Evaluating integrated pest management tactics for spotted lanternfly management in vineyards.

BACKGROUND: Spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper which was first found in 2014 in the eastern USA, has become a significant pest to vineyards. Sap-feeding by this pest has been associated with plant stress and yield declines, and current management depends entirely on the prophylactic use of insecticides. Our study explored two new integrated pest management (IPM) tactics against spotted lanternfly to reduce the negative effects of frequent chemical applications: the use of exclusion netting and the use of perimeter applications of insecticides. RESULTS: Exclusion netting was installed across five vineyards in 2020 and compared to adjacent vines without exclusion netting. The netting reduced spotted lanternfly on vines by 99.8% and had no effect on air temperature, humidity, fungal disease pressure, or fruit quality. Perimeter applications of insecticides were compared against full-cover applications for both in-season and late-season control of spotted lanternfly in 2020. Residual efficacy with adult spotted lanternfly was evaluated within the vineyard plots, revealing that insecticide efficacy declined after 8 m into the vineyard in the perimeter application. However, there was no difference in the level of control achieved using a perimeter spray compared to a full-cover spray. Additionally, the perimeter spray reduced the area treated with insecticide by 31% in a 1 ha block and took 66% less time to spray. CONCLUSION: Both methods, exclusion netting and perimeter spraying, offer new strategies to alleviate the invasion of spotted lanternfly into vineyards, reducing chemical input and rebuilding IPM in vineyards after invasion by spotted lanternfly. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Preterm cord blood CD4⁺ T cells exhibit increased IL-6 production in chorioamnionitis and decreased CD4⁺ T cells in bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Chorioamnionitis (CA) is associated with premature delivery and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We hypothesize that preterm infants exposed to CA have reduced suppressive regulatory T cells (Treg) and increased non-regulatory T cell pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing risk for BPD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cord blood CD4(+) T cell regulatory phenotype and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in CA and BPD groups. STUDY DESIGN: Cord blood mononuclear cells from infants (GA ⩽32 weeks), with or without placental histological evidence of CA (hChorio), were analyzed by flow cytometry. Clinical information was collected by retrospective chart review. Numbers of putative Treg (CD4(+)FoxP3(+)CD25(+)CD127Dim), CD4(+) non-Tregs, and CD4(+) T cell intracellular cytokine content following in vitro stimulation were compared with CA status and oxygen requirement at 36weeks postmenstrual age. RESULT: Absolute Treg numbers were not different in CA and non-CA exposed samples. However, the infants who developed BPD had a significant decrease in Treg and non-regulatory T cell numbers. Greater IL-6 production was observed in hCA group. CONCLUSION: A pro-inflammatory CD4(+) T cell status is noted in CA and BPD but the later disease is also associated with decrease in Tregs, suggesting that the development of BPD is marked by distinct inflammatory changes from those of CA exposed infants.