Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Insects are declining in abundance and species richness, globally. This has broad implications for the ecology of our planet, many of which we are only beginning to understand. Comprehensive, large-scale efforts are urgently needed to quantify and mitigate insect biodiversity loss. Because there is broad interest in this topic from a range of scientists, policymakers, and the general public, we posit that such endeavors will be most effective with precise and standardized terms. The Entomological Society of America is the world's largest association of professional entomologists and is ideally positioned to lead the way on this front. We provide here a glossary of definitions for biodiversity loss terminology. This can be used to enhance and clarify communication among entomologists and others with an interest in addressing the multiple overlapping research, policy, and outreach challenges surrounding this urgent issue.

BPT Rice 2841 is a black rice variety developed through a three-way cross involving MTU 7029 (Swarna), IRGC 18,195 and MTU 1081. BPT Rice 2841 is a high-yielding, non-lodging, semi-dwarf black rice variety suitable for the Kharif season in the Krishna Zone of Andhra Pradesh, Unlike other glutinous black rice varieties, BPT Rice 2841 has an intermediate amylose content of 23.4% and an alkali spreading value of 4.5, ensuring its grains cook to a soft and flaky consistency, suitable for raw rice and can be included in daily diet consumption. Its black pericarp endows it with potent antioxidant activity (110.5 mgAAE/100 g) and a flavonoid content of 582.6 mgQE/100 g, contributing to neutralizing free radicals and bolstering human immunity. Furthermore, it registered a 36.75% slowly digestible starch content and a glycemic index of 62.5, categorized as medium GI. Notably, the unpolished BPT 2841 rice contains 24.3 ppm of zinc, 15.6 ppm of iron, and 11.2% protein, making it nutritionally superior to white rice and aiding in addressing malnutrition concerns. The textural properties of BPT 2841, characterized by lower stickiness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and hardness, make it highly suitable for raw rice with consumer acceptance.

Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) is an economically important broadleaf weed that threatens corn and soybean production across the United States. A waterhemp biotype (CT_Res [resistant biotype from Connecticut]) surviving multiple glyphosate applications was identified from a corn field in Connecticut (CT). Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to (1) confirm glyphosate resistance in CT_Res waterhemp biotype and (2) investigate if the glyphosate resistance in CT_Res biotype is due to target‐site‐based mechanism. Dose‐response studies indicated that CT_Res biotype was 5.8‐fold more resistant to glyphosate compared to a known susceptible biotype (NE_Sus) from Nebraska. No point mutation was detected at Pro102 or Thr106 positions in the EPSPS gene of the CT_Res biotype. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays revealed that one of the three CT_Res waterhemp plants had 3.5‐fold higher EPSPS gene copy number (relative to the housekeeping CPS gene), whereas the other two plants did not reveal EPSPS gene amplification. Obviously, the EPSPS gene amplification partially explains glyphosate resistance in newly identified glyphosate‐resistant waterhemp biotype from CT, indicating that alternative mechanisms might exist. This research reports the first case of glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification in waterhemp from Connecticut and highlights the need for adoption of diversified weed control strategies to prevent its further spread.

Anaplasmosis is a vector-borne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum and is vectored by Ixodes scapularis ticks primarily in the northeastern United States. The Connecticut Department of Public Health designated anaplasmosis a state-wide reportable disease in 2008 and a large increase in cases was witnessed in Connecticut between 2014 and 2019. This study used clinical cases of anaplasmosis reported to the Connecticut Department of Public Health and A. phagocytophilum prevalence data in questing I. scapularis to understand emerging geographic disease hotspots and evaluate potential association between human and I. scapularis infections. Human incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 people by county. I. scapularis infection prevalence was calculated as an acarological risk index using active tick surveillance data from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. The potential association between incidence rates and acarological risk index was analyzed using Spearman Rank correlation. From 2019 to 2020, 420 human cases of anaplasmosis were reported and 148 A. phagocytophilum-infected I. scapularis were identified in Connecticut and a significant positive correlation was identified between acarological risk index and incidence rates. Active tick surveillance is a helpful tool for identifying geographic areas with increased risk of anaplasmosis and can be useful in guiding public health interventions to prevent cases before they occur while also identifying potential locations where underreporting may occur.

Synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) from plant material is a sustainable alternative to chemical synthesis. Manganese-based NPs were synthesized from the waste of two subspecies of Cannabis sativa and using two different salts (sulfate and nitrate). Nanoparticles synthesized from Cannabis sativa spp. indica were more stable (ζ = - 26.31 ± 0.49 mV and - 38.07 ± 0.33 mV) than those from ssp. sativa (ζ = - 0.77 ± 0.04 mV and - 9.89 ± 0.24 mV). Additionally, nanoparticles synthesized using sulfate were larger, but more stable than those synthesized using nitrate. The NPs’ elemental composition was also different, NPs synthesized from ssp. sativa contained ∼2x more sodium and less potassium than nanoparticles synthesized from ssp. indica. Nanoparticles synthesized from ssp. indica significantly increased soybean’s chlorophylls content (by 120% and 126%, synthesized from nitrate and sulfate, respectively; compared to control) and content of antioxidants (134% and 140%, synthesized from nitrate and sulfate, respectively; compared to control). These increases were greater than those caused by nanoparticles synthesized from ssp. sativa (111% and 119% for chlorophylls and 114% and 106% for antioxidants, compared to the control). Nanoparticles synthesized using nitrate significantly increased polyphenols content (158% (for nanoparticles synthesized from sativa) and 116% (for nanoparticles synthesized from indica, compared to control) more than nanoparticles synthesized using sulfate (123% (for nanoparticles synthesized from sativa) and 110% (for nanoparticles synthesized from indica), compared to control). These findings can help develop the method for synthesis of manganese nanofertilizers from hemp waste by influencing selection of subspecies and salt.

Since the early 21st century, biochar (BC) has garnered attention for its agricultural and environmental applications. Water hyacinth (WH; Eichhornia crassipes), an invasive aquatic weed, has emerged as a promising feedstock for BC production due to its rapid growth and nutrient accumulation properties. However, studies on nano-nutrient fortification of WH-derived BC and the molecular dynamics of nutrient sorption remain limited. This study prepared BC from WH leaf (D1) and stem (D2) biomasses, achieving yields of 31% and 34%, respectively, under pyrolysis at 600 °C. Furnace residence times of 15–60 minutes were evaluated, with optimal carbonization occurring at ≥30 minutes. SEM and FTIR analyses revealed highly porous structures with functional groups, including –COOH, –OH, C 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 11111111 00000000 11111111 00000000 00000000 00000000 C, and –SO, predominantly in D1. The BC was alkaline (pH 10.7), with liming capacities of 14.76–28.94% cceq., zeta potentials of −34 to −38 mV, and particle sizes of 146–583 nm. The 30 minute BC exhibited high nitrogen (34 550 ppm), phosphorus (56 ppm), and potassium (609 ppm) availability, alongside water-holding capacities of 1.58–2.26 g g⁻¹. This study highlights the unexploited potential of WH as a sustainable resource towards nano-enabled biofertilizer development, offering a solution for managing the plant's invasive spread, while simultaneously improving soil nutrient management and contributing to atmospheric carbon sequestration, with positive implications for climate change mitigation.

Soils contain diverse predatory protists that affect the abundance and behavior of rhizosphere bacteria, including bacteria that may benefit plant health. Protists harbor their own bacterial microbiomes, and we previously observed that plants inoculated with protists harbored rhizosphere bacteria similar to those in the protist inoculum. To determine how protist microbiomes affect the rhizosphere, we profiled the bacteria of eight diverse rhizosphere protist isolates after 2 years of laboratory culture. We then compared the protist culture microbiomes to maize rhizosphere communities 6 weeks after protist inoculation. Introduction of protists enriched 13 protist-associated bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in the rhizosphere, which comprised ~10% of the rhizosphere bacterial community. Additional bacterial ASVs ranked highly in abundance in both rhizosphere (top 100) and protist (top 20) microbiomes; together, a median 47% of the protist microbiome was enriched or in high rank abundance in the rhizosphere. Inoculation with three out of eight protist cultures positively affected root biomass traits, but a protist mixture had no effect, indicating that the impact of protist-associated bacteria on plant growth is context dependent. Isolates of protist-associated bacteria had both positive and negative effects on protist growth in culture, suggesting that the bacteria use multiple strategies to survive in proximity to predators. This study demonstrates that even after long-term laboratory culture, rhizosphere protist cultures host bacteria that can colonize the rhizosphere of maize. The findings also identify diverse groups of rhizosphere-colonizing bacteria that persist among protist predators, which suggests that these bacteria could associate with or benefit from protists in the soil. IMPORTANCE Understanding the impact of predatory protists on the plant microbiome will be essential to deploy protists in sustainable agriculture. This study shows that eight rhizosphere protist isolates hosted diverse and distinct bacterial communities and that a large proportion of these bacteria could be found colonizing the maize root environment 6 weeks after protists were inoculated onto seedlings. This study demonstrates that certain bacteria from the maize rhizosphere can persist for years in protist cultures and retain the ability to colonize rhizosphere soil, suggesting that protists might support the survival of these rhizosphere bacteria in the absence of the plant.

