Source: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS submitted to NRP
ADVANCING IPM AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL STRATEGIES WHILE REDUCING PESTICIDE USE IN FLORICULTURE & NURSERY CROPS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0217254
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2008
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2013
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
410 MRAK HALL
DAVIS,CA 95616-8671
Performing Department
Entomology and Nematology
Non Technical Summary
The concept of advancing IPM and biological control in floriculture and nursery production while reducing pesticide use cannot be done in a vacuum. These strategies need to be incorporated into the overall production system in a way that is as unobtrusive as possible. By increasing overall plant health and vigor through the incorporation of silicon and efficient microorganisms we will be advancing IPM by increasing the plants overall tolerance to damage by arthropods and disease. In addition, such strategies my slow down pest population development and allow pesticides and/or biological control agents to work more successfully. Finally, we will be examining a new and improved method for detecting/monitoring western flower thrips which is still the most important floriculture pest. With these pheromone-laced traps, we hope that more growers will use them for WFT monitoring, thus improving their overall use of IPM strategies.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2112121113020%
2113110113020%
2152121113020%
2153110113020%
2122123113020%
Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2123 - Bedding/garden plants; 3110 - Insects; 2121 - Cut flowers, foliage, and greens;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
Over the next few years, my laboratory will continue to develop monitoring/sampling systems for thrips and other pests. In addition, we will examine the effects of adding silicon and microbial infusions to the roots of plants with the idea of increasing plant health and vigor to improve their ability to withstand attack by diseases and arthropods. Finally, over the next few years, we will form a Bedding Plant/Plant Propagators Alliance with UC Cooperative Extension County Advisors to increase communication among these growers and to rapidly disseminate results from research and demonstration trials.
Project Methods
With the assistance of the laboratory of Dr. Kate Scow at UC Davis, we will categorize the microbes contained in the EM product that will be produced in my laboratory. This product will be added (via solid and liquid formulations) to rose and chrysanthemum plants and we will examine the health and vigor and relative disease and insect incidence with and without an EM-1 inoculation using similar evaluation criteria as outlined for silicon study (above). Depending on the results of these studies, we will evaluate the relative performance of EM-1 compared to normal grower practices in a commercial chrysanthemum range in Carpinteria. Depending on the results obtained and using a reductionist approach, we will initiate a series of experiments to try and determine the underlying mechanisms for what is observed in addition to determining the relative rolls of each of the microorganisms contained in the product. We will be evaluating the Lurem trap from Syngenta Bioline. Unfortunately, the Koppert product has failed to gain access to the US for regulatory reasons. In small greenhouses on the Davis campus, we will determine whether a pheromone laced trap captures more thrips than traps without pheromone. Two traps (with and without pheromone) will be hung in greenhouses just above blooming zinnia plants infested with heavy populations of WFT. The number of thrips will be counted and sexed on the cards on alternate days and the position of the cards will be switched at each counting. This will be run for 4-6 weeks in 4 separate greenhouses. We will repeat this experiment for both blue and yellow cards. Based on the results, we will initiate work with a cooperating grower who grows in much larger greenhouses. This grower has greenhouses approximately 10,000 sq. ft2 and uses 1 card per every 1000 ft2 in normal WFT trapping. We will count each card weekly for one week, then replace every other card in the trapping scheme with a pheromone laced card and proceed to count for another week. This procedure will be repeated for 4 weeks in 4 separate greenhouses. By analyzing the number of thrips caught (in addition to the sex ratio) on a per card basis,we should gain insight into the utility of the pheromone baited traps in a real world situation.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience or stakeholders that were the focus of this project were flower growers in California and allied industries -- agrochemical companies, biological control producers, fertilzer producers, and those indviduals (PCAs) who provide pest control advice to growers. We reached all these individuals through meetings at grower facilities, presentations and discussions at larger meetings run by cooperative extension, or through visits by these stakeholders to the Davis campus where a tour of our facilties and discussion of research took place. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Five graduate students (3 Ph.Ds and two Masters) have been involved with this project since its inception. One has moved on to a Ph.D program at Florida State,one has become an instructor at a community college in New Jersey, one has accepted an IPM Specialst/County Advisor position within UC ANR and two are continuing their Ph.D research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? My project routunely gives presentations to various grower groups in California, usually through the UC Floriculture and Nursery Allance. In addition, I give other presentations through my own contacts statewide. We publish trade magazine articles, maintain a departmental website with a blog, and entertain individual growers or grower groups that come through campus to view my project and others. