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Text
of first 5-year plan (1992-1996)
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Technology
Transfer (1992-1997) |
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HISTORY
OF THE PROGRESS REVIEW
The devastating impact of Bemisia during
the 1990's on field and vegetable crop production and the ornamental's
industry resulted in crop losses exceeding $200 million annually, losses
in farm jobs, and losses also occurred in associated farm support, marketing,
storage and shipping industries. The principle states impacted in field
production, although sporadic infestations occurred in other states, were
California, Arizona, Texas and Florida and greenhouse and nursery crops
states along the Atlantic seaboard, Midwest and California. This emergency
situation created the need for a coordinated, cooperative, multi-agency
approach to develop effective control and whitefly management methodology.
The first 5-year national research and action plan was active from 1992
to 1996. Following its termination, a second 5-year was initiated to cover
the period from 1997 to 2001. Extensive research achievements have provided
interim solutions and a better understanding of the silverleaf whitefly
(SLWF) problem. Effective controls have been developed on most major crops
and losses reduced. Technology transfer to growers and the scientific community
has resulted in greatly improved, more efficient and environmentally acceptable
whitefly management methodology.
A complete management system for SLWF
is a goal for the future, but at present, it is in the formative stages.
Extensive fundamental, ecological, and biological research on the SLWF
and its natural enemies has revealed potential components for incorporation
into an ecologically based management system. Farm practices, such as water-use
patterns, proximity of alternate host crops, and spatial considerations,
are being implemented to achieve whitefly population reduction. Knowledge
of the complex host interrelationships among cultivated crops, crop growing
sequences, and urban community hosts has focused awareness that the entire
farm community must concern itself with population suppression programs.
The mechanisms involved in the complex interaction of host plants and SLWF
population dynamics are largely unknown.
Although insecticides alone or in combination
have been found to provide adequate control on major cultivated crops,
insecticide resistance management is a particularly important factor that
must be addressed. Development of biological and other non-chemical control,
disease and silverleaf whitefly-resistant plant types, and an expansion
of our current knowledge of whitefly and natural enemy taxonomy, physiology,
biochemistry, and genetics are essential to development of long-term management
systems.
Both National plans outline a coordinated,
cooperative program involving federal and state agencies, universities,
and the agricultural industry. Research needs, goals and objectives, and
technology transfer to clientele (scientific community, legislators, regulators,
the agricultural industry, and the public) are reviewed on an annual basis.
The plans are flexible allowing responsiveness to changing needs and priorities
with appropriate adjustments to terminate, redirect, or add priorities
based on funding, current knowledge, and program needs. The program goals
are the development of environmentally and socially acceptable area wide,
community-based SLWF management.
USDA agencies (ARS, APHIS, and CSREES),
state agencies, state agricultural experimental stations, and the cotton,
vegetable, ornamental, nursery crop and chemical industries participated
in development of the plan to promote research, establish priorities, avoid
duplication of effort, and maximize the use of existing resources.
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