Plant-herbivore interactions in row crops
Study systems: Rice, Sorghum, and Soybean
Herbivores: Fall Army Worm, Soybean looper, Green Peach Aphid, and Sugarcane Aphid
Plant Secondary Metabolites and Herbivory
illustrations by Annette Diaz
Role of polyphenols in plant-insect interactions and plant defenses including their structure, induction, regulation, and their anti-feeding and toxicity effects
Systems approach in Integrated Pest Management (USDA-NRCS Project)
This project focuses on the long-term implementation and evaluation of cover crops and improved tillage practices in degraded, subtropical soils on arid, water-limited farms, and examines their effects on arthropod community dynamics including herbivore and beneficial insects and their turnover across seasons and years.
300+ acres in Lower Rio Grande Valley
MS Projects Completed (Thesis)
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1. Jasleen Kaur: Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth and herbivore defenses in Sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum x drummondii).
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2. Lili Martinez: Examining the Efficacy of Cover Crops as an Integrated Pest Management tool in Organic Farms of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
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4. Jesus Chavana: Disturbance, Defense And Fitness In Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) In Their Native Range In South Texas.
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5. Sukhman Singh: Effects of Plant Secondary Metabolites and Host Specificity on Growth, Development, and Oviposition of Lepidopteran Herbivores
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6. Ishveen Kaur: Variation in trichome types and density mediates plant-herbivore interactions in two Cucurbitaceae members
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7. Zachary Johnson: Physical and Chemical Defense Mechanisms in Aloe barbadensis Against Insect Herbivores
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8. Sakshi Watts: Morphological characterization and functional assessment of trichomes in Solanaceae
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9. Alejandro Vasquez: Effects of disturbance (mowing) on florivory and herbivore defenses In Solanum elaeagnifolium, a noxious and worldwide invasive weed
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10. Satinderpal Kaur: Functional consequences of intraspecific trichome variation in tomato cultivars
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11. Adegboyega Fajemisin: Cascading effects of cover crops on arthropod community dynamics
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12. Nischal Wagle:Effects of Biochar on pupation success and pupal traits in 2 herbivores
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13: Neetu Khanal (co-advised):Examining how LRGV ecotypes of sugarcane aphid differentially affect sorghum defenses
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14. Samikshya Subedi (co-advised):Identifying potential biocontrol agents of Silverleaf nightshade in LRGV
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