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We developed an accurate and time effective method for sampling western flower thrips in floricultural crops. This remains the most important pest that growers have to contend with, so this method enables the rapid assessment of the effectiveness of chemcial and biological controls. Considerable effort has been made to document the effectiveness of soil inoculants -- silicon as a fertilizer amendment and microbial inoculants added to the soil. We have documented that both of these can improve the health of the plant, although the effects were not as broad or as significant as we would have hoped. For example, efforst to demonstrate increased rooting in plant propagation and increased vase life of cut flowers with the addition of silicon did not materialize. In addition, we did not see an impact on sucking insects (e.g., leafhoppers, aphids, etc.). We did demonstrate an impact on leafminers and western flower thrips. We are now turning our attention to the combination of silicon plus naturale enemies for leafminer control. Results with microbial inoculants have varied considerably -- we did demonstrate an increase in rooting, overall plant development, and a greater tolerance for disease (e.g., Phytophthora spp.) but we have not seen an impact on arthropod pests. Nonetheless, the impact on plant growth was sufficiently great to warrant the interest of growers, and many floriculture producers are making use of these incolulants. Working with cooperating growers statewide with on-site demonstrations revealed considerable variability from plant species to plant species and from grower to grower. This was to be expected, but this has not deterred the adoption of these incolants. We have developed considerable data on the practical use of these microbial inoculants by growers, Since many growers use tank mixes, we have determined the compatbility of these microbial inoculants with insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and entomopathogenic nematodes.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2009 Citation: Sutherland, Andrew M. and Michael P. Parrella. 2009. Mycophagy in coccinellidae: Review and synthesis. Biological Control 51: 284-293
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2010 Citation: Sutherland, Andrew M. and Michael P. Parrella. 2010. Effects of fundicides on a mycophagous coccinellid may present integration failure in disease management. Biological Control 54: 292-299
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Kaspi, R., Yuval, B. and M. P. Parrella. 2011. Anticipated host availability affects parastoid behavior. Animal Behavior 82: 1159-1165
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Merwin, A. and M. P. Parrella. 2014. Preference induction and the benefits of floral resources for a facultative herbivore. Ecological Entomology 39: 4-5-411
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Parrella, M. P., A. Wagner and D. Fugino. 2014. The floriculture and nursey industy's struggle with invasive pests. American Entomologist (in Press, Fall, 2014)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Parrella, M. P. 2013. Pesticide Use on the Decline in California Cut Flowers. UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance Newsletter. May, 2013
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Parrella, M. P. 2014. Grand Challenges: Integrated Pest Management USDa-ARS National Program 304 (Crop Protection and Quarantine). Customer/Stakeholder Workshop Webinar Jan. 29th, 2014
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Parrella, M. P. 2013. Advancing IPM and Biological Control in Greenhouses: Are we making progress. Symposium Presentation: Advances in Greenhouse Arthropod Pest Management. Sumday, Nov. 10th, Austin Convention Center, Austin, Tx
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2010 Citation: Parrella, M. P. 2010. The floriculture and nursery industries struggle with invasive pests. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Nov. 13th, 2010. Reno, NV
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Parrella, M. P. 2013. Reducing pesticide use (further) by improving plant health. Society of American Florists, 2013 Pest Management and Production Conference February 21st, 2013. San Francisco, CA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Parrella, M. P. 2013. Pesticide Use declines and biological control increases in California Greenhouses. Fourth International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods, March 4-8, 2013, Pucon, Chile
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Parrella, M. P. 2013. How to integrate natural enemies with pesticides. 2013 UC Nursery/Floriculture Alliance Symposium, Elks Lodge, Watsonville, CA, December 12, 2013.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Sutherland, Andrew M and Michael P. Parrella. Accuracy, precision, and economic efficiency for three methods of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) population density assessment. J. Econ. Entomology 104: 1323-1328


Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project continues to provide information relevant to the floriculture and nursery industry in California. This includes information important to cut flower growers, plant propagators, potted plant producers, bedding plant growers and growers of nursery stock. Information was disseminated to growers in California through meeting with individual growers and through a number of meetings sponsored by the California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance and through the Bedding Plant Alliance sponsored by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. In addition, presentations were given to cooperating growers in the Bedding Plant Alliance and at individual meetings of the county based groups (e.g., Santa Barbara County Flower and Nursery Growers Association.). Finally, information was presented at professional meetings, including the Entomological Society of America (ESA) National Meeting and the Pacific Branch of the ESA annual meeting. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
A major focus of the project has been the evaluation of biopesticides and an assessment of their compatibility with natural enemies. We have worked with a number of larger, well established chemical companies in addition to smaller companies whose sole focus is biopesticides. A number of very effective products were screened against mealybugs, leafminers, spidermites and western flower thrips. We found some that provided excellent control and also exhibited compatibility with natural enemies. We continued to work with the microbial inoculants (primarily effective microorganisms from EMRO, Japan and now AG1000 from Teraganix). The product continues to perform well in both UC Davis greenhouse studies and with cooperating growers. There appears to be a positive impact on seed germination, an enhancement of plant growth and a reduced need for funigicide applications when these microbial products are used.

