Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
|
CPHST Lab, Mission, Texas |
|
 | |
 |
Location: Edinburg, TX |
The main Mission Lab building was constructed in the early 1980’s. The
first two projects at the laboratory involved the biological control of
citrus whitefly and silverleaf nightshade. Numerous other insect and weed
biocontrol projects followed during the 1980’s and 1990’s, including leafy
spurge, diffuse and spotted knapweed, Russian wheat aphid, Colorado potato
beetle, purple loosestrife, boll weevil, and silverleaf whitefly.
Historically, the Mission Lab has served as a facility that mass-reared
beneficial insects for biological control of arthropod and weed plant
pests. The laboratory has participated in a number of large-scale national
domestic programs as well as smaller projects that are limited in scope or
regional in nature.
Within the past 6 years, the Mission Lab
transitioned from large mass-rearing projects for biological control
towards other control strategies in domestic and emergency programs
including offshore pest safeguarding initiatives. Emphasis is placed on
molecular diagnostics for arthropods and invertebrate pests; remote
sensing/global information systems; epidemiology of certain plant diseases
such as citrus canker, fruit fly trapping, sterile insect technique (SIT)
support, and integrated pest management of offshore pest problems. Even
with all these changes, the laboratory still has a very experienced cadre
of biological control scientists with extensive expertise and
accomplishments in weed and arthropod biological control.
The
Mission Lab is well equipped as an entomology and plant pathology
laboratory with emphasis on biological control, integrated pest
management, fruit fly SIT support and epidemiology of citrus diseases. The
molecular diagnostics unit is specifically focused on the development of
molecular diagnostic tests for arthropods including fruit flies and other
invertebrate pests such as gastropods. Our genetics facility is equipped
with basic equipment for performing general molecular experiments,
including four ultra-cold freezers for reagent and specimen storage. For
PCR method development, we have eight standard PCR machines, two gradient
PCR machines, and three Smart Cyclers (Cepheid) for Real-time PCR. In
addition, we have two CEQ8000 instruments (Beckman Coulter) for analysis
of DNA fragments and sequencing, one 7900HT ABI instrument (Applied
Biosystems) for high throughput real-time PCR, one ND-1000
spectrophotometer (NanoDrop) for estimating DNA concentrations, and one
Fluor-S MultiImager (Bio-Rad) for documenting results.
Our staff at
the Mission Lab includes thirteen scientists, eighteen technicians and two
administrative support staff. The Mission Lab is located at the Moorefield
Air Base in Edinburg, TX and comprises seven permanent buildings including
the main laboratory with environmental growth chambers and molecular
genetics lab. Seven permanent greenhouses are attached to the main
building. Surrounding buildings include an arthropod quarantine facility
including quarantine greenhouse space, a fruit fly quarantine building in
support of fruit fly SIT activities, an entomology field lab/genetics lab,
and a SIT support. Other supporting structures include poly greenhouses, a
shade house and a field insectary.
Recent
Accomplishments
- Utilized a molecular fingerprinting technique (ISSR-PCR) to assess the genetic variation in geographic populations of the Mexican fruit fly.
- Determined the efficacy of nine commercial molluscicide formulations against the Cuban slug (Veronicella cubensis) in Rota (Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands).
- Developed a DNA-based method to identify immature LBAM in California
- Developed a DNA-based method to identify species of arionid slugs
- Developed dispersion patterns and sampling plans for Asian citrus psyllid in south Texas.
- Completed epidemiology field studies of cankered citrus fruit and asymptomatic fruit.