Field Day in Overton

I hope everybody is having a great 2010 so far.   I know the cold weather was a challenge for many growers.  I had problems with pipes bursting and heaters not working so I know what many of you went through last week.  This cold weather hopefully killed off some insect pests that were lurking about.

Now lets think about warmer weather.  The AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton will be hosting its first field day  dedicated to nursery and greenhouse production on June 24th.  We are still working out the details, but the program will start in the afternoon and wrap up with a free dinner.  We should be able to offer TNLA and TDA CEUs.

The field day will have something for everyone.   We will start off in the air conditioned auditorium with an overview of the research and extension programs at the Center.  The program will then move outdoors with field tours of Dr. Pemberton's plant evaluation trials and Dr. Steddom's and my pest management trials.  The NTNGA Memorial Greenhouse is now operational and will be a major feature of the program.   We will finish off inside with a great meal catered by Catfish Express (they catered lunch at the East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse Conference in 2009).

2010 Pest & Production Management Conference

Orlando is the Destination for the 2010 Pest & Production Management Conference
The 26th Annual Pest & Production Management Conference will take place February 25-27, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport in Orlando, Florida. Attendees will learn the latest techniques in pest/disease and production management for greenhouse and nursery plants and receive expert answers on top crop health concerns. They'll see the latest tools and products and be able to network with leading growers, researchers and educators. Click Here for more information.

Online Registration Now Open: Take Advantage of Registration Discounts
Greenhouse growers can register for the 2010 Pest & Production Management Conference by going to the official website for the conference. Be sure and take advantage of the discounted registration rates before January 29, 2010. Discounts are also available for multiple participants from the same company.

Earn While You Learn: Recertification Credits Available At Conference
Attendees can earn credits toward pesticide applicator recertification at the Pest & Production Management Conference. More than 20 states certify this program for credit. Bring your state issued applicator or certificate number for documentation for CEU credits on site. For more information, contact SAF's Laura Weaver, CMP at 800.336.4743.

Event Organizers
The organizers of the 26th Annual Pest & Production Management Conference are the Society of American Florists and Greenhouse Grower magazine.

Water Management That Makes Cents

The Ellison Chair in International Floriculture announces the THIRD of a 3-part webinar series that focuses on water quality, conservation, and management on October 20 at 11:00 a.m. CDT.

Dr. Don Wilkerson of Texas AgriLife Extension Service will be our next featured speaker and he will address the topic: Water Management That Makes Cents!

CLICK HERE -- or go to http://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/webinar.htm to register for the SECOND webinar of the series.

In case you missed them, CLICK HERE -- or go to http://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/webinar.htm to view the RECORDING of the first two webinars of the series, which are now available online. Dr. Paul Fisher of the University of Florida was the first speaker and he covered: What's in Your Water? Water Quality and Treatment for Pathogens and Algae. Dr. Peter Ling of Ohio State University was our second featured speaker and he addressed the topic: Knowing Exactly When to Apply Irrigation Water.

Whiteflies for Christmas?

Based on early reports, 2009 may be another challenging year for whitefly management. In other states, Q-biotype whiteflies have been detected in some rooted cuttings shipments. I have not heard of any problems in East Texas so far this year. That does not mean East Texas producers don’t need to be on the lookout for problems or have a good management program in place.

A good whitefly management program must have two goals. First, is to produce a high quality, salable crop for the consumer. Second, but of equal importance, is preserving the chemical tools available to manage whiteflies. If we do not maintain the viability of effective chemical tools, it will be difficult for many growers to produce a salable crop. Consequently, the wise use of chemicals, through a scientifically based IPM program, is essential in this 21^st Century. Europe has seen, and is suffering from, the results of over spraying whiteflies. Insecticide misuse in the United States may result in whitefly populations that cannot be controlled. It is important to remember that the Q-biotype whitefly is already resistant to a number of products commonly used. Chemical overspray could easily lead silverleaf whitefly resistance.

The Q-biotype Task Force asks you to collaborate with us in this effort. It’s not just about the challenges posed by the Q-biotype. It’s about avoiding resistance development in any whitefly population.

We have developed the “Management Program for Whiteflies on Propagated Ornamentals”. It’s available at http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/bemisia/bemisia.htm. This program is based on the best scientific data developed to date by the Whitefly Task Force scientists. Do not rely on just one or two effective products, but instead integrate products with different modes of action to decrease the potential for developing resistance.

