Develop molecular diagnostic toolsand investigate population genetics of invasive pest insects and theirbiocontrol agents, which are detailed into five sections

This Cooperative Agreement award from the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service provides $202,362 to Cornell University from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. The funding supports development of molecular diagnostic tools and population genetics research on invasive pest insects and their biocontrol agents under the federal Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care grant program (CFDA 10.025).

Specifically, the award will optimize quantitative PCR Taqman assays for gypsy moth, determine loss of flight in hybrid progenies of Asian and European gypsy moths, develop droplet digital PCR assays for rapid identification of khapra beetle, study population genetics of biocontrol agents for spotted lanternfly, and provide additional support for molecular identification of forest and agricultural pests. These activities aim to help protect U.S. agriculture from economically damaging plant and animal pests and diseases in line with the goals of the federal grant program. There are no subawards associated with the funding.

Thisagreement involves (1) optimization of the qpcr taqman assay for gypsymoth, (2) determination of loss of flight in hybrid progenies betweenagm and EGM, (3) development of droplet digital PCR assay for rapididentification of khapra beetle, (4) population genetics of thebiocontrol agents of spotted lanternfly, and (5) additional support formolecular identification of forest and agricultural pests. Gypsy moth, khapra beetle and spotted lanternfly are invasive pests that causesignificant economic and ecological damage to agriculture and naturalresources. The stakeholders for this work are broad. There are nosubagreements.