Biological insecticides or “Biopesticides” are becoming more important in desert produce production, particularly for insect management in organic leafy vegetables. The EPA define biopesticides as certain types of pesticides derived from natural materials such as animals, plants, bacteria and certain minerals. Currently, organic growers rely heavily on a select few chemical biopesticides, and to a lesser extent, non-chemical tactics to control insect pests in organic leafy vegetables. Recent statistics from the UA-AMPC 1080 Pesticide Use Database show that the biopesticides used in desert produce for insect control are primarily microbial insecticides that consist of a microorganism (e.g., bacteria and fungi) as the active ingredient, or botanical insecticides where the active ingredient is derived from plants. Based on conversations with growers and PCAs, some of these biopesticides are often marginally effective and require intensive usage to meet produce quality standards. Furthermore, among the numerous pests PCAs encounter, aphids, bagrada bugs and flea beetles are very difficult to control with currently available biopesticides. Other major pests such as beet armyworm and western flower thrips can be effectively controlled with microbial insecticides (e.g., spinosad, Bt), but additional alternatives to be used in rotational programs for resistance management are lacking. Although numerous organically-allowed (USDA and OMRI approved) biopesticides are registered for insect control in Arizona, there is much uncertainty among growers and PCAs whether the products will actually control insects as advertised. Given the demands for high-quality organic vegetables from Arizona, applied research providing information on biopesticide efficacy is needed. Thus in 2016, a project was initiated to develop a research knowledge base for biopesticides specifically for Arizona’s unique desert growing conditions, leafy vegetable crops and pest spectrum. The overall goal of this project was to enhance pest management programs for the organic industry by developing new educational information on biopesticides for controlling insect in organically-certified leafy vegetable crops in Arizona. Results from numerous efficacy trials with biopesticides conducted on leaf vegetables grown in the desert southwest can be found in the following report Biopesticide Efficacy in Desert Produce Crops. An additional goal was to develop a Relative Efficacy Index (REI) for biopesticides based on these efficacy trials that provide growers and PCAs with information on the relative efficacy of organic active ingredients used against the key insect pests. This index can be found in the following: Relative Efficacy Index (REI) for Biopesticides on Desert Produce.
Bacterial Fruit Blotch (BFB) in melon seedlings (2024)
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) of melon is caused by the bacterium Acidovorax avenae subsp. Citrulli. The bacteria produces large olive green to brown water-soaked lesions on fruit, making them unmarketable. Symptoms of BFB on seedlings begin with water-soaked areas on the lower surface of the cotyledons and inconspicuous lesions on leaves. BFB lesions will become necrotic often with yellow halos. Lesions are frequently delimited by veins. Infected seedlings collapse and die. Greenhouse conditions are usually favorable for dispersal and establishment of pathogen. Thus, good greenhouse practices and sanitation is extremely important. Clean transplant trays must be used (disinfect trays if they will be reused) and new soil. Destroy any volunteer seedlings and keep the area in and around the greenhouse weed free. Avoid overhead watering if at all possible, or water in the middle of the day so that the plants dry thoroughly before evening. The bacterium can spread on mist and aerosols. Relative humidity should be kept low through proper watering and good air circulation in the greenhouse. Separate different seedlots, to reduce lot-to-lot spread. Monitor these isolated seedlings daily and destroy trays where symptoms develop. The remaining trays should be sprayed with a labeled bactericide and the applications continued until the plants are transplanted to the field. The pathogen can be seedborne, so growers should only use seed that has been tested for the presence of the pathogen by a reputable testing facility. Management of BFB includes a combination of preventing the introduction of the pathogen, sanitation to eliminate any inoculum present, and the use of bactericides if the disease appears. There are no commercially available watermelon cultivars that are resistant to bacterial fruit blotch, but there is some variation in susceptibility among cultivars.
Controlling Fusarium Wilt of Lettuce Using Steam Heat – Trial Initiated
Earlier this week, we initiated a trial examining the use of band steam for controlling Fusarium wilt of lettuce. The premise behind this research is to use steam heat to raise soil temperatures to levels sufficient to kill soilborne pathogens. For Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, the pathogen which causes Fusarium wilt of lettuce, the required temperature for control is generally taken to be > 140°F for 20 minutes. Soil solarization, where clear plastic is placed over the crop bed during the summer, exploits this concept. The technique raises soil surface temperatures to 150-155˚F, effectively killing the pathogen and reducing disease incidence by 45-98% (Matheron and Porchas, 2010).
In our trials, we are using steam heat to raise soil temperatures. Steam is delivered by a 35 BHP steam generator mounted on a custom designed elongated bed shaper (Fig. 1). Preliminary results were encouraging. The device was able to increase the temperature of the top 3” of soil to over 180°F at a travel speed of 0.5 mph as shown in this video of the machine in action (shown below). These temperatures exceed that of those known to control pathogens responsible for causing Fusarium wilt of lettuce (> 140°F for 20 minutes).
Stay tuned for final trial results and reports on the efficacy of using steam heat to control Fusarium wilt of lettuce.
If you are interested in evaluating the technique on your farm, please contact me. We are seeking additional sites with a known history of Fusarium wilt of lettuce disease incidence to test the efficacy and performance of the device.
References
Matheron, M. E., & Porchas, M. 2010. Evaluation of soil solarization and flooding as management tools for Fusarium wilt of lettuce. Plant Dis. 94:1323-1328.
Acknowledgements
This project is sponsored by USDA-NIFA, the Arizona Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Arizona Iceberg Lettuce Research Council. We greatly appreciate their support.
A special thank you is extended to Cory Mellon and Mellon Farms for allowing us to conduct this research on their farm.
Weeds are one of the most visible of all agricultural pests. They can’t move or hide and once established often stick up over the crop. Just one weed in a 10 acre field is annoying to look at. With insects and diseases, the damage is often more visible than the pest. That is not the case with weeds. A moderate weed infestation is approximately 10 weeds per square foot. If a herbicide produces 90% control, that leaves 1 weed per square foot or 43 weeds per acre. Without an untreated check, this can look like the herbicide failed! It is easy to leave an untreated spot in a field and it is well worth doing. Many applicators do so unintentionally because of skips, powerlines and other causes. They help determine crop injury and weed control. Here are some examples of what various levels of control looked like from one of our cole crop trials: