Diane G Alston

Lab:                   BNR 210
Lab Phone:        797-0054

RESEARCH

My extension and research interests are integrated pest management and development and validation of biorational technologies for key horticultural pests on tree fruits, vegetables, and woody ornamentals. I am especially interested in learning about the mechanisms behind host plant-pest and pest-pest interactions. Current research projects in my lab include biological control of plum curculio with entomopathogenic nematodes; manipulations of orchard habitat diversity through ground cover management; discovery of mechanisms involved in an interaction between two orchard pests, spider mites and powdery mildew; onion thrips local-scale ecology and management; and evaluation of new tree fruit IPM technologies.

Currently Funded Research Projects

"Cultural management of onion thrips and iris yellow spot virus", USDA CSREES Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE), 2008-2011
"Delivery of effective entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes for managing plum curculio in orchards", Michigan Project GREEEN, 2008
"Codling moth monitoring in mating disrupted apple orchards: development of trap thresholds", USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant and Utah State Horticultural Association, 2008
"Critical development and delivery of reduced risk and organophosphate-alternative pest management options to U.S. tart cherry producers", USDA CSREES Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP), 2007-2010
"Development and demonstration of tree fruit IPM technologies at the USU Kaysville Research Farm", Utah Agricultural Experiment Station (UAES), on-going
"Onion thrips monitoring, management, and life stage survival strategies", Utah Agricultural Experiment Station (UAES), 2004-2008
"Utah IPM Program", USDA CSREES Smith-Lever 3 (d) formula funds, on-going

Extension

I serve as the Utah Extension Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator. This program aims to increase the implementation of IPM on Utah lands (agriculture, homeowner, landscape ornamental, and public range and forest lands). The Utah Extension IPM program involves multiple faculty from multiple departments on the university campus and over 12 counties in the state. Examples of Extension IPM projects include a tree fruit pest (arthropod and disease) advisory system, IPM web site, production of educational materials (fact sheets, slide presentations), IPM mini-grants, and collaborations with state pesticide programs. The Utah Extension IPM efforts are directed at providing current IPM information to county staff and researching and demonstrating new IPM technologies for state clientele.

Teaching

Co-instruct Applied Entomology (Biol 4500) - Spring semester

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

Kim, H. G. and D. G. Alston. 2008. Potential of two entomopathogenic nematodes for suppression of plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) life stages in northern climates. Environmental Entomology 37: 1272-1279.

Rangel D.E.N., Alston D.G., and Roberts D.W. . 2008. Effects of physical and nutritional stress conditions during culture on conidial germination speed, adhesion to host cuticle, and virulence of Metarhizium anisopliae, an entomopathogenic fungus. Mycological Research doi: 10.1016.

Tepedino, V. J., D. G. Alston, B. A. Bradley**, T. R. Toler, and T. L. Griswold. 2007. Orchard pollination in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, U.S.A. Honeybees or native bees? . Biodiversity and Conservation DOI 10.1007/s10531-007-9164-8 (12 pp.).

Alston, D. G., V. J. Tepedino, B. A. Bradley, T. R. Toler, T. L. Griswold, and S. M. Messinger. 2007. Effects of the insecticide phosmet on solitary bee foraging and nesting in orchards of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah . Environmental Entomology 36 (4): 811-816.

Yee, W. L. and D. G. Alston. 2006. Effects of spinosad, spinosad bait, and chloronicotinyl insecticides on mortality and control of adult and larval western cherry fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 99 (5): 1722-1732.

Alston, D. G., D. E. N. Rangel, L. A. Lacey, H. G. Golez, J. J. Kim, and D. W. Roberts. 2005. Evaulation of novel fungal and nematode isolates for control of Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae. Biological Control 35: 163-171.

Alston, D. G. and S. V. Thomson. 2004. Effects of fungicide residues on the survival, fecundity and predation of the mites Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Galendromus occidentalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) . Journal of Economic Entomology 97 (3): 950-956.

Alston, D.G., B. S. Sipes, J. Uchida, C. L. Chia, and D. P. Schmitt. 2003. Inter-cycle cover crops for management of plant parasitic nematodes and root-rotting organisms in papaya. International Journal of Nematology 13: 163-172.

Alston, D. G., B. S. Sipes, J. Uchida, D. P. Schmitt, and C. L. Chia. 2003. Interactive effects of Rotylenchulus reniformis and Phytophthora palmivora on papaya (Carica papaya L.) survival and growth in greenhouses. Nematropica 33: 69-81.

Reding, M. E., D. G. Alston, S. V. Thomson, and A. V. Stark. 2001. Association of powdery mildew and spider mite populations in apple and cherry orchards. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 84: 177-186.

Olsen, S., D. Drost, W. Bitner, J. Barnhill, and D. Alston.1999. Corn earworm IPM educational program in Utah . Journal of Extension 37(5) (5 pages). .

Martin-R, M., J.R. Cox, F. Ibarra-F, D.G. Alston, R.E. Banner, and J.C. Malechek. 1999. Spittlebug and buffelgrass responses to summer fires in Mexico. Journal of Range Management 52: 621-625.

Alston, D. G. and M. E. Reding. 1998. Factors influencing adoption and educational outreach of integrated pest management . Journal of Extension 36(3) (6 pages).

Martin-R, M., F. Ibarra-F., J. R. Cox, D. G. Alston, and G. A. Rasmussen. 1996. Fire effects on spittlebug populations on buffelgrass pastures in the Sonoran Desert. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RM-GTR-289: 169-174.

Leuszler, H. K., V. J. Tepedino, and D. G. Alston. 1996. The reproductive biology of purple coneflower in southwestern North Dakota. Prairie Naturalist 28(2): 91-102.

Martin, R. M., J. R. Cox, D. G. Alston, and F. Ibarra F.1995. Spittlebug (Homoptera: Cercopidae) life cycle on buffelgrass in northwestern Mexico. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 88: 471-478.

Peach, M. L., D. G. Alston, and V. J. Tepedino. 1995. Sublethal effects of carbaryl bran bait on nesting performance, parental investment, and offspring size and sex ratio of thealfalfa leafcutting bee (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Environmental Entomology 24: 34-39.

Peach, M. L., D. G. Alston, and V. J. Tepedino. 1994. Bees and bran bait: is carbaryl bran bait lethal to alfalfa leafcutting bee (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) adults or larvae?Journal of Economic Entomology 87: 311-317.

Alston, D. G.1994. Effect of apple orchard floor vegetation on density and dispersal. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 50: 73-84.