Billy W. Fuller

Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory 248C

(605) 688-4593

South Dakota State University
Plant Science Department
Box 2140C
Brookings, SD 57007

Research Team

Dr. Fuller's research program focuses on improving insect pest management by using safer traditional insecticides, transgenics, as well as natural, and biological control alternatives. Evaluations of the impact of new techniques or methodology on the biology of pests and beneficial arthropods are key to these types of studies. Survey of existing bionomic characteristics (e.g. oviposition behavior, extended diapause, fecundity, sex ratio, longevity) in rootworms are currently under investigation. Adult rootworm management using semiochemical baits is being evaluated under a national area aid effort. The SDSU component of this study involves the impact of this semiochemical bait on non-target arthropod communities in South Dakota and Iowa. Hybrids that offer rootworm control using transgenics, seed treatments, and some new classes of insecticides are currently being investigated to determine their impact on root protecting and the population dynamics of the rootworm complex.

Applied research has focused on a comprehensive integrated pest management effort to address the control of major pests of corn, alfalfa, soybeans, sunflowers, pasture, and range pests.   Efforts to investigate control applications, delivery methods, and safer use for existing and developing insecticidal materials have played a significant role in providing farmers and ranchers with the means to counter insect problems while at the same time promoting environmental safety and stewardship.  

Basic research focuses on beneficial insects and efforts to better understanding their valuable roles in corn and soybean agroecosystems.  Also some of SDSU’s basic research has addressed man’s impacts on important pollinator species in South Dakota and the need to safeguard this important natural resource.  In addition this basic research efforts has lead to international research projects with Central America entomologists to promote greater scientific understand of the importance of biodiversity. 

Both applied and basic transgenic insect pest management research include

· Monitoring and trappings of several important lepidopterous pests (European corn borer, corn earworm and black cutworm) and sharing flight data with USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Land Grant universities, in cooperation under a regional and national project (NC-205) designed to promote greater grower awareness and to allow predict forecasts for scouting and treatment scenarios. 

· Collecting monitoring data to investigate genetics issues as they may relate to populations of European corn borers and insect resistant management practices in transgenic corn. 

According to industry reports, South Dakota farmers have the highest level of any state in the acceptance of transgenic insect-resistant corn hybrid acceptance.   SDSU entomologists remain in the forefront on the assessment of the efficacy and evaluation on potential impacts on transgenic corn on the environment. 

While transgenic corn rootworm-resistant hybrids have been a primary focus of much of the recent applied entomology research at SDSU, there have been other efforts to investigate the role that seedcoat treatments have in managing the primary and secondary insect pests of corn.  SDSU entomologists had taken the lead on a 3-year national project (NCCC-46) to investigate the impacts of imidacloprid-treated seeds on corn yields.   Nine states to date have cooperated in this investigation to determine if this compound offers yield enhancement beyond simple prevention of insect damage.

The areas of active research have focused on objectives that directly target the broad research area, and include molecular and/or genomics, breeding and genetics, plant pathology, entomology and weed science.