To determine economic thresholds for the cotton aphid. To evaluate new insecticides and pest control technologies for West Tennessee crop production systems. The objective of this project is to determine the effect of production systems with transgenic and other herbicide-resistant soybeans on insect pests and natural enemies. This research utilizes numerous sampling techniques to determine the impact of these new cultivars on insect pests and the beneficial organisms which aid in their control and also monitors the growth and development of the crop for its impact on pest biology. As transgenic and herbicide tolerant soybeans are more widely planted across the U.S., their impact on pest management components must continually be monitored to prevent ecosystem imbalances which release existing or new pests.
Diseases affect both quality and yields of harvested crops.
Control measures for some of the diseases can be expensive and troublesome. Current research on diseases of field crops at the West Tennessee Experiment Station include cotton, soybean, and wheat experiments. Cotton experiments involve seedling diseases and Verticillium wilt. Resistant varieties and lines and cultural practices are being investigated for wilt control. Soybean disease research is directed at seedling diseases, foliar diseases, stem canker, sudden death syndrome, and frogeye leaf spot.