Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-47).

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 24-29).

No description available.

No description available.

Leaves and fruit of nine apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) genotypes were evaluated for insect injury in 1998 and 1999. Foliar and fruit injury from 12 insect species was inconsistently affected by genotype. Spraying trees with oil affected neither fruit insect injury nor fruit phytotoxicity. In choice feeding assays, incidence of Japanese beetle (JB) feeding and leaf area consumed was greater for 'Liberty' than for 'York.' Genotypes did not differ in no-choice feeding assays. Choice and no-choice feeding assays between apple and oak indicated that JB could distinguish host plants in an artificial environment. Trichome density appeared different among three genotypes. 'York', the non-preferred genotype, had highest specific leaf weight and concentration of phloridzin, a feeding repellent. 'Liberty' the preferred genotype, had the lowest specific leaf weight, and had the highest concentration of quercitrin, a feeding stimulant. Olfactory stimuli of JB was evaluated with a Y-tube olfactometer. Beetles preferred the side of the Y-tube containing leaf tissue of apple or Virginia creeper over the side with no leaf. Beetles did not choose one plant species over the other. Bias test of beetle orientation in the Y-tube olfactometer indicated that in the morning, but not the afternoon, beetles preferentially moved into the left side of the Y-tube. Humidity did not affect beetle orientation. In darkness JB preferred a leaf disc over a paper disc and beetles tended to remain on the leaf. / Ph. D.

The natural infestation level for 1985 of the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia failed to reduce berry quality, yield or shoot growth in a commercial vineyard. Intensive postveraison foliage feeding by Japanese beetle resulted 1n fruit with lower soluble solids and higher total titratable acidity at harvest, but did not affect pH, sugar per berry, berry weight, yield, leaves per vine or shoot length. Intensive previraison feeding also resulted in fruit with higher total titratable acidity. All other parameters were unaffected. In a separate experiment with 0, 10, 20, and 33% leaf removal, no relationship was shown between leaf area loss and soluble solids, total titratable acidity or pH. Data from one season of damage by the beetle indicate that control measures may not be warranted in some years. In a third experiment, grape leaves on potted vines were artificially damaged by removing leaf disks with a paper punch. The leaves showed an increased loss of efficiency (measured in net photosynthesis, Pn) for the remaining tissue as leaf area loss (LAL) increased. This loss of efficiency in the remaining leaf area at low levels of damage was more pronounced after 12 days than after either 1 or 5 days. The additive effect on Pn of both LAL and lowered efficiency predicted the total shutdown of Pn at 60% damage at 1 and 5 days after treatment, but not at 12 days. / Master of Science

Field experiments (2007-2009) and laboratory bioassays (2009) tested the efficacy of insecticides with short pre-harvest intervals, caneberry cultivar susceptibility, and geranium toxicity for reducing Japanese beetle (JB) activity on primocane-bearing caneberries. Deltamethrin, chlorantraniliprole, bifenthrin, lime-alum, and thyme oil reduced JB activity in the field. Deltamethrin, chlorantraniliprole, acetamiprid, an azadirachtin and pyrethrin mixture, an azadirachtin and neem oil extract mixture, and an extract of Chenopodium ambrosioides reduced JB activity during the bioassays. "Prelude" had significantly more JB than "Anne", "Caroline", "Heritage", "Dinkum", or "Himbo Top" and "Prime-Jan" had significantly more JB than "Prime-Jim". Compared to certain cultivars, "Heritage", "Caroline", "Himbo Top", and "Prime-Jan" had higher percentages of injured fruit and "Autumn Bliss", "Heritage", and "Caroline" produced greater marketable and overall yields. "Prime-Jan" produced more overall yield than "Prime-Jim"; marketable yields from both blackberry cultivars were similar. Defoliation was significantly less for "Dinkum", "Caroline", "Heritage", and "Anne" than for "Prelude" in 2008 and significantly less for "Caroline" and "Anne" than "Prelude" or "Fall Gold" in 2009. In field tests, previous consumption of geraniums lessened raspberry defoliation by JB. Bioassays indicated that JB activity was only reduced if JB were continually exposed to geranium. Therefore, the efficacy of geranium as a trap crop for JB may be limited. The stink bug species within the caneberries were identified (2008-2009) and Euschistus servus (Say) made up 48.1 % of the overall species composition. Stink bug injury to ripening raspberries was identified as small holes between drupelets; stink bug excretions also ruined fruit. / Master of Science in Life Sciences