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

Vector-pathogen-plant interactions, insect physiology and biochemistry, insect toxicology, insecticide resistance and its management and insect pest management.

Ongoing Research

• Determine the physiological changes in Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) associated with feeding on Huanglongbing (HLB) plants and use the information to develop novel strategies for ACP control.
• Determine the changes in digestive enzymes activities of ACP feeding on HLB infected citrus plants due to changes in plant starch and protein content.
• Identify and evaluate specific inhibitors for digestive enzymes as means of ACP control.
• Determine the antibacterial activity of different tissues in ACP that have implications for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) survivial inside ACP.
• Evaluate various strategies that intervene in acquisition and transmission of disease causal pathogens by insect vectors.
• Determine the effect of selected antifeedants on acquisition and transmission of Las by ACP.
• Evaluate new chemistries of insecticides for managing ACP and HLB in citrus.
• Determine the resistance and cross-resistance development potential in ACP and characterizing the resistance mechanisms (biochemical and molecular).
• Develop and implement an effective insecticide resistance management program for ACP.

Refereed Publications

Boina, D., M. Salyani, S. Tiwari, K. Pelz-Stelinski, and L. L. Stelinski. 2010.  Effect of spray droplet size on mortality of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.  Annals of Applied Biology (submitted).

Stelinski, L. L., D. Boina, and W. L. Meyer.  2010.  Oviposition marking behavior of Diachasma alloeum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae).  Journal of Insect Behavior (submitted).

Boina, D., and J. R. Bloomquist. 2010 Blockage of chloride channels and anion transporters with pesticidal natural products and their synthetic analogs (review article) (Submitted).

Boina, D.,Y. Youn, S. Folimonova,and L. L. Stelinski. 2010. Effects of pymetrozine, an antifeedant of Hemiptera, on Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, feeding behavior, survival and transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Submitted).

Boina, D., and J. R. Bloomquist.  2010.  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., M. E. Rogers, N. Wang, and L. L. Stelinski.  2010.  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 66: 349-357.

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.

Non-refereed Publications

Boina, D., M. Salyani, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Chemical control of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama.  Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society (in press).

Boina, D., M. E. Rogers, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Monitoring Florida citrus groves for insecticide resistance in Asian citrus psyllid populations.  Citrus Industry 90: 14-15.

Conference Abstracts/Presentations

Boina, D., M. E. Rogers, and L. L. Stelinski.  2010.  Insecticide susceptibility, acetylcholinesterase sensitivity, and levels of detoxifying enzymes in field populations of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama.   In: Symposium on ‘AGRO New Investigator Award.’ 239th national annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, March 21-25, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Boina, D., P. J. Clayson, M. Salyani, and L. L. Stelinski.  2010*.  Low volume application of insecticides for the Asian citrus psyllid management in Florida.  In: Symposium on ‘Efficient application of pesticides for sustainable and effective crop protection.’   239th national annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, March 21-25, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Boina, D., M. E. Rogers, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Baseline toxicity of various insecticides to the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama.  57th national annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, December 13-16, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Boina, D., M. E. Rogers, S. Tiwari and L. L. Stelinski.  2009*.  Biochemical monitoring of acetylcholinesterase sensitivity to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama.  In: Symposium on ‘Insect molecular physiology: Basic science to applications.’ 57th national annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, December 13-16, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Tiwari, S., H. Lewis-Rosenblum, D. Boina, W. L. Meyer, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Monitoring movement of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) between unmanaged and managed citrus groves with immunomarking.  57th national annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, December 13-16, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Boina, D., and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Toxicity of pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone mimic, against Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.  238th national annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 16-20, Washington DC, USA.

Boina, D., Y. Youn, and L. L. Stelinski.  2009.  Pymetrozine inhibits feeding in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri: potential for preventing greening disease bacterium transmission.  238th national annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 16-20, Washington DC, USA.

Boina, D., E. O. Onagbola, M. E. Rogers, and L. L. Stelinski.  2008.  The Asian citrus psyllid: Toxicological and biochemical studies.  56th annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, November 16-19, Reno, NV, USA.

Bloomquist, J. R. and D. Boina.  2008*.  Anion channels/transporter as targets for new insecticides and nematicides.  In: Symposium on ‘International award for research in agrochemicals in honor of David M. Soderlund.’  236th national annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 17-21, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Boina, D., and J. R. Bloomquist.  2007.  Toxicity and mode of action of anion transporter blockers against the European corn borer.  234th national annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 19-23, Boston, MA, USA.

Hou, X., B. Subramanyam, D. Boina, and S. Alavi.  2007.  Practical applications of a novel thermal death kinetic model during structural heat treatments.  In: Symposium on ‘Stored products: ancient problems, modern innovations.’  62nd annual meeting of the North Central Branch of Entomological Society of America, March 25-28, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA.

Boina, D., and J. R. Bloomquist.  2006.  Lethal and sub-lethal effects of anion transporter/exchanger blockers against larvae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner).  54th national annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, December 10-13, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Anderson, T. D., D. C. Klorig, D. Boina, D. Wong, P. R. Carlier, and J. R. Bloomquist.  2006.  Bivalent anticholinesterases as structural probes in the development of selective mosquitocides.  54th national annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, December 10-13, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Boina, D., B. Subramanyam, and S. Alavi.  2006.  Heat treatment as an alternative to methyl bromide space fumigation in food-processing facilities for controlling insects: Confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin du Val).  In: Symposium on ‘Alternatives to the use of methyl bromide in pre-plant soil fumigation and stored commodities: flux, risk assessment, and alternative processes.’  232nd national annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, September 10-14, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Bloomquist, J. R. and D. Boina.  2006*.  Analogs of a bacterial stilbene as new insecticides/nematicides.  In: Symposium on ‘Alternatives to the use of methyl bromide in pre-plant soil fumigation and stored commodities: flux, risk assessment, and alternative processes.’  232nd national annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, September 10-14, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Bloomquist, J. R., and D. Boina.  2006.  Analogs of a bacterial stilbene as new insecticides/nematicides.  11th IUPAC International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry, August 13-16, Kobe, JAPAN.

Boina, D., and B. Subramanyam.  2003.  Development of a thermal death kinetic model for predicting stage-specific survival of the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin du Val), during heat treatment.  51st national annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, October 26-29, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

* Invited.

 

 

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