Taek-Jun Kang

Phenotypic- and Genotypic-Resistance Detection for Adaptive Resistance Management in Tetranychus urticae Koch.

Rapid resistance detection is necessary for the adaptive management of acaricide-resistant populations of Tetranychus urticae. Detection of phenotypic and genotypic resistance was conducted by employing residual contact vial bioassay (RCV) and quantitative sequencing (QS) methods, respectively. RCV was useful for detecting the acaricide resistance levels of T. urticae, particularly for on-site resistance detection; however, it was only applicable for rapid-acting acaricides (12 out of 19 tested acaricides). QS was effective for determining the frequencies of resistance alleles on a population basis, which corresponded to 12 nonsynonymous point mutations associated with target-site resistance to five types of acaricides [organophosphates (monocrotophos, pirimiphos-methyl, dimethoate and chlorpyrifos), pyrethroids (fenpropathrin and bifenthrin), abamectin, bifenazate and etoxazole]. Most field-collected mites exhibited high levels of multiple resistance, as determined by RCV and QS data, suggesting the seriousness of their current acaricide resistance status in rose cultivation areas in Korea. The correlation analyses revealed moderate to high levels of positive relationships between the resistance allele frequencies and the actual resistance levels in only five of the acaricides evaluated, which limits the general application of allele frequency as a direct indicator for estimating actual resistance levels. Nevertheless, the resistance allele frequency data alone allowed for the evaluation of the genetic resistance potential and background of test mite populations. The combined use of RCV and QS provides basic information on resistance levels, which is essential for choosing appropriate acaricides for the management of resistant T. urticae.

Sex Pheromones and Reproductive Isolation in Five Mirid Species

Mate location in many mirid bugs (Heteroptera: Miridae) is mediated by female-released sex pheromones. To elucidate the potential role of the pheromones in prezygotic reproductive isolation between sympatric species, we investigated differences in the pheromone systems of five mirid species, Apolygus lucorum, Apolygus spinolae, Orthops campestris, Stenotus rubrovittatus and Taylorilygus apicalis. GC/MS analyses of metathoracic scent gland extracts of virgin females showed that all five species produced mixtures of hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal, but in quite different ratios. (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate was the major component of A. spinolae, while hexyl butyrate was the most abundant component in the pheromone blends of the other four species. In addition to the three compounds, a fourth component, (E)-2-octenyl butyrate, was present in the gland extracts of A. lucorum and T. apicalis females. Field tests suggest that the ternary blends of hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal as found in the extracts of the females of each species do not inhibit attraction of conspecific males but ensure species-specificity of attraction between A. lucorum, O. campestris and T. apicalis. Furthermore, (E)-2-octenyl butyrate was essential for attraction of A. lucorum and T. apicalis males, but strongly inhibited attraction of male A. spinolae, O. campestris and S. rubrovittatus. The combined results from this study and previous studies suggest that the minor component and pheromone dose in addition to the relative ratio of the major components play an important role in reproductive isolation between mirid species.

Hatchability and Temperature-dependent development of Overwintered Eggs of Ricania sp. (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae)

Ricania sp. lay eggs into the new twigs of blueberry and suck nutrients causing growth retardation and a sooty mold symptom. This study was conducted to investigate the emergence success and developmental period of overwintered eggs of Ricania sp. under the seven constant temperatures from 10 to by intervals (14L:10D). We also monitored the emergence time of the Ricania sp. nymph at blueberry by 3 ~ 4 day interval using a modified leaf clip cage. Development times from the overwintered egg to nymph were 107.1, 54.5, 33.9, 25.3, 25.1 and 16.7 days and the emergence successes were 23.1, 30.8, 13.8, 21.7, 11.9, and 0.6% at 14, 18, 22, 26, 30 and , respectively except at . The developmental periods were decreased with increasing temperatures. First emergence date of the nymphs in the field was between 19 and 22 May, and the average emergence success was 19.6%. The present study might be helpful to establish the management strategy of Ricania sp. based on the biological characteristic.

