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Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield and financial returns are often low for smallholder farmers in Ghana. Additionally, aflatoxin concentration in foods derived from peanut can be high enough to adversely affect human health. Eight experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in northern Ghana to compare yield, financial returns, pest reaction, and aflatoxin contamination at harvest with traditional farmer versus improved practices. Relative to the farmer practice, the improved practice consisted of weeding one extra time, applying local potassium-based soaps to suppress arthropods and pathogens, and application of either homogenized oyster shells or a commercial blend of fertilizer containing calcium. Each of these field treatments were followed by either drying peanut on the soil surface and storing in traditional poly bags or drying peanut on tarps and storing in hermetically-sealed bags for 4 months. Peanut yield and financial returns were significantly greater when a commercial blend of fertilizer or oyster shells were applied compared to the farmer practice of not applying any fertilizer. Yield and financial returns were greater when a commercial fertilizer blend was applied compared with oyster shells. Severity of early leaf spot [caused by Passalora arachidicola (Hori) U. Braun] and late leaf spot [caused by Nothopassalora personata (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) U. Braun, C. Nakash., Videira & Crous], scarring and penetration of pods by arthropods, and the number of arthropods at harvest were higher for the farmer practice than for either fertility treatment; no difference was noted when comparing across fertility treatments. Less aflatoxin was observed for both improved practices in the field compared with the farmer practice. Drying peanut on tarps resulted in less aflatoxin compared to drying peanut on the ground regardless of treatments in the field. Aflatoxin concentration after storage was similar when comparing post-harvest treatments of drying on soil surface and storing in poly bags vs. drying on tarps and storing in hermetically-sealed bags. These results demonstrate that substantial financial gain can be realized when management in the field is increased compared with the traditional farmer practice. While aflatoxin concentrations differed between the farmer practice and the improved practices at harvest and after drying, these differences did not translate into differences after storage.

Aflatoxin in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and other crops can negatively affect human health, especially in countries where regulatory agencies do not have limits on aflatoxin entering the food supply chain. While considerable research has been conducted addressing aflatoxin contamination in peanut at individual steps in the supply chain, studies that quantify aflatoxin contamination following combinations of interventions to crop management, drying, and storage are limited. Research was conducted during 2016 and 2017 in two villages in southern Ghana to follow aflatoxin contamination along the supply chain and to compare improved practices with traditional farmer practices used by smallholders. The farmer practice of only a single weeding was compared with improved practices during the growing season up to harvest that included applying local soaps to suppress aphids (Aphis gossypii Golver) that transmit peanut rosette virus disease (Umbravirus: Tombusviridaee), one additional weeding, and calcium applied at pegging. The improved practice for drying included placing pods removed from plants onto tarps compared with the traditional practice of drying on the ground. Storing peanut for four months in hermetically-sealed bags was the improved practice compared with storing in traditional poly bags. All improved practices individually resulted in lower aflatoxin contamination as compared to the farmer practices. While aflatoxin levels were very low (

Good agricultural practices are an effective means of minimizing pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of gypsum on pod yield and aflatoxin contamination in three peanut cultivars (Kadononga, MGV 4 and MGV 5) in Zambia. The experiment was conducted in Chongwe and Lusaka districts. Gypsum (15.6 % calcium) was applied at rates of 0 and 400 kg/ha at flowering stage. Although gypsum had no significant effect on aflatoxin contamination, there were significant differences (p = 0.009) in cultivar susceptibility to aflatoxin contamination. The cultivar with the smallest kernels had 18.8% lower aflatoxin content than the large-kernelled cultivar. Additionally, gypsum did not have a clear effect on pod yield. For instance, gypsum was associated with 44.8% more grain-filled pods in Kadononga (p = 0.005) at the site in Lusaka, but this result did not apply to the other two cultivars. At the site in Chongwe, gypsum was associated with 34.6% higher pod yield of MGV 5 only (p = 0.006). These results further suggest that plant factors such as kernel size may have an influence on natural resistance to aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. Key words: Aflatoxin, gypsum, peanut cultivar, pod-yield, Zambia.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growers and their advisors need to address a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses to maximize yield and financial return. Mitigating risk to yield and financial investment requires knowledge of interactions among pests and strategies to manage pests, including chemical inputs, crop rotation, cultivar selection, field pest history, planting pattern and population, planting date, and tillage systems. Using Microsoft Excel, a comprehensive peanut risk tool was developed to assist growers and advisors in identifying and selecting production strategies to minimize risk to yield based on empirical data and practical experience while providing cost estimates of production practices. Initially, the risk tool was developed for North Carolina (USA) peanut production. However, the current platform is designed to facilitate the development of similar tools for other USA peanut regions, peanut production systems in other countries, and with the capability to develop risk tools for other crops. This article discusses components of the risk management tool developed for North Carolina peanut production. Benefits of the risk tool to practitioners, extension services, genetics and breeding programs, and formal classroom instruction will be discussed. One goal of this paper is to provide an example of how the Microsoft Excel framework used for peanut in North Carolina can be used for peanut in other regions of the USA and other countries.

Suppressing pest populations below economically-damaging levels is an important element of sustainable peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production. Peanut farmers and their advisors often approach pest management with similar goals regardless of where they are located. Anticipating pest outbreaks using field history and monitoring pest populations are fundamental to protecting yield and financial investment. Microsoft Excel was used to develop individual risk indices for pests, a composite assessment of risk, and costs of risk mitigation practices for peanut in Argentina, Ghana, India, Malawi, and North Carolina (NC) in the United States (US). Depending on pests and resources available to manage pests, risk tools vary considerably, especially in the context of other crops that are grown in sequence with peanut, cultivars, and chemical inputs. In Argentina, India, and the US where more tools (e.g., mechanization and pesticides) are available, risk indices for a wide array of economically important pests were developed with the assumption that reducing risk to those pests likely will impact peanut yield in a positive manner. In Ghana and Malawi where fewer management tools are available, risks to yield and aflatoxin contamination are presented without risk indices for individual pests. The Microsoft Excel platform can be updated as new and additional information on effectiveness of management practices becomes apparent. Tools can be developed using this platform that are appropriate for their geography, environment, cropping systems, and pest complexes and management inputs that are available. In this article we present examples for the risk tool for each country. Instituto de Patología Vegetal Fil: Jordan, David L. North Carolina State University. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences; Estados Unidos Fil: Buol, Greg S. North Carolina State University. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences; Estados Unidos Fil: Brandenburg, Rick L. North Carolina State University. Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology; Estados Unidos Fil: Reisig, Dominic. North Carolina State University. Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology; Estados Unidos Fil: Nboyine, Jerry. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Savanna Agricultural Research Institute; Ghana Fil: Abudulai, Mumuni. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Savanna Agricultural Research Institute; Ghana Fil: Oteng-Frimpong, Richard.Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Savanna Agricultural Research Institute; Ghana Fil: Brandford Mochiah, Moses.Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Crops Research Institute; Ghana Fil: Asibuo, James Y. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Crops Research Institute; Ghana Fil: Arthur, Stephen. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Crops Research Institute; Ghana Fil: Paredes, Juan Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); Argentina Fil: Paredes, Juan Andrés. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Monguillot, Joaquín Humberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); Argentina Fil: Monguillot, Joaquín Humberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Rhoads, James. University of Georgia. Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Peanut; Estados Unidos

Higher than acceptable aflatoxin levels in peanut kernels (Arachis hypogaea L.) and related products is a worldwide food safety concern. Strict regulatory standards by major importers of peanuts limit the marketability of peanuts for many developing tropical countries including Zambia. The incidence of pre-harvest aflatoxins is strongly linked to soil and weather conditions during pod-development. This study aimed to formulate statistical models to predict total aflatoxin content in peanut kernels using selected environmental factors during pod development. Field experiments were conducted for two years during which the peanut crop was exposed to 84 combinations of ambient temperature, soil temperature and soil moisture content measured during the last 30 days of pod development. These data were used to formulate regression models to predict total aflatoxin content in peanut kernels. Simple linear regression models had R2 values of 0.30 for maximum ambient temperature, 0.24 for soil temperature and 0.38 for soil moisture content. Combining soil moisture content and soil temperature in a multivariate regression model could explain 54% of the variation in total aflatoxin content while a combination of soil moisture content and maximum ambient temperature could only explain 46% of the variation in total aflatoxin content. Key words: Aflatoxin, groundnut, linear regression, statistical model, Zambia.

