Conduct methods and developmentresearch in support of the aphis PPQ mexican fruit fly sterile insecttechnique program

This cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will provide $169,944 to support methods and development research for the Mexican Fruit Fly Sterile Insect Technique program. The awardee, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, will conduct quality control testing and bioassays on a backup colony of Mexican fruit flies to improve rearing, irradiation, release, and trapping methods as part of efforts under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care federal grant program (CFDA #10.025). The research aims to develop novel techniques that enhance the program's ability to protect U.S. agriculture from economically damaging plant and animal diseases and pests. The period of performance is September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023.

The program involves rearing MFF, performing qualitycontrol tests in the production cycle, irradiating reared flies, releasing them from an airplane, and trapping flies in citrus groves. The s & t methods and development team conducts bioassays on theirbackup MFF colony to support these program tasks and develop new andnovel methods to improve the program.