Aerial Trapping of Potato Leafhoppers, Fusarium graminearum Ascospores, & Potato Late Blight Sporangia Elson J. Shields, A. Testa, G. C. Bergstrom, W. E. Fry Cornell University, Ithaca, NY *Return Migration of Potato Leafhopper,* Empoasca fabae. (E. J. Shields & A. Testa) An alfalfa field in its seeding year was used as the potato leafhopper study site for 1998. Sweep samples were taken in 2 locations 3 x per week from 8/24-9/11 when the field was cut. Nymphs and adults were separated from each sample. nymphs were staged, adults were sexed and all females were dissected for the presence of eggs. Thirty minute sampling flights utilizing 2 - 8 ft wing span remote piloted vehicle (RPV) equipped with a 16" square insect net which opened when aloft were initiated on 8/28 and continued daily until 9/6 when the need for major repairs grounded the final RPV. Aerial sampling started at 5 pm and ended at 8:30 pm which was approximately 2 hrs after sundown. The initial daily flight was between 5-5:30 pm and attempts were made to fly continuously during the PLH activity period which started at ca. 6 pm and ended ca. 7:30 pm. A final flight was taken 8-8:30 pm if the air temperatures were above 55 °F. Barometric pressure was recorded continuously during the duration of the sampling window. Air temperature, relative humidity, wind conditions and observations on the presence of clouds were recorded prior to each collection flight. A total of 72 leafhoppers were collected aloft during the study. All of the females (36) were dissected, eggs were absent from their reproductive tract and were assumed to be in reproductive diapause. The majority of leafhoppers were collected on evenings during falling barometric pressure during the activity period of sunset ± 30 minutes. Under these conditions, the prevailing wind had a northern component and PLH initiating flight would be transported toward their overwintering area in the southern US. Data would suggest that PLH departing on their fall return migration initiate migration during their normal activity period just after falling barometric pressure. Long-ranged dispersal of Fusarium graminearum. (E. J. Shields & G. C. Bergstrom) A second set of preliminary sampling flights for Fusarium graminearum. ascospores were taken in 1998 to investigate the feasibility of using RPVs to study the long-range movement of this disease of corn and wheat. In May-June 1997, viable ascospores were collected on selective culture media at 100 ft altitude over corn stubble and 400-500 ft altitude over mixed hardwood forest. In May-June 1998, the RPVs were outfitted with floats and the atmosphere 100-200 ft above Cayuga Lake was sampled for the presence of ascospores. Viable ascospores were collected in each of these sampling flights (20). The 1997 & 1998 data suggests that ascospores of Fusarium graminearum. are transported considerable distances in the atmosphere. In addition, RPVs equipped with spore traps are a viable tool to sample the atmosphere between 50-1000 ft altitude. *Aerial trapping of Potato Late Blight,* Phytophora infestans sporangia. (E. J. Shields & W. E. Fry) Four preliminary sampling flights on two different days separated by 1 week were flown over late blight infested potatoes during September 1998 to investigate to feasibility of using RPV's to study the long ranged movement of late blight sporangia from infested fields to uninfested fields. A RPV with an 8 ft wing span was used to transport 2 air sampling pods aloft for the sampling. The sampling pods were attached to the underside of each wing and each pod sampled approximately 165 cubic meters of air during the 20 minute sampling flight (330 cubic meters total air quantity per flight). An airspeed of 42 miles per hour was averaged throughout each sampling flight. Each sampling pod has a remotely controlled door which allows the pod to be opened once the RPV achieved the desired sampling altitude. The door was closed at the end of the sampling period, before the aircraft was landed. The trapping surface consisted of a standard plastic petri plate completely filled with 1% water agar. Petri plates were mounted vertically in the sampler and perpendicular to the air stream through the sampler. Sampling altitude ranged between 150-200 ft during the sampling period. During the first 2 sampling flights, only 1 sporangia was trapped in each sampler (4 total). One week later, more that 200 sporangia were trapped in each sampler during each of the two flights. Differences in trap catches between the 2 different sampling days was explained by the maturity of the fungus in the potato field and the time of day sampled. Flights during the first sampling day was targeted during the time of sporangia release and flights during the second sampling day were targeted 1-2 hrs after peak sporangia release. Weather conditions were very similar each of the sampling days with mostly sunny skies and air temperatures ranging between 75-80 degrees F. [ 1998 Research Index \| 1998 Meeting Minutes ]
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Aerial Trapping of Potato Leafhoppers,