Stress response to acoustic stimuli in an aphid: A behavioral bioassay model

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), feeds consistently and regularly throughout all stages of nymphs and adult. That is, honey dew production, which indicates a state of feeding, occurs at regular intervals within a given stage, and moving, which interrupts feeding, tends to occur rarely. We used these behaviors to test whether sound stimuli acted as a stress in this species. We conducted the playback experiment in which acoustic stimuli with a combination of five frequencies (100, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10000 Hz) and three intensity levels (66, 78, 90 dB SPL) were presented to all stages of aphids. Under all acoustic stimuli, honey dew production occurred less often, and moving occurred more often and for longer. The results of two‐way multivariate analysis of variance showed that the stimulus frequency was a significant factor for variation in aphid behaviors in the playback experiment. However, there was no intensity effect on the aphids behavior. Based on the electrical penetration graph experiment, aphid feeding stopped frequently and lasted only for short durations under acoustic stimuli. The results of both experiments demonstrated that the acoustic stimuli were effective in inducing feeding suppression in this species. Thus, the acoustic stimuli may be a stressor in the green peach aphid. Furthermore, the behavioral bioassay employed in this study may be used to assess the effect of various stressors on aphids.

Damages by Tyrophagus similis (Acari: Acaridae) in greenhouse spinach in Korea.

A mite damage was observed in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under organic culture greenhouses. The mite was identified as Tyrophagus similis Volgin, 1949. It was very difficult for the farmers to diagnose the mite damage because of its tiny size about 0.5 nm in length. And the symptom was not clear at the early growth stage of the spinach because the mite mainly attack the very young leaves. In this study, we first report the spinach damages by T. similis in Korea. Informations on the mite morphology and the spinach damage symptoms are provided for the diagnosis.

Economic Injury Level of Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Welsh onions (Allium fistulosum L. var) in the Early Transplanting Stage

This study was conducted to develop economic injury level (EIL) of onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, on welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L. var) in the early transplanting stage. The changes of welsh onion biomass, yield loss, and T. tabaci density were investigated according to the inoculation periods of T. tabaci. In the early transplanting stage of welsh onion, the yield loss (%) increased with increasing inoculation periods: 17.0, 53.3, 38.4, and 80.8% yield loss in 5, 10, 15, and 20 d inoculation periods, respectively. The relationship between Cumulative Insect Days (CID) of T. tabaci and yield loss (%) of welsh onion was well described by a nonlinear logistic equation. Using the estimated equation, EIL of T. tabaci on welsh onion was estimated to 30 CID per plant based on the yield loss 12% (an empirical gain threshold 5% + marketable rate 93% of welsh onion). ET was calculated to 24 CID, which corresponds to 80% of EIL. Until a more defined EIL-model is developed, the present results should be useful for T. tabaci management in early growth stage of welsh onion. The effect of T. tabaci attack on the yield of welsh onion in late growing season (120 days after transplanting) was also examined. The yield of welsh onion increased at a low population density of T. tabaci and decreased at higher densities, showing a typical over-compensatory response.

Occurrence and damages of Contarinia maculipennis Felt (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Dendrobium phalaenopsis (Asparagales: Orcbidaceae)

The blossom midge, Contarinia maculipennis Felt (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) originated in Southeast Asia and is present in Japan, the continental USA, and Hawaii. Recently, C. maculipennis was intercepted in Japan, USA and the Netherlands by using orchid flowers imported from Southeast Asian countries. This pest is designated as a quarantine pest in Korea because of its potential damages to vegetables and ornamental plants. In Korea, similar symptoms of damage, which mighty be caused by C. maculipennis, have been investigated in western orchids, especially on Dendrobium phalaenopsis, from Mid-2000s. Official recognition was given to C. maculipennis in 2007, followed by an investigation on the occurrences of C. maculipennis and its damages, mainly on D. phalaenopsis, in 2008~2009. We emphasize caution concerning the possibilities that C. maculipennis could infest flower buds of orchids and carry out management strategies for this pest in the future.