Publications

  • Sutherland, A. M. and M. P. Parrella. 2011. Accuracy, Precision, and Economic Efficiency for Three Methods of Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Population Density Assessment. J. Econ. Entomol. 104(4): 1323-1328


Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project continued to provide information relevant to the floriculture and nursery industry in California. Information was disseminated to growers in California through a series of meetings sponsored by the California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance and through the Bedding Plant Alliance sponsored by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. In addition, presentations were given to cooperating growers in the Bedding Plant Alliance and at individual meetings of the county based groups (e.g., Santa Barbara County Flower and Nursery Growers Association.). Finally, information was presented at professional meetings, including the Entomological Society of America (ESA) National Meeting and the Pacific Branch of the ESA annual meeting. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Sampling for western flower thrips is notoriously difficult and varies from one investigator to another. The result is an inconsistent array of data on pesticide performance that has little meaning and makes it almost impossible to compare pesticide evaluations from one investigator to another. We compared 3 sampling methods for western flower thrips (the tap method, alcohol wash, and the brown bag method). Preliminary data suggest that the brown bag method is the most accurate and precise of the three. We continued to work with the microbial inoculants (primarily efficient microorganisms from EMRO, Japan). We have demonstrated the product (at 1:500 or 1:1000) will reduce the number of living zoospsores of Phytophthora in water through lab and greenhouse studies, In addition, through a series of detailed studies in the greenhouse, this microbial product was shown to enhance the growth (via increased root development) of plants. The data were less conclusive regarding its ability to reduce the need for fungicide application, but it appears to delay the need for fungicides, thus reducing overall fungicide use in the greenhouse.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The development of IPM strategies for floriculture & nursery crops has continued in my lab during the past year. We have focused considerable effort on the inoculation of microbial mixtures into both irrigation water as well as into soilless mixes. At this point they appear to have real value in terms of reducing plant pathogens (e.g., Phytophthora spp.), but more work is needed. A number of reduced risk pesticides were evaluated (mainly focusing on botanicals) and some appear quite promising for control of a wide range of floriculture pests. A new project examining the utility of combining entomopathogenic nematodes and predatory mites for control of fungus gnats has been initiated. Research with the native biological control agent (Psyllobora vigintimaculata, a mycophagous coccinelid) that move into floriculture greenhouses when pesticide sprays are reduced has been examined for their compatibility with commonly used greenhouse fungicides. This information was disseminated to stakeholders through statewide meetings. Finally we examined numerous reduced risk pesticides (many of which were botanical in nature) and this information was shared with stakeholders through grower meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The overall objective of this project is to enable floriculture and nursery producers to continue to produce a high quality crop free of pests and their damage while using less pesticides. In addition, we hope to change the nature of the pesticides used - eliminating organo-phospate, carbamate and pyrethroid materials in favor of reduced risk products and biological control agents. Information from this project has resulted in a dramatic decrease in pesticide use while still producing a quality product. Many growers in California are now certified by 3rd party labels and for the first time, we have floriculture producers who are certified organic growers. Over the past 10 years, pesticides use in floriculture crops has dropped almost 50%.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period