Genetic Structure in Native Populations of Grape Phylloxera (Homoptera: Phylloxeridae)

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to study genetic structure and diversity in native grape phylloxera populations growing on Vitis arizonica Englemann in central Arizona and on V. riparia Michaux in New York. RAPD data from the Arizona collections were clustered into 3 subpopulations, whereas data from the New York collections were not clustered, which reflected topographic features and the distribution of the sampled vines. Similarity coefficients of the 2 collection areas had similar ranges (0.89-1.0). The similarity coefficient between the Arizona and New York collections was 0.62. Analyses of molecular variance were used to partition the variance in genetic distances, and confirmed the results of the dendrogram clustering. The clustering of the Arizona populations is likely the result of gene flow restriction caused by geographic isolation. Greater diversity was expected among the Arizona populations. That diversity levels were similar suggests that other factors, such as inbreeding or past population history, must play a role in the relatively low level of diversity found in Arizon

The state of the Martian climate

60°N was +2.0°C, relative to the 1981–2010 average value (Fig. 5.1). This marks a new high for the record. The average annual surface air temperature (SAT) anomaly for 2016 for land stations north of starting in 1900, and is a significant increase over the previous highest value of +1.2°C, which was observed in 2007, 2011, and 2015. Average global annual temperatures also showed record values in 2015 and 2016. Currently, the Arctic is warming at more than twice the rate of lower latitudes

Strong gravitational lensing probes of the particle nature of dark matter

There is a vast menagerie of plausible candidates for the constituents of dark matter, both within and beyond extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. Each of these candidates may have scattering (and other) cross section properties that are consistent with the dark matter abundance, BBN, and the most scales in the matter power spectrum; but which may have vastly different behavior at sub-galactic "cutoff" scales, below which dark matter density fluctuations are smoothed out. The only way to quantitatively measure the power spectrum behavior at sub-galactic scales at distances beyond the local universe, and indeed over cosmic time, is through probes available in multiply imaged strong gravitational lenses. Gravitational potential perturbations by dark matter substructure encode information in the observed relative magnifications, positions, and time delays in a strong lens. Each of these is sensitive to a different moment of the substructure mass function and to different effective mass ranges of the substructure. The time delay perturbations, in particular, are proving to be largely immune to the degeneracies and systematic uncertainties that have impacted exploitation of strong lenses for such studies. There is great potential for a coordinated theoretical and observational effort to enable a sophisticated exploitation of strong gravitational lenses as direct probes of dark matter properties. This opportunity motivates this white paper, and drives the need for: a) strong support of the theoretical work necessary to understand all astrophysical consequences for different dark matter candidates; and b) tailored observational campaigns, and even a fully dedicated mission, to obtain the requisite data.Comment: Science white paper submitted to the Astro2010 Decadal Cosmology & Fundamental Physics Science Frontier Pane

Biological Control of Powdery Mildews of Greenhouse Ornamentals

NYS IPM Type: Project ReportThe mycophagous mite, Orthortydeus lambi (Acari: Tydeidae) is very abundant on several woody perennial species found in New York (e.g. wild grape, Vitis riparia, ornamental linden, Tilia cordata, paper birch, Betula papyrifera), and we have demonstrated that this mite can effectively and dramatically reduce the incidence and severity of powdery mildew of grape, Uncinula nectator. Moreover, once established this mite offered continual control on grape in the presence of high inoculum pressure. We are examining the impact of O. lambi on powdery mildews of two common greenhouse floral crops grown in New York

Field Evaluation of an Oviposition Deterrent for Management of Spotted-Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, and Potential Nontarget Effects

Spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a polyphagous, invasive pest of small fruits. Current management relies heavily on chemical insecticides, and an effective oviposition deterrent could contribute to alternative management approaches that reduce the need for these chemical insecticides. A novel deployment method for repelling Drosophila suzukii, thereby reducing D. suzukii oviposition in fall-bearing red raspberry, was evaluated in the field. Infestations occurring within 4 d after deployment were significantly lower in 2-m-long plots (Rubus idaeus ‘Caroline') treated with the repellent (20% 1-octen-3-ol in specialized pheromone and lure application technology [SPLAT]) compared to control plots (blank SPLAT). Repellent-treated plots had roughly 28.8 and 49.5% fewer offspring reared per gram of fruit than control plots in two experiments, respectively. Nontarget effects were also evaluated in 2-m plot experiments as well as 5- by 5-m plot experiments. There were no differences in the number of parasitic hymenoptera trapped on yellow sticky cards hung in repellent compared to control plots. While there were no differences in the number of visits to raspberry flowers observed by honey bees in repellent versus control plots, the number of visits by bumble bees was greater in repellent plots compared to control plots. Challenges regarding evaporation rates and potential uses for repellents in an integrated pest management program for the control of D. suzukii are discussed

Data from: Response of Wild Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) to Microbial Volatiles

The olfactory cues used by various animals to detect and identify food items often include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by food-associated microorganisms. Microbial VOCs have potential as lures to trap animal pests, including insect crop pests. This study investigated microorganisms whose VOCs are attractive to natural populations of the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive insect pest of ripening fruits. The microorganisms readily cultured from wild SWD and SWD-infested fruits included yeasts, especially Hanseniaspora species, and various bacteria, including Proteobacteria (especially Acetobacteraceae and Enterobacteriaceae) and Actinobacteria. Traps in a raspberry planting that were baited with cultures of Hanseniaspora uvarum, H. opuntiae and the commercial lure Scentry trapped relatively high numbers of both SWD and non-target drosophilids. The VOCs associated with these baits were dominated by ethyl acetate and, for yeasts, other esters. By contrast, Gluconobacter species (Acetobacteraceae), whose VOCs were dominated by acetic acid and acetoin and lacked detectable ethyl acetate, trapped 60-75% fewer SWD but with very high selectivity for SWD. VOCs of two other taxa tested, the yeast Pichia sp. and Curtobacterium sp. (Actinobacteria), trapped very few SWD or other insects. Our demonstration of among microbial variation in VOCs and their attractiveness to SWD and non-pest insects under field conditions provides the basis for improved design of lures for SWD management. Further research is required to establish how different microbial VOC profiles may function as reliable cues of habitat suitability for fly feeding and oviposition, and how this variation maps onto among-insect species differences in habitat preference.NY State Hatch grant in conjunction with US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant NYC-191404