We explored an underexplored area in water treatment by examining the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from reverse osmosis/nanofiltration (RO/NF) brine. We first compared multiple RO/NF membranes, revealing that DK and NF270 showed sub-optimal removal (<90%) of C4−C8 PFAS, SW30 had low flux (<15 L/m2/h at 8 bar), and NFX exhibited significant adsorption of perfluorosulfonic acids (e.g., 8 µmol/m2). To address the PFAS-enriched brine generated from membrane treatment, we further evaluated activated carbon (GAC) and anion-exchange (AIX) resin, both of which efficiently removed moderate- and long-chain PFAS from brine. Although AIX outperformed GAC, the ion exchange contribution was small for short-chain PFAS like perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA, C4) but increased with chain length, driven by the hydrophobic effect facilitating the migration to near-surface regions of resins. Equilibrium batch experiments and thermodynamic modeling revealed a disproportionate salinity impact on PFAS adsorption by GAC, with short-chain PFAS (e.g., PFBA) experiencing more pronounced adsorption reduction than longer-chained homologs as NaCl concentrations increased. This reduction was driven by a significant change in a free energy component unrelated to the hydrophobic or electrostatic interactions, likely due to the competitive adsorption of Cl− ions and short-chain PFAS anions or the formation of hydration shells around Na+ and Cl− ions, obstructing the pathways for weakly hydrophobic PFAS (e.g., PFBA) within the GAC pore network. The salting-out effect was found to be unimportant. This study provides new insights into salinity-dependent sorptive removal of PFAS from high-ionic-strength water such as RO/NF brine.

Drosophila suzukii poses a significant threat to soft-skinned fruits worldwide. Effective trapping of this pest largely depends on commercially available lures, which often capture not only D. suzukii but also other species. Previously, we identified phenylacetaldehyde, spermidine, and pyridine as specific attractants for D. suzukii. Here we tested mixtures of these odorants and found that a blend of all three odorants did not produce any attraction. However, mixtures of phenylacetaldehyde with either spermidine or pyridine, but not spermidine with pyridine, triggered significant attraction. These findings can guide the formulation of more effective lures for D. suzukii. 4/22/2025-Open Access

Background West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental USA, with an average of ~1200 severe, neuroinvasive cases reported annually from 2005 to 2021 (range 386–2873). Despite this burden, efforts to forecast WNV disease to inform public health measures to reduce disease incidence have had limited success. Here, we analyze forecasts submitted to the 2022 WNV Forecasting Challenge, a follow-up to the 2020 WNV Forecasting Challenge. Methods Forecasting teams submitted probabilistic forecasts of annual West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease (WNND) cases for each county in the continental USA for the 2022 WNV season. We assessed the skill of team-specific forecasts, baseline forecasts, and an ensemble created from team-specific forecasts. We then characterized the impact of model characteristics and county-specific contextual factors (e.g., population) on forecast skill. Results Ensemble forecasts for 2022 anticipated a season at or below median long-term WNND incidence for nearly all (> 99%) counties. More counties reported higher case numbers than anticipated by the ensemble forecast median, but national caseload (826) was well below the 10-year median (1386). Forecast skill was highest for the ensemble forecast, though the historical negative binomial baseline model and several team-submitted forecasts had similar forecast skill. Forecasts utilizing regression-based frameworks tended to have more skill than those that did not and models using climate, mosquito surveillance, demographic, or avian data had less skill than those that did not, potentially due to overfitting. County-contextual analysis showed strong relationships with the number of years that WNND had been reported and permutation entropy (historical variability). Evaluations based on weighted interval score and logarithmic scoring metrics produced similar results. Conclusions The relative success of the ensemble forecast, the best forecast for 2022, suggests potential gains in community ability to forecast WNV, an improvement from the 2020 Challenge. Similar to the previous challenge, however, our results indicate that skill was still limited with general underprediction despite a relative low incidence year. Potential opportunities for improvement include refining mechanistic approaches, integrating additional data sources, and considering different approaches for areas with and without previous cases. Graphical Abstract

