U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Chemistry Research: Gainesville, FL
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    CMAVESearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




Insects that are beneficial to agriculture face big challenges to their health. Pictured is a honey bee with the parasitic varroa mite, a pest that threatens the health of honey bees worldwide. Chemistry Research Unit scientists are studying this honey bee pest, as well as the small hive beetle, among others, to protect and strengthen our pollinators.
 A-maize-ing seeds inhibit fungi. Fungal infections of crops are a major challenge. Chemistry Research scientists are screening maize seeds for resistance or susceptibility to fungi. Pictured are kernels with altered cell layers and their susceptibility (left) or resistance (right) to a fungus. Resistant kernels may decrease the need for chemical sprays.
 Nectar microbes attract pollinators. Chemistry Research scientists, in collaboration with UC Davis researchers, have discovered that microbes within nectar can produce odors that influence the behavior of pollinators (e.g., honey bees). Helping the health of pollinators or flowers may increase yields of affected crops.
 In response to root feeding insects, plants can release odors that attract natural enemies of the feeding insect, such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). Pictured is a Chemistry group-developed device for accurate below ground odor sampling. Attracting odors can be used to improve pest control efficiency of native and artificially reared EPNs in agriculture.
 Microbe-induced plant defense responses. A myriad of maize defense genes, proteins, and chemicals are elicited in response to infection by microbial pathogens. Chemistry Research scientists are characterizing these responses to enhance endogenous maize resistance against harmful fungi and reduce the need for external pesticide applications in the field.
 Many plants use odors to call out for help when being attacked by herbivores. Maize emits an odor that attracts an enemy of the fall armyworm, an insect pest of maize. Pictured, a larva of the parasitoid wasp, Cotesia, emerges from its fall armyworm host. Chemistry Research Unit scientists are studying these interactions to help protect US agriculture.


Publications
                            More... Developing a method to rear Varroa destructor in vitro A quantitative survey of the blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) nectar microbiome: variation between cultivars, locations, and farm management approaches Genome analysis and hyphal movement characterization of the hitchhiker endohyphal Enterobacter sp. from Rhizoctonia solani


**Quick Links** Technology Transfer Cooperators


Southeast Area   john.beck@usda.gov


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov