Download NYSTA Letterhead - New York State Turfgrass Association

2006 - 2007 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FUND GRANTS
Title:
Prospecting for Resistance to the Annual Bluegrass Weevil in
Improved Cultivars of Poa annua
Investigator(s):
Daniel C. Peck, Ph.D., Cornell University
Description:
Impact from damaging infestations of the annual bluegrass
weevil insect is expanding dramatically in golf courses across
New York and the Northeast. Lack of control alternatives has
led to reliance on pyrethroid insecticides, which are failing as a
likely consequence of pesticide resistance. Improved annual
bluegrass cultivars have been developed by Penn State
University, opening an opportunity to develop a more durable
management strategy. We will make the first screening of
these materials for host plant resistance. If variation in any
measure of weevil performance is detected, we will have a
major new plant protection tactic to pursue for golf course
integrated pest management (IPM).
Title:
Development of Molecular Diagnostic Techniques for
Identification of Invasive Pest Crane Flies in Turfgrass
Investigator(s):
Ping Wang, Ph.D. and Daniel C. Peck, Ph.D., Cornell
University
Description:
The invasion of crane fly insects Tipula oleracea and T.
paludosa into New York State is of great concern due to their
potential impact on golf courses, home lawns and other
turfgrass settings. Crane fly damage is expected to increase
as populations continue to erupt and spread. Effective control
depends on prompt and accurate identification of crane fly
specimens sampled from the field. However, identification of
crane flies depends on morphological characteristics of adults,
which is not feasible for most field collected samples because
they often consist of larvae, pupae, pupal exuviae and
disintegrated adult body parts. Therefore, there is an urgent
need to develop a technique to reliably identify field collected
samples as a basic tool for minimizing the economic and
environmental consequences of crane fly outbreaks. This
project proposes to take a molecular biology approach to
identify the DNA barcodes (species-specific molecular
markers) for the crane flies and develop a molecular
diagnostic technique to effectively and reliably identify the pest
crane flies using various types of field collected samples.
Title:
Benefits of Turf: Reasons Why Pesticides and
Fertilizers Applied to Turf are Not Just for
Cosmetics
Investigator(s):
A. Martin Petrovic, Ph.D., Cornell University
Description:
More than 70 municipalities in Canada (including Vancouver,
British Columbia; Montreal, Quebec; and Halifax, Nova Scotia)
have passed bylaws prohibiting the cosmetic use of pesticides
on lawns. The action is based on the fear that the cosmetic use
of pesticides poses unacceptable risks. Similar legislation has
been proposed for New York State, as well as for fertilizer bans
in some regions. This project will directly measure the benefits,
risks to water quality and costs of both benefits and risks to
lawns with and without fertilizers and/or pesticides compared to
annual and broadleaf weedy lawns. The information generated
by this project will be presented to public policy makers to
provide them with research based findings to address the
“cosmetic” concerns over pesticide and fertilizer use.
Title:
Integrated Cultural Practices to Reduce Dollar Spot
on Golf Course Fairways
Investigator(s):
Alex Ellram, Ph.D., SUNY Cobleskill
Description:
Dollar spot disease, caused by the fungus Sclerotinia
homoeocarpa, is the most economically important disease on
amenity turfgrasses in the United States and throughout New
York. It is well documented that cultural practices including
mowing, nitrogen fertilization and irrigation significantly impact
the incidence and severity of this disease. This study is designed
to assess the impact of dew removal, nitrogen source, and
irrigation practices on disease management. This information will
be incorporated into an IPM program to reduce reliance on
chemicals as the primary control strategy.