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Cesar Rodriguez-Saona

Extension Specialist in Entomology
Cesar Rodriguez-Saona headshot.

crodriguez@njaes.rutgers.edu

Lab Website

PE Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension

Abstract

The goal of my research program is the development and implementation of cost-effective reduced-risk IPM practices for blueberries and cranberries. This goal is achieved through the integration of chemical, behavioral, and biological methods in insect control and a better understanding on the ecology of pests and their natural enemies. My extension program delivers IPM information to growers by conducting on-farm demonstration trials, presentations, and extension publications.

Education

  1. 1999: Ph.D,. University of California, Riverside
  2. 1994: M.S., Oregon State University
  3. 1991: B.S., Universidad Nacional Agraria, Peru

Research Projects

  1. Host-plant volatile attractants
  2. Host finding by beneficial insects
  3. Mating disruption technologies
  4. Resistant varieties
  5. Development of pest monitoring techniques
  6. Novel reduced risk and selective chemical controls

Professional Experience

  1. Post-doctoral Research Entomologist. 2004-2005. Department of Entomology. Michigan State University.
  2. Post-doctoral Research Entomologist. 2001-2004. Department of Botany. University of Toronto.
  3. Post-Doctoral Research Entomologist. 1999-2001. USDA-ARS. Western Cotton Research Lab.

Recent Publications (Since 2016)

