Current Research Interests

                   Stink bugs, three-cornered alfalfa hopper, and a complex of Lepidopteran defoliators (velvet bean caterpillar, soybean looper, and green clover worm) continue to be the main pests currently impacting soybean production in Louisiana.  My research focuses on establishing and maintaining a sustainable soybean IPM program to reduce soybean grower costs and improve yields by utilizing biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to regulate pest populations while minimizing environmental risks.  

Specifically, my current research focuses on:

1) Determining diversity, density and abundance of key soybean pests in surrounding vegetation and field crops 

2) Investigating the effects of global climate change on population dynamics of key soybean pests 

3) Screening soybean germplasm and current soybean varieties for host plant resistance (HPR) to soybean pests 

4) Determining HPR mechanisms via EPG technique  

5) Mapping resistances to soybean pests and using MAS to quickly accelerate development of soybean varieties that pyramid sources of insect and disease resistance 

6) Developing variety specific economic thresholds using HPR, biological control and insecticides 

In addition, I will investigate insect vector-plant pathogen associations that threaten soybean by: 

1) Determining transmission efficiencies of key soybean virus vectors 

2) Studying feeding behavior of stink bugs using EPG in relation to disease transmission 

3) Investigating the efficacy of insecticides in controlling vectors and limiting disease spread 

4) Developing sustainable management protocols for disease vectors

Publications:

Preferred Journals:

• Davis, J. A. and E. B. Radcliffe.  2008.  Reproduction and feeding behavior of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on four cereals.  J. Econ. Entomol. Accepted (in press).

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2008.  Planter skips and impaired stand favors PVY spread in potato.  Pot. Res.  Submitted (in review).

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe, C. A. Thill, and D. W. Ragsdale.  2008.  Resistance to aphids, late blight and viruses in somatic fusions and crosses of Solanum tuberosum L. and Solanum bulbocastanum Dun.  TAG.  Submitted (in review).

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2007.  Resistance to green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), in potato cultivars.  Amer. J. Pot. Res. 84:259-269.

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2006.  Effects of high and fluctuating temperatures on green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).  Environ. Entomol. 35(6):1461-1468.

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2005.  Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, a new vector of Potato virus Y in potato.  Am. J. Potato Res. 82:197-201.

Book Chapters:

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2008.  IPM of seed potato production.  In: E. B. Radcliffe and W. D. Hutchison(eds.), IPM textbook.  Cambridge University Press.  In press.

Published Abstracts:

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2007.  Identifying and mapping resistance to green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), in potato.  Am. J. Potato Res. 84:86-87.

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2006.  Crop borders revisited.  Am. J. Potato Res. 83:107.

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2006.  Identifying resistance to aphids in crosses with somatic fusions of Solanum tuberosum L. and Solanum bulbocastanum Dun.  Am. J. Potato Res. 83:106.

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2004.  A new vector of PVY: soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Matsumura).  Am. J. Potato Res. 81:53-54.

• Naess, S. K., J. M. Bradeen, J. Song, G. T. Haberlach, S. M. Wielgus, J. A. Davis, J. Jiang, and J. P. Helgeson.  2001.  Accelerating the chromosome walk towards late blight resistance with the help of FISH.  Am. J. Potato Res. 78:471.

• Bradeen, J. M., S. K. Naess, S. M. Wielgus, J. A. Davis, G. T. Haberlach, and J.P. Helgeson.  2001.  Cloning late blight resistance from Solanum bulbocastanum.  Am. J. Potato Res. 78:445.

Technical Reports:

• Davis, J. A., and E. B. Radcliffe Control of green peach aphid, PVY and PLRV using foliar applied insecticides.  2007.  Arthropod Management Tests 2006, 31(1 report).

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe, D. W. Ragsdale.  2005.  Arthropod Management Tests 2005, 30 (E58-E61, 4 reports).

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe, D. W. Ragsdale.  2004.  Arthropod Management Tests 2004, 29 (E60-E64, 5 reports).

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe, D. W. Ragsdale.  2003.  Arthropod Management Tests 2003, 28 (E48-E53, 6 reports).

Extension Publications:

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe, D. W. Ragsdale and M. W. Carroll.  2004.  University of Minnesota Dept. of Entomology Potato Research Program 2004 Report.  28pp.

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2003.  University of Minnesota Dept. of Entomology Potato Research Program 2003 Report.  32pp.

• Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale.  2002.  University of Minnesota Dept. of Entomology Potato Research Program 2002 Report.  42pp.

• Davis, J. A.  1999.  A Sustainable Agriculture Handbook for Sus. Ag. Volunteers.  Peace Corps-West Africa.  55pp.