With support from Color Spot Nurseries, the Society of American Florists and the Agriculture Research Service, I am evaluating rotation programs from the Management Program. The results from my trials and other entomologist around the country will be used to update the plan in 2010.

If you have whitefly control problems contact me so we can get your whiteflies biotyped. Q-biotype whiteflies have never been document in Texas.

REMEMBER: Q-BIOTYPE WHITEFLIES ARE A DOCUMENTED THREAT, BUT THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT B-BIOTYPE ARE DEVELOPING RESISTANCE AS WELL. Only by working cooperatively, wisely, and together can agriculture solve this problem.

East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse Conference

I would like to invite the ornamental producers in Texas to attend the 2009 East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse Conference. This year’s conference will be held on October 28^th at the Harvey Convention Center in Tyler. The conference is a partnership between Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, and Northeast Texas Nursery Growers Association. There will also be an IPM Workshop for Hispanic Workers. Registration prior to the meeting is $30 a person and $40 at the door. Five TDA CEU’s will be available. For more information visit http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu/ or call Scott Ludwig at 903-834-6191.

This year we are fortunate to have Dr. Glenn Fain (Auburn University) and Mr. Trent Teegerstrom (University of Arizona) as speakers at the conference.

Dr Fain will present “Alternative Substrates for the Nursery and Greenhouse Industry”. The purchase and shipping of Canadian Peat and perlite are costly products for the greenhouse and nursery business while the future availability of pinebark is of concern. Dr. Fain will show you the results of continued research using WholeTree and forest residuals as substrates in greenhouse and nursery production. Research has shown these components are viable and sustainable alternatives to current substrate components. His presentation will cover harvesting, processing and use of WholeTree and forest residuals as substrate components in greenhouse and nursery production.

Mr. Teegerstrom will present “An Introduction to the Nursery Cost and Profit Estimator”. The Nursery Cost and Profit Estimator (NCPE) is a spreadsheet tool developed jointly by the University of Arizona and the University of Hawaii to assist nursery producers in determining the cost of producing individual plants or groups of similar products. Knowing the individual cost of each product is critical information to make sound management decisions. In an industry where a typical business produces often over 100 different plant products, knowing which ones contribute to profit or loss can be challenging. The NCPE is set up to evaluate products from in-house propagation as well as purchased propagation material, and for final size plants ranging from small containers to trees in large boxes. The NCPE allows determining the true cost of a product but in addition the opportunity to simulate the impact of different cultural practices, regulatory demands, and the use of new products or different inputs. Information needed to start using the NCPE includes the land and bench area in operation, including production and non-production areas, federal tax schedule F or C, and production records for specific products or groups of products grown in the operation. The NCPE offers producers the opportunity to weigh the risks associated with different cultural practices, pricing, and regulatory compliance.

Additional topics to be addressed will include:

• IPM Update – Dr. Scott Ludwig (AgriLife Extension)
• Insect Pest Identification - Dr. Scott Ludwig (AgriLife Extension
• Plant Disease Identification and Management - Dr. Karl Steddom (AgriLife Extension)
• Improving Postharvest Performance of Bedding Plants with PGRs – Dr. Brent Pemberton (AgriLife Research)
• Training your Hispanic Workforce - Dr. Carlos Bográn (AgriLife Extension)

Don’t forget to bring your Hispanic works so they can attend Dr. Brográn’s day long “IPM Workshop of Hispanic Workers”.

Register now for water webinar series

Given the success of its inaugural Shine in 09 webinar series (recordings are online at http://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/webinar.htm), the Ellison Chair in International Floriculture announces a new 3-part webinar series that focuses on water quality, conservation, and management.

Why water?
Access to an adequate supply of high quality water is also a growing concern for the nursery/floral industry due to drought, urbanization, and competing demands have decreased available irrigation water. Additionally, regulations on consumption and runoff have greatly impacted greenhouse and nursery management and profitability!
The first of these water-related webinars will be presented on August 17 at 2:00 p.m. CDT by Dr. Paul Fisher, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Florida. His topic will be: "What's living in your water? Water quality and treatment for pathogens and algae."

