2004Competitive Grants Programs
Summaries of research projects are online. Funded projects (below) are linked to the summaries.
Two years of budget cuts to UC IPM, totaling almost $500,000, have drastically reduced the amount of funds available for new research grants. However, UC IPM officials have released a request for proposals for new projects for 2005-06.
In 2004-05, continuing projects exhausted most of the available funds, but the program was able to fund one year of four of the projects that had been approved, but not funded, for 2003-04.
Mike Rust, Entomology, UC Riverside, stepped down as Associate Director for Research in 2003. This position has not been refilled, and for now will continue to be vacant since the UC IPM grants program has been significantly reduced. If the grants program can be rebuilt, an associate director for research will be appointed.
Stand establishment and tillage alternatives to reduce weed seedbanks and herbicide use in rice. A. J. Fischer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis; J. E. Hill, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis. (Year 1 of 1)Decision Support
Development and validation of sampling plans for pests of Gerbera jamsonii. M. P. Parella, Entomology, UC Davis; R. Y. Evans, Environmental Horticulture, UC Davis; J. P. Newman, UC Coop. Ext. Ventura Co.; S. A. Tjosvold, UC Coop. Ext. Santa Cruz Co.; K. L. Robb, UC Coop. Ext. San Diego Co. (Year 1 of 1)
All currently funded projects are in their last year of funding. These projects and those that ended in July 2004 are listed here. View the UC IPM Web site for summaries of all research projects funded by the UC IPM Grants Program.
Biorational Use of Biotic Agents
Cultural manipulation of crop/weed competitive relations in a rice cropping system. A. J. Fischer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. (Year 3 of 3; $34,168)
Implementation value of root-galling resistance and reproduction resistance for root knot nematode management in dry beans. P. A. Roberts, Nematology, UC Riverside. (Year 3 of 3; $33,984)
Integrated management of perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium. R. G. Wilson, UC Coop. Ext. Lassen Co.; J. M. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. (Year 3 of 3; $24,705)Decision Support
Development and application of a PCR-based detection method for predicting the incidence of beet curly top virus in leafhoppers and in tomato crops. R. L. Gilbertson, Plant Pathology, UC Davis. (Year 3 of 3; $24,000)
Decision support system for IPM of prune brown rot. T. J. Michailides, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. (Year 3 of 3; $36,290)
Development of an economic injury level and monitoring methods for cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi, and the predatory beetle vedalia beetle Rodolia cardinalis. E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Entomology, UC Riverside/Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier; J. T. Trumble, Entomology, UC Riverside. (Year 3 of 3; $40,721)
California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) foraging behavior: Implications for improved control. T. P. Salmon, Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology, UC Davis.Applied Field Ecology
A new look at an old pest: what makes Lygus hungry for cotton squares? J. A. Rosenheim, Entomology, UC Davis.
Biology and overwintering of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, and corn stunt spiroplasm, Spiroplasma kunkelii, and epidemiology of corn stunt disease in the San Joaquin Valley. C. G. Summers, Entomology, UC Davis/Kearney Agricultural Center/Parlier.
Effects of plant age at the time of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, infection on yields. A.T. Ploeg, Nematology, UC Riverside.Biorational Use of Biotic Agents
Bait development for ant control in vineyards. J. H. Klotz, Entomology, UC Riverside.
New members to be selected Winter 2005.
Summaries of research projects are online. Funded projects (below) are linked to the summaries.
The UC Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program (EPDRP) is funded through a Special Research Grant provided through USDA-CSREES. The review committees approved $1.7 million in funding for 23 new projects from the 2004-2007 USDA grant. This brings the number of projects sponsored by the program to 65, for almost $6 million.
The third annual research workshop sponsored by Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program was held at Emeryville, California, Oct. 13 and 14, 2004. Earlier this year, the program co-sponsored the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Conference in Napa.
Established in 2001, the UC Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program is a joint program of the UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research and UC IPM. The program, which targets research on exotic pests and diseases/invasive species important to California, aims not only to improve our knowledge of pests that are already in California, but also to get a head start on pests that pose a likely threat to the state.
Additional funds are being sought to extend the program and, if successful, the EPDRP will request new proposals late Winter 2005. For more information about the program and the projects it sponsors, see the UC IPM Web site.
