RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Mr. MCHUGH. What developments have occurred in the Africanized honey bee program during the past 12 months? Dr. PLOWMAN. During the past 12 months, ARS scientists have initiated research on managing European honey bees in areas of Africanization for certification purposes, have documented changes in feral honey bee population dynamics as Africanized honey bees extend their range, and have initiated a field trial to evaluate methods for destroying feral Africanized honey bee swarms in high use recreational areas. In addition, several potential honey bee repellents are being evaluated for personal protection and a new, more rapid and accurate Africanized honey bee identification procedure has been developed. Studies in Argentina have proven that there are clear zones of hybridization between European and Africanized honey bees from tropical to temperate areas. Mr. MCHUGH. When will the new Weslaco bee lab be completed, and what research will be carried on there? Dr. PLOWMAN. The Weslaco bee lab will be completed in July 1993. Research emphasis at the Honey Bee Laboratory, Weslaco, Texas, will focus on management of Africanized honey bees, including monitoring their spread and population changes, reducing the impact of Africanized honey bees on pollination of fruit and vegetable crops, and developing means of personal protection from massive stinging attacks. In addition, research will emphasize developing the means of controlling tracheal mites with natural products such as menthol and formic acid. ACARINE MITE Mr. MCHUGH. Please describe for the Committee the work you are doing in connection with the acarine mite. Dr. PLOWMAN. Research on the acarine mite continues to focus on selecting honey bee strains that are tolerant of acarine mite infestations. A strain of honey bees imported by ARS from England is nearing the final stages of evaluation for tolerance to acarine mites and is being evaluated by beekeeping industry cooperators in different geographical areas. In addition, the focus continues on characterizing the impact of acarine mites and their microbe associates and on determining the potential role of the mites in the transmission of honey bee diseases. Research is also conducted to develop both synthetic and natural plant product medications for acarine mite prevention and control. Mr. McHUGH. Please provide for the record the funding and staff for acarine mite research for fiscal years 1991, 1992 and 1993. Dr. PLOWMAN. The funding for acarine mite research was $933,000 in 1991, and will be $1,058,400 in 1992 and 1993, with 2.3 SY's each year. VARROA MITE Mr. McHUGH. Please describe for the Committee the work you are doing in connection with the varroa mite. Dr. PLOWMAN. ARS research scientists continue to evaluate the effectiveness of different honey bee strains for their tolerance to Varroa mite infestation. A honey bee strain imported by ARS from Yugoslavia has shown sufficient promise to be released to the beekeeping industry in the near future. Research that employes genetic engineering technologies to develop new honey bee strains resistant to Varroa mites continues to be a high priority effort. Mr. MCHUGH. Please provide for the record the funding and staff for varroa mite research for fiscal years 1991, 1992 and 1993. Dr. PLOWMAN. The funding for varroa mite research was $489,900 in 1991, and will be $457,500 in 1992 and 1993 and 1.4 SY's each year. ACID RAIN Mr. MCHUGH. Please describe for the Committee the work you are doing in connection with research on acid rain. Dr. PLOWMAN. ARS research on acid rain includes experimental studies of simulated acid rain on soil microbial populations, as well as theoretical studies as part of our hydrology and wind erosion research programs to help predict how dust from agricultural lands might affect the severity of acid rain at downwind locations. Several ARS locations also participate as monitoring sites for the National Acid Deposition Program. So far, research results show that acid rain is a far greater threat to lakes and forests than it is to cropland. Mr. MCHUGH. Please provide for the record the funding and staff for acid rain research for fiscal years 1991, 1992 and 1993, by location. Dr. PLOWMAN. The funding for acid rain research at Raleigh, NC, was $401,000 in 1991, and will be $414,000 in 1992 and 1993 and 1.0 SY's each year. BLUEBERRY/CRANBERRY RESEARCH Mr. MCHUGH. Please describe for the record the work you are doing in connection with blueberries and cranberries by location. [The information follows:] A description of blueberry and cranberry research is provided in the following table: Location Description of blueberry research Booneville, AR Orlando, FL.... Evaluation of existing varieties for adaptation to South-Central production areas and cultural studies. Beltsville, MD Germplasm evaluation, variety development, root adaptation to upland pH-neutral soils, bud dormancy, and in vitro culture of endomycorrhyze. Poplarville, MS.. Breeding, field testing, and introduction of new varieties adapted to Gulf States; cultural studies; and disease control. Chatsworth, NJ. Lane, OK.. Kearneysville, WV Genetics and breeding of new improved varieties and pest control. Biocontrol of disease and epidemiology of diseases. Postharvest practices to reduce disease losses and increase marketability. Aquaculture linked hydroponic cropping systems. Mr. MCHUGH. By location, what is the funding and staff for blueberry/cranberry research for fiscal years 1991, 1992 and 1993? [The information follows:] The funding and staff for blueberry/cranberry research for fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993 is shown in the following table: Mr. McHUGH. Please describe for the record the work you are doing in connection with the Russian wheat aphid, by location. [The information follows:] The research on Russian wheat aphid by location is as follows: Beltsville, Maryland: Develop predictive classification for the identification and control of aphids. The Beltsville laboratory is also participating in an International program for the