DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AGAINST AN EMERGING STEM-BORING PEST OF QUINOA, AMAUROMYZA KARLI (DIPTERA: AGROMYZIDAE)

A stem-boring fly, Amauromyza karli Hendel (Diptera: Agromyzidae) was recently discovered in quinoa and its devastating outbreaks destroyed all quinoa grown in Colorado in 2022. This pest threatens sustainability of this crop and the future of quinoa farming in the U.S. We designed an integrated project that includes research and Extension to ensure rapid adoption of effective management recommendations against this emerging pest. The short-term goal of this project is to aid quinoa producers in managing A. karli using integrated approaches, and to cooperate with stakeholders to facilitate dissemination of research-supported management recommendations that are effective, feasible for growers, sustainable, and ecologically sound. The long-term goal is to support profitable quinoa farming while protecting the environment and facilitate increased production of this climate-resilient crop well-adapted to our increasingly hotter and drier weather patterns. These goals will be accomplished through the following objectives:Objective 1: Determine life history traits ofA. karlirelevant to its managementEstablish peak activity of the flies in the field to inform management tactics such as planting date modifications and timing of biological and chemical controlIdentify non-crop hosts ofA. karliin the field to inform weed management strategies focused on eliminating alternative hosts in vicinity of quinoaObjective 2: Evaluate integrated pest management tactics to suppressA. karliin quinoaExplore host plant resistance againstA. karliamong existing quinoa varietiesTest the effectiveness of endophytic fungi as effective biocontrol forA. karliQuantify the impact of systemic insecticides on suppressingA. karlipopulations in the fieldObjective 3: Develop outreach and education programming to increase awareness ofA. karliand its management strategies among quinoa growers, industry agronomists, crop consultants, diagnostic labs, researchers, and other stakeholders.