scholarly journals Muskmelon Cultivar Attractiveness to Striped Cucumber Beetle and Susceptibility to Bacterial Wilt

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 782-787
Author(s):  
Ahmad Shah Mohammadi ◽  
Elizabeth T. Maynard ◽  
Ricky E. Foster ◽  
Daniel S. Egel ◽  
Kevin T. McNamara
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Wilt ◽  
Cucumis Melo ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Acalymma Vittatum ◽  
Erwinia Tracheiphila ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Striped Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Field Plots

Bacterial wilt of cucurbits, incited by Erwinia tracheiphila (E. F. Smith) and vectored by the striped cucumber beetle [Acalymma vittatum (F.)] (SCB), is a serious disease of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). Cultivars differ in attractiveness to SCB and susceptibility to bacterial wilt, but no cultivar resistant to bacterial wilt has been introduced. In 2015 and 2016, replicated field plots of eight cultivars were grown at Lafayette, Wanatah, and Vincennes, IN, to identify differences in attractiveness to SCB and susceptibility to bacterial wilt. ‘Savor’ had significantly more beetle activity than ‘Hales Best’, ‘Superstar’, and ‘Aphrodite’ in three of six site-years, and more than ‘Diplomat’, ‘Dream Dew’, ‘Athena’, and ‘Wrangler’ in two site-years. Beetle activity for ‘Athena’, ‘Superstar’, and ‘Wrangler’ did not differ significantly from ‘Aphrodite’ for any site-year. Bacterial wilt severity was significantly greater for ‘Diplomat’ and ‘Dream Dew’ than for other cultivars in four site-years. ‘Superstar’ had the least disease in five site-years, but significantly less than ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Athena’, and ‘Hales Best’ in only one site-year. At one site, additional plots of each cultivar were populated with five SCBs per plant, and rowcovers were applied to keep the SCBs near the plants for 3 weeks. This resulted in similar beetle activity on all cultivars, but most disease in ‘Dream Dew’ and least in ‘Superstar’ and ‘Athena’. Marketable yield was generally highest for ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Superstar’, and ‘Athena’ when plants were exposed to natural beetle populations. Overall, ‘Savor’ and ‘Diplomat’ were the most attractive to beetles, and ‘Diplomat’ and ‘Dream Dew’ were the most susceptible to bacterial wilt. ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Athena’, and ‘Superstar’ were less attractive to beetles and showed more tolerance to bacterial wilt in both 2015 and 2016.

scholarly journals Optimizing Rowcover Deployment for Managing Bacterial Wilt and Using Compost for Organic Muskmelon Production

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 762-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsa S. Sánchez ◽  
Ermita Hernández ◽  
Mark L. Gleason ◽  
Jean C. Batzer ◽  
Mark A. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Wilt ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Erwinia Tracheiphila ◽  
Action Threshold ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Marketable Fruit ◽  
Wilt Incidence

The goal of this study was to develop a systems-based strategy for organic muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) in Pennsylvania (PA), Iowa (IA), and Kentucky (KY) to manage bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila) and nutrients while safeguarding yield and enhancing early harvest. Spunbond polypropylene rowcovers deployed for different timings during the growing season were evaluated for suppressing bacterial wilt and locally available compost was applied based on two different estimated rates of mineralization of organic nitrogen (N) to manage nutrients. In KY only, the use of rowcovers suppressed bacterial wilt incidence compared with not using rowcovers. However, the timing of rowcover removal did not impact wilt incidence. Under lower cucumber beetle [striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) and spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi)] pressure in PA and IA, rowcovers did not consistently suppress season-long incidence of bacterial wilt. In four of five site-years in PA and IA, more marketable fruit were produced when rowcovers were removed 10 days after an action threshold (the date the first flower opened in PA; the date when ≥50% of plants in a subplot had developed perfect flowers in IA and KY) than when no 10-day delay was made or when no rowcovers were used. In addition, the no-rowcover treatment consistently had lower weight per marketable fruit. In KY, the same action threshold without the 10-day delay, followed by insecticide applications, resulted in the largest number of marketable fruit, but did not affect marketable fruit weight. In PA, marketable yield was higher using compost compared with the organic fertilizer in 1 year. No yield differences were observed by nutrient treatments in 2 years. In IA, marketable yield was lower with the low amount of compost compared with the organic fertilizer and yields with the high amount of compost were not different from the low amount or the organic fertilizer in the year it was evaluated. In KY, marketable yield was unaffected by the nutrient treatments in the year it was evaluated. Given these results, muskmelon growers in PA, IA, and KY who use compost may choose the lower compost rate to minimize production costs. Overall, these findings suggest that rowcover-based strategies for organic management of bacterial wilt need to be optimized on a regional basis, and that fertilization with compost is compatible with these strategies.