Paul also serves as the lead collaborator for the Water Education Alliance for Horticulture. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce runoff and water-related disease issues in the greenhouse and nursery industry by increasing grower knowledge of water technologies and water conservation practices. Current projects are focusing on the development of accessible educational materials for growers. They are also researching practical methods to assess how well treatment technologies work to treat pathogens. Click here to review some of the activities, programs, and educational materials of the WEAH.

Register now for water webinar series

August 17, 2009 - 2:00 p.m. CDT
Webinar 1 Topic:
What's in Your Water? Water Quality and Treatment for Pathogens and Algae
Dr. Paul Fisher, University of Florida

September 15, 2009 - 11:00 a.m. CDT
Webinar 2 Topic:
Knowing Exactly When to Apply Irrigation Water
Dr. Peter Ling, Ohio State University

October 20, 2009 - 11:00 a.m. CDT
Webinar 3 Topic:
Water Management that Makes Cents!
Dr. Don Wilkerson, Texas A&M University

Chrysanthemum White Rust Webinar

The Society of American Florists is offering free chrysanthemum white rust webinar hosted by Dr. Jane Trolinger, of Syngenta Flowers. The breeding and propagation companies have worked hard to develop good information about how growers can protect their crops from chrysanthemum white rust this season. For more information on the webinar, chrysanthemum white rust, and other invasive insects and diseases visit the SAF Website at: http://www.safnow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=333&Itemid=149.

Chilli Thrips Invade East Texas

Earlier this month I received plants from an East Texas wholesale nursery with damage that the grower thought was possibly herbicide damage. As soon as I put the sample under the microscope my worst fears came true. The damage was not the results of a preemergent herbicide. Rather, the damage was from chilli thrips. I went out to the nursery and walked the entire facility with the grower to determine what plants were impacted. We estimated that approximately 20% of the nursery was infested with chilli thrips. The good news is that we have the tools to develop a management program that should be able to clean up the nursery. Unfortunately, we were unable to determine where the thrips came from. I would suggest that all ornamental crop producers and landscapers in the state be on the lookout for unusual plant damage.

Description. Chilli thrips are extremely small and difficult to distinguish from other thrips species without the aid of a good hand lens or compound microscope. Adults are pale with dark wings and less than 1 mm in length. Immature chilli thrips are also pale in color and resemble the immature stages of many other thrips species.

Feeding Damage. Chilli thrips infestations are usually first detected by their distinctive feeding damage. Unlike flower thrips, which feed primarily on pollen, chilli thrips feed on various plant tissues. Feeding causes bronzing (tissues turning bronze in color) of leaves, buds, and fruit. Damaged leaves may curl upward and appear distorted. Infested plants become stunted or dwarfed and leaves may detach from the stem at the petioles in some plant species. Feeding may also cause buds to become brittle and drop. Young leaves, buds and fruits are preferred, although all above-ground parts of host plants may be attacked. Damage can be easily confused with herbicide damage, broad mites, or even a foliar pathogen.

Chilli thrips damage on pomegranate

Chilli thrips damage on Japanese maple

Host range. Chilli thrips have a very broad host range and may feed on many of the common plants. All broadleafed plants should be considered potential hosts for this thrips. Some of the more common plants attacked are roses (all types), Indian hawthorn, cleyera, begonias, plumbago, blueberry, schefllera, duranta, sweet viburnum, verbena, oaks, live oak, red maple, Japanese maple, grape, Japanese maple, English ivy, viburnum, and ornamental peppers.

Chilli thrips damage on shrub roses

Chilli thrips damage on Indian hawthorn

Plant Monitoring and Identification. Plants with the symptoms described above should be examined closely for the presence of thrips. Thrips collected from the leaves or buds of plants with suspected damage should be collected and properly identified. If you wish to participate in efforts to monitor the distribution of this pest in Texas, place samples of thrips or suspected thrips-infested plant parts into a Ziploc bag, add a dry piece of paper towel or napkin to avoid excessive moisture, and seal the bag. Label the bag with collection information including locality (city or town and county), date, species of host plant, and your name and contact information. Send samples via express mail (next-day delivery) to assure good sample quality. Please send samples to: Chilli Thrips Lab, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, P.O. Box 38, Overton, TX 75684

Zombies and fire ants?

