b'largely in the red when it comes to neonics and diamides, which may be a harbingersusceptible less susceptible resistantfor Quebec. 100%The problem is as much the lack of1Proportions of CPB populations / categorychemical rotation as it is how fast the beetle2 3 4 3 3 1adapts. Within two seasons, research has80% 1shown that beetles are able to adapt to new2 2environments and products. 60% 5 2 10 2Pressure from the Colorado Potato1 5Beetle is not a problem that will go away,40% 7 2says Moffat. We have to make the best use4 4 3 3of the tools we have at hand, and we want20% 2to help growers do just that. 1 11Real Time Monitoring and Molecular0%Testing MB ON QC NB PEI MB ON QC NB PEI MB ON QC NB PEILike all things in this day and age,neonicotinoids spinosyns diamideseveryone demands instant gratification. The same is true of potato growers and2020 insecticide resistance data for populations of Colorado potato beetle tested by AAFC. In a normal survey year, more than 25 populations are tested. Due to COVID-19, a reduced boy would they benefit from it. Moffat andnumber of populations were tested. Scotts research is now extending itselfDATA COURTESY OF CHANDRA MOFFATout into real-time data, which farmers can see through a desktop computer or on a smartphone app, currently in development.used as indicators of the resistance, The interactive map of Canada showsexplains Scott. We are hoping to repeatCOLORADO POTATO specific growing zones along with thecollections where they saw resistance inBEETLE RESEARCH traffic light system of what beetle pressurethe past to confirm that there is a consistentPROJECT BREAK DOWNhas been like in that area as well as whatincrease in these genetic signatures.chemistries have been recently used.If the genetics show continual changeThe scientific team for this That will inform them if the beetles arefrom the same growing region, its aresearch project is AAFC resistant to neonics in a number of localgood indication resistance is building,research scientists Chandra populations, says Scott.and susceptibility is failing. Thats veryMoffat, Ian Scott, Jess Vickruck To date, more than 30 farmers who faceimportant to know. To detect this, it usedand Cam Donly, AAFC GIS and consistent beetle pressure have partneredto be a yearly process. Researchers wouldmapping specialist Sheldon with the researchers to be representativestest the beetles in a lab, process results andHann and professor Pier Morin for a specific region.eventually get results to growers post- at Universit de Moncton. There The ultimate goal is to have the tool beharvest. For many, that was simply tooare several project partners from a real-time aid for farmers as they makelate as insurmountable losses already toldpotato growing regions across agronomic decisions both pre-planting asfarmers what they needed to know.Canada. well as in-season. The hope is now this molecular testing, Beyond monitoring, work is also beingco-led by molecular biologists Cam DonlyThe project began April 1, 2018, done to test the molecular structures of(AAFC) and Pier Morin (Universit deand runs to March 31, 2023. beetles, to see what genes inside themMoncton), could be a new tool available toIts funded annually by the may be evolving season to season as itfarmers mid-season so they can adjust theirCanadian Agri-Science Cluster adapts and develops resistance to certainproduct of control, if resistance is present.for Horticulture 3, in co-operation insecticides. By understanding whichSo many other studies look atwith AAFCs AgriScience beetle populations are changing, and atpopulations once theyre resistant, saysProgram, a Canadian Agricultural what rate, researchers will have anotherMoffat. We want to see fingerprints ofPartnership initiative, the detection tool, this time micro-RNA, whichresistance developing so there could be aCanadian Horticultural Council can be used as an early resistance marker. tool to see it change in real time. For theirand industry contributors.Over the last three years, we found thatdream to come to fruition for farmers, it a number of genes could be potentiallymeans a few more years of work in the lab. SPUDSMART.COM Summer 202133'