Peanut production in Zambia is often characterized by low yields and high aflatoxin incidence in harvested kernels. Soil amendments such as farmyard manure have shown potential to increase yields and reduce pre-harvest aflatoxin incidence. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of composted cattle manure on soil properties that relate to yield and pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination of peanut kernels. Research evaluated the effects of composted cattle manure on soil respiration, plant-available water (PAW), peanut yield and pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination in a field experiment conducted in two successive rain-fed cropping seasons starting in December, 2015 and ending in April 2017, in Chongwe District, Zambia. Six (6) levels of compost were incorporated into the top 10 cm of the soil at rates of 0, 4.5, 12.0, 19.5, 27.0, and 34.5 metric tons/ha 1 wk before planting. There was a strong positive relationship between levels of compost and soil microbial respiration (R2=0.84) and PAW (R2=0.86). Secondly, compost manure was associated with increases in pod (R2=0.65) and kernel (R2=0.61) yield. The kernel yield potential of the planted cultivar was achieved at the rate of 12 metric tons per ha. Thirdly, there was a reduction in total aflatoxin levels with increasing levels of compost (R2=0.85). The improvement in peanut yield and the decrease in aflatoxin concentrations in kernels can be attributed to the improvement in soil moisture retention capacity and soil microbial activity arising from manure amendments. This study demonstrated the potential of compost manure to increase soil microbial activity, PAW, peanut yield and minimize aflatoxin contamination at field level.

Tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds) is an important pest in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in North Carolina and injury from this insect can lower yield. Research was conducted from 2012 through 2014 in North Carolina to compare visible injury from tobacco thrips feeding and peanut yield when acephate, imidacloprid, and phorate were applied alone in the seed furrow at planting or followed by acephate applied postemergence 3 weeks after planting. In a second experiment conducted during the same time period, a commercial liquid formulation of Bradyrhizobia inoculant was applied alone or with imidacloprid in fields with and without plantings of peanut in recent years. Peanut injury from tobacco thrips feeding was reduced by acephate, imidacloprid, and phorate applied in the seed furrow at planting compared with non-treated peanut. Acephate applied 3 weeks after planting generally reduced injury from thrips. Pod yield was greater when imidacloprid was applied compared with yield for the non-treated control or when acephate was applied in the seed furrow. Pod yield was similar regardless of in-furrow treatment when acephate was applied postemergence. Thrips control by imidacloprid was not affected by Bradyrhizobia inoculant, and imidacloprid did not negatively affect efficacy of Bradyrhizobia inoculant regardless of previous field history. These data indicate that imidacloprid protects peanut as well as or more effectively than the systemic insecticides acephate and phorate and that imidacloprid is compatible with Bradyrhizobia inoculant.

New technologies combined with improved genetics and farmer access are important components required to improve productivity and efficiencies of cropping systems. The ability of the public and private sector to provide these components to farmers often vary considerably and can be challenging because of limited resource allocation and investment in institutions designed to provide these services. Partnerships among national programs where resources are limited and external entities can provide an effective platform to deliver improved cultivars and production and pest management practices that increase crop yield and economic viability of resource-poor farmers. In this note, we describe a partnership between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) in Ghana, the International Center for Research in the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the US Agency for International Development Peanut Collaborative Research Support Program (USAID Peanut CRSP), the Feed the Future Innovation Lab on Peanut Productivity and Mycotoxin Control (PMIL), and North Carolina State University (NCSU) that resulted in the release of two ICRISAT-derived lines as cultivars to farmers in Ghana. The cultivars Otuhia (Arachis hypogaea L.) and Yenyawoso (Arachis hypogaea L.) were released by CSIR-CRI in 2012 following evaluations of breeding lines beginning in 1999. This case study provides insight into the research focus and timeline that occurred with this partnership during the research and development process. A portion of the data obtained to support release of these cultivars is provided.

