Times Insecticide Spray To Conrol Aphids And Reduce BYDV Infections

BYDV is the most damaging insect-vectored disease for small grains. It can cause serious yield losses if the infection is generalized in a field. Tests conducted for BYDV from several counties across western KY in the 2016-2017 growing season provided two different outcomes. In the fall of 2016, all samples were negatives for viruses out of 15 samples from 8 different counties. However, in the spring of 2017 seven out of 11 samples from 10 counties resulted positive for BYDV. Also, 10 of the samples resulted positive for a Gram-positive plant pathogenic bacterium Clavibacter m. tessellarius, causal agent of a disease known as bacterial mosaic. This proposal plans to monitor the presence of several known aphid species (i.e. birch cherry oat aphid, corn leaf aphid, greenbug), detect BYDV in the 2017-2018 small grain growing season; and evaluate the correct time of insecticide application to control cereal aphids. The objectives of this proposal are: a. To monitor the abundance of aphid species and viruses in the 2017-fall and 2018-spring in commercial fields in Western Kentucky, and research plots of Princeton. b. To detect plants infected by BYDV in commercial small grain fields (fall and spring). c. To assess a timed application of insecticides to manage aphids (comparing fall, spring, or sprays on both seasons).