Poster Display
Plant-Insect Ecosystems
Naomi Pier
University of Arizona
Maricopa, Arizona
Peter Ellsworth
University of Arizona
Maricopa, Arizona
Sam Wang
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Eloy, Arizona
Guayule has the potential to become a commercially important crop in Arizona as it is very tolerant to the arid conditions of the area, making it an ideal specialty crop alternative to traditional field crops for growers especially in the water-limited southwest. Over the next three years, projections estimate Arizona's guayule acreage to reach 5,000 acres with the University of Arizona working with industry partners and growers to develop best practices for managing pests, particularly during the critical germination stage. Newly planted guayule is quite vulnerable to stand loss especially from immigrating populations of palestriped flea beetles, Systena blanda. We have developed efficient, effective, and economically viable methods to reduce, mitigate, or eliminate palestriped flea beetle (PSFB) damage in guayule during stand establishment. By conducting lab and field trials, our goal was to identify effective, safe, and economically viable pest control methods, including cotton companion planting, which are crucial for reducing crop loss. We have identified effective chemistries that control PSFB and our work continues to help secure new registrations which have resulted in new Special Local Needs labels and Section 18 Emergency Exemptions for insecticides needed in guayule. This research provides options for effective chemical controls that economically prevent insect damage during guayule stand establishment resulting in a healthy more uniform stand that is able to tolerate adverse conditions, ultimately avoiding lost productivity and costly additional inputs.