Establishing an adequate stand of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and minimizing the negative impact of tobacco thrips [Frankliniella fusca (Hinds)] is important for maximizing yield in both organic and conventional production systems. The incidence, severity, and impact of soil borne pathogens and thrips populations on peanut may be influenced by planting date, fungicide seed treatment, and/or systemic insecticide application. However, the interaction of these management techniques has not been investigated in North Carolina with Virginia market type cultivars to date. As such, research was conducted over four years in North Carolina to determine peanut stand, injury caused by tobacco thrips feeding, and pod yield as influenced by planting date (early, mid-, and late-May), fungicide seed treatment, and phorate applied in the seed furrow at planting. Peanut stand increased when planting fungicide-treated seed compared to non-treated seed, although the magnitude of this effect lessened with later May plantings. Regardless of phorate treatment, less thrips injury was noted when peanut was planted in mid- or late-May compared with early May in three of four years. Yet the addition of phorate in-furrow further reduced thrips injury at every planting date. Peanut yield increased 75% and 50% of the time when seed was treated with fungicide and phorate was applied in the seed furrow at planting, respectively. Yield was generally greater when peanut was planted in mid-May and late-May compared to planting in early May irrespective of fungicide seed treatment or phorate treatment. Peanut stand was negatively and positively correlated with observed thrips injury and peanut yield, respectively. Additionally, peanut yield was negatively correlated to thrips injury. These data suggest that conventional producers should utilize treated seed and phorate in-furrow for thrips management regardless of planting date and that organic producers should plant in late May to minimize negative impacts of thrips and soil borne pathogens.

Aflatoxin in peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) and other crops can negatively affect human health, especially in countries where regulatory agencies do not have limits on aflatoxin entering the food supply chain. While considerable research has been conducted addressing aflatoxin contamination in peanut at individual steps in the supply chain, studies that quantify aflatoxin contamination following combinations of interventions of crop management, drying, and storage are limited. Research was conducted during 2016 and 2017 in two villages in southern Ghana to follow aflatoxin contamination along the supply chain and to compare improved practices with traditional farmer practices used by smallholders. The farmer practice of only a single weeding was compared with improved practices during the growing season up to harvest that included applying local soaps to suppress aphids ( Aphis gossypii Golver) that transmit peanut rosette virus disease ( Umbravirus: Tombusviridae e), one additional weeding, and calcium applied at pegging. The improved practice for drying included placing pods removed from plants onto tarps compared with the traditional practice of drying on the ground. Storing peanut for four months in hermetically-sealed bags was the improved practice compared with storing in traditional poly bags. All improved practices individually resulted in less aflatoxin contamination as compared to the farmer practices. While aflatoxin levels were found to be very low (

A diversity of pests can adversely affect peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield, quality, and financial return. Farmers rely heavily on applied chemicals to suppress many of the economically important pests present in peanut. The effectiveness of this approach to pest management may not be sustainable, however, due to evolved resistance in pests to chemicals, reluctance of basic chemical manufacturers to invest in product development because of the relatively small market for peanut compared with other crops, cost to initially register or re‐register chemicals, and the desire for peanut buyers and processors to capture international markets that may have varying agrochemical residue restrictions for peanut. Heavy reliance on chemical control could leave peanut production systems vulnerable to yield loss; thus, a more concerted research effort is needed to increase the number and availability of nonchemical tools that protect peanut from pests in order to ensure long‐term sustainability of peanut production systems.

Planting date can affect pest incidence and severity in peanut. Research was conducted from 2013 to 2016 in North Carolina to determine tobacco thrips [Frankliniella fusca (Hinds)] injury and pod yield when peanut was planted in early, mid-, and late-May when phorate was applied in the seed furrow at planting, acephate was applied to emerged peanut 3 wk after planting, or when both insecticides were applied. Differences in visible injury to peanut caused by tobacco thrips feeding were observed across yr, planting dates, and insecticide treatments. Applying either phorate or acephate was often as effective as the combination of both insecticides in preventing injury caused by tobacco thrips although in some instances applying both insecticides was more effective than a single insecticide. Visible injury caused by tobacco thrips was often greater when peanut was planted in early May compared with later plantings. Peanut yield was protected equally from tobacco thrips injury by phorate, acephate, and the combination of both insecticides. Planting date and insecticides affected peanut yield independently suggesting that strategies for managing tobacco thrips will not differ across planting dates in North Carolina. Peanut yield was greater in 2 of 4 yr when planted in mid-May compared with planting in early or late-May.

