Publications

Agricultural Publications

Oct 2020

Symptom Identification and Management of Cotton Seedling Diseases

Publication (PDF, 1.2MB)

Authors: Jiahuai Hu, Randy Norton

Seedling diseases, also known as damping-off (seedling death), are caused by several common soil-inhabiting fungi acting alone or collectively during pre-emergence and postemergence of cotton seedlings. Seedling diseases are common but often a minor problem in cotton production areas of Arizona in most years. However, significant stand loss to seedling diseases can occur sporadically in some fields without good crop rotation history.
Sep 2020

Fusarium Wilt of Cotton

Publication (PDF, 1.8M)

Authors: Jiahuai Hu, Randy Norton

Fusarium wilt is a destructive vascular wilt and root rot of many plant species, including all species of domesticated cotton.
Sep 2020

Goss’s Bacterial Wilt and Leaf Blight of Corn

Publication

Authors: Jiahuai Hu

Goss’s bacterial wilt and leaf blight (Goss’s wilt) was first recorded in Nebraska in the late 1960s and is now distributed widely in most states throughout the Corn Belt. The disease was first detected on field corn in southeastern Arizona in 2018.
Sep 2020

Alternaria Leaf Spot of Cotton

Publication

Authors: Jiahuai Hu and Randy Norton

Alternaria leaf spot of cotton is also known as Alternaria leaf blight. The disease was first identified in cotton in the US in 1918 and is now distributed worldwide. Alternaria leaf spot has been considered a minor disease in the cotton growing areas of Arizona.
Jun 2020

Do Antimicrobial Water Sanitizers Affect Insecticide Efficacy in Desert Produce?

Publication (PDF, 520Kb)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

Food safety issues have become increasingly important in the production of leafy vegetables in the desert. Recent concerns about microbial contamination of produce grown in the desert prompted the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (AZLGMA) to develop new Food Safety Guidelines for lettuce and leafy greens.
Jun 2020

Ten Years of Bagrada Bug on Desert Cole Crops

Publication (PDF, 618Kb)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

The bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris, became a major pest of cole crops in the fall of 2010 where widespread out breaks of the invasive stinkbug pest were reported throughout the desert SW. The resulting yield losses in broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and other Brassica crops were economically significant.
May 2020

Weed Interference with Insect Management in Desert Crops 2020

Publication (PDF, 886Kb)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

Effective weed management is critical for the profitable production of vegetable crops in the desert southwest for all the obvious reasons. However, weed management is also essential for another important, but often overlooked reason.
Nov 2019

Weather Influences Desert Insect Pests

Publication (PDF, 179KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

Local weather patterns can have a significant impact on the abundance of insect pests in vegetable crops, particularly in the southwestern U.S. where weather extremes are the norm. Components of weather, mainly temperature, moisture, and wind can either promote insect population growth or cause populations to decline. As we approach the normal cool, dry weather of winter, growers can expect insect activity to decrease. Why is that?
Sep 2019

2019 Guidelines for Diamondback Moth Management in Desert Cole Crops

Publication (PDF, 572KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

List of Guidelines prepared in response to the diamondback moth (DBM) outbreaks that occurred in 2016-17 in Arizona. Following these guidelines can help keep the moths from spreading. There is also a list of insecticides and their respective efficacy against DBM.
Sep 2019

Bagrada Bug Management Tips - 2019

Publication (PDF, 467KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

Contains information on how to manage the Bagrada bug. Includes: where they tend to hide, how to scout them out, what their feeding signs look like, and tips regarding chemical control.
Sep 2019

Diamondback Moth on Desert Cole Crops: Survey Results from 2016-2018

Publication (PDF, 597KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

In 2016 there was a outbreak of Diamondback Moths. This article covers a bit of the history of that outbreak and how the were handled in the next two years. The event was partially documented by some surveys found in this article.
Sep 2019

Nondormant Alfalfa Varieties for Arizona 2019

Publication (PDF, 435KB)

Authors: Mike Ottman

Alfalfa varieties differ in fall dormancy, defined asgrowth during the fall. Nondormant alfalfa varieties are usually planted in mild winter areas for their ability to grow in the fall. Nondormant, very nondormant, and extremely nondormant alfalfa varieties (fall dormancy class 8, 9, and 10) are adapted to elevations below 4000 feet in Arizona.
Aug 2019

Insect Management on Desert Produce and Melons: Pests at Stand Establishment 2019

Publication (PDF, 784KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

There are many insects that can be found on Desert Produce and Melons. This Article covers the description, damage, and Management/Control of the following insects: Flea Beetles, Darkling Beetles, Field crickets, Saltmarsh Caterpillar, Ground Beetles, and Rove Beetles.
Jul 2019

2019 Guidelines for Whitefly / CYSDV Management on Fall Melons

Publication (PDF, 764KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

CYSDV has caused significant reductions in fruit yields in the past, mainly due to the whitefly. This article gives some management guidelines for the whitefly including cultural management and chemical management.
Jul 2019

Cultural Practices for Whitefly Management in Desert Melons 2019

Publication (PDF, 71KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

This article outlines some ways to manage the Whitefly (SWF) population. Even though there are naturally occurring factors that lie outside the realm of control, there is still many things one can do to help reduce the population and risk of the Whitefly.
Jun 2019

Insecticide Usage on Desert Lettuce, 2018-2019

Publication (PDF, 512KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

A total of 28 surveys were completed of insecticide usage on desert lettuce, representing an estimated total of 33,275 fall acres and 35,156 spring lettuce acres from Yuma and neighboring Imperial Counties (Holtville/Brawley/BardWinterhaven).
Jun 2019

Insect Losses and Management on Desert Lettuce: A 15-Year Summary

Publication (PDF, 799.9KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

This article details the results of a survey aimed at assessing what kind of yield losses are suffered on lettuce due to insect pests. It contains data spanning over fifteen years (2005-2019).
May 2019

Nine Years of Bagrada Bug on Desert Cole Crops

Publication (PDF, 531KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

The bagrada bug, became a major pest of cole crops in the fall of 2010. The following contains the summaries surveys performed on an annual basis since 2010, aiming to estimate the severity of bagrada bug on direct-seeded and transplanted cole crops, and the intensity of chemical management required to control it.
May 2019

Weed Interference with Insect Management in Desert Crops

Publication (PDF, 844KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

Effective weed management is critical for the profitable production of vegetable crops in the desert southwest for all the obvious reasons. However, weed management is also essential for another important, but often overlooked, reason.
May 2019

Spider Mites in Melons 2019

Publication (PDF, 146KB)

Authors: John C. Palumbo

Twospotted spider mites, are widespread on melon crops throughout the southwestern U.S. This report describes their appearance, the type of damage they usually cause, and methods of management.

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