Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Grape growers in the southeastern United States contend with two major pests, Japanese
beetle (JB), Popilliajaponica Newman, and green June beetle (GJB), Cotinis nitida L., that are
absent or less troublesome in other grape-growing regions. JB severely defoliates vines, whereas
both beetles feed upon and contaminate ripe fruits and are key pests close to harvest when spray
restrictions limit management options. Grape cultivars adapted to the southern region vary in
foliar characteristics and phenology of ripening in ways that likely affect resistance to both
scarabs. Establishing vineyards with resistant cultivars should reduce vine loss and production
costs, providing a quality crop with reduced chemical inputs. This project will quantify the costs
of JB defoliation to growth, winter hardiness, berry development, and yield of vines of
representative American, European, and hybrid cultivars maintained under conventional and
reduced insecticidal regimes. In addition, phenological resistance, the use of cultivars that ripen
before or after peak beetle flight, will also be evaluated as a strategy to reduce need for cover
sprays close to harvest. This project will help guide growers who favor organic or sustainable
growing practices to cultivars that produce quality crops with minimal loss from the
aforementioned scarab pests.
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 9/1/08 → 8/31/10 |
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