IR-4 Project Research Articles

Dan Kunkel to Receive the IUPAC International Award for Advances in Crop Protection Chemistry

AbstractOn 21 March 2016, the IUPAC Division on Chemistry and the Environment announced that the 2016 “IUPAC International Award for Advances in Harmonized Approaches to Crop Protection Chemistry” will be presented to Dr. Daniel L. Kunkel of the IR-4 Project based at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA.

Tolerance of broccoli cultivars to pre-transplanting clomazone

Clomazone has been used for weed management in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L., Capitata group) production in the U.S.A. for over 20 years; however, the herbicide is not currently registered for other crop groups within B. oleracea. The specialty crops pesticide registration program (The IR-4 Project) is pursuing clomazone registration for broccoli (B. oleracea, Italica group) and cauliflower (B. oleracea, Botrytis group). The objective of this study was to assess the tolerance of a genetically diverse collection of 44 hybrid broccoli cultivars to pre-transplanting clomazone application and identify susceptible cultivars not suitable for clomazone use. A greenhouse experiment demonstrated differences in tolerance among broccoli cultivars when injury ratings and shoot weights were compared. The most tolerant cultivar, Chief, was only slightly injured and its shoot weight was not reduced in comparison to the untreated controls by clomazone incorporated into potting medium at 3.0 mg/kg; whereas, the most susceptible cultivar, Patron, was moderately injured and its shoot weight was reduced by clomazone at 1.5 mg/kg. Injury ratings from field experiments also demonstrated differences between cultivars in response to pre-transplant clomazone application. At two weeks after transplanting into treated soil, the most tolerant cultivars exhibited minor injury at 1.12 kg/ha, and the most susceptible cultivars were moderately injured by 0.28 kg/ha. Injury ratings were much lower at 6 weeks after transplanting than at two weeks. Broccoli head weights were reduced by 0.28 kg/ha for 4 cultivars in 2012 and 1 cultivar in 2013, and stem diameters of 2 cultivars were reduced by this treatment in 2012. The low rate did not affect harvest date for any cultivar, but at 1.12 kg/ha, clomazone delayed head maturation for twelve cultivars in 2012 and 4 cultivars in 2013. These responses were inconsistent between years, and the greater injury observed in 2012 than in 2013 may have been due to the transplanting method which moved treated soil into the root zone. Overall, the results indicate that pre-transplanting application of clomazone at the rate that is approved for cabbage, 0.28 kg/ha on coarse soils, is relatively safe for use on most of the 44 broccoli cultivars evaluated in this study. The risk of crop injury that may occur under unfavorable environmental conditions can be reduced by choosing the most tolerant cultivars.

농약의 마이너 사용에 대한 국내외 관리 및 규제 현황

Abstract A solution on pesticide minor use is being requested world widely on behalf of growers and forthe appropriate measure for pesticide regulation. Presently, definition on “minor use” is different by country.And furthermore registration for pesticide use and the regulation approach are dependent on whether the cropis minor or major. For these reasons, management for pesticide minor use are more complicated andaggravated. This paper aimed to provide information on definition of minor use, minor use programs andregulatory incentives for minor use registration, with the purpose of supporting in developing a possiblesolution on minor use situation in Korea. In conclusion, two suggestions were made based on the worldwideinformation on pesticide minor use. First, a prudent consideration should be taken in defining minor uselegally in Korea, which should include all situations regarded with minor use of pesticide, besides the use ofpesticide on the crops cultivated in small area. Secondly, it is proposed to strengthen the present program, the“Ex Officio Registration” (implemented since 1998 in Korea, lead by the Rural Development Administration)by introducing a cooperative program like IR-4 Project of the USA, which is well known as an effectiveprogram for minor use solution as mentioned in the OECD guidance. Key words Pesticide, Crop protection product, Minor use, Minor crop, Major crop

Impact of Augeo, Configure and Florel on Hydrangea Branching

Hydrangeas are an increasingly popular group of shrubs which are prized for their showy inflorescence. Nursery crop producers grow numerous hydrangea varieties for the landscape and florist markets. Hydrangeas are typically hand-pruned during propagation and production to promote compaction and to increase the number of branches which has potential for increasing blooms and marketability. Identifying a plant growth regulator (PGR) treatment that effectively improves the architecture of hydrangeas became an IR-4 Project research priority for 2011. Research evaluating Augeo (dikegulac sodium), Configure (benzyladenine) and Florel (ethephon) shows worthwhile results. Augeo (800 and 1600 ppm) significantly increased branching compared to untreated pots of florist varieties Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Merritt's Supreme’ and landscape varieties H. macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’ and H. paniculata ‘Limelight’. Configure (300 ppm and 600 ppm) and Florel (500 and 1000 ppm) did not significantly improve branching in five of six trials compared to the control. Significant chlorosis on Augeo treated plants was observed initially but this diminished by 6 weeks after treatment (WAT) for four out of six trials. Little to no crop injury was observed with Configure or Florel treatments to hydrangea liners. This research shows promise for identifying a plant growth regulator treatment to meet the demand for improved branching on hydrangea.

