Project Overview
Prioritize Integrated Pest Management Needs for the Pest Management Strategic Plan for Crapemyrtle in the Southern Region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas)
Commodities
- Additional Plants: ornamentals
Target Pests
Practices
Proposal abstract:
The proposal addresses the absence of a comprehensive Crop Profile (CP) and Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP) for crapemyrtle in the southern region of the United States. Crapemyrtle is widely cultivated in the Southeast and faces challenges, including invasive pests such as crapemyrtle bark scale. The lack of standardized guidelines hinders effective maintenance and pest management practices.
The proposal involves a collaborative effort between Texas A&M University and representatives from multiple states involved in crapemyrtle production. The team aims to develop individual CPs for different states and a generalized PMSP for all participating states. These documents will provide up-to-date information and research priorities. The team will gather information from existing resources and incorporate past research findings on crapemyrtle bark scale. A hybrid workshop will be conducted, allowing researchers, specialists, growers, and stakeholders to identify priorities, discuss pest management strategies, and update production information.
The project’s impact is multifaceted. The developed CP and PMSP will serve as vital resources for government agencies, growers, consultants, and researchers. They will enhance understanding, facilitate effective communication, and support informed decision-making in the industry. The CPs will outline current production practices and concerns for crapemyrtle production in the respective regions. The PMSP will document the latest research on pest management practices for crapemyrtle production and the priorities for research, regulatory activity, and educational programs.