The effects of amending soil with gypsum and biochar on groundnut chlorophyll concentration, water use efficiency (WUE), biomass yield and selected soil properties were investigated under water stress. Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) was applied at 0 and 200 kg/ha, groundnut shell biochar at 1, 2 and 4% w/w of soil, and water at 100, 70 and 40% of daily plant water requirement (PWR) as main, sub and sub-sub plots, respectively, in a split-split-plot design. Biochar neutralized the acid soil, significantly raising soil pH from 5 to 7.15 and increasing cation exchange capacity by 75%. Biochar amended at 1 and 2%, increased groundnut dry matter yield by 28%. The optimum biochar application rate for dry matter yield was 1.4% w/w. Biochar application at 4% and irrigation at 40% of PWR reduced the WUE by 45 and 50%, respectively. Chlorophyll concentration index was highest at 40% of PWR. The results suggest that biochar has potential to raise soil pH, increase moisture retention and improve crop performance. Applying water at 100% PWR can increase groundnut dry matter yields, while higher gypsum application rates may be required to affect crop performance.

The development of cultivars ‘TifGrand’ and ‘Celebration’ has shown potential increases in shade tolerance compared to previous industry standards of bermudagrass ( Cynodon spp.). Based on the literature, further improvements in shade tolerance can be attained through changes in nitrogen fertility rates, mowing heights, and the application of plant growth regulators. In this study, two South African hybrid ( Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy) bermudagrass accessions (‘WIN10F’ and ‘STIL03’) and three standard cultivars (Celebration, Tifgrand, and ‘Tifway’) were compared for their ability to persist under 63% shade, two mowing heights, two trinexapac-ethyl (TE) treatments, and two nitrogen fertility rates. The experimental design was a strip-strip-split plot and digital image analysis was used to measure percent turfgrass cover, percent turfgrass spread after cup-cutter removal, and percent turfgrass re-growth after divot formation. Turf quality was measured using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Differences among genotypes, TE treatments, and mowing heights were observed across all response variables in 2014 and 2015. Differences in fertility treatments were observed in NDVI, percent turfgrass growth, and percent turfgrass recovery within and across years. Significant differences were observed for the interactions between entry by plant growth regulator (PGR) treatments, entry by mowing height, and mowing height by PGR. These results suggest shade management recommendations should be dependent on genotype and site-specific considerations. The development and implementation of specific management plans for certain bermudagrass varieties will contribute to the more widespread use of Cynodon spp. in shaded environments.

Virginia-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cultivars were monitored for incidence of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and abundance of Frankliniella fusca, the tobacco thrips, in North Carolina during 1995 and 1996. A preliminary evaluation of 225 peanut genotypes for TSWV-resistant or -tolerant genotypes was conducted in 1995. The incidence of TSWV in cultivar NC-9 was twice that of cultivar NC-V11. In 1996, field trials designed to evaluate TSWV susceptibility were conducted with three widely grown commercial peanut cultivars in North Carolina. They were NC-9, NC-V11, and NC-12C, a newly released cultivar. A randomized complete block design was utilized at three locations. Disease incidence was evaluated weekly from 2 weeks postplanting until 2 weeks prior to harvest. Mechanical inoculation of the three cultivars resulted in no difference in relative leaf virus titer as determined from optical density readings following DAS-ELISA for 4 successive weeks beginning at 13 days postinoculation. NC-9 ranked highest in incidence of disease (7%), followed by NC-12C (6%) and NC-V11 (5%). Thrips counts were greatest on NC-V11, followed by NC-9 and NC-12C. Disease incidence overall was 5.96%, but ranged from 3.08 to 11.15% among the three sites. Yield was affected by the temporal occurrence of symptoms beginning at the fifth week postplanting. Greatest yield losses occurred in those plants with the earliest visible foliar symptoms.

The production and utilization of groundnut ( Arachis hypogea L) has increased tremendously across all provinces of Mozambique in recent times. However, the presence of mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins has remained a critical food concern in both the human and livestock diet. In this study, the effect of harvesting time and drying methods on aflatoxin contamination were examined at two locations namely; Nampula Research Station (PAN) and Mapupulo Agricultural Research Center in Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces respectively. A randomized complete block design in a split-split plot arrangement with four replications was used with three groundnut varieties; ( ICGV-SM-99568 , ICGV-SM-01514 and JL-24 ) as the main plot and three harvesting dates (10 days before physiological maturity, at physiological maturity and 10 days after physiological maturity) and two drying methods; (A-frame and tarpaulin) as the sub-plots. Groundnut samples were analyzed for aflatoxin contamination using immuno-chromatographic assay strips by the M-reader. In both locations, field observations indicated that on average aflatoxin contamination levels were lower at physiological maturity (H2) (≤ 10 ppb) compared to harvesting 10 days before (H1) ( ≤ 15 ppb) and 10 days after physiological maturity (H3) (≥ 20 ppb). It was also observed that the two drying methods were effective in prevention of aflatoxin contamination on groundnut kernels to levels lower than 20 ppb. However, aflatoxin contamination levels were significantly lower ( ≤ 12 ppb) as a result of the A-frame than the tarpaulin method. The results of this study therefore, have indicated that proper post-harvest management of groundnuts such as harvesting at physiological maturity and improved drying gave lowest aflatoxin contamination levels lower than the FDA/WHO regulatory levels of 20 ppb.

