Maurice Lukefahr
Encyclopedia
Maurice James Lukefahr, a pioneer researcher in the fields of host plant resistance and environmental control of cotton
insect pests, died in Elsa, Texas
in 2002.
in 1926, he and his family relocated to Bay City, Texas
during the Dust Bowl
. He received a B.S. degree from Texas A&I College (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) in 1950. He received his masters and PhD degrees from Texas A&M University
-College Station. His graduate research centered on control of the immature stages of the boll weevil
and pink bollworm
, two economically important insect pests of cultivated cotton
.
. Based primarily at the Brownsville, Texas
cotton research station, in 1956 he was the first researcher to identify an alternative host of the boll weevil
: Thespesia populnea, an ornamental plant
popular in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
of Texas. He subsequently identified several other alternative host plants (including the weevil's likely original host) that have proved critical to the understanding of boll weevil ecology. These discoveries helped to explain the failure of subsequent large-scale, expensive and environmentally damaging eradication campaigns in the US and elsewhere.
Lukefahr also showed in 1957 that the pink bollworm
enters diapause
in response to the shortened day lengths of early fall. These findings were used to improve an existing control program based on early harvest and mandatory areawide stalk destruction.
In 1969 he received a Rockefeller Foundation
grant to develop strains of cotton that were naturally resistant to insect pests, that could be grown in developing countries
without the extensive use of costly, environmentally damaging synthetic pesticide
s. He developed several such varieties that contained very high levels of gossypol
(a natural insect toxin) and that manifested physical features (such as glabrous leaf and stem surfaces) that decreased their suitability for insect egg deposition.
, Brazil
, and Niger
under the auspices of various United Nations
-affiliated agencies. His research focused on developing strains of cowpea
, millet
, sorghum
, and tropical bean with improved genetic and environmental host plant resistance to insect pests. While in Brazil he contributed to the development of a pest management program for the newly-introduced boll weevil, which had devastated cotton production in that country.
From 1992 until his death in 2002 he worked as senior research scientist and Research Scientist Emeritus at Rio Farms in Monte Alto, Texas
, a research and demonstration farm in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
of Texas. At Rio Farms he investigated alternative crops for local farmers, such as grape
, blackberry
, and tropical bean, that might reduce dependence on large-scale, water- and chemical- intensive row crops.
Lukefahr authored or co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed publications as well as several books and monographs.
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
insect pests, died in Elsa, Texas
Elsa, Texas
Elsa is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,660 at the 2010 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.-Geography:...
in 2002.
Early career
Born in Greeley, NebraskaGreeley, Nebraska
Greeley Center, often shortened to simply Greeley, is a village in and the county seat of Greeley County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 531 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Greeley Center is located at ....
in 1926, he and his family relocated to Bay City, Texas
Bay City, Texas
Bay City is a city in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,667 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Matagorda County. The current mayor is Mark Bricker.-Geography:Bay City is located at...
during the Dust Bowl
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms causing major ecological and agricultural damage to American and Canadian prairie lands from 1930 to 1936...
. He received a B.S. degree from Texas A&I College (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) in 1950. He received his masters and PhD degrees from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
-College Station. His graduate research centered on control of the immature stages of the boll weevil
Boll weevil
The boll weevil is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the United States from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all U.S. cotton-growing areas by the 1920s,...
and pink bollworm
Pink bollworm
The pink bollworm , , is an insect known for being a pest in cotton farming. The adult is a small, thin, gray moth with fringed wings. The larva is a dull white, eight-legged caterpillar with conspicuous pink banding along its dorsum...
, two economically important insect pests of cultivated cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
.
Host Plant Resistance
In 1953, Lukefahr began a long career as a research scientist with the Agriculture Research Service, an agency of the United States Department of AgricultureUnited States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
. Based primarily at the Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
cotton research station, in 1956 he was the first researcher to identify an alternative host of the boll weevil
Boll weevil
The boll weevil is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the United States from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all U.S. cotton-growing areas by the 1920s,...
: Thespesia populnea, an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
popular in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
of Texas. He subsequently identified several other alternative host plants (including the weevil's likely original host) that have proved critical to the understanding of boll weevil ecology. These discoveries helped to explain the failure of subsequent large-scale, expensive and environmentally damaging eradication campaigns in the US and elsewhere.
Lukefahr also showed in 1957 that the pink bollworm
Pink bollworm
The pink bollworm , , is an insect known for being a pest in cotton farming. The adult is a small, thin, gray moth with fringed wings. The larva is a dull white, eight-legged caterpillar with conspicuous pink banding along its dorsum...
enters diapause
Diapause
Diapause is the delay in development in response to regularly and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions. It is considered to be a physiological state of dormancy with very specific initiating and inhibiting conditions...
in response to the shortened day lengths of early fall. These findings were used to improve an existing control program based on early harvest and mandatory areawide stalk destruction.
In 1969 he received a Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
grant to develop strains of cotton that were naturally resistant to insect pests, that could be grown in developing countries
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
without the extensive use of costly, environmentally damaging synthetic pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s. He developed several such varieties that contained very high levels of gossypol
Gossypol
Gossypol is a natural phenol derived from the cotton plant . Gossypol is a phenolic aldehyde that permeates cells and acts as an inhibitor for several dehydrogenase enzymes. It is a yellow pigment....
(a natural insect toxin) and that manifested physical features (such as glabrous leaf and stem surfaces) that decreased their suitability for insect egg deposition.
Other accomplishments
In 1979 Lukefahr retired from the USDA and for the next 13 years worked in NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
under the auspices of various United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
-affiliated agencies. His research focused on developing strains of cowpea
Cowpea
The Cowpea is one of several species of the widely cultivated genus Vigna. Four cultivated subspecies are recognised:*Vigna unguiculata subsp. cylindrica Catjang...
, millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
, sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, and tropical bean with improved genetic and environmental host plant resistance to insect pests. While in Brazil he contributed to the development of a pest management program for the newly-introduced boll weevil, which had devastated cotton production in that country.
From 1992 until his death in 2002 he worked as senior research scientist and Research Scientist Emeritus at Rio Farms in Monte Alto, Texas
Monte Alto, Texas
Monte Alto is a census-designated place in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,611 at the 2000 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, a research and demonstration farm in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
of Texas. At Rio Farms he investigated alternative crops for local farmers, such as grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
, blackberry
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
, and tropical bean, that might reduce dependence on large-scale, water- and chemical- intensive row crops.
Lukefahr authored or co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed publications as well as several books and monographs.