Entomology: Personnel
Entomology Faculty
James W. ToddProfessor Emeritus of Entomology Contact InformationAddress: Department of Entomology Phone: 229-386-3529 |
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One of the yield-reducing components in a complex of environmental stresses on plants is the damage inflicted by insects. But insects also interact with other yield-reducing stresses including plant pathogens, nematodes, and water deficit that reduce plant productivity. Characterization of the effects of these complexes and development of pest management strategies to minimize losses due to them are among our top research priorities. Consequently, a major aspect of my research emphasizes host plant resistance to insects, and in collaboration with plant breeders and scientists in the other pest disciplines, e.g. agronomy and plant pathology, we are developing cultivars with resistance to multiple pests. Spotted wilt disease caused by tomato spotted wilt virus is vectored only by certain thrips species. The disease is important in many agronomic, horticultural and floricultural crops in Georgia. We work collaboratively on the interdisciplinary characterization of virus/vector vector/host relationships as components of disease epidemiology. Research assistantships may be available for prospective students interested in any of the emphasis areas listed above or on other important aspects of peanut pest management.
Selected Publications
Chamberlin, J. R., J. W. Todd, R. J. Beshear, A. K. Culbreath, and J. W. Demski. 1992. Overwintering hosts and wing form of thrips, Frankliniella spp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Georgia: Implications for management of spotted wilt disease. Environ. Entomol. 21(1): 121-128.
Culbreath, A. K., J. W. Todd, J. W. Demski, and J. R. Chamberlin. 1992. Disease progress of spotted wilt in peanut cultivars Florunner and Southern Runner. Phytopathology 82: 766-771.
Chamberlin, J. R., A. K. Culbreath, J. W. Todd, and J. W. Demski. 1993. Detection of tomato spotted wilt virus in tobacco thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) overwintering in harvested peanut fields. J. Econ. Entomol. 86(1): 40-45.
Camann, M. A., A. K. Culbreath, J. Pickering, J. W. Todd, and J. W. Demski. 1995. Spatial and temporal patterns of spotted wilt epidemics in peanut. Phytopathology 85: 879-885.
Yang, G., K. E. Espelie, J. W. Todd, A. K. Culbreath, R. N. Pittman, and J. W. Demski. 1995. Characterization of cuticular lipids from cultivated and wild peanut species and their effect on feeding by fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Peanut Science 22: 49-54