Twelve field trials were completed in North Carolina from 2005 to 2007 to determine the impact of planting pattern on peanut yield, market grade characteristics, and pest reaction for the Virginia market type cultivars Perry and VA 98R. The first set of experiments was designed to evaluate incidence of Cylindrocladium black rot (caused by Cylindrocladium parasiticum) using a factorial treatment arrangement of two cultivars, two levels of fumigation (none or metam sodium at 112 L/ha), and two levels of planting pattern (single rows spaced 91-cm apart or twin rows spaced 18 cm apart on 91-cm centers). Visible symptoms associated with Cylindrocladium black rot were not affected by planting pattern. However, in 1 of 3 trials pod scarring as a result of feeding by southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata Howardi) was greater in twin rows compared with single rows. Damage from tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca) was also higher in the cultivar VA 98R planted in twin rows than in single rows or for the cultivar Perry. In the second set of experiments designed to evaluate incidence of Sclerotinia blight (caused by Sclerotinia minor), a factorial treatment arrangement consisting of two cultivars, two levels of boscalid (none or boscalid at 0.44 kg ai/ha), and two levels of planting pattern was implemented. Boscalid decreased Sclerotinia blight incidence at one of 4 locations, and increased pod yield. Yield of Perry was lower when grown in twin rows versus single rows, but yield of VA 98R was higher in twin rows. Peanut planted in twin rows yielded more than peanut planted in single rows regardless of cultivar, fumigation, or disease history in most trials. Results from these experiments suggest that planting pattern can have a minor impact on response to pests and that yield and market grades are often improved when peanut is planted in twin-row planting patterns compared with single rows.

Seasonal flight activity, adult beetle sex count, and egg production were examined in sugarcane beetles Euetheola rugiceps (LeConte) caught in light traps in North Carolina from the fall of 2009 through the summer of 2014. A regression model using variable environmental conditions as predictive parameters was developed to examine the impact of these conditions on flight activity. Depending on flight trap location and sampling years, beetles exhibited an inconsistent flight pattern, with the majority of adults flying in the spring (April-June) and intermittently in the fall (September-October). Our model indicated that larger numbers of adults collected from traps coincided with an increase in average soil temperature. Sugarcane beetles also exhibit a synchronous emergence during both periods of flight activity. Eggs were detected in females collected from light traps every week throughout the entire sampling period. The majority of females produced 7-12 eggs, with most egg production occurring between 15 May and 1 August. The findings of this research provide adult sugarcane beetle emergence and flight behavior information necessary to determine optimal pesticide application timing.

Virginia market type peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) cultivars are grown primarily in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia in the US, although growers in these states often plant other market types if marketing opportunities are available. Information on yield potential and management strategies comparing these market types is limited in North Carolina. In separate experiments, research was conducted to determine response of runner, Spanish, and Virginia market types to calcium sulfate and inoculation withBradyrhizobiumat planting, planting and digging dates, planting patterns, and seeding rates. In other experiments, control of thrips (Frankliniellaspp.) using aldicarb, southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctataHowardi) using chlorpyrifos, eclipta (Eclipta prostrataL.) using threshold-based postemergence herbicides, and leaf spot disease (caused by the fungiCercospora arachidicolaandCercosporidium personatum) fungicide programs was compared in these market types. Results showed that management practice and market types interacted for peanut pod yield in only the planting date experiment. Yield of runner and Virginia market types was similar and exceeded yield of the Spanish market type in most experiments.