  1. Tooker, J., O’Neal, M.E., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2020. Balancing disturbance and conservation in agroecosystems to improve biological control. Annual Review of Entomology 65: 81–100.
  2. Urbaneja-Bernat, P., Polk, D., Sanchez-Pedraza, F., Benrey, B., Salamanca, J., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2020. Non-crop habitats serve as a potential source of spotted-wing drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) to adjacent cultivated highbush blueberries. (Special Issue on “The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae)”). The Canadian Entomologist 152: 474–489.
  3. Benevenuto, R.F., Seldal, T., Polashock, J., Moe, S.R., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Gillespie, M., and Hegland, S.J. 2020. Molecular and ecological plant defense responses along an elevational gradient in a boreal ecosystem. Ecology and Evolution 10: 2478–2491.
  4. Ludwick, D., W. R. Morrison III, A. L. Acebes-Doria, A. M. Agnello, J. C. Bergh, M. L. Buffington, G. C. Hamilton, J. A. Harper, K. A. Hoelmer, G. Krawczyk, T. P. Kuhar, D. G. Pfeiffer, A. L. Nielsen, K. B. Rice, C. Rodriguez-Saona, P. M. Shearer, P. M. Shrewsbury, E. J. Talamas, J. F. Walgenbach, N. G. Wiman, and T. C. Leskey. 2020. Invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) into the USA: Developing a national response to an invasive species crisis through collaborative research and outreach efforts. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 11(1): 4; 1–16 doi: 10.1093/jipm/pmaa001.
  5. Rodriguez-Saona, C., Alborn, H.T., Oehlschlager, C., Kyryczenko-Roth, V., Tewari, S., Sylvia, M.M., and Averill, A.A. 2020. Fine-tuning the composition of the cranberry weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) aggregation pheromone. Journal of Applied Entomology (Short Communication) 144: 417–421. FEATURED ON THE COVER OF THE JOURNAL
  6. Benevenuto, R.F., Seldal, T., Moe, S.R., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and Hegland, S.J. 2020. Neighborhood effects of herbivore-induced plant resistance vary along an elevational gradient. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 8:117. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00117.
  7. Salazar-Mendoza, P., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and Fernandes O.A. 2020. Release density, dispersal capacity, and optimal rearing conditions for Telenomus remus, an egg parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda, in maize. BioControl Science and Technology 30: 1040-1059.
  8. Pradit, N., Mescher, M.C., De Moraes, C., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2020. Phytoplasma infection of cranberry affects development and oviposition, but not host-plant selection, of the insect vector Limotettix vaccinii. Journal of Chemical Ecology 46: 722–734.
  9. Rodriguez-Saona, C., N. Firbas, J. Hernández-Cumplido, R. Holdcraft, C. Michel, S. Palacios-Castro, and D. B. Silva. 2020. Interpreting temporal and spatial variation in spotted-wing drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) trap captures in highbush blueberries. Journal of Economic Entomology 113: 2362–2371.
  10. Rodriguez-Saona, C., Urbaneja-Bernat, P., Salamanca, J., and Garzón-Tovar, V. 2020. Interactive effects of an herbivore-induced plant volatile and color on an insect community in cranberry. (Special Issue on “Advancing the Use of Plant Volatiles in Biological Control of Insects and Weeds”). Insects, 11, 524; doi:10.3390/insects11080524.
  11. Conti, E., Avila, G., Barratt, B., Cingolani, F., Colazza, S., Guarino, S., Hoelmer, K., Laumann, R.A., Maistrello, L., Martel, G., Peri, E., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Rondoni, G., Rostas, M., Roversi, P., Sforza, R., Tavella, L., and Wajnberg, E. 2020. Biological control of invasive stink bugs: global state and future perspectives (Special Issue on “6th International Entomophagous Insect Conference”). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. doi: 10.1111/eea.12967.
  12. Urbaneja-Bernat, P., Waller, T., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2020. Repellent, oviposition-deterrent, and insecticidal activity of the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum fioriniae on Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in highbush blueberries. Scientific Reports 10, 14467; doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71341-y.
  13. Urbaneja-Bernat, P., Tena, A., González-Cabrera, J., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2020. Plant guttation provides nutrient-rich food for insects. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1080.
  14. Drummond, F.A., Collins, J.A., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and Zhang, A. 2020. Use of forested field edges by a blueberry insect pest, Rhagoletis mendax (Diptera: Tephritidae). Agricultural and Forest Entomology. doi: 10.1111/afe.12421.
  15. Lampasona, T.P., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Leskey, T.C., and Nielsen, A.L. 2020. A review of the biology, ecology, and management of plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 11(1): 22; 1–12. doi: 10.1093/jipm/pmaa018.
  16. Rodriguez-Saona, C., Kyryczenko-Roth, V., Schiffhauer, D., and Firbas, N. Characterizing the feeding injury caused by Phylloscelis rubra (Hemiptera: Dictyopharidae) to cranberries. Journal of Insect Science. doi: 10.1093/jisesa/ieaa143.
  17. Rodriguez-Saona, C., Vincent, C., and Isaacs, R. 2019. Blueberry IPM: Past successes and future challenges. Annual Review of Entomology 64: 95–114.
  18. Rodriguez-Saona, C., Cloonan, K.R., Sanchez-Pedraza, F., Zhou, Y., Giusti, M.M., and Benrey, B. 2019. Differential susceptibility of wild and cultivated blueberries to an invasive frugivorous pest. J. Chem. Ecol. 45: 286–297. FEATURED ON THE COVER OF THE JOURNAL.
  19. De Lange, E., Salamanca, J., Polashock, J., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2019. Genotypic variation and phenotypic plasticity in gene expression and herbivore-induced volatiles, and their potential tritrophic implications, in cranberries. J. Chem. Ecol. 45: 298–312.
  20. Klick, J., Rodriguez-Saona, C.R., Hernández Cumplido, J., Holdcraft, R.J., Urrutia, W.H., da Silva, R.O., Borges, R., Mafra-Neto, A., and Seagraves, M.P. 2019. Testing a novel attract and kill strategy for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) management. J. Insect Sci. 19(1): 3; 1–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iey132.
  21. Benevenuto, R.F., Seldal, T., Hegland, S.J., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Kawash, J., and Polashock, J. 2019. Transcriptional profiling of methyl jasmonate-induced defense responses in bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). BMC Plant Biology 19:70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-019-1650-0.
  22. De Lange, E.S., Kyryczenko-Roth, V., Johnson-Cicalese, J., Davenport, J., Nicholi Vorsa, N., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2019. Increased nutrient availability decreases insect resistance in cranberry. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 21: 326-335.
  23. Rodriguez-Saona, C., Nielsen, A.L., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Tewari, S., Kyryczenko-Roth, V., Firbas, N., Leskey, T.C. 2019. Exploring an odor-baited “trap bush” approach to aggregate plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) injury in blueberries. Insects 10, 113; https://doi:10.3390/insects10040113.
  24. De Lange, E.S. and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2019. Does enhanced nutrient availability increase volatile emissions in cranberry? Plant Signaling & Behavior (Short Communication). 14:8, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2019.1616517
  25. Pradit, N., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Kawash, J., and Polashock, J. 2019. Phytoplasma infection influences gene expression of American Cranberry. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (section Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology) 7:178. doi https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00178.
  26. Pradit, N., Mescher, M.C., Wang, Y., Vorsa, N., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2019. Phytoplasma infection of cranberries benefits non-vector phytophagous insects. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution section Chemical Ecology 7:181. doi https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00181.
  27. Stratton, C.A., Hodgdon, E., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Shelton, A.M., and Chen, Y.H. Phylogenetically-distant plants with odors similar to Brassicas repel the swede midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a Brassica specialist. Scientific Reports 9:10621 doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47094-8.
  28. Cloonan, K.R., Hernández-Cumplido, J., Viana de Sousa, A.L., Gomes Ramalho, D., Burrack, H.J., Della Rosa, L., Diepenbrock, L.M., Drummond, F.A., Gut, L.J., Hesler, S., Isaacs, R., Leach, H., Loeb, G.M., Nielsen, A.L., Nitzsche, P., Park, K.R., Syed, Z., Van Timmeren, S., Wallingford, A.K., Walton, V.M., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2019. Laboratory and field evaluation of host-related foraging odor-cue combinations to attract Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). J. Economic Entomology 112: 2850–2860.
  29. Blaauw, B.R., Hamilton, G., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and Nielsen, A.L. 2019. Plant stimuli and their impact on brown marmorated stink bug dispersal and host selection. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, section Chemical Ecology. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00414.
  30. Salamanca, J., Souza. B., Kyryczenko-Roth, V., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2019. Methyl salicylate increases attraction and function of beneficial arthropods in cranberries. Insects, Special Issue on “Semiochemicals and Insect Behavior,” 10, 423, doi: 10.3390/insects10120423.
  31. Rodriguez-Saona, C.R., Polk, D., Oudemans, P.V., Holdcraft, R., Zaman, F.U., Isaacs, R., and Cariveau, D. 2018. Landscape features determine the abundance and distribution of Rhagoletis mendax a key fruit fly pest of blueberries. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 258: 113–120.
  32. Silva, D., Kyryczenko-Roth, V., Alborn, H., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2018. Comparison of trap types, placement, and colors for capturing Anthonomus musculus Say (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults in highbush blueberries. J. Insect Science 18(2): 19; 1–9, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iey005.
  33. Hernandez-Cumplido, J., Giusti, M., Zhou, Y., Kyryczenko-Roth, V., Chen, Y.H., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2018. Testing the ‘plant domestication-reduced defense’ hypothesis in blueberries: The role of herbivore identity. Arthropod-Plant Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-018-9605-1.
  34. Salamanca, J., Brigida, S. and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2018. Cascading effects of combining herbivore-induced plant volatiles with companion plants to manipulate natural enemies in an agro-ecosystem. Pest Management Science 74: 2133–2145.
  35. Jaffe, B.D., Avanesyan, A., Bal, H.K., Grant, J.,Grieshop M.J., Lee, J.C., Liburd, O.E., Rhodes, E., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Sial, A.A., Yan Feng, Y., Zhang, A., Guédot, C. 2018. Multistate comparison of attractants and the impact of fruit development stage on trapping Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in raspberry and blueberry. Environmental Entomology 47: 935–945.
  36. Kostromytska, O.S., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Alborn, H., and Koppenhöfer, A.M. 2018. Role of plant volatiles in host plant recognition by annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Chem. Ecol. 44: 580–590.
  37. Benevenuto, R.F., Hegland, S.J., Töpper J.P., Rydgren K., Moe S.R., Rodriguez-Saona C., and Seldal T. 2018. Multiannual effects of induced plant defenses: Are defended plants good or bad neighbors? Ecology and Evolution 8: 8940–8950.
  38. Gallardo, K.R., Zhang, Q., Dossett, M., Polashock, J., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Vorsa, N., Edger, P.P., Ashrafi, H., Babiker, E., Finn, C.E., and Iorizzo, M. 2018. Breeding trait priorities of the blueberry industry in the United States and Canada. HortScience 53: 1021–1028.
  39. Vidal-Gomez, U., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and Kaplan, I. 2018. Constitutive exposure to the volatile methyl salicylate reduces per-capita foraging efficiency of a generalist predator to learned prey associations. Entomol. Exp. et Appl. 166: 661–672.
  40. Cloonan; K. Abraham, J.; Angeli, S.; Syed, Z.; and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2018. Advances in the chemical ecology of Drosophila suzukii and its applications. J. Chem. Ecol. 44: 922–939.
  41. Gallardo, K.R., Klingthong, P., Zhang, Q., Polashock, J., Atucha, A., Zalapa, J., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Vorsa, N., and Iorizzo, M. 2018. Breeding trait priorities of the cranberry industry in the United States and Canada. HortScience 53: 1467–1474.
  42. Williams, L., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and Castle del Conte, S. 2017. Methyl jasmonate-induction of cotton: a field test of the ’attract and reward’ strategy of conservation biological control. AoB Plants (Special Issue on Using Non-Model Systems to Explore Plant-Pollinator and Plant-Herbivore Interactions). AoB PLANTS9: plx032; doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plx032.
  43. Weber, D.C., Morrison, W.R. III, Khrimian, A., Rice, K., Leskey, T.C., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Nielsen, A.L., and Blaauw, B.R. 2017. Chemical Ecology of Halyomorpha halys: Discoveries and applications. J. Pest Sci. (Special issue on “The brown marmorated stink bug: an emerging pest of global concern”). DOI: 10.1007/s10340-017-0876-6.
  44. Hahn, N.G., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and G.C. Hamilton. 2017. Characterizing the spatial distribution of brown marmorated stink bug populations in peach orchards. PLoS ONE 12(3): e0170889.
  45. Hernandez-Cumplido, J., Leskey, T.C., Holdcraft, R., Zaman, F.U., Hahn, N.G., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2017. Tempo-spatial dynamics of adult plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) based on semiochemical-baited trap captures in blueberries. Environ. Entomol. 46: 674–684.
  46. Salamanca, J., Souza, B., Lundgren, J.G., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2017. Laboratory to field: Electro-antennographic and behavioral responsiveness of two insect predators to methyl salicylate. Chemoecology 27: 51–63.
  47. Seldal, T., Hegland, S.J., Rydgren, K., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Töpper, J. 2017. How to induce plant defence responses in wild plant populations? Using a dominant boreal plant species a example. Ecology and Evolution 7: 1762–1769.
  48. Wadhwa, S., Gallagher, F.J., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and Holzapfel, C. 2017. Analysis of fluctuating asymmetry in isopod and hardwood tree populations in brownfields. Ecological Indicators 76: 42–51.
  49. Fraga, D.F., Parker, J., Busoli, A.C., Hamilton, G.C., Nielsen, A.L., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2016. Behavioral responses of predaceous minute pirate bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to tridecane, a volatile emitted by the brown marmorated stink bug. J. Pest Sci. (Special issue on "The brown marmorated stink bug: an emerging pest of global concern"). DOI 10.1007/s10340-016-0825-9
  50. McArt, S.H., Miles, T., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Schilder, A., Adler, L.S., and Grieshop, M.J. 2016. Floral scent mimicry and the transmission of a pollinator-vectored plant pathogen. PLoS ONE 11(11): e0165761.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165761
  51. Rivera, M., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Alborn, H., and Koppenhöfer, A. 2016. Differential response of a local population of entomopathogenic nematodes to non-native herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPV) in the laboratory and field. J. Chem. Ecol. 42: 1259–1264.
  52. Zhou, Y., Giusti, M.M., Parker, J., Salamanca, J., and Rodriguez-Saona, C. 2016. Frugivory by brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) alters blueberry fruit chemistry and preference by conspecifics. Environ. Entomol. 45:1227–1234.
  53. Holdcraft, R., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and L.L. Stelinski. 2016. Pheromone autodetection: Evidence and implications. Insects (Special issue on “Sexual Communication in an Evolutionary Context”) 7, 17; doi:10.3390/insects7020017
  54. Rodriguez-Saona, C., Wanumen, A.C., Salamanca, J., Holdcraft, R., and Kyryczenko-Roth, V. 2016. Toxicity of insecticides on various life stages of two totricid pests of cranberries and on a non-target predator. Insects (Special issue on “Collection on Integrated Pest Management”) 7, 15; doi:10.3390/insects7020015.
  55. Hahn, N.G, Kaufman, A.J., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Nielsen, A.L., LaForest J., and Hamilton, G.C. 2016. Exploring the spread of brown marmorated stink bug in New Jersey through the use of crowdsourced reports. American Entomologist 62: 36–45.
  56. Rivera, M.J., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Elgizi, A., Fonseca, D.M., Jennings, D.E., and Koppenhofer, A.M. 2016. Cultivation and domestication of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) alters abundance, diversity, and virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 222: 148–155.

Awards

  1. 2011 Recipient of the Distinguished Service to New Jersey Agriculture Award. Team Award (Rutgers Fruit IPM Program).
  2. 2009 Recipient of the Merle V. Adams Award for Outstanding Achievement. Rutgers Cooperative Extension. 2010.
  3. Pacific Branch ESA Winner of the John Henry Comstock Award. 83rd Annual Meeting Pacific Branch of the ESA. Eugene, Oregon. 1999.
  4. 1988-99 Lesley Award. University of California, Riverside.
  5. First Place Oral Presentation. Ph.D. Competition. 82nd Annual Meeting Pacific Branch of the ESA. Honolulu, Hawaii. 1998.
  6. President's Prize. Honorable Mention. Section Fa Poster Presentation. 1997 ESA Annual Meeting. Nashville, Tennessee.
  7. Outstanding Teaching Assistant. Department of Entomology. University of California, Riverside. 1996-1997.
  8. First Place Oral Presentation. Ph.D. Competition. 80th Annual Meeting Pacific Branch of the ESA. Big Sky, Montana. 1996.
  9. First Runner-Up Oral Presentation. Ph.D. Competition. 79th Annual Meeting Pacific Branch of the ESA. San Diego, California. 1995.

Professional Affiliations

  1. International Society of Chemical Ecology
  2. International Organization of Biological Control
  3. Ecological Society of America
  4. Entomological Society of America

Research Interests and Expertise

Integrated Pest Management, Tritrophic Interactions, Biological Control, Insect Chemical Ecology, Insect-Plant Interactions, Host Plant Resistance