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For the first time in many decades, a hemp pilot program was initiated in Virginia in 2016. Outdoor surveys were conducted in the 2017 and 2018 field seasons to record insect presence and feeding injury to plants. Multiple insect pests were present, including corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea [Boddie]) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys [Stål]) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and cannabis aphid (Phorodon cannabis) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). In 2019, indoor production surveys revealed that cannabis aphid, twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae), and hemp russet mite (Aculops cannabicola [Farkas]) (Acari: Eriophyidae) would likely cause production issues. Very little is known about the impact of insect defoliation in hemp so studies were conducted in 2018-2020 to determine impacts on yield and cannabinoid content of grain and cannabinoid variety hemp due to leaf surface area loss. In Virginia over two growing seasons, manual removal of leaf tissue in grain and CBD cultivars did not significantly impact observable effects on physical yield (seed or bud weight) or cannabinoid content (CBD or THC) at time of harvest. Corn earworm is the major pest of hemp produced outdoors and studies occurred to evaluate monitoring and management strategies. Pheromone traps may be valuable in determining when corn earworm moths are present in the vicinity of hemp fields but are not useful in predicting larval presence in buds or final crop damage. Larval presence and final crop damage are related. Brown marmorated stink bug does not appear to be a concern in hemp, at least at this time. / Doctor of Philosophy / For the first time in many decades, a hemp pilot program was initiated in Virginia in 2016. Outdoor surveys were conducted in the 2017 and 2018 field seasons to record insect presence and feeding injury to plants. Multiple insect pests were present, including corn earworm, brown marmorated stink bug, and cannabis aphid. In 2019, indoor production surveys revealed that cannabis aphid, twospotted spider mite, and hemp russet mite would likely cause production issues. Very little is known about the impact of leaf area loss due to insect feeding in hemp so studies were conducted in 2018-2020 to determine impacts on yield and cannabinoid content of grain and cannabinoid variety hemp due to leaf surface area loss. In Virginia over two growing seasons, manual removal of leaf tissue in grain and CBD cultivars did not significantly impact observable effects on physical yield (seed or bud weight) or cannabinoid content (CBD or THC) at time of harvest. Corn earworm is the major pest of hemp produced outdoors and studies occurred to evaluate monitoring and management strategies. Pheromone traps may be valuable in determining when corn earworm moths are present in the vicinity of hemp fields but are not useful in predicting larval presence in buds or final crop damage. Larval presence and final crop damage are related. Brown marmorated stink bug does not appear to be a concern in hemp, at least at this time.

Greenhouse and laboratory experiments in 2011 determined that Clonostachys rosea can effectively prevent Botrytis cinerea infection in Vaccinium angustifolium blossoms. In vitro testing demonstrated that C. rosea germination was not significantly affected by the presence of Switch®, but was by either Pristine® or Maestro®. Field experiments completed during the summer of 2010 and 2011 indicated that the dispenser designs tested had no significant effects on Bombus impatiens foraging behaviours, aside from hive-activity. There was also no difference in the quantity of C. rosea applied by each to bees, the distribution of product in the field, or for blossoms exposed to bees from each dispenser to resist infection by B. cinerea. However, B. cinerea prevalence in blossoms from both treatments was significantly different from the control, with infection reduced by 10-20%. Technical issues with dispensers currently appear to be the limiting factor for application within commercial wild blueberry production.