Bermudagrass, Cynodon spp. is one of the most commonly grown turfgrass genera in the southern United States having excellent drought tolerance, but poor tolerance to shade. Developing cultivars tolerant to shade would allow bermudagrass to become more prevalent in home lawns or other recreational areas in the southeast, where trees dominate the landscape. In this field study, nine accessions collected from Pretoria, South Africa were evaluated for their ability to grow under shade with varying fertility treatments. These accessions and cultivars ‘Celebration’, ‘TifGrand’, and ‘Tifway’ were evaluated under 0%, 63%, and 80% continuous shade during 2011–12. For both years, significant differences among shade levels, genotypes, and the interaction of the two were observed. As expected, the progression from 0% to 63% to 80% shade reduced normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), percent turfgrass cover (TC), and turf quality (TQ) readings for all accessions. Some genotypes, however, were able to maintain adequate quality and aggressiveness under 63% shade. ‘Celebration’, WIN10F, and STIL03 performed better than ‘Tifway’ (P ≤ 0.05), the susceptible control. Overall, our results indicate that there are promising genotypes among the bermudagrass materials collected from South Africa. These accessions represent additional sources of shade hardiness to be used in bermudagrass breeding. Furthermore, higher nitrogen fertility provided increased NDVI and TQ in some instances suggesting an added benefit of fertility under low-light conditions. However, the increased economic value attributed to the added inputs associated with these increases is outweighed by the low impacts offered.

Demand for agricultural production systems that are both economically viable and environmentally conscious continues to increase. In recent years, reduced tillage systems, and grass and pasture rotations have been investigated to help maintain or improve soil quality, increase crop yield, and decrease labor requirements for production. However, documentation of the effects of reduced tillage, fescue rotation systems as well as other management practices, including pesticides, on pest damage and soil arthropod activity in peanut production for the Mid-Atlantic US region is still limited. Therefore, this project was implemented to assess impacts of fescue-based rotation systems on pests and other soil organisms when compared with cash crop rotation systems over four locations in eastern North Carolina. In addition, the effects of tillage (strip vs. conventional) and soil chlorpyrifos application on pod damage and soil-dwelling organisms were also evaluated. Soil arthropod populations were assessed by deploying pitfall traps containing 50% ethanol in each of the sampled plots. Results from the present study provide evidence that location significantly impacts pest damage and soil arthropod diversity in peanut fields. Cropping history also influenced arthropod diversity, with higher diversity in fescue compared with cash crop fields. Corn rootworm damage to pods was higher at one of our locations (Rocky Mount) compared with all others. Cropping history (fescue vs. cash crop) did not have an effect on rootworm damage, but increased numbers of hymenopterans, acarina, heteropterans, and collembolans in fescue compared with cash crop fields. Interestingly, there was an overall tendency for higher number of soil arthropods in traps placed in chlorpyrifos-treated plots compared with nontreated controls.

Mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) damage warm-season turfgrasses throughout the southeastern United States. The two most destructive species are the southern mole cricket, Scapteriscus borellii Giglio-Tos, and the tawny mole cricket, S. vicinus Scudder. Both species use mating calls to attract and locate potential mates. Male mating calls have often been used to distinguish among different species of crickets. Calling characteristics can vary within a species due to numerous factors, including climate. There has been no research conducted on the call characteristics of mole crickets as they have expanded their range of inhabitance to North Carolina. Male calls of southern and tawny mole crickets were recorded at night in 2009 and 2010. Analysis of the calls indicated that there was little change in the calling characteristics from previous research. This allows us to continue to expand our management plans for this pest and coordinate our efforts with other regions where mole crickets a...

The sugarcane beetle, Euetheola humilis (Burmeister), traditionally a pest of agricultural crops, has become a sporadic, but serious, pest of turfgrass on golf courses, athletic fields, home lawns, sod farms, and in pastures. Initially confined to the southeastern United States it has, in recent years, spread as far north as Maryland, west into Texas, and south into Florida. Little is known about sugarcane beetle ecology and behavior in turfgrass, including dispersal and feeding behaviors and the impact of damage to turf. Our research helped confirm previous ecological studies of this pest on sugarcane and other agronomic crops relative to life cycle, biology, and behavior to further develop better management approaches. Additional research concerning this insect is summarized and discussed relative to the current pest status of this insect and potential management strategies.

Summary Sugarcane beetle (Euetheola rugiceps LeConte; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a pest of turfgrass in the southeastern United States. This study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of 5 products for sugarcane beetle pest management in managed bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.; Poaceae). Spring and fall populations of sugarcane beetle adults were exposed to 4 active ingredients and combinations (bifenthrin, bifenthrin plus clothianidin, carbaryl, clothianidin, and dinotefuran) under greenhouse conditions. At 7 d after treatment, there were no significant differences among insecticide treatments applied to spring beetles at either a low or a high field rate, although all insecticides caused a significant increase in beetle mortality relative to untreated (control) beetles. In contrast, bifenthrin caused significantly greater control of fall populations at the low field rate compared with other treatments. Target population (spring or fall) appears to have more impact on pesticide efficacy than either...

