@article{schoeppner_vann_ackerman_cheek_huseth_2024, title={Evaluation of transplant drench and foliar insecticide applications for wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) management in sweetpotato}, volume={10}, ISSN={["1938-291X"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae216}, DOI={10.1093/jee/toae216}, abstractNote={Abstract The revocation of chlorpyrifos tolerances in 2022 left sweetpotato growers without their most important tool to combat a complex of soil-borne root pests that includes wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Since then, growers have reported increased root damage despite a rapid pivot to pyrethroid-based management systems to replace mechanically incorporated preplant chlorpyrifos broadcast sprays. Our goal was to evaluate the efficacy of alternative insecticide chemistries and application methods to expand the portfolio of management options for wireworms, specifically Conoderus spp. and Melanotus communis (Gyllenhal). We tested (i) insecticidal transplant water drenches and (ii) a foliar spray program targeting adult elaterids. We found that incorporating insecticides into transplant water reduced wireworm damage when compared to untreated transplant water. Our treatments included a recently registered meta-diamide, broflanilide, which represents a promising path to diversify active ingredients and shift away from an overreliance on preplant and post-directed pyrethroid soil sprays. Foliar spray plots had less damage than plots that did not receive foliar sprays. One benefit of adult-focused management is the availability of effective monitoring tools such as sex pheromones and blacklight trapping. Developing a robust adult monitoring program would enable more precise applications of foliar insecticides versus season-long prophylactic soil sprays targeting larvae. Our results demonstrated a significant benefit to both alternative delivery methods. These management alternatives could expand treatment options beyond traditional preplant and post-directed pyrethroid sprays.}, journal={JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY}, author={Schoeppner, Emma and Vann, Matthew and Ackerman, Renee and Cheek, Joseph A. and Huseth, Anders S.}, editor={Beuzelin, JulienEditor}, year={2024}, month={Oct} }
 @article{vann_cheek_machacek_whitley_moody_council_hartley_green_2020, title={First report of cigar tobacco production in western North Carolina}, volume={6}, ISSN={["2374-3832"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20063}, DOI={10.1002/cft2.20063}, abstractNote={Over the last two decades, burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production has declined by 5,300 acres in western North Carolina (North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2005; USDA-NASS, 2019). The loss of burley tobacco has left a void in the agricultural economy. Cigar wrapper tobacco types, such as Pennsylvania seedleaf (PA41) and Connecticut broadleaf, may be suitable replacements for burley because of their overlapping production practices. Cigar tobacco has not been produced in western North Carolina; therefore, knowledge gaps exist regarding its growth habits in the region. The objective of this study was to quantify the days to flower removal, yield, and grade distribution of six cigar tobacco varieties. In 2019, experiments were initiated at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, NC (35.48N, –82.96W) and the Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs, NC (36.39N, –81.30W). Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design replicated four times. Plots consisted of a single row measuring 4 by 33 ft with a planting density of 7,260 plants acre–1. At each location, three PA41 varieties (‘Eshbach’, ‘Grower's Choice’, and ‘Welk's Pride’) and three Connecticut broadleaf varieties (‘B2’, ‘D1’, and ‘PAB’) were compared. Tobacco was transplanted on 31 May in Waynesville and 6 June in Laurel Springs. Plants were deflowered at CORESTA growth stage 65 (CORESTA, 2019), leaving 18 to 20 leaves per plant. Twenty plants per plot were then stalk-cut 2.5 wk later and air-cured according to existing burley recommendations (Swetnam & Bailey, 2019). Once cured, the leaves were stripped from the stalk and classified into wrapper (uniform color and structure, free of holes, >9 inches wide), binder (the same qualities as wrapper but with no more than two holes on one side of the leaf), straight strip (leaf that is not classified as wrapper or binder), or filler grades (small, inconsistent in color, moldy, rotten, or damaged). Data for days to deflowering, yield per acre, and grade distribution were subject to ANOVA via the PROC GLIMMIX procedure (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Within each analysis, replication was considered as a random factor, whereas variety and tobacco type were fixed factors. Treatment means were reported as least square means. Contrast statements were used to compare PA41 and Connecticut broadleaf types. Variety means within each type were separated by Fisher's Protected LSD at P ≤ .05. Figures were created using Sigma Plot (Systat Software, Inc., San Jose, CA). At Waynesville (P < .001) and Laurel Springs (P < .001), PA41 yielded more than Connecticut broadleaf by 684 to 1,164 lb acre–1, depending on the location (Figure 1a). Days to flower removal was also significant at both locations (P < .001), with PA41 varieties requiring 10 to 12 additional days to reach this stage of management (Figure 1b). Cured leaf grades were less consistent, as tobacco type was only significant for wrapper at Waynesville (P = .039) and binder at Laurel Springs (P = .002). The frequency of wrapper grade was extremely low, regardless of the type or location (0.5–5.3%), although PA41 produced more wrapper than Connecticut broadleaf in Waynesville (3.4% vs. 0.5%, respectively) (Figure 1c). Binder grades were more prevalent in Connecticut broadleaf at Laurel Springs (Figure 1d). Designations of straight strip and filler were not influenced by tobacco type at either of the locations (Figure 1e,f). Cured leaf yield and days to flower removal were similar within each tobacco type at Laurel Springs (Table 1). The same observations were made for wrapper, binder, and filler grades (Table 1). Eshbach produced a smaller percentage of straight strip grades relative to Grower's Choice (Table 1); however, straight strip grades were similar within Connecticut broadleaf varieties (Table 1). In contrast, cured leaf yield differed between PA41 and Connecticut broadleaf varieties at the Waynesville location. Within the PA41 varieties, Grower's Choice had a higher yield than Welk's Pride, with Eshbach being intermediate (Table 2). The yield potential of PAB was greater than that of D1 and B2 within the Connecticut broadleaf type (Table 2). Days to flower removal and grade distribution were similar among varieties within each tobacco type at this location (Table 2). Direct comparisons of these tobacco types and varieties have not been reported; therefore, this information is novel and provides useful insights to stakeholders as cigar tobacco is offered as an alternative to burley tobacco. Cigar tobacco production will not occur without substantial change and education. For example, deflowering may occur 2 wk earlier in cigar production, with fewer leaves remaining on the plant relative to burley (12–14 vs. 18–20). Farmers will also have to harvest and handle cigar tobacco much more delicately than burley to reduce physical leaf damage. The adoption of pesticide application programs that are more proactive than what is allowed by current practices will also be required. The failure to produce substantial proportions of wrapper grades in our study is a reflection of having too many leaves per plant, reactive pest control, and aggressive handling. Each of these factors will be addressed in later field studies and shared with farmers at Extension events. In addition, other research agronomists should consider that the current practices used to evaluate burley tobacco trials may not prove suitable for cigar and they should therefore be adapted accordingly. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.}, number={1}, journal={CROP FORAGE & TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Vann, Matthew C. and Cheek, Joseph A. and Machacek, Jeremey L. and Whitley, D. Scott and Moody, Chad and Council, John and Hartley, Michael and Green, Benjamin}, year={2020} }
 @article{cheek_vann_lewis_fisher_2021, title={Genetics influence postharvest measurements of flue-cured tobacco more than nitrogen application rate}, volume={113}, ISSN={["1435-0645"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20565}, DOI={10.1002/agj2.20565}, abstractNote={AbstractRegulations under consideration by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization propose that nicotine concentration in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) should be lowered to non‐addictive levels (0.3 to 0.5 mg g−1). The proposed standards are 90 to 95% lower than the nicotine concentration typically documented in commercially available cultivars. Research was conducted in six environments to evaluate two cultivars with normal alkaloid levels (K326 and NC95) and four genotypes with low alkaloid levels (DH16A, DH22A, DH32, and LAFC53). Each cultivar and genotype was paired with three N application rates: 70, 85, and 100% of the recommended rate. As N application declined, so too did cured leaf yield and nicotine, anabasine, and anatabine concentration in K326 and NC95. These factors were generally not affected by N application in the low alkaloid genotypes. In contrast, LAFC53 consistently produced the lowest cured leaf quality, value, and reducing sugar concentration when compared to all other cultivars. This observation demonstrates that K326 isolines are agronomically superior to LAFC53. Despite reductions in nicotine, the lowest documented concentration was still 10‐fold greater than the proposed minimum (LAFC53). Nitrogen did not influence the measured parameters as much as genetics; therefore, additional research that involves other agronomic practices is warranted. In addition, further genetic manipulation will be required to meet the standards proposed by regulatory groups.}, number={2}, journal={AGRONOMY JOURNAL}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Cheek, Joseph A. and Vann, Matthew C. and Lewis, Ramsey S. and Fisher, Loren R.}, year={2021}, month={Mar}, pages={1020–1028} }
 @article{vann_suchoff_machacek_cheek_whitley_2021, title={Tobacco injury and sucker control efficacy following applications of pelargonic acid}, volume={7}, ISSN={["2374-3832"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.20086}, DOI={10.1002/cft2.20086}, abstractNote={Core Ideas
Low concentrations of pelargonic acid have negligible sucker control efficacy.
Higher concentrations of pelargonic acid are extremely injurious to tobacco.
Pelargonic acid is not a suitable candidate for tobacco sucker control.
}, number={1}, journal={CROP FORAGE & TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Vann, Matthew C. and Suchoff, David H. and Machacek, Jeremy L. and Cheek, Joseph A. and Whitley, D. Scott}, year={2021} }