FIELD TESTING OF PHEROMONE MATING DISRUPTION FOR SWEDE MIDGE IN BRASSICA CROPS

We have evidence pheromone mating disruption can be effective in managing the midge and reducing marketable losses. But the main challenge is around the effective deployment of PMD in annual rotational vegetable systems. Here, our specific goals are to: 1) compare pheromone dispensers to determine efficacy and affordability, 2) compare how field weathering affects the attractiveness of the male midges, 3) determine how to deploy pheromone mating disruption within an annual cropping system, and 4) develop tools for educating growers nationally about this serious new pest. The novelty of this proposal rests on the use of midge mating behavior to identify where pheromones should be deployed within annual cropping systems. By developing an economical and effective PMD system, goals are to develop an effective PMD system (USDA CPPM #1 Plant Protection Tactics and Tools) while training a predoctoral and undergraduate students (USDA CPPM #5 Development of the Next Generation of IPM Scientists).