similis.

The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is an economically important plant-parasitic nematode that inflicts damage and yield loss to a wide range of crops. This migratory endoparasite is widely distributed in warmer regions and causes extensive destruction to the root systems of important food crops (e.g.

Simulation-Based Investigation of the Performance of Delimiting Trapping Surveys for Insect Pests.

Fully trapped survey designs are widely used to delimit adventive pests populations that can be detected using traps and lures. Delimitation includes verifying the presence of the pest and determining its spatial extent. The size and shape of the survey design and the density of traps can vary; however, resulting variation in detecting efficiency is often unknown.

Does Habituation Affect the Efficacy of Semiochemical Oviposition Repellents Developed Against Drosophila suzukii?

The application of feeding and oviposition repellents is limited to arthropod systems in which habituation does not occur. Although several compounds appear to reduce Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Dipetra: Drosophilidae) oviposition in berries, previous studies have yet to address whether habituation is a significant risk following preexposure. We tested the response of adult female D.

Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae): A Decade of Research Towards a Sustainable Integrated Pest Management Program.

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) also known as spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), is a pest native to Southeast Asia. In the last few decades, the pest has expanded its range to affect all major European and American fruit production regions. SWD is a highly adaptive insect that is able to disperse, survive, and flourish under a range of environmental conditions.