Economic injury level of Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on early stage of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var capitata L.).

This study was conducted to develop economic injury level (ElL) and economic threshold (ET) of Cabbage armyworm, Mamestra brassicae L. on cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var). The changes of cabbage biomass and M. brassicae density were investigated after introduction of larval M. brassicae (2nd instar) at different densities: 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 larvae per plant at 40 d after planting for an open field experiment, and 0, 2, 5, 8 and 12 larvae per plant at 25 d after planting for a glass house experiment. In the field experiment, the yield loss of cabbage was not significantly different among treated-plots at 30 d after the larval introduction, showing an over-compensatory response of cabbage plants to M. brassicae attack. In the glasshouse experiment, however, the biomass of cabbage at 15 d after the larval introduction significantly decreased with increasing the initial introduced number of M. brassicae, resulting in 38.3, 36.7, 21.7, 23.3 and 16.7g in above treated-plots, respectively. The relationship between cumulative insect days (CID) and yield loss (%) of cabbage was well described by a nonlinear logistic equation. Using the estimated equation, ElL of M. brassicae on cabbage was estimated at 44 CID per plant based on the yield loss 14%, which take into account of an empirical gain threshold 5% and marketable rate 91% of cabbage. Also, ET was calculated at 80% of the EIL: 35 CID per plant. Until a more elaborate EIL-model is developed, the present result may be useful for M. brassicae management at early growth stage of cabbage.

Population Phenology and an Early Season Adult Emergence model of Pumpkin Fruit Fly, Bactrocera depressa (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The pumpkin fruit fly, Bactrocera depressa (Tephritidae: Diptera), is one of the most important pests in Cucurbitaceae plants. This study was conducted to investigate the basic ecology of B. depressa, and to develop a forecasting model for predicting the time of adult emergence in early season. In green pumpkin producing farms, the oviposition punctures caused by the oviposition of B. depressa occurred first between mid- and late July, peaked in late August, and then decreased in mid-September followed by disappearance of the symptoms in late September, during which oviposition activity of B. depressa is considered active. In full-ripened pumpkin producing farms, damaged fruits abruptly increased from early Auguest, because the decay of pumpkins caused by larval development began from that time. B. depressa produced a mean oviposition puncture of 2.2 per fruit and total 28.8-29.8 eggs per fruit. Adult emergence from overwintering pupae, which was monitored using a ground emergence trap, was first observed between mid- and late May, and peaked during late May to early June. The development times from overwintering pupae to adult emergence decreased with increasing temperature: 59.0 days at , 39.3 days at , 25.8 days at and 21.4 days at . The pupae did not develop to adult at . The lower developmental threshold temperature was calculated as by linear regression. The thermal constant was 482.3 degree-days. The non-linear model of Gaussian equation well explained the relationship between the development rate and temperature. The Weibull function provided a good fit for the distribution of development times of overwintering pupae. The predicted date of 50% adult emergence by a degree-day model showed one day deviation from the observed actual date. Also, the output estimated by rate summation model, which was consisted of the developmental model and the Weibull function, well pursued the actual pattern of cumulative frequency curve of B. depressa adult emergence. Consequently, it is expected that the present results could be used to establish the management strategy of B. depressa.

Development and characterization of 12 microsatellite loci from the blueberry gall midge Dasineura oxycoccana (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

The blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson), is a serious insect pest of blueberries and cranberries in North America. In this study, we developed 12 novel microsatellite loci for this gall midge. To obtain its sequence data, next-generation sequencing was performed using mixed individuals collected from Korea and the USA. The developed loci were polymorphic, with four to nine alleles in 20 individuals from a single population of New Jersey, USA. The analyses revealed that all 20 individuals had different multilocus genotypes with expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.708 to 0.920. In addition, we confirmed the discriminative resolution of all individuals collected. These markers will facilitate future studies on the genetic structure of blueberry gall midge populations.