Arthropod genomics research in the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: Current impacts and future prospects

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the intramural research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which employs scientists to conduct basic and applied research for the development and transfer of solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and to ensure food security for domestic and export needs. Economically important and invasive arthropods, especially insect, tick, and mite species, negatively impact the health of every plant and animal, resulting in significant production losses among crop, livestock and forestry commodities amounting to billions of US dollars annually. The economic impact increases further when the insect damage to home and urban landscapes is taken into account. Ensuring continued viability of beneficial insects in the environment is crucial for the pollination of all horticultural and orchard crops, as well as for enhancing natural biological control of pest arthropods and overall ecosystem sustainability. Mitigating damage by arthropod pest species and safeguarding the health of beneficial arthropods are key components for ensuring the stability of agricultural production in the United States and abroad. Developments in genomics, including next generation sequencing (NGS), provide a suite of new research tools within applied agricultural arthropod research. Contributions by the ARS to arthropod genomics research are reviewed herein. These research approaches are discussed briefly in the context of improving agricultural production and environmental stewardship. Arthropod genomics research within ARS is contributing significantly to the improvement of agricultural production and environmental stewardship for farmers, the agricultural industry, and consumers alike. USDA-ARS, Corn Insects & Crop Genetics Research Unit, Ames, IA, 50011; USDA-ARS, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD, 20705; USDA-ARS, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, 20705; USDA-ARS, Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, 32608; USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, TX, 78028; USDA-ARS, Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit, Newark, DE, 19713; USDA-ARS, Crop Improvement and Protection Research Unit, Salinas, CA, 93905; USDA-ARS, U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC, 29414; USDA-ARS, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL, 34945; USDA-ARS, Center for Grain and Animal Health, Manhattan, KS, 66502; USDA-ARS, Office of National Programs, Crop Production and Protection, Beltsville, MD, 20705; USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA. Brad S. Coates*, Monica Poelchau, Christopher Childers, Jay D. Evans, Alfred Handler, Felix Guerrero, Steve Skoda, Keith Hopper, William M. Wintermantel, Kai-Shu Ling, Wayne B. Hunter, Brenda S. Oppert, Adalberto A. Pérez De León, Kevin Hackett and DeWayne Shoemaker *Corresponding author: brad.coates@ars.usda.gov T r e n d s i n