3rd UF Water Institute Symposium Abstract

Submitter's Name	Kenneth Gioeli
Session Name	Posters - Nutrient dynamics and enrichment impacts in aquatic ecosystems 2
Category	Nutrient dynamics and enrichment impacts in aquatic ecosystems
Poster Number	40
Author(s)	Kenneth Gioeli,  UF/IFAS St. Lucie County Extension (Presenting Author)
	Stacia Hetrick,  UF/IFAS Osceola County Extension
	Joan Bradshaw, UF/IFAS Citrus County Extension
	James Cuda, UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department
	William Overholt, UF/IFAS Indian River REC
	Hydrilla IPM RAMP- Starting a Statewide Project
	Hydrilla verticillata (a.k.a. hydrilla) is an invasive freshwater plant common in Florida. If left unmanaged, hydrilla is capable of creating damaging infestations. In addition, hydrilla is showing resistance to fluridone, a systemic herbicide used to manage it for the past 20 years. A team of research faculty is studying methods as part of an overall hydrilla integrated pest management (IPM) plan. Extension faculty will be transferring these new IPM tactics to clientele groups throughout Florida. Thanks to a new 4-year grant from the USDA NIFA UF / IFAS research and extension faculty, FAMU faculty and an ARMY Corps Engineer are tackling the hydrilla problem head-on. The central hypothesis of this project involves integrating herbivory by a naturalized meristem mining midge Cricotopus lebetis Sublette (Diptera: Chironomidae) with the native fungal pathogen Mycoleptodiscus terrestris and low doses of a new acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicide (imazamox) as a viable strategy for long-term sustainable management of hydrilla. This project is in the initial stages of research and will be available for technology transfer in 2012 – 2014. An extension advisory committee has been organized and development of extension deliverables has begun. This IPM strategy expected to be used in Florida watersheds and in other locations in the US where the resistant biotypes are expected to become established. By building a strong extension foundation we hope to deliver research results in a rapidly deployable manner that is accessible to our clientele group.