Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group

Friends of IPM Awards

The mission of the Southern IPM Center is to champion the development and adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), the science of managing pests while protecting people, the environment and economy. Each Regional Center engages broadly with stakeholders to identify and address regional pest priorities in agriculture, communities and natural areas.

Since 2003, the Southern IPM Center (SIPMC) has worked with USDA, Land Grant universities, Extension, and many other partners in promoting and facilitating the development and implementation of IPM in many settings across the region.

Many of these partners have contributed to the region’s well-being for years or even decades.

Pulling Together Award

The Pulling Together Friends of IPM Award is presented to a group that has been successful in any aspect of developing, teaching about, and implementing IPM, and is based on management of a high-priority pest.

Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group (EVCWG)

Led by Dr. Rebecca Melanson, Mississippi State & William (Bill) M Wintermantel, USDA-ARS

The Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group (EVCWG), led by Rebecca Melanson and William Wintermantel, comprises twenty-four university, government, and industry professionals working in cucurbit research, Extension, and outreach. Members of the working group have expertise in cucurbit crops (cucumber, melon, and squash, among others), plant pathology, entomology, and other related disciplines.

Cucurbit viruses are rapidly emerging in cucurbit-producing areas in the United States. These viruses reduce plant vigor, fruit size, and quality, negatively impacting producers and consumers. The EVCWG’s IPM outreach efforts address both cucurbit viruses and their vectors, including aphids and whiteflies.

The Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group seeks to “improve communication and knowledge about viruses across the cucurbit industry and develop strategies to successfully identify and mitigate virus threats to cucurbit production in the United States.”

Since diagnosis is the first step in cucurbit virus management, the EVCWG prioritizes producer and stakeholder education. In a short time, the group has developed numerous educational resources (which are available on their website). The working group has conducted outreach activities that have increased knowledge and awareness of cucurbit viruses, including their symptoms, spread, and management.

In just 18 months, the EVCWG has reached over 4,000 people through presentations, publications, and personal communication. The group has distributed over 100,000 copies of 18 educational postcards to stakeholders. In addition, Focus on Cucurbits, an EVCWG-sponsored webcast, has received over 200 views.

Online and in-person feedback demonstrates that the EVCWG’s educational efforts have significantly impacted the cucurbit stakeholder community. Respondents indicated an increased awareness of cucurbit virus symptoms and an improved ability to identify methods of virus spread in cucurbit crops.

The team’s multi-disciplinary composition of expert academics, government agents, and industry professionals led to high impacts, allowing educational materials to be distributed to stakeholders and producers to increase awareness of cucurbit viruses and their adverse effects. Through presentations and informative resources, the Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group has thoroughly equipped stakeholders to recognize cucurbit production threats and make informed decisions about effective management strategies that can be implemented to limit the effects of cucurbit viruses.

Working Group Members

Members of the Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group are:
Scott Adkins, Florida, USDA-ARS
Gary Vallad, University of Florida
Sudeep Bag, University of Georgia
Cecilia McGregor, University of Georgia
Rajagopalbabu (Babu) Srinivasan, University of Georgia
Rebecca Melanson, Mississippi State University
Anthony Keinath, Clemson University
Chandrasekar (Shaker) Kousik, South Carolina USDA-ARS
Kai-Shu Ling, Missouri, USDA-ARS
Olufemi Alabi, Texas A&M University
Richard Dumkle, American Seed Trade Association
John Palumbo, University of Arizona
Kishor Bhattarai, H.M. Clause
Robert Gilbertson, University of California- Davis
Phyllis Himmel, University of California- Davis
Kerry Mauck, University of California- Riverside
Thomas Turini, University of California
William M. Wintermantel, California USDA-ARS
Bright Agindotan, Maryland, USDA APHIS PPQ
Samantha Thomas, Missouri, Bayer
Cherie Gambley, Australia, Agreco Australia
Aviv Dombrosky, Israel, The Volcani Center
Maria Luisa Gómez-Guillamón, Spain, Spanish Council of Scientific Research

2024 Professional Awardees

IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Gene Reagan* (posthumous award), LSU AgCenter
IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Phillip Kaufman, Texas A&M
IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Brian T. Forschler, University of Georgia
IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Jawwad Qureshi, University of Florida
Pulling Together: Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group
- Led by Dr. Rebecca Melanson, Mississippi State & William (Bill) M Wintermantel, USDA-ARS
IPM Communicator: Mr. Elmer W. Gray, University of Georgia
IPM Educator: Dr. Cameron Jack, University of Florida
IPM Implementer: Mr. Dan Killingsworth, Environmental Security Pest Control
Future Leader: Dr. Tommy Butts, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture