Date of Graduation

8-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Entomology (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Entomology

Advisor/Mentor

Gus Lorenz

Committee Member

Timothy Kring

Second Committee Member

John Adamczyk

Third Committee Member

Jeremy Ross

Keywords

Edamame, Green Stink Bug

Abstract

Edamame are an emerging crop in Arkansas, with 2013 planting estimates at 680 hectares. Although edamame are the same species as conventional soybeans grown in Arkansas, differences in use, maturity, and harvest may require creation and implementation of insect pest management approaches that differ from those used in conventional soybean production systems in order for a quality crop to be produced. Studies were conducted to determine a green stink bug damage-density relationship for edamame. Cages were used to confine green stink bugs on field-planted edamame at densities of 0, 2, 6, or 12 green stink bugs per cage (0, 0.55, 1.64, or 3.28 green stink bug adults per row meter) for 7 days. No differences were found among stink bug densities in terms of damaged pods, average pod weight or yield. Studies were also conducted to evaluate insect abundance in edamame compared to conventional soybeans. Insects were sampled by sweep netting and clipping plants (for thrips) in both conventional soybeans and edamame. Of all insects sampled, only bean leaf beetle, grape colaspis and threecornered alfalfa hoppers occurred at numbers great enough to be analyzed. No differences were detected in numbers of these three insects' densities between conventional soybean and edamame. Although the data collected from these studies were not enough to determine an economic threshold for green stink bug on edamame or to know which species contribute the most to feeding guilds, the studies provided insight on how future tests should be designed to establish economic thresholds on edamame.

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