Pest Pressure on Desert Produce and Melon Crops in 2012
At a recent meeting, I made the statement that the insect pest pressure on produce and melons crops in the Yuma area this fall was as heavy as I’ve seen it in many years. That comment was based largely on my observations, both on and off the Yuma Ag Center, as well as from anecdotal reports from PCAs and growers. This claim is further supported by a quick analysis of both recent and historic data on pest abundance recorded from our research plots here in the Yuma area. First, whitefly adult numbers on fall melons and produce were extremely high. In fact, my untreated melons plots on the Ag Center wilted and died rapidly as a direct result of heavy whitefly feeding. Furthermore, captures of whiteflies on yellow sticky traps placed near cantaloupe fields in the Wellton, Tacna Texas Hill area, were twice as high as they have been in the past 5 years, and CYSDV incidence in cantaloupe fields in this area was also higher in 2012. Similarly, worm pressure - particularly beet armyworm and cabbage looper- was higher than I’ve seen it in the past 6-7 years. Populations began infesting plots in early September, and egg deposition and larval development remained steady through October. In fact, worm numbers were 3-fold higher in 2012 than we what observed last fall. Additionally, corn earworm was present in higher numbers than what I’ve observed in past years. Finally, Bagrada bug infestations were the highest I’ve seen on the Ag Center since the invasive stinkbug first showed up in Yuma in 2009. The low-moderate population appeared in early September, but reached very high levels by mid-September and peaking in early October. The numbers I observed were much higher than the populations that occurred last season, and actually slightly higher than we saw in 2010. The infestation levels in our untreated broccoli plots this year remained at damaging levels throughout October. In contrast, thrips population numbers have been low, relative to what we normally see this time of the year, and I have not picked up any winged aphids or colonies on lettuce thus far. However, I’m not sure how that translates to potential population pressure in January and February, and you should anticipate them showing up as usual. I’ve been asked why the pest pressure was so relatively heavy this year. I really don’t know. Could the heavy monsoon moisture we had in July and August have been an influence? It may have, but it may not have. Insect abundance is dictated by many abiotic and biotic factors in our cropping system, and it’s nearly impossible to consider all the factors necessary to draw a reliable conclusion. Nonetheless, graphics showing these recent trends in Whitefly, CYSDV, Lep Larvae and Bagrada abundance can be found at Pest Abundance on Desert Produce and Melon Cops in 2012.
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.
Controlling Disease and Weeds with Band-Steam – Yuma Trials Show Good Promise
In previous articles (Vol. 11 (13), Vol. 11 (20), Vol. 11(24)), I’ve discussed using band-steam to control plant diseases and weeds. Band-steaming is where steam is used to heat narrow strips of soil to temperature levels sufficient to kill soilborne pathogens and weed seed (>140 °F for > 20 minutes). The concept is showing good promise. This past season, three trials were conducted examining the efficacy of using steam for disease and weed control in Yuma, AZ. In the studies, steam was applied in a 4-inch-wide by 2-inch-deep band of soil centered on the seedline using a prototype band-steam applicator (Fig.1). The band-steam applicator is principally comprised of a 35 BHP steam generator mounted on top of an elongated bed shaper. The apparatus applies steam via shank injection and from cone shaped ports on top of the bed shaper.
Trial results were very encouraging as the prototype applicator was able to raise soil temperatures to target levels (140°F for >20 minutes) at viable travels speeds of 0.75 mph. Steam provided better than 80% weed control and significantly lowered hand weeding time by more than 2 hours per acre (Table 1). Results also showed that Fusarium colony forming units (CFU) were reduced from 2,600 in the control to 155 in the 0.75 mph and 53 in the 0.5 mph treatments, respectively (a more than 15-fold reduction). A significant difference in Fusarium wilt of lettuce disease incidence was not found, however disease infection at the field site was low (< 2%) and differences were not expected. At 0.5 mph, fuel costs were calculated to be $238/acre which was considered reasonable and consistent with the values reported by Fennimore et al. (2014).
An unexpected finding was that plants in steam treated plots appeared to be healthier and more vigorous than untreated plots (Fig. 2). This trial is still in progress and it will be interesting to see if this improved early growth translates into increases in crop yield.
In summary, early trial results are showing good promise for use of band-steam as a non-herbicidal method of pest control. We plan on conducting further trials in this multi-year study. If you are interested in evaluating the device on your farm and being part of the study please contact me. We are particularly interested in fields with a known history of Fusarium wilt of lettuce and/or Sclerotinia lettuce drop that will be planted to iceberg or romaine lettuce.
As always, if you are interested in seeing the machine operate or would like more information, please feel free to contact me.
Acknowledgements
This work is supported by Crop Protection and Pest Management grant no. 2017-70006-27273/project accession no. 1014065 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Arizona Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Arizona Iceberg Lettuce Research Council. We greatly appreciate their support. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A special thank you is extended to Mellon Farms for allowing us to conduct this research on their farm.
References
Fennimore, S.A., Martin, F.N., Miller, T.C., Broome, J.C., Dorn, N. and Greene, I. 2014. Evaluation of a mobile steam applicator for soil disinfestation in California strawberry. HortScience 49(12):1542-1549.
Click link below or picture to see the band-steam and co-product applicator in action!
Carryover of Vegetable Herbicides to Wheat Grown in Rotation
Almost all the herbicides used on lettuce, cole crops and melons have restrictions on how soon wheat can be planted in rotation after they have been used. Experience has demonstrated, however, that safe intervals can vary considerably based upon many factors and are almost always much longer than they need to be. The most important factors are rate applied, irrigation practices and tillage. For example, when Kerb used to be banded at 2 to 4 lbs. per acre after planting and incorporated with furrow irrigation, it was common to see treated strips across wheat fields which followed. This is uncommon now that lower rates are Chemigated. We still see some Balan injury at ends of fields or in overlaps especially when sudan is planted. Wheat it not very sensitive to Prefar and carryover injury is uncommon.
Results of pheromone and sticky trap catches can be viewedHERE.
Diamondback moth:
Adult activity increased in all trapping locations over the past 2 weeks, except in the south Yuma Valley.
Compared with previous seasons, DBM populations about average for this time of the year.
DBM captures were highest in Bard, north Yuma Valley and Gila Valley in the past 2 weeks and averaged about 4 moths / trap / night.
Average moth captures across all traps last week averaged slightly more than 3 moths / trap/ night
Results of pheromone and sticky trap catches can be viewedHERE.
Corn earworm: CEW moth activity increased a bit in the past 2 weeks but remains well below average for late spring.
Beet armyworm: Moth counts increased slightly, but remain very low consistent with seasonal temperatures, and below average for this point in the season.
Cabbage looper: Significant increase in activity in Dome Valley, Gila Valley and Tacna, but moth counts remain unusually low for this time of year, as they have all season.
Whitefly: No adult movement recorded across all locations and overall low numbers consistent with temperatures.
Thrips: Thrips adult movement beginning to pick up considerably, particularly in Yuma and Dome Valleys. Movement is below average for late March.
Aphids: Seasonal aphid counts down considerably compared with the Feb and Jan. Counts highest in Bard and Gila Valley. Below average movement for this time of year. Majority of species found on traps were green peach aphid.
Leafminers: Adult activity up slightly in some locations, but well below average for late season.