scholarly journals Differential Occurrence of Bacterial Wilt in Muskmelon Due to Preferential Striped Cucumber Beetle Feeding

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1043-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald E. Brust ◽  
Karen K. Rane
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Wilt ◽  
Cucumis Melo ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Causal Agent ◽  
The Other ◽  
Feeding Damage ◽  
Selective Feeding ◽  
Cucumber Beetles ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Striped Cucumber Beetle

Ten muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars were tested for their susceptibility to bacterial wilt, caused by Erwinia trucheiphila (Smith) Bergey, Harrison, Breed, Hammer and Huntoon and vectored by the striped cucumber beetle Acalymma vittatum (F). `Superstar', `Rising Star', `Pulsar', `Caravelle', `Cordele', `Legend', `Makdimon', `Galia', `Rocky Sweet', and `Passport' were used in field studies to determine the number of striped cucumber beetles, feeding damage, and incidence of bacterial wilt. `Makdimon' and `Rocky Sweet' hosted significantly more beetles than the other cultivars. These two cultivars and `Legend' and `Cordele' had much more feeding damage and a significantly higher incidence of bacterial wilt than the others. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with seven of the cultivars to test their susceptibility to bacterial wilt when directly inoculated with the causal agent. All cultivars were equally susceptible to the disease when it was introduced directly into the plant. Selective feeding by striped cucumber beetles was probably most responsible for `Makdimon', `Rocky Sweet', `Legend', and `Cordele' having greater incidences of bacterial wilt than the other cultivars.

scholarly journals Transcriptome Sequencing of the Striped Cucumber Beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.), Reveals Numerous Sex-Specific Transcripts and Xenobiotic Detoxification Genes

BioTech ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Michael E. Sparks ◽  
David R. Nelson ◽  
Ariela I. Haber ◽  
Donald C. Weber ◽  
Robert L. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Population Control ◽  
Sex Differentiation ◽  
Biological Knowledge ◽  
Glutathione S Transferase ◽  
Acalymma Vittatum ◽  
P450 Monooxygenase ◽  
Xenobiotic Detoxification ◽  
Important Pest ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Striped Cucumber Beetle

Acalymma vittatum (F.), the striped cucumber beetle, is an important pest of cucurbit crops in the contintental United States, damaging plants through both direct feeding and vectoring of a bacterial wilt pathogen. Besides providing basic biological knowledge, biosequence data for A. vittatum would be useful towards the development of molecular biopesticides to complement existing population control methods. However, no such datasets currently exist. In this study, three biological replicates apiece of male and female adult insects were sequenced and assembled into a set of 630,139 transcripts (of which 232,899 exhibited hits to one or more sequences in NCBI NR). Quantitative analyses identified 2898 genes differentially expressed across the male–female divide, and qualitative analyses characterized the insect’s resistome, comprising the glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase families of xenobiotic detoxification genes. In summary, these data provide useful insights into genes associated with sex differentiation and this beetle’s innate genetic capacity to develop resistance to synthetic pesticides; furthermore, these genes may serve as useful targets for potential use in molecular-based biocontrol technologies.

scholarly journals The Potential of Strip Tillage and Rowcovers for Organic Cucurbit Production

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 628-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason M. Lilley ◽  
Elsa S. Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Wilt ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Summer Squash ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Strip Tillage ◽  
Rock Springs ◽  
Striped Cucumber Beetle

Plasticulture systems, the use of polyethylene mulch on raised beds with drip irrigation, are commonly used for the production of many cucurbit (Cucurbitaceae) crops. Although the use of plasticulture systems has many benefits, disadvantages include plastic disposal issues and costs and the intensive tillage required for installation. Strip tillage systems have been shown to decrease soil erosion, increase soil moisture retention, and increase soil microbial communities. Spunbonded polyethylene rowcover use has been shown to decrease early season striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) and spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) populations and the incidence of bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila) while increasing yields. Plasticulture and strip tillage systems were compared with and without rowcovers at The Pennsylvania State University’s Russell E. Larson Research and Education Center in Rock Springs, PA. Two separate organically managed experiments were conducted, one being on ‘Lioness’ summer squash (SS; Cucurbita pepo), the other on ‘Athena’ muskmelon (MM; Cucumis melo). Both two-season experiments occurred during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Yields, soil nitrate levels, soil and air temperatures, striped cucumber beetle populations, and incidence of bacterial wilt were measured. Plants grown in the strip tillage system generally had lower yields than in the plasticulture system in both years. Yield reductions observed in the strip tillage system in both years of the muskmelon experiment and in the first year of the summer squash experiment were beyond acceptable levels. The need for specialized tillage equipment, delayed planting, and high weed pressure were all obstacles to the successful use of strip tillage in these experiments. Rowcovers resulted in larger plants; however, yields were comparable to not using rowcovers within the strip tillage and plasticulture systems. There was low incidence of bacterial wilt in both years of the experiments despite observed striped cucumber beetle populations above the set threshold throughout all experiments.