THE IR-4 PROGRAM: HELPING THE U.S. BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY CONTROL HIGH-PRIORITY INSECT, DISEASE, AND WEED PESTS

THE IR-4 PROGRAM: HELPING THE U.S. BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY CONTROL HIGH-PRIORITY INSECT, DISEASE, AND WEED PESTS

The IR-4 Project: Supplying Pest Management Tools for Specialty Crops for Over 40 Years.

The IR-4 Project: Supplying Pest Management Tools for Specialty Crops for Over 40 Years.

IR4 SUPPORTED PEST CONTROL PRODUCT RESEARCH PLANS IN THE SOUTHERN REGION FOR YEAR 2005

The three IR4 Programs(Food-Use, Ornamentals, Biopesticides) research pest control needs that originate from stakeholders in each state. Pest control needs are documented as Project Clearance Requests. Researchable projects are identified at the National Food UseWorkshop anda research plan is developed at National Headquarters. This year IR4will research magnitude of residue projects to secure labels on 25 pest product and vegetable crop combinations. The list of projects will be distributed. The IR4 Project, Southern Region has augmented this process by establishing the Southern Region Performance Program(SRPP). Research scientists are asked to submit funding proposals to evaluate pest control products. Each proposal is scrutinized to prioritize needs and identify the most appropriate pest control product technologies. Product registrants, IR4 coordinators and stakeholders are consulted before a final decision is made. More than 70 research scientists from all states in the Southern Region will participate in the SRPP in 2005. Research data will be documented by in the IR4 National Data Mining process and many new project requests will be produced and others expanded to provide workshop participants information as they set priorities for IR4 researchin year2006.

The Role of the IR-4 Project in the Registration of Plant Growth Regulators in Horticultural Crops

The pest management industry does not have adequate financial incentives to develop the required data to register pest management tools with government authorities on fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, nursery crops, landscape plants, flowers, turfgrass, and other specialty crops. Growers of these crops, collectively called minor crops, need pest control tools to be able to sustain production. The Interregional Research Project Number Four (IR-4) was established in 1963 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist growers of minor crops by providing a mechanism to allow growers of these crops to have access to safe and effective pest management tools. Working with research, industrial and extension personnel at the state land-grant institutions and researchers at USDA, Agricultural Research Service, IR-4 develops the appropriate data to support registration of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and plant growth regulators. Many of the uses of plant growth regulators in current use were developed with oversight provided by IR-4. There are many promising new plant growth regulators and/or uses in the commercial development pipeline and it is anticipated that assistance from IR-4 will be needed to support registration of these new materials on minor crops.

Findings and actions by the IR-4 Project in response to a bushel of EPA inspections.

The IR-4 Project is dedicated to all aspects of minor crop pest management, in cooperation between USDA, universities, and other state or Federal entities. Human safety decisions made by EPA are based upon field raw data, analytical reports, and scientific review and interpretation. Quality Assurance personnel, an independent body of internal inspectors and auditors, assist both regulatory inspector and on-site field personnel during EPA site inspections. This article contains information gleaned from a large number of university and other test site inspections, which were conducted by EPA to fulfill requirements of Good Laboratory Practice regulations, 40 CFR 160.

359 RESEARCH PROGRESS OF IR-4 ORNAMENTAL PROGRAM

Since the IR-4 Project for Ornamental Uses was initiated in 1977, over 13,500 research trials have been conducted. This effort has lead to over 3100 label-registrations for fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, nematicides and growth regulators. This cooperative program is conducted by Federal and State workers in conjunction with growers of nursery, floral crop and landscape plant materials.

Minor Use Clearances and the Ir-4 Project

Abstract When considering the function of the IR-4 Project, it is useful to first review the organization of the project in order to better understand the state-federal interrelationships involved. Interregional Research Project No. 4, or the IR-4 Project, was established in 1963 as a national program to compile required data and other information in order to obtain tolerances and to assist in registering pesticide labels for so-called “minor” or “specialty” use agricultural commodities. The Project is approved by the Committee of Nine of the state agricultural experiment stations (SAES) and is funded through USDA-CSRS with federal appropriations. The Project is administered by a Technical Committee representing SAES and consistsof four administrative advisors, five technical advisors and several consultants representing i n dustry, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Project has been substantially enlarged in the past three years, a move necessitated as a result of the 1972 amendment to Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requiring registration of those minor or specialty use pesticides that were not explicitly indicated on the label or labelling package. There is now a professional staff of seven scientists at the Project headquarters at Rutgers University. These coordinators are assisted by one liaison representative in each state, 12 liaison representatives in USDA-ARS, and a leader laboratory consisting of a laboratory d i rector and regional coordinator in each region.