2022
Tracking the Severity, Frequency, and Hosts of Soybean Gall Midge
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Justin McMechan, University of Nebraska
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
712
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

In late June 2018, entomologists in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota began receiving reports of soybean fields with visible signs of dead or dying plants that were found to be associated with soybean gall midge. The presence and injury from soybean gall midge were most significant in fields adjacent to a field that was soybean the previous year. Since its discovery and designation as a new species in 2019, soybean gall midge has expanded its range in eastern Nebraska from 24 counties in 2018 to 39 total counties as of 2020, with continued expansion west each year. Of the newly infested counties in 2020, all showed low larval presence and no significant signs of wilting or dead...

Unique Keywords:
#breeding & genetics
Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Each year of the project will have a similar milestone, with collections beginning in mid-July and ending in late August. Within seven days of the last collection, all larval counts on samples would be completed. This portion of the project would allow for the development and release of maps with areas of significant pressure to be used by extension, industry, and farmers. During the winter, sequencing of samples would provide continued detailed information on the proper identification of soybean gall midge. Information at each site on the frequency of soybean, weather, and other parameters would be added to determine what potential factors contribute to field injury from soybean gall midge.

Resulting data from this project would be presented at a number of Nebraska outreach extension efforts such as Soybean Management Field Days (approx. 400 attendees), Nebraska Crop Management Conference (approx. 300 attendees), Midwest Crop Production Clinic (50 attendees), Crop Production Clinics (1,400 attendees), and Nebraska Soybean Expo (300 attendees). Updates on research progress would be presented through Blackboard Connect Alert System, soybeangallmidge.org, Twitter, Market Journal interviews, and UNL Cropwatch articles. We would expect that at least one peer-reviewed publications will result from this work.

Final Project Results

Updated May 26, 2023:

View uploaded report PDF file

This field survey significantly impacts the understanding of high risk areas for soybean gall midge presence and an increased likelihood of plant injury. By better understanding the factors that impact soybean gall midge we can inform clientele of high pressure areas. Continued sampling through this multi-year project will help isolate and identify areas where management tactics could be used.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.