The goal of this multi-state project is to reduce losses from mite-vectored virus diseases (MVVD) of wheat by providing growers with new information and techniques for site-specific IPM. Current recommendations for disease management were developed in the 1960’s, but recent development of cultivars with genetic resistance to the vector and/or pathogen, and improved understanding of vector ecology and epidemiology, create opportunities to develop new IPM approaches. We propose a multi-faceted approach to developing and delivering best IPM educational materials and training programs for this objective. The educational approaches will rely on an understanding of what educational methods can be used for different stakeholders. Some stakeholders are still dependent on traditional Extension methods for obtaining new information, but there are an increasing number of stakeholders embracing newer technologies, such as on-line websites, webinars, web-based applications (e.g., iWheat.org), and other communication methods.
We propose to extend the usefulness of this tool by modifying the current Pest Sampler wizard (http://my.iwheat.org/pest_sampler) to include a subroutine for MVVD. Registered iWheat users will be able to select diseases at the start of wizard (Fig. 1A), which then guides them through questions about the potential diseases present in their field (Fig. 1B). Each sample submitted is georeferenced and data will be shared with authorized iWheat users (researchers, Extension agents) for general reporting purposes. The development of this subroutine in the iWheat Pest Sampler provides real time information of potential disease incidence, which can later be confirmed with a proper assay (e.g., ELISA) in the lab. This addition to iWheat would allow users to see how their samples correspond with the survey data reported in the first sub-objective. The newly developed MVVD subroutine will serve as a template for incorporation of other wheat diseases into iWheat databases in the future.
More info at http://myfields.info/method/wheat-streak-mosaic-virus.