The invasive tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle, is widespread and damaging throughout North America. Verticillium wilt disease is emerging as a potentially exciting biological control option for this difficult to control tree. In Virginia, Verticillium nonalfalfae has been confirmed causing significant mortality to A. altissima, while V. dahliae is suspected to be present and causing lower levels of disease. Little else is known regarding these two fungal species in this state. The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of how Verticillium wilt impacts A. altissima and its potential as a biological control agent. We first confirmed V. dahliae's presence in Virginia and its pathogenicity to A. altissima using Koch's postulates. We then completed a regional field-inoculation experiment to show that V. nonalfalfae effectively kills and spreads to adjacent A. altissima, regardless of V. dahliae presence or other climate and stand variables. Additionally, we showed that V. dahliae causes lower levels of disease than V. nonalfalfae, and does not spread rapidly. Next, we surveyed all Virginia A. altissima stands known to be naturally infected with V. nonalfalfae to determine whether V. nonalfalfae persists long-term, that it considerably reduces A. altissima numbers, and that its local prevalence may be higher than initially suspected. However, we were unable to infect A. altissima seedlings using soil collected at these infested sites, suggesting that V. nonalfalfae's survival within field soil may be limited. Lastly, using paired A. altissima invaded-uninvaded sites, we found that A. altissima presence is associated with a decreased proportion of native plants and species in the woody and herbaceous understory, but not the germinable seedbank. Furthermore, we found that this impact on the woody understory appears to increase over time, supporting early management actions and helping us predict post-management restoration needs. We conclude that V. nonalfalfae has a high potential of successfully limiting A. altissima throughout Virginia, supporting its registration as a biopesticide. / Doctor of Philosophy / Commonly called the tree-of-heaven, the nonnative invasive forest-tree Ailanthus altissima, is extensive, damaging, and spreading throughout North America. After finding large areas of declining tree-of-heaven being killed by two different fungal species (Verticillium nonalfalfae and V. dahliae), research has been focused on how to use these fungi to help us manage the tree-of-heaven. In Virginia, V. nonalfalfae has been confirmed killing large numbers of tree-of-heaven, while V. dahliae is suspected to be present in areas with lower levels of decline. The purpose of our research was to gain a better understanding of how these pathogens impact tree-of-heaven and their potential as biological control agents in Virginia. We first confirmed that V. dahliae is present in Virginia and can cause disease on tree-of-heaven. We then inoculated tree-of-heaven stands throughout the state to confirm that V. nonalfalfae effectively kills and spreads to adjacent tree-of-heaven regardless of V. dahliae presence or other climate or site variables. In contrast, we found that V. dahliae only causes low levels of disease and does not spread effectively. Next, we surveyed all known naturally infected V. nonalfalfae sites in Virginia and demonstrated that V. nonalfalfae persists long term within these stands, considerably reducing but not eradicating the tree-of-heaven, and that V. nonalfalfae's local prevalence may be higher than initially suspected. However, when tree-of-heaven seedlings were planted into soil collected from these infested sites, no disease developed, suggesting that V. nonalfalfae's survival within the soil may be limited. Lastly, by looking at tree-of-heaven stands, we found that the tree-of-heaven's presence is associated with a lower percentage of native plants and species in the understory, but not in the seeds present in the soil. In addition, we found that this impact on the woody plants in the understory appears to become more severe over time, supporting managing the tree-of-heaven as soon as possible. We conclude that V. nonalfalfae used as a biological control has a good potential of successfully limiting the tree-of-heaven in Virginia and support its registration as a biopesticide.

