Dr. Veronica Manrique releasing air potato leaf beetles in
Bluebonnet Swamp in Baton Rouge as part of her research
on biocontrol of the invasive vine, air potato.
Research Highlights Research Highlights
18 CityTREES
Our partnerships, of course, extend to
research. Funded by USDA, a biological
control program is being implemented by
Dr. Manrique and her graduate students to
reduce infestations of the invasive vine air
potato. The air potato leaf beetle, Lilioceris
cheni, is helping control this invasive vine
by feeding exclusively on air potato, and
Dr. Manrique's team is working with park
managers, foresters, and homeowners to
implement the program. In fall 2020, at a
virtual iteration of the Annual Meeting of
the Entomological Society of America, her
doctoral student, Felicia Amenyo, presented
a paper about the effects of extreme tem-
perature on the performance of the beetle,
and her presentation received the Society's
First Place Award in the area of Biocontrol.
Dr. Vanessa Ferchaud and Dr. Yadong Qi
have been instrumental in accomplishing
several research projects funded by USDA
NIFA focusing on such areas as urban tree
interception of UV radiation and its genetic
consequences; UV radiation protection
strategies of different species; infestation
of the live oak gall midge pest on live oak
trees; monitoring the effect of Paclobutrazol
(PBZ) growth regulator on trees; and
hibiscus plant phytochemicals, botanical
characteristics, anatomy, and morphology.
Working as a team, they facilitate experien-
tial learning and disseminate the research
materials in numerous publications.
Research and service in teaching and
learning are integrated in the ANSWERS—
the Air, Nutrient, Soil, Water, Ecosystem,
and Remote Sensing Institute at the SU
Agricultural Research and Extension
Center. The ANSWERS is the brainchild of
its director, Dr. Ning. The mission of the
ANSWERS is to promote natural and bio-
logical resource conservation through
research, education, and service to com-
munities in both urban and rural settings.