St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze) is an economically important turfgrass in the southeastern United States. However, this turf species is prone to southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber (Heteroptera: Blissidae) outbreaks. This insect is the most destructive pest of St. Augustine grass wherever this turf grass is grown. Host plant resistance has historically been an effective management tool for southern chinch bug. Since 1973, the 'Floratam' St. Augustine grass cultivar effectively controlled southern chinch bug in the southeast. However, southern chinch bug populations from Florida and Texas have now circumvented this resistance, through mechanisms still unknown. Therefore, identifying and deploying new cultivars with resistance to the southern chinch bug is imperative to combat this pest in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. Currently, the number of cultivars with resistance against southern chinch bug is limited, and their efficacy, climatic adaptability, and aesthetic characters are variable. Hence, the main focus of this study is the identification of alternative sources of resistance to southern chinch bugs in previously uncharacterized St. Augustine grass plant introductions (PIs) and its closely related, crossbreeding species, Pembagrass (Stenotaphrum dimidiatum (L.) Brongniart). The PIs exhibited a wide range of responses to southern chinch bug feeding, as indicated by damage ratings. Damage ratings for seven PIs grouped with our resistant reference cultivars. Moreover, nine PIs exhibited antibiosis, based on poor development of southern chinch bug neonates, when compared with our susceptible reference cultivars. Altogether our study has produced strong support to indicate these materials are good candidates for future southern chinch bug resistance breeding in St. Augustine grass.

Numerous agrochemicals can be applied in peanut to control pests. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted in North Carolina during 2009 and 2010 to determine peanut response to paraquat and tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds.) when acephate was applied in combination with chloroacetamide and contact herbicides. Experiments were also conducted during 2011 to determine peanut response to acephate applied alone or with paraquat when peanut was planted either without aldicarb or when aldicarb was applied in the seed furrow at planting. Visible peanut damage caused by tobacco thrips feeding was greater when chloroacetamide herbicides were applied without acephate compared with application with acephate regardless of paraquat treatment. Visible injury caused by paraquat was higher when chloroacetamide herbicides were included compared with paraquat alone in one of two years. Visible injury by paraquat was lower when applied with acephate compared to paraquat alone in one of two years. Acephate applied to peanut foliage and aldicarb applied in the seed furrow at planting protected peanut similarly from damage associated with tobacco thrips feeding. Acephate alone or with chloroacetamide herbicides changed solution pH from slightly acidic to highly acidic. Several combinations of pesticides formed either transient or permanent precipitates.

Soil arthropods cause kernel and pod damage and can lower yields of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Ghana, West Africa. On-station and on-farm experiments were conducted during 2007 and 2008 at Kwadaso and Hiawoannwu, respectively, using an improved peanut cultivar/line RRR-ICGU 88709 in a soil arthropod pests management trial. The trial included four treatments, i.e. chlorpyrifos (Dursban™) insecticide as a standard, three levels of granulated sugar as baits, and an untreated control. Soil arthropod pests observed in peanut plots during both years from the two locations were white grubs, millipedes, symphilids, termites, earwigs, and red ants while predators included centipedes and black ants. Termites and red ants were the predominant arthropod pests and predatory black ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) exceeded that of centipedes (Myriapoda: Chilopoda) in the two trial locations. The proportion of unfilled pods was high in the two locations during both years. Generally, the population of centipedes was lo...

Field efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) for managing soil arthropods and Cercospora leaf spots damage to peanut was studied in Ghana from 2008 to 2010. Treatments consisted of neem kernel water extract (NKWE) and neem kernel powder (NKP) applied separately as soil drench at the rates of 10.5 and 21.0 kg/ha at either planting or pegging. Untreated control and chlorpyrifos treatment at pegging were included as checks. Results showed generally that the neem products at the concentrations tested were efficacious and comparable to chlorpyrifos in lowering populations of soil arthropods and severity of leaf spot diseases, leaf defoliation, and scarified and bored pod damage, resulting in increased pod yield in 2008 and 2009