control of wheat aphids. Brookings, South Dakota: Assess the effect of stress caused by aphid cereal feeding on quality of cereal plants. Columbia, Missouri: Genetically characterize parasitoids of the wheat aphid Diuraphis noxia. Ithaca, New York: Conduct studies using fungal insect pathogens for the control of aphids. Manhattan, Kansas: Develop wheat resistant populations to aphids through genetic manipulation. Montpellier, France: Discover, collect and determine usefulness of parasites, predators and pathogens of the Russian wheat aphid from Europe and the Near East. Newark, Delaware: Evaluate predators of Russian wheat aphid under quarantine conditions for potential control of aphids. Stillwater, Oklahoma: Identify and characterize genotypes in cultivated and related wheat and barley species that are resistant to Russian wheat aphid. Develop and release cereal germplasm resistant to Russian wheat aphid. Receive, rear, release and evaluate natural enemies of the Russian wheat aphid for the control of this insect pest. Mr. MCHUGH. By location, what is the funding and staff for Russian wheat aphid research for fiscal years 1991, 1992 and 1993? [The information follows:] BARLEY YELLOW DWARF VIRUS Mr. McHUGH. Please describe for the Committee the work you are doing in connection with barley yellow dwarf virus, by location. Dr. PLOWMAN. The ARS barley yellow dwarf virus research program consists of 4.5 SY funded at $990,200 for fiscal year 1992. The goal of this research is to develop and transfer to cereal crop producers technology to prevent or reduce economic losses due to BYD virus. This will be achieved by development of crop germplasm lines and new varieties with improved BYD virus infection immunity, resistance, or tolerance. In addition, there will be development of cultural production systems based on BYD virus-resistant or tolerant crop varieties and suppression of BYD virus insect vector populations. The BYD virus research at Albany, California, is directed toward the transfer of plant genes that specifically confer resistance or tolerance to BYD virus and/or to the insect vectors of the virus into agronomically useful and acceptable cereal varieties. The purpose of the research at Ithaca, New York, is to obtain data on the viral pathogen, including its structure, reproduction, movement within the host plant and in insect vectors, and biological variability and develop technologies to detect the virus in plants and in insect vectors. The purpose of the research at West Lafayette, Indiana, is to determine which insect species spread the various strains of BYD virus and to obtain information about the biology of the insects, feeding behavior on plants, and migration habits within fields and over long distances. The research at Brookings, South Dakota; University Park, Pennsylvania; and Urbana, Illinois, is directed toward evaluation of plant germplasm for resistance to the virus and several species of insect vectors that feed on cereal crops, development of improved germplasm and new varieties of cereal crops, and development of disease management strategies based on the biology of the disease under natural conditions. The research at Lincoln, Nebraska, is concerned with the development of BYD virus strain detection and identification methods. Mr. McHUGH. By location, what is the funding and staff for barley yellow dwarf virus research for fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993? Mr. McHUGH. Please describe for the Committee the work you are doing in connection with biodegradable plastic, by location. Dr. PLOWMAN. The principal location for ARS work on biodegradable plastic is the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL. The development of cornstarch-based plastics which are totally degradable, is a prime objective. In principle this can be achieved by combining cornstarch with other natural polymer materials. A commercial polymer is available which could be suitable. NCAUR has set up a cooperative research and development agreement with the corporation concerned. Since this industrial partner is renowned in the polymer business with a strong market position worldwide, this will permit an efficient transfer of the technology emerging from the collaboration and marketing of the product. In the polymer engineering unit at NCAUR a machine capable of extruding plastic materials is being used to link starch with other polymers. This extrusion technology is also being used to impart a thermoplastic character to starch and use it to encapsulate chemical pesticides, thus reducing pesticide application rates and so minimizing groundwater pollution. Several major U.S. corporations are interested in this technology and are collaborating with ARS in field-tests. NCAUR is engaged in research on reducing costs of encapsulation. This promising technology is being extended also to starch encapsulation of biopesticides. NCAUR is establishing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Defense, located at Natick, MA, for cooperative research on biodegradable plastic. Public concern about the rates at which starch-based plastics will degrade in the environment, is being addressed by NCAUR scientists. Starch bioplastics are being tested in various natural habitats such as ponds and rivers. From these and other experiments, a measure of "biodegradability" will be established. At the Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, work has begun on chemical derivatives of wheat starch for incorporation into bioplastics. In another project dairy caseins are being exploited to develop films for encasing cut fruit and vegetable surfaces. Work at the Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA, is focused on making biodegradable plastic films from pectins and other natural polymers. Biodegradable films are being developed at the ARS Citrus and Subtropical Fruits Laboratory, Winter Haven, FL, for enrobing citrus to enhance shelf-life. Mr MCHUGH. By location, what is the funding and staff for biodegradable plastic research for fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993? [The information follows:] |