Seed shattering is a constraint to improvement of seed yield in Lolium perenne L. and as a result, seed retention is an essential trait for this valuable crop. Field studies were conducted near Corvallis, OR in two years (2017-2018 and 2018-2019) to identify genetic variation for seed retention and to...
Pacific flatheaded borer (PFB), Chrysobothris mali Horn (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), has recently become a serious pest in newly planted European hazelnut, Corylus avellana L. (Betulaceae) in Oregon. Larvae feeding on the inner bark can lead to girdling, loss of transpiration, and ultimately can cause dieback or death of the tree. Although...
The azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides Scott) is a global pest of rhododendrons and azaleas (Rhododendron spp.). It is originally from Asia, has been established in the eastern U.S. for the past century, and was recently detected in the Pacific Northwest in 2008-2009. Stephanitis pyrioides feeds on the underside of...
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is among one of the largest and most important staple food crops in the world. One of the most productive growing potato regions is the USA is the Oregon and Washington Columbia Basin. Both states produce approximately 26% of the USA potatoes in the market. In...
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is an economically damaging pest on small fruits. The estimated economic impact is hundreds of millions of dollars annually in the U.S. alone, and increasing every year. Current control of SWD relies heavily on chemical insecticides which have many negative impacts on environmental and...
Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), (Halyomorpha halys, Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive species that damages numerous agricultural crops including grapes. Related damage include lower berry weight with increased exposure and cracked berries as a result of BMSB feeding activity. The insect is currently detected in 43 US states including Oregon,...
Human development researchers consider adolescence a rich time for interest development and identity exploration. A relatively new movement in the Free-Choice Learning (FCL) arena, the Maker movement, offers learners interest-driven, experiential, often collaborative, and process-oriented activities ranging from game design (computer-based and otherwise) and robotics, to sewing LEDs into clothing...
Honey bees are important pollinators for many agricultural systems throughout the world. However, recent honey bee declines have caused great alarm, drawing attention to the vulnerability of worldwide agriculture to pollinator loss. These declines are often attributed to a combination of pests, pathogens, viruses, chemicals, and a lack of proper...
Conservation biological control involves manipulating farm landscapes or management systems to enhance populations of beneficial predators of agricultural pests. Farmscaping is one aspect of conservation biological control where predators of important pests are identified, the availability on the farm landscape of resources and habitat components needed by the beneficials to...
Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, is a destructive introduced pest of hemlock trees in eastern North America, and management has focused on the use of natural enemies through classical biological control. Two species of chamaemyiid flies, Leucopis argenticollis Zetterstedt and Leucopis atrifacies (Aldrich) have been collected previously from western...