The impact of tillage regime and row cover use on insect pests and yield in organic cucurbit production

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 338-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Skidmore ◽  
Neil Wilson ◽  
Mark Williams ◽  
Ricardo Bessin
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Yield Reduction ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Row Covers ◽  
Squash Bug ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Strip Tillage ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Striped Cucumber Beetle

AbstractControl of cucurbit pests, such as striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum), spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi) and squash bug (Anasa tristis), in organic systems is difficult due to a lack of effective insecticide options. This has led to the development of many integrated pest management techniques, such as use of row covers, crop rotation and cover crops. This study explored the novel use of strip tillage and row covers to reduce pest pressure in summer squash (Cucurbita pepe) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo) production systems. Results showed that although strip tillage reduced striped cucumber beetle and squash bug numbers, there was a yield reduction in both crops compared with the plasticulture system. Row cover increased marketable yield in both systems, with the highest yield being in the plasticulture system. Unmarketable fruit directly attributed to insect damage was higher in the plasticulture systems, but was not significantly different when compared with the strip tillage system. Although there are many documented positive attributes of strip tillage, results from this study indicate that a combination of plasticulture and row cover may be a superior system for organic cucurbit production.

scholarly journals Curcurbita pepo subspecies delineates striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) preference

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Brzozowski ◽  
B M Leckie ◽  
J Gardner ◽  
M P Hoffmann ◽  
M Mazourek
Keyword(s):  
Acalymma Vittatum ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Striped Cucumber Beetle

scholarly journals Bacterial communities of herbivores and pollinators that have co-evolved Cucurbita spp

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori R. Shapiro ◽  
Madison Youngblom ◽  
Erin D. Scully ◽  
Jorge Rocha ◽  
Joseph Nathaniel Paulson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Erwinia Tracheiphila ◽  
Plant Feeding ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Striped Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Peponapis Pruinosa ◽  
Environmental Microbes

AbstractInsects, like all animals, are exposed to diverse environmental microbes throughout their life cycle. Yet, we know little about variation in the microbial communities associated with the majority of wild, unmanaged insect species. Here, we use a 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach to characterize temporal and geographic variation in the gut bacterial communities of herbivores (Acalymma vittatum and A. trivittatum) and pollinators (Eucera (Peponapis) pruinosa) that have co-evolved with the plant genus Cucurbita (pumpkin, squash, zucchini and gourds). Overall, we find high variability in the composition of bacterial communities in squash bees and beetles collected from different geographic locations and different time points throughout a growing season. Still, many of the most common OTUs are shared in E. (P.) pruinosa, A. vittatum and A. trivittatum. This suggests these insects may be exposed to similar environmental microbial sources while foraging on the same genus of host plants, and that similar microbial taxa may aid in digestion of Cucurbita plant material. The striped cucumber beetle A. vittatum can also transmit Erwinia tracheiphila, the causal agent of bacterial wilt of cucurbits. We find that few field-collected A. vittatum individuals have detectable E. tracheiphila, and when this plant pathogen is detected, it comprises less than 1% of the gut bacterial community. Together, these results are consistent with previous studies showing that plant feeding insects have highly variable gut bacterial communities, and provides a first step towards understanding the spatiotemporal variation in the microbial communities associated with herbivores and pollinators that depend on Cucurbita host plants.

scholarly journals Striped Cucumber Beetle Acalymma vittatum F. (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

EDIS ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Braden Evans ◽  
Justin Renkema
Keyword(s):  
Acalymma Vittatum ◽  
Cucumis Sativus L ◽  
Diabrotica Balteata ◽  
Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi ◽  
Adult Feeding ◽  
The Family ◽  
Damage Monitoring ◽  
Cucumber Beetle ◽  
Cucumis Melo L ◽  
Striped Cucumber Beetle

The striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum F. (Figure 1) is a serious agricultural pest of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae in eastern North America. Crops affected by larval and adult feeding include cucumber, Cucumis sativus L., cantaloupe, Cucumis melo L., pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo L., and other Cucurbita spp. (Dill and Kirby 2016). The striped cucumber beetle is a vector of the plant disease bacterial wilt (Eaton 2016). Though the striped cucumber beetle occurs throughout Florida, it is the least commonly reported among three chrysomelid species on cucurbit crops in the state. The spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, and banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata LeConte, are more common in Florida, causing damage symptoms that are similar to striped cucumber feeding damage (Webb 2010). Includes: Introduction - Distribution - Description and Life Cycle - Damage - Monitoring - Management - Selected References.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1215 Also published at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/VEG/BEAN/striped_cucumber_beetle.html

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