Regional Tropical Soda Apple Task Force Meeting Summary June 9, 2005 - Tifton, Georgia Opening of meeting at 9:15am. Call for approval of minutes. No comment. Approval of minutes as written. Richard Gaskalla: DE 750 product registration appears to be on track with completion as early as end of June. Dow is ramping up production to meet an anticipated need for product. The herbicide will be made available in the southeastern states first. Efforts will continue to evaluate the product in Florida field trials. Research Update Dr. Jeff Mullahey: Preliminary work is being done on DOW DE 750 herbicide residual soil toxicity in a greenhouse environment. First results suggest a residual of five months in potting soil; next trials will utilize Florida soils for residual activity. Jeff discussed the possibility of mixing DE750 with other herbicides (e.g., 2,4-D) for a broader spectrum of weed control. The optimum time of 750 application is still under study, with the possibility it may be in the fall months. There is no apparent restriction of time of application on pasture and lactating cows. No mowing is required before herbicide application unlike Remedy. The University of Florida has hired two new weed scientists and an agronomist to conduct essential weed research. Dr. Raghavan Charudattan: Reviewed the biology and initial developmental research on Tobacco Mild Green Mosaic Tobamovirus (TMGMV). Proposed name to EPA registration process is SolviNix (Solanum viarum Nix) (nix = to stop). Emphasized that there is no apparent insect vector of the virus; however, there is the possibility of virus movement by contaminated equipment and human contact). Research showed that the biocontrol agent, Gratiana boliviana, when exposed to the virus did not result in infection of TSA plants. It appears the virus does not spread in the field from treated plants to other untreated plants. To date, over 400 nonhost plant species have been tested for susceptibility to TMGMV including many Solanaceae and other ecologically important plants. Most plant species are immune. Tobacco is a systemically susceptible species. Some pepper varieties are susceptible to the virus. Efforts are underway to produce TMGMV at a commercial scale. Tobacco plants are inoculated in the greenhouse and transplanted to the field. One acre of tobacco provides sufficient virus to treat ca. 10,000 acres of TSA. Other research is being directed at the development of a molecular probe for the TMGMV. Future work will be conducted on testing the efficacy of the virus under large scale field conditions through the use of an EPA experimental use permit. Dr. Julio Medal: Presented an update on arthropod biological control research. The tortoise beetle or TSA leaf beetle, Gratiana boliviana, was approved for field release in 2003. Ten Florida counties received beetle populations for a total of 9,000 beetles in 2003-2004. To date, 3,000 beetles have been released in 2005 with an anticipated total release of 50,000 in Florida. A field release of the beetle 15 months ago in Polk Co. now shows a complete absence of TSA with the replacement by grasses and broadleaf plants. Beetle rearing is taking place in Alachua, Collier, Orange, Miami-Dade and Seminole Cos. Currently, the tortoise beetle has been released RTSATF Meeting Minutes June 9, 2005 Page Two in 12 Florida counties. It is considered established in Polk Co. and dispersed ca. 2000 feet from the original site. The beetles tend to stay as long as foliage is present followed by dispersal once the foliage becomes unavailable. Open field tests are planned for the fall in Brazil with three other beetles: Anthonomus terebrans, Metriona elatior and Gratiana graminea. Regulatory Update A MOU was circulated for signature amongst the southeastern states. Some states did sign, some did not and some signed with qualifications added. Comments were made by Mike Evans, Tom Johnson and SC representative regarding holding of cattle, public outreach and issues associated with eradication of TSA from their states. Budgetary Discussion on dispensation of $350,000 being provided by USDA/APHIS/PPQ for TSA. The task force has proposed allocating the funds as follows: $75,000 for continued research on TMGMV (Dr. Charudattan) $112,500 for continued research on field performance of candidate herbicide and multi- state field demonstration and public outreach (field days, web site and other media) of all control tools (biological control, herbicide) (Dr. Jeff Mullahey as lead scientist) $75,000 for TSA projects with emphasis on educational outreach to landowners in Georgia $87,500 for TSA projects with emphasis on educational outreach to landowners in Alabama There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:30pm. The next meeting will be in the form of a TSA research field day in October 2005, possibly in the Florida panhandle area. .