The Myrtaceae family has 145 genera. In Brazil are recorded 23 genera and about 1,013 species. Several plants of this family are used in food stuffs, for example, Psidium guajava L. fruits, commonly known as guava. In folk medicine Psidium guajava L. leaves are used for colic, colitis, diarrhea, dysentery, and stomach illness. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of essential oil (OEPGP) and hydro alcoholic extract (HEPG) of Psidium guajava var. pomifera L. To evaluate the OEPGP bioinseticide effect Drosophila melanogaster were used. The flies exposure to OEPGP was performed by a fumigation protocol: Adult flies (males and females) were placed in glass vials containing a filter paper soaked in 1% sucrose. Then, a filter paper was set on the inner side of the cover containing the OEPGP (0, 3, 7.5, 15, 23.5 and 30 μg/ml). The flies mortality was assessed 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. In turn, to assess antioxidant and chelating action against inorganic mercury, DPPH, TBARS, and 1,5 diphenylcarbazone assays were carried out using 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM HgCl2 and 0, 25, 33, 50, 100 and 200 μg/ml of EHAPGP. Cell growth was assessed using Sacharomices cerevisiae, which were exposed to concentrations of 100, 125 and 150 mM of HgCl2 and 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.25, 2.5, and 5 μg/ml of HEPG. Our results showed that OEPGP has a bioinseticide action when flies were exposed to concentrations of 23.5 and 30 μg/ml. Locomotor activity was impaired at concentrations of 15, 23.5, and 30 μg/ml during the first 6 hours of treatment. The OEPGP caused an increase in TBARS levels and in antioxidant enzymes activities. In turn, the HEPG has high concentrations of phenols and flavonoids and showed antioxidant activity, as demonstrated in the DPPH and TBARS assays. The chelating action of HEPG was proven by the test of 1.5 difenilcarbazone and the dosages of Hg levels by ICP-AES. The HEPG partially prevented the cell death caused by HgCl2. Our study indicated that HEPG has antioxidant and HgCl2 protection purposes, while the essential oil presents a bioinseticide action to trigger a pro-oxidant action. / A família Myrtaceae possui 145 gêneros. No Brasil são registrados 23 gêneros e cerca de 1.013 espécies. Muitas plantas desta família são utilizadas na alimentação, como os frutos da Psidium guajava L., popularmente conhecidos como goiaba. As folhas da goiabeira são utilizadas na medicina popular para cólicas, colite, diarréia, disenteria e dor de barriga. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos biológicos do óleo essencial (OEPGP) e do extrato hidro alcóolico (HEPG) das folhas de Psidium guajava var. pomifera L. Para avaliar a ação bioinseticida do OEPGP foram utilizadas Drosophila melanogaster. A exposição das moscas ao OEPGP foi realizada por um protocolo de fumigação: moscas adultas (machos e fêmeas) foram colocadas em frascos de vidro, contendo um papel filtro embebido em 1% de sacarose. Um papel filtro foi fixado no lado interior da tampa para aplicação de diferentes doses de óleo essencial (0, 3, 7,5, 15, 23,5 e 30 μg/mL). A mortalidade das moscas foi avaliada 6, 12, 24 e 48 h. Por sua vez, para avaliar a ação antioxidante e quelante contra o mercúrio foram elaborados ensaios de DPPH, TBARS e 1,5-difenilcarbazona, nas concentrações de 0, 0,1, 0,2 e 0,4 mM de HgCl2 e concentrações de 0, 25, 33, 50, 100 e 200 μg/mL do HEPG. O crescimento celular foi avaliado utilizando Sacharomices cerevisae, os quais foram expostos a concentrações de 100, 125 e 150 μM de HgCl2 e 0, 0,25, 0,5, 1, 1,25, 2,25 e 5 μg/mL de HEPG. Os resultados mostram que o OEPGP apresenta uma ação bioinseticida quando as moscas foram expostas às concentrações de 23,5 e 30 μg/mL. A atividade locomotora foi comprometida nas concentrações de 15, 23,5, e 30 μg/mL nas primeiras 6 h de tratamento. O OEPGP causou aumento nos níveis de TBARS e na atividade das enzimas antioxidantes GST e CAT. Por sua vez, o HEPG apresenta elevadas concentrações de fenóis e flavonoides e apresentou atividade antioxidante, comprovada nos ensaios de TBARS e DPPH. A ação quelante do HEPG foi comprovada pelo ensaio da 1,5-difenilcarbazona e pelas dosagens dos níveis de Hg por ICP-AES. O HEPG evitou parcialmente a morte celular causada por HgCl2. Nosso estudo indicou que HEPG tem efeitos antioxidantes e de proteção contra o estresse oxidativo causado pelo HgCl2, enquanto que o óleo essencial apresenta uma ação bioinseticida por desencadear uma ação pró-oxidante.