The weather this winter has been well above normal and surprisingly aphids have been quite abundant. Green peach aphid has been colonizing lettuce and cole crops for some time now, but in the last 2 weeks we have been picking up foxglove aphid on lettuce at the Yuma Ag Center. Wingless foxglove nymphs are becoming quite easy to find on both head and romaine lettuce. Winged aphids are also showing up on small plants. With the recent high winds, expect to begin picking up more winged aphids. Our local weather forecast suggests that temperatures will be in the mid to high 60’ this week, climbing to the nid-70’s the week after, and with moderate nighttime lows for the next two weeks. Assuming the weather service is correct, these conditions are ideal for aphid population growth, particularly foxglove aphids. Research has shown us that green peach aphid population growth tends to be high when temperatures average around 55 °F. Because we’ve seen an increase in winged green peach aphids on our yellow sticky traps, PCAs should be extra vigilant in scouting for aphid colonies. Given our weather to date, I predict that Foxglove aphids may become more abundant in the next several weeks as they tend to be more biologically active under warmer temperatures; that is when avg. temps are around 60 °F. For more information, see Foxglove Aphids on Desert Produce For information on properly identifying aphids in produce see Aphid Identification in Produce Crops If the field has been treated with imidacloprid at planting, then chances are you are in pretty good shape. But, continue to monitor as imidacloprid doesn’t generally last all season, particularly against foxglove aphid. Regardless of whether you find green peach aphid or foxglove aphid the key to effective aphid management with foliar insecticide is to initiate sprays at the time apterous (wingless) aphids begin to colonize. If you can regularly find aphid colonies on imidacloprid treated lettuce, then it is probably time to treat with a foliar insecticide. Of course, this requires diligent scouting and sampling. On older lettuce, make sure you thoroughly examine developing heads/hearts; this is where foxglove aphids are most abundant. Fortunately, PCAs have alternatives for foliar aphid control. For more information on insecticide alternatives please visit Aphid Management in Desert Produce Crops – 2018

In response to the recent outbreaks of Diamondback moth (DBM) , Plutella xylostella in Yuma, we have established a pheromone trap network designed to monitor the activity and movement of adult populations of DBM. PCAs have had difficulty controlling DBM in cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower since October. Traps have been placed in Roll, Wellton, Dome Valley, Gila Valley and Yuma Valley in locations where cole crops are presently being grown or in areas where infestations were known to occur this fall. 

This study was conducted at the Yuma Valley Agricultural Center. The soil was a silty clay loam (7-56-37 sand-silt-clay, pH 7.2, O.M. 0.7%). Lettuce was seeded, then sprinkler-irrigated to germinate seed on Nov 28, 2023 on double rows 12 in. apart on beds with 42 in. between bed centers.  All other water was supplied by furrow irrigation or rainfall. Treatments were replicated five times in a randomized complete block design. Each replicate plot consisted of 25 ft of bed, which contained two 25 ft rows of lettuce. Plants were thinned Jan 4, 2024  at the 3-4 leaf stage to a 12-inch spacing. Treatment beds were separated by single nontreated beds. Treatments were applied with a tractor-mounted boom sprayer that delivered 50 gal/acre at 100 psi to flat-fan nozzles spaced 12 in apart.

Month	MaxTemp(°F)	Min Temp (°F)	Average Temp (°F)	Rainfall
November	80	51	65	0.08 in
December	71	44	57	0.82 in
January	68	42	54	1.14 in
February	73	47	59	0.50 in

 
Downy mildew (caused by Bremia lactucae) rating was done on variety Eblin, Bobcat, and 180 (partially funded by AILRC grant). Disease was first seen on 1-30-24. Please see attached excel file for chemicals application date. Disease rating was done on February 29^, 2024. Disease severity was determined  by rating 10 plants within each of the five replicate plots per treatment using the following rating system: 0 = no downy mildew present; 0.5 = one to a few very small downy mildew colonies on bottom leaves; 1 = downy mildew present on bottom leaves of plant; 2 = downy mildew present on bottom leaves and lower wrapper leaves; 3 = downy mildew present on bottom leaves and all wrapper leaves; 4 = downy mildew present on bottom leaves, wrapper leaves, and cap leaf; 5 = downy mildew present on entire plant.
The data in the table illustrate the degree of disease control obtained by application of the various treatments in this trial. Most of the treatments exhibited activity against the disease to some extent. Latitude, Amara, Eject, Previcure flex exhibited good control in the variety Eblin (highly susceptible variety). Whereas Cevya, Stargus, Latitude, Amara, Revus, Thrive 4 M, Actigard, Instigo+Carbose+intereact showed activity against the pathogen in variety Bobcat. Please see excel file for the full list of chemicals and their efficacy. The lettuce variety 180 was resistant to the disease and no downy mildew was observed on the particular variety. No phytotoxicity was observed in this field.

Pigweeds are some of the most common summer annual broadleaf weeds in the low deserts. Although they are often lumped together, there are 4 different species of pigweed that are common here and more than 10 species that occur as weeds in California and Arizona. Their growth habits and response to herbicides are similar. It is easy to identify them by physical characteristics but one species of pigweed can hybridize with another and become less distinguishable.

 

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) is probably the most common pigweed species found in this region. It is very aggressive and fast growing and can become 6 feet tall or higher if uncontrolled. It has one thick stem and several lateral branches. The leaves are lance shaped, hairless and have distinctive white veins on the underside. It has flowering tassels that become stiff and spiny. This species has become resistant to Glyphosate in many parts of the county.

Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) is probably the second most common pigweed species. It is shorter and the seed heads are smaller, in clusters and have stiff spine-like scales. It has leaf hairs on the margins and the veins are often reddish. The lower stems are often reddish. This species will hybridize with Palmer Amaranth and become less distinguishable.

Tumble Pigweed (Amaranthus albus) is very different from Palmers or Redroot. It grows lower to the ground and has many branches that turn upright. The leaves are much smaller and narrower. The numerous stems are light green rather than red. The seed heads are small, spiny and at the base of the leaves rather than in long terminal spikes. When mature, the branches are sticky, stiff bristles that break off at the ground and tumble with the wind.

Prostrate Pigweed (Amaranthus blitoides) is very similar to Tumble Pigweed but the stems are more prostrate, grow close to the ground and form mats. The stems and leaves are smaller and reddish

Results of pheromone and sticky trap catches can be viewed here.

Corn earworm: CEW moth counts down in most traps over the last week; about average for early October.

Beet armyworm: Trap counts increased in several areas last week, and about average for early October.

Cabbage looper: Cabbage looper trap counts increased in most locations, but still below average for this time of the season.

Diamondback moth: Adult activity spiked 2 weeks ago, particularly in the Yuma and Dome Valleys, but down over the past week. Average for this time of season.

Whitefly: Adult movement increasing Tacna consistent with melon harvests; overall about average for early October.

Thrips: Thrips adult movement peaked 2 weeks ago but down ovr the past week, overall activity above average.

Aphids: Winged aphids beginning to show up the north Yuma and Gila Valleys; below average for October.

Leafminers: Adult activity increased significantly last week in several locations, above average for this time of season.