Context As cities seek to provide more habitat for wildlife, there may be unintended consequences of increasing tick-borne disease hazards. In the United States, the Northeast is both highly urban and a hotspot for blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and tick-borne disease emergence. Though tick-borne disease was once considered a suburban and rural problem, tick-borne hazards in urban landscapes are increasing. Objectives We hypothesized that multi-scale ecological processes hierarchically contribute to tick-borne hazards across an urbanization gradient. Urban greenspaces with higher functional connectivity to deer movement would have higher deer occupancy at the ‘ecological neighborhood’ scale, resulting in increased blacklegged tick populations and pathogen infection at the scale of within greenspaces. Methods To evaluate our hypothesis, we used circuit theory methods to model the impact of functional connectivity on deer occupancy, blacklegged tick abundance, and pathogen infected ticks across an urbanization gradient. We sampled nymphal ticks during their peak activity and deployed wildlife cameras to detect deer at 38 greenspaces across New York City and Long Island, NY from 2022 to 2023. Results We found that functional connectivity significantly predicted deer occupancy with cascading effects on abundance of blacklegged nymphal ticks and Borrelia burgdorferi infection. We novelly identified a threshold of functional connectivity in urban areas necessary for deer occupancy, tick populations, and tick infection with B. burgdorferi, to emerge in urban environments. Conclusions We recommend targeted tick-borne hazard mitigation along this functional connectivity threshold as part of urban greenspace management plans. Additionally, we highlight the importance of examining multi-scale landscape drivers of host, tick, and pathogen interactions.

Purpose of Review Sprouts are valued for their rich nutritional profile, fresh taste, and ease of production. As consumer demand for healthier foods increases, innovative methods are needed to enhance sprout quality. Cold Plasma (CP) and Plasma-Activated Water (PAW) have emerged as promising, sustainable technologies in agriculture, particularly for improving seed germination and plant growth. Recent Findings CP and PAW influence plant hormonal activity, improve water uptake, and modify seed coats, leading to enhanced sprout quality. These technologies impact bioactive compounds such as proteins, carbohydrates, enzymes, polyphenols, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, and antioxidants, which promote seed growth and alter the nutritional and functional properties of sprouts. PAW, with its unique chemical properties, acidifies the environment, modifies redox potential, and produces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which are essential for metabolic pathways in seed germination. Researchers are addressing challenges like discoloration, surface etching, and bioactive material degradation to optimize PAW applications in sprout production. Summary CP and PAW offer cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions for improving sprout quality by stimulating seed germination and growth. Their effects on bioactive compounds and metabolic pathways make them valuable tools in modern agriculture. However, optimizing their application is crucial to maximizing benefits while minimizing potential drawbacks. Further research is needed to refine these technologies for commercial sprout production.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing crop resilience to extreme weather events induced by climate change, such as drought. However, the potential of nanomaterials (NMs) to mitigate drought-induced stress remains insufficiently understood. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the effects of NMs on crop growth and yield under drought. Our findings reveal that NMs significantly improved crop growth under drought, with a more pronounced positive impact on C 3 than C 4 crops. Furthermore, seed application of NMs exhibits more significant potential in protecting crops than root or foliar applications. Specifically, NMs increased the relative water content and water use efficiency of crops by 10.8 and 33.3%, respectively. The potential of NMs to enhance the drought resistance was associated with improving the photosynthetic process, increasing osmolyte accumulation, enhancing nutrient uptake, and alleviating oxidative damage. This analysis raises the potential of nanotechnology as a significant tool for sustainable nano-enabled agriculture in a changing climate.