Betsy A. Anderson, USDA/ARS, ATRU, Biological Science Technician, IR-4 Specialist; Michael E. Reding, USDA/ARS, ATRU, Research Entomologist; Michael G. Klein, USDA/ARS, ATRU, Research Entomologist; and Charles R. Krause, USDA/ARS, ATRU, Plant Pathologist.
Each year the Application Technology Research Unit (ATRU), USDA/ARS, in Wooster, receives funding to conduct some 60 IR-4 trials on The Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) campus and in Ohio nurseries.
Selected greenhouse, field, and container-grown ornamental plant projects are conducted on OARDC's Wooster campus. OARDC provides field and greenhouse space and a hoop house in Secrest Arboretum where most of the container tests are performed. Most of the data needed for product registration is for phytotoxicity, but sometimes efficacy data is also required.
For the past two years, we have also conducted insecticide trials in Lake County, Ohio, to collect efficacy data on two non-native insect species that are located in isolated areas of northeastern Ohio.