An educational program for California concerning the identification and damage potential of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Entomology, UC Riverside; K. E. Godfrey, CDFA Biocontrol Program; M. E. Rogers, Entomology, University of Florida; C. C. Childers, University of Florida; P. A. Stansly, University of Florida. (2 years, $21,000)
Use of ginger root oil to enhance the mating competitiveness of mass-reared males of the Mediterranean fruit fly: Development of an effective exposure protocol. T. E. Shelly, USDA-APHIS. (1 year, $14,006)
Invasive citrus peelminer populations in California: Home grown or invasion from Mexico? R. Stouthamer, Entomology, UC Riverside; D. Vickerman, Entomology, UC Riverside. (1 year, $39,164)
Gene chips to detect and prevent establishment of Citrus tristeza virus isolates. D. E. Ullman, Entomology, UC Davis; B. W. Falk, Plant Pathology, UC Davis. (1 year, $50,000)
Fate of vine mealybug on winery waste. L. G. Varela, UC Coop. Ext. Sonoma Co.; R. J. Smith, UC Coop. Ext. Sonoma Co. (1 year, $17,500)
Using molecular markers to identify origins and trace spread of herbicide resistance in Echinochloa oryzoides and E. phyllopogon infesting rice fields in California. M. A. Jasieniuk, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis; A. J. Fischer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. (3 years, $118,379)
Developing an Argentine ant baiting program for organic agriculture. J. H. Klotz, Entomology, UC Riverside; M. K. Rust, Entomology, UC Riverside. (2 years, $56,097)
Hyperparasitoids and predators, two potential biotic factors disrupting the biological control of the walnut aphid in California. N. J. Mills, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley. (3 years, $94,088)
The establishment of pitch canker in the Sierra Nevada. T. R. Gordon, Plant Pathology, UC Davis. (3 years, $110,392)
Physiological basis for invasiveness of Sahara mustard, Brassica tournefortii, in Southwestern deserts. J. S. Holt, Botany and Plant Sciences, UC Riverside. (3 years, $123,730)
Development of a ranked inventory of invasive plants that threaten wildlands. J. A. Randall, The Nature Conservancy; J. M. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. (2 years, $32,950)
Ecological influences on invasion success of introduced genes in California tiger salamanders. H. B. Shaffer, Evolution and Ecology, UC Davis. (2 years, $118,200)
Ecological and economic risk assessment and expansion dynamics of wild pigs in oak woodland ecosystems in California. R. A. Sweitzer, Biology, University of North Dakota; R. E. Loggins, Biology, University of North Dakota. (3 years, $139,441)
New relationships among the sudden oak death pathogen, native bark and ambrosia beetles, and decay fungi colonizing North American oaks. D. L. Wood, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley. (3 years, $144,973)
Determination of the biology and methods for monitoring and treatment of the Asian woolly hackberry aphid, Shivaphis celti, in California. A. B. Lawson, Entomology, California State University, Fresno; P. M. Geisel, UC Coop. Ext. Fresno Co. (2 years, $70,233)
Studies on flight behavior of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. M. K. Rust, Entomology, UC Riverside; L. Greenberg, Entomology, UC Riverside. (1 year, $39,327)
Determining tumbleweed, Salsola, species and hybrids in California. D. R. Strong, Evolution and Ecology, UC Davis. (1 year, $44,341)
Assessing the vulnerability of forests to exotic pathogens through analysis of tree ring patterns. J. J. Battles, Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley. (2 years, $84,679)
Applied ecology and management of Eurasian watermilfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum, in Fall River. J. M. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis; D. F. Spencer, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis. (3 years, $92,040)
Developing pheromone-based detection methods for exotic cerambycid beetles. J. G. Millar, Entomology, UC Riverside. (3 years, $157,141)
Updating integrated pest management systems for pitch canker: Known and potential insect vectors. D. L. Wood, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley.
Impacts and control of an invasive seaweed in California marine protected areas. J. H. R. Goddard, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara; C. A. Blanchette, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara.
Managing the impacts of the European green crab, Carcinus maenas, in coastal estuaries. E. Grosholz, Environmental Science and Policy, UC Davis.
Impacts and control of giant reed, Arundo donax, in riparian habitats. J. S. Holt, Botany and Plant Sciences, UC Riverside.
Intensive grazing practices and revegetation for controlling medusahead in California grasslands. E. A. Laca, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis; M. R. George, Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis; J. M. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis.
Genetic selection and behavior modification to circumvent differential susceptibility of eucalyptus longhorned borers to attack by the egg parasitoid, Avetianella longoi. J. G. Millar, Entomology, UC Riverside; T. D. Paine, Entomology, UC Riverside.
Distribution and control of an exotic pest wasp, the German yellowjacket, Vespula germanica, in southern California. P. K. Visscher, Entomology, UC Riverside.
Control of curly top virus using trap crops and repellents against the vector, beet leafhopper. G. P. Walker, Entomology, UC Riverside.
Development of mimetic insecticidal peptides for glassy-winged sharpshooter control. B. Federici, Entomology, UC Riverside.
Evaluation of the role of arthropods in the persistence and dispersal of exotic Newcastle disease (END) in southern California. A. C. Gerry, Entomology, UC Riverside; C. J. Cardona, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis.
Using population structure to identify effective parasitoid biotypes for biological control of mealy plum aphid, Hyalopterus pruni, in California. N. J. Mills, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley.
Origins, thresholds, and management of the tomato psyllid in California. J. T. Trumble, Entomology, UC Riverside; R. Stouthamer, Entomology, UC Riverside.
Functional use of geographic information systems to model the range and abundance of vine mealybug and its natural enemies. A. P. Gutierrez, Ecosystem Sciences, UC Berkeley; K. M. Daane, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley.Natural Systems
Controlling establishing infestations of herbaceous perennials in the Lake Tahoe Basin. M. Renz, Extension Plant Sciences, New Mexico State University; W. E. Frost, UC Coop. Ext. El Dorado Co.
Genetic and reproductive factors contributing to the invasiveness of Cortaderia jubata and C. elloana in California. M. A. Jasieniuk, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis; J. M. DiTomaso, Vegetable Crops, UC Davis.
Sabellid polychaete detection in native gastropod populations and control at abalone culture facilities. E. D. Grosholz, Environmental Science and Policy, UC Davis; J. Moore, School of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, and Epidemiology, UC Davis.
Disease progression plot monitoring and plotless evaluation of Phytophthora ramorum incidence in different forest types in coastal California. R. B. Standiford, Center for Forestry, UC Berkeley; N. M. Kelly, Ecosystem Science, UC Berkeley.
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Natural Systems Scientific Advisory Panel
Urban Systems Scientific Advisory Panel