Fusarium graminearum Ascospores,

& Potato Late Blight Sporangia

Elson J. Shields, A. Testa, G. C. Bergstrom, W. E. Fry

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Return Migration of Potato Leafhopper, Empoasca fabae. (E. J. Shields & A. Testa)

An alfalfa field in its seeding year was used as the potato leafhopper study site for 1998. Sweep samples were taken in 2 locations 3 x per week from 8/24-9/11 when the field was cut. Nymphs and adults were separated from each sample. nymphs were staged, adults were sexed and all females were dissected for the presence of eggs. Thirty minute sampling flights utilizing 2 - 8 ft wing span remote piloted vehicle (RPV) equipped with a 16" square insect net which opened when aloft were initiated on 8/28 and continued daily until 9/6 when the need for major repairs grounded the final RPV. Aerial sampling started at 5 pm and ended at 8:30 pm which was approximately 2 hrs after sundown. The initial daily flight was between 5-5:30 pm and attempts were made to fly continuously during the PLH activity period which started at ca. 6 pm and ended ca. 7:30 pm. A final flight was taken 8-8:30 pm if the air temperatures were above 55 °F. Barometric pressure was recorded continuously during the duration of the sampling window. Air temperature, relative humidity, wind conditions and observations on the presence of clouds were recorded prior to each collection flight.

A total of 72 leafhoppers were collected aloft during the study. All of the females (36) were dissected, eggs were absent from their reproductive tract and were assumed to be in reproductive diapause. The majority of leafhoppers were collected on evenings during falling barometric pressure during the activity period of sunset ± 30 minutes. Under these conditions, the prevailing wind had a northern component and PLH initiating flight would be transported toward their overwintering area in the southern US. Data would suggest that PLH departing on their fall return migration initiate migration during their normal activity period just after falling barometric pressure.

Long-ranged dispersal of Fusarium graminearum. (E. J. Shields & G. C. Bergstrom)

A second set of preliminary sampling flights for Fusarium graminearum. ascospores were taken in 1998 to investigate the feasibility of using RPVs to study the long-range movement of this disease of corn and wheat. In May-June 1997, viable ascospores were collected on selective culture media at 100 ft altitude over corn stubble and 400-500 ft altitude over mixed hardwood forest. In May-June 1998, the RPVs were outfitted with floats and the atmosphere 100-200 ft above Cayuga Lake was sampled for the presence of ascospores. Viable ascospores were collected in each of these sampling flights (20). The 1997 & 1998 data suggests that ascospores of Fusarium graminearum. are transported considerable distances in the atmosphere. In addition, RPVs equipped with spore traps are a viable tool to sample the atmosphere between 50-1000 ft altitude.

Aerial trapping of Potato Late Blight, Phytophora infestans sporangia. (E. J. Shields & W. E. Fry)

Four preliminary sampling flights on two different days separated by 1 week were flown over late blight infested potatoes during September 1998 to investigate to feasibility of using RPV's to study the long ranged movement of late blight sporangia from infested fields to uninfested fields. A RPV with an 8 ft wing span was used to transport 2 air sampling pods aloft for the sampling. The sampling pods were attached to the underside of each wing and each pod sampled approximately 165 cubic meters of air during the 20 minute sampling flight (330 cubic meters total air quantity per flight). An airspeed of 42 miles per hour was averaged throughout each sampling flight. Each sampling pod has a remotely controlled door which allows the pod to be opened once the RPV achieved the desired sampling altitude. The door was closed at the end of the sampling period, before the aircraft was landed. The trapping surface consisted of a standard plastic petri plate completely filled with 1% water agar. Petri plates were mounted vertically in the sampler and perpendicular to the air stream through the sampler. Sampling altitude ranged between 150-200 ft during the sampling period.

During the first 2 sampling flights, only 1 sporangia was trapped in each sampler (4 total). One week later, more that 200 sporangia were trapped in each sampler during each of the two flights. Differences in trap catches between the 2 different sampling days was explained by the maturity of the fungus in the potato field and the time of day sampled. Flights during the first sampling day was targeted during the time of sporangia release and flights during the second sampling day were targeted 1-2 hrs after peak sporangia release. Weather conditions were very similar each of the sampling days with mostly sunny skies and air temperatures ranging between 75-80 degrees F.

[ 1998 Research Index | 1998 Meeting Minutes ]