Thesis
Developing decision-support tools for insect pests of potato crops in the Pacific Northwestern United States
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102859
Abstract
Potato growers in the Pacific Northwestern US must manage a suite of insect pests that directly damage plants or vector pathogens. Historically, producers have relied on broad-spectrum insecticides to manage these pests. However, the removal of several insecticides from the market, combined with demand for sustainable management from potato end-users, has shifted producers towards less intensive pest management practices. The purpose of our study was to construct insect pest models that could be used as decision support tools for potato producers. In Chapter 1, we modeled the seasonal population dynamics of three key potato pests: the potato tuberworm (Phthorimaea operculella), the beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus), and the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae). We fit these long-term monitoring data to a phenology model based on cumulative degree days (DD). Results showed that the abundance of P. operculella increased over a relatively short window, with 10% of the population collected by 808 DD and 90% by 1,590 DD. Similarly, C. tenellus had a steep phenology curve, with 10% of the population collected by 77 DD and 90% by 936 DD. In contrast, populations of M. persicae increased more gradually, with 10% of the population collected by 1,051 DD and 90% by 2,634 DD. Results from this chapter suggest that potato producers could structure their management based on the seasonal dynamics of these three pests. In Chapter 2, we used interpolation techniques executed within geographical information systems (GIS) software to develop species distribution models (SDM) that predicted the distributions of our three target pests throughout the potato-growing region. We found that these SDMs effectively predicted the regional distribution of each pest every year based on observations from a limited number of sample points. These SDMs should allow potato producers to receive accurate and real-time information about the distributions of pests throughout Pacific Northwest potato crops. Overall, our research provides spatial and temporal models that can be applied to improve pest management in potatoes and lead to the creation of pest-specific decision support tools. As the use of technology in agriculture continues to grow, such tools are essential for sustainable pest management.
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Details
- Title
- Developing decision-support tools for insect pests of potato crops in the Pacific Northwestern United States
- Creators
- Elizabeth D'Auria
- Contributors
- David William Crowder (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Entomology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525175001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis