Dr. Dhana Raj Boina

Contact Information

Citrus Research and Education Center
Lake Alfred, Florida
Entomology
Phone: 863.956.1151 ext. 1251
Email: drboina@ufl.edu

Education

Ph.D. in Entomology: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Dissertation Title: Evaluation of anion transporters as potential target sites for insect and nematode control: toxicological, electrophysiological, and molecular studies.

M.S. in Entomology: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
Thesis Title: Development and validation of a dynamic model for predicting survival of old larvae of confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin du Val), during heat treatments.

M.Sc. in Ag. Entomology: University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, KA, INDIA.
Thesis Title: Population dynamics and management of lepidopteran defoliator pests of cabbage.

B.Sc. in Agriculture: ANGR Agricultural University, Hyderabad, AP, INDIA

Positions

2008-present: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Entomology and Namatology Department, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA.

2004-2008: Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.

2002-2004: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.

2001-2002: Senior Research Fellow, National Research Centre for Sorghum, Hyderabad, AP, INDIA.

2000-2001: Senior Research Fellow, Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute, Hyderabad, AP, INDIA.

1998-2000: Junior Research Fellow, Department of Entomology, University of
Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, KA, INDIA

Specialization

Insect Toxicology; Insecticide Resistance Management.

Ongoing Research

• Manage the Asian citrus psyllid populations through chemical control methods as well as develop and implement an effective insecticide resistance management program.
• Determine the resistance development potential in the Asian citrus psyllid to imidacloprid and characterize the resistance mechanisms and determine cross-resistance potential to commonly used pesticides in citrus.
• Determine the role of unmanaged and organic citrus groves in insecticide resistance managmenet.
• Determine sublethal effects of imidacloprid against the Asian citrus psyllid.
• Determine acetylcholinesterase sensitivity to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides inteh Asian citrus psyllid populations from different locations in Florida.
• Monitor insecticide resistance int he Asian citrus psyllid populations from different locations in Florida and determining the resistance mechanisms.
• Determine the effect of selected insect growth regulators on eggs, nymphs, and adults of the Asian citrus psyllid.
• Determine the effect of selected antifeedants against the Asian citrus psyllid and disease transmission.
• Determine influence of environmental factors such as temperature on insecticide toxicity against the Asian citrus psyllid.
• Determine movement patterns and dispersal behavior of the Asian citrus psyllid.
• Optimize insecticide spray technologies for effective managment of the Asian citrus psyllid.
• Determine the influence of host plant on the susceptibility of the Asian citrus psyllid to insecticides.

Refereed Publications

Boina, D., M. E. Rogers, and L. L. Stelinski. 2009.  Biochemical monitoring of acetylcholinesterase sensitivity to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in field populations of the Asian citrus psyllid.  Journal of Economic Entomology (in preparation).

Boina, D., P. J. Clayson, and L. L. Stelinski. 2009.  Laboratory and field evaluation of buprofezin and diflubenzuron for the Asian citrus psyllid management.  Crop Protection (in preparation).

Boina, D., Y. Youn, and L. L. Stelinski. 2009.  Effect of pymetrozine on feeding behavior of the Asian citrus psyllid: Implications for Huanglongbing (greening) disease bacterium transmission.  Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (in preparation).

Boina, D., and J. R. Bloomquist.  2009.  Voltage- and ligand-gated chloride channels as targets for natural products and their synthetic analogs.  Phytochemistry Reviews (in preparation).

Boina, D., M. Salyani, and L. L. Stelinski. 2009.  Effect of spray droplet size on mortality of the Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Crop Protection (in preparation).

Boina, D., M. E. Rogers, N. Wang, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Effect of pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone mimic, on egg hatch, nymph development, adult emergence and reproduction of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama.  Pest Management Science (in press) DOI 10.1002/ps.1880.

Boina, D., and J. R. Bloomquist.  2009.  Reduced expression of voltage-gated chloride channel genes in Caenorhabditis elegans: Implications for the mode of action of chloride channel-directed nematicides.  Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology (in press) doi:10.1016/j.pestbp.2009.07.007.

Boina, D., W. L. Meyer, E. O. Onagbola, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Quantifying dispersal of Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), by immunomarking and potential impact of unmanaged groves on commercial citrus management.  Environmental Entomology 38: 850-858.

Boina, D., E. O. Onagbola, M. Salyani, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Antifeedant and sublethal effects of imidacloprid on Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. Pest Management Science 65: 870-877.

Onagbola, E. O., D. Boina, S. L. Hermann, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Antennal sensilla of Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a parasitoid of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae).  Annals of the Entomological Society of America 102: 523-531.

Boina, D., E. O. Onagbola, M. Salyani, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Influence of posttreatment temperature on the toxicity of insecticides against Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 102: 685-691.

Boina, D., and J. R. Bloomquist.  2009.  Toxicity and disruption of midgut physiology in larvae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, by anion transporter blockers.  Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 70: 151-161.

Onagbola, E. O., W. L. Meyer, D. Boina, and L. L. Stelinski.  2008.Morphological characterization of the antennal sensilla of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), with reference to their probable functions. Micron 39: 1184-1191.

Boina, D., B.Subramanyam, and S. Alavi.  2008.  Dynamic model for predicting survival of mature larvae of Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin du Val) during facility heat treatments.  Journal of Economic Entomology 101: 989-997.

Boina, D., E. E. Lewis,and J. R. Bloomquist.  2008.  Nematicidal activity of anion transporter blockers against Caenorhabditis elegans, Meloidogyne incognia, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora.  Pest Management Science 64: 646-653.

Bloomquist, J. R., D. Boina, E. Chow, P. L. Carlier, M. Reina, and A. Gonzalez-Coloma.  2008.  Mode of action of the plant-derived silphinenes on insect and mammalian GABAA receptor/chloride channel complex.  Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 91: 17-23.

Boina, D., S.Prabhakar, M. C. Smith, S. Starkey, L. Zhu, E. Boyko, and J. C. Reese.  2005.  Categories of resistance to greenbug (Homoptera: Aphididae) biotype I in the wheat genes Gby and Gbz.  Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 78: 252-260.

Boina, D., and B. Subramanyam.  2004.  Relative susceptibility of Tribolium confusum life stages exposed to elevated temperatures.  Journal of Economic Entomology 97: 2168-2173.

Professional Membership

• 2002-present:  Member, Entomological Society of America (ESA).
• 2003-2005: Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
• 2005-present:  Member, American Chemical Society (ACS).
• 2009-present: Member, Florida Entomological Society (FES).
• 2005-present: Member, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.
• 2008-present: Member, Gamma Sigma Delta. The Honor Society of Agriculture