Earlier this month Robert Burns with AgriLife Communications published a press release regarding a project I am involved in to help establish the first fire ant parasite in East Texas. We never thought that the story would have been picked up outside of East Texas since phorid flies have been released in Texas for a number of years and are established in some parts of the state. Well we learned an important lesson. If you put the word zombie in a title people pay attention.There have been many variations of the story in the media. It is important to know that the flies will not attack humans and turn us into Zombies as some bloggers have suggested.

Here is the original version:

OVERTON – Zombie fire ants may not sound like a cool thing,Texas AgriLife Extension Service but wait a minute, said a expert.

On April 29, on the grounds of the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton in East Texas, Dr. Scott Ludwig released fire ants infected with a new type of phorid fly, a minuscule parasite that only preys on red imported fire ants.

The infected ants will soon exhibit some very bizarre behavior, he said.

"First they become zombies, their movements under the control of the parasite. Then their heads fall off and the parasite emerges," said Ludwig, , AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist.

Previously released phorid flies only preyed on ants in disturbed mounds. In contrast, the species, Pseudacteon obtusus, that Ludwig released in April is attracted to foraging red imported fire ants and not disturbed mounts. Which is even better, he said, as attacks of ants are not dependent upon the mounds being disturbed.

The "zombified," fire ant is made to wander about 55 yards away from the mound to die.

"The parasite does this so it can complete development without being detected and attacked by the fire ant colony," Ludwig said. "By making their hosts wander away, the parasite is insuring its survival."

As with the new species, the previously released phorid fly species in Texas only attacks red imported fire ants. They inject their eggs into their bodies. In response, fire ants withdraw to their underground nests and reduce their foraging range, he said.

Once established, it was hoped that earlier releases of phorid flies would spread beyond the original release sites, and there has been evidence that they have, Ludwig said.

"Pseudacteon tricuspis was first released near Austin in 1995. From 2003 to 2006, it spread over 10,000 square miles," Ludwig said. "The second species, P. curvatis, was established 2004 and is beginning its spread."

The parasite isn't attracted to native ant species, he emphasized.

"We're hoping the new parasite will reduce the foraging of fire ants, and thereby allow our native ants to regain some footing," he said.

The release was part of the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project.

"The project was initiated in 1997 as a result of the Texas Legislature funding an exceptional item requested by Texas AgriLife Research," Ludwig said. "The project's goals are the management of imported fire ant to below economic levels on agricultural lands and to eliminate the imported fire ant as a nuisance or health threat in urban environments." The phorid flies infesting the fire ants Ludwig released were raised by Dr. Lawrence Gilbert, director of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin.

"UT researchers have taken the lead on phorid fly research in the state," Ludwig said.

More information on the project and fire ant research can be found at http://web.biosci.utexas.edu/fireant/index.html or http://fireants.tamu.edu/ .

The new species was previously released in 2007 only in South Texas, where it was established but did not spread.

"It may not have spread because of the drought," he said.

Ludwig's release was the first in East Texas. In 2010, he plans to set out traps baited with live red imported fire ants to determine if and how rapidly the phorid fly has spread.

"Earlier data suggests they can spread 25 miles a year through wind-assisted dispersion," he said.

IPM Priority Setting Meeting

The East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse IPM Program is now in its 8th year. Hopefully during this time you have benefited from one of the many activities carried out by my program. These may have included attending the East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse Conference, onsite consultations, science based pest management suggestions, or information disseminated through websites, bogs, trade journal articles, and newsletters.

In an effort to ensure that the East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse IPM Program is positioned to meet your pest management needs in the future, I will be hosting a meeting to set IPM priorities on June 11th from 1:00-4:00 at the Smith County Extension Office. The meeting will be open to all nursery and greenhouse growers from East Texas and surrounding areas. This is your opportunity to have direct impact in the areas that I will address over the next few years.

During this three-hour time period, you will identify areas that need to be addressed in weed, plant disease, and insect management. The needs assessment will be conducted for tree & shrubs, perennials, and bedding & pot plants. It is critical that we have participation from as many growers as possible to help ensure that the industries needs are met.

I am also interested in determining the best method to provide educational information to the industry. It is critical that you receive the information being produced by my program in a timely fashion.

Please RSVP to Kim Cushman at 903-834-6191 or kccushman@ag.tamu.edu by June 10th so we can assure adequate resource for all the meeting attendants.