Habitat diversification can influence the interactions of insects with plants and this can be used in agroecosystems for the management of pest populations. Plant diversification can be achieved through planting crops, such as trap crops, or by adjusting weed management. Aster leafhopper, Macrosteles quadrilineatus Forbes (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a polyphagous species that uses cereals, ve...

Parental, F(1) , F (2) , BC (1) and BC (2) generations of four crosses involving four cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) were evaluated at two sites in Tunisia. A three-parameter model was found inadequate for all cases except crosses Chili x Cocorit 71 at site Sidi Thabet and Inrat 69 x Karim at both sites. In most cases a digenic epistatic model was sufficient to explain variatio...

The widespread occurrence of herbicide-resistant (HR) Kochia scoparia is an increasing concern for growers in the US Great Plains and Canada. K. scoparia populations resistant to dicamba have been reported in six US states. Populations cross-resistant to dicamba and fluroxypyr have been reported from wheat fields in Montana, USA. It is unclear whether resistance to the auxinic herbicides (dicam...

Production in cereal crops is due to some complex physiological and biochemical processes, but essentially associated with the process of carbohydrate accumulation grain filling phase which turn attributed leaf functionalities. A critical stage development wheat plants emergence final called flag leaf. At this point emphasis management needs shift its protection as for attaining high yields. Un...

Late maturity α-amylase (LMA) and preharvest sprouting (PHS) are genetic defects in wheat. They are both characterized by the expression of specific isoforms of α-amylase in particular genotypes in the grain prior to harvest. The enhanced expression of α-amylase in both LMA and PHS results in a reduction in Falling Number (FN), a test of gel viscosity, and subsequent downgrading of the grain, a...

Cooperators: Narceo Bajet, USDA-ARS, Wapato Lauri Guerra, WSDA, Prosser Hui Hou, WSU, Prosser Fran Pierce, Director, CPAS, WSU-Prosser Tom Unruh, USDA-ARS, Wapato Various growers Budget History: Item Year 1: $26,616 Year 2: $31,655 Year 3: $36,973 Salaries 14,084 14,648 17,946 Benefits 4,084 5,292 7,282 Wages 1,960 4,000 0 Benefits 313 640 0 Equipment 0 0 0 Supplies 6,106 6,800 11,200 Travel to...

Standard practice for grape disease management in Marlborough 10 years ago was to spray for diseases using calendar based spray programmes. Communication of grape disease management research has led to a change of practice for many grape growers. The key tool developed by the research programme was targeted spraying for diseases. This involved field monitoring for diseases and the use of decisi...

We used the California Pesticide Use Reports to study use of fungicides, bactericides, fumigants, and selected insecticides, primarily for vegetable, fruit, and nut production in California from 1993 to 2000. There were no obvious trends in decreased use of most compounds used to treat plant disease. However, growers have rapidly adopted recently introduced "conventional" compounds. There is ve...

Recent issues of ARE Update featured articles evaluating the failures of two California marketing cooperatives, Tri Valley Growers (TVG) and Rice Growers Association (RGA). Along with Blue Anchor’s dissolution and Calavo’s conversion, these combined events have created doubts about the future of cooperatives in California agriculture. Restructured forms of cooperatives are emerging. For example...