Onion ipmPIPE: A Coordinated Effort to Improve the Management of Onion Thrips and Iris yellow spot virus for the U.S. Onion Industry
Authors: Schwartz Howard F. , Alston Diane , Alwang Jeff , Bartolo Michael , Blunt Tamla , Boateng Charles O. , Bunn Bonnie , Cramer Chris S. , Cranshaw Whitney , Davidson Jeff , Derie Mike , Doran Jeff , Douce Keith , Drost Dan , du Toit Lindsey J. , Gao J. , Gourd Thaddeus , Gugino Beth , Hammon Bob , Hardin Janet , Hausbeck Mary , Jibilian George , Lafferty Jed , LaForest Joseph , McMillan Mark S. , Mohan S. Krishna , Morrice Jarrod , Nault Brian A. , Nischwitz Claudia , Norton George , Otto Kristen , Pappu Hanu R. , Petersen Mike , Sampangi Ram , Schroeder Brenda , Secor Will , Tisserat Stephanie Szostek Ned , Uchanski Mark E. , VanKirk Jim , Waters Tim , Wiriyajitsomboon Prissana , Wohleb Carrie 
Published: November 2014

Onion (Allium cepa) is an economically important vegetable crop in the United States, generating nearly $900 million annually in farm receipts. Pests such as onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and a thrips-transmitted virus disease, Iris yellow spot (IYS), caused by Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV), have emerged in recent years as high priority, invasive, or potential threats to sustainable onion production throughout the United States and the world. The long-term goal of a recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)-Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) funded project was to optimize sound pest management decision making in onion through the development and deployment of a sustainable online information management platform called the Onion ipmPIPE (Onion integrated pest management Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education). Project participants in seven states generated an average of 500 reports annually on the occurrence of 20 priority insect pests and plant diseases, and enhanced the timeliness and effectiveness of IPM strategies implemented by the growers and industry locally and regionally in response to these reports. Thrips populations are generally greatest at all locations during July and August of each year, which compounds plant responses to environmental stresses such as temperature and limited or lower quality (e.g., saline) irrigation water. The increase in numbers of thrips (majority being T. tabaci) also aggravates problems with the onion thrips-transmitted virus IYSV (mentioned above) and IYS, which generally increases in incidence and severity during this same period. A comprehensive website (http//:www.alliumnet.com/IPMPipe.html) and educational materials (bulletin, diagnostic cards, videos) were developed in response to the insect and disease threats, and have been shared with onion stakeholders throughout the United States and elsewhere. The project is also developing risk assessment models, a smartphone app, onion growing-degree-day review for efficacy of the current model based on 5.5°C from planting, and enhanced pathogen diagnostic tools for future testing and validation by onion stakeholders. Visiting the Onion ipmPIPE website was estimated by respondents to increase onion yields by 280 kg/hectare and reduce pesticide costs by $910/hectare on average. The Onion ipmPIPE platform is scale neutral, and supports a range of organic and conventional growers producing onions on small plots to large-scale commercial fields. Increased participation of stakeholders, including consumers, in a national educational project such as Onion ipmPIPE will better serve current and future interests in sustainability and profitability of critical food crops for the U.S. marketplace.

Accepted 25 September 2014. Published 12 November 2014.