Progress 08/30/06 to 07/31/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To assess the benefits of new products and integrating practices such as soil solarization, cover crops, and resistant cultivars for effective control of root-knot and other plant parasite nematodes and soilborne pests in ornamental production systems. As resources permit, research will be conducted on novel approaches to manipulating soil environments common to ornamental production systems so that they are suppressive to root-knot nematodes and other pests, yet encouraging or neutral to ornamentals and non-target plants. Approach (from AD-416) Field research will be conducted in a commercial grower's site in southeastern Florida. Treatments will include standard grower practices as well as alternative practices that are compatible with current production systems, such as cover crops, solarization, and low-impact nematicides. Since these treatments are conducted prior to planting, and may require several months in the case of cover crops, soil samples to evaluate nematode populations will be collected from all treatment plots at the beginning and conclusion of the treatment period. Plots will then be planted with susceptible ornamentals, and additional soil samples for nematode evaluation will be collected at planting and harvest of the ornamental crop. At harvest, several plants per plot will be removed and rated for galling by root-knot nematodes. This project is related to inhouse objective 3: Identify combinations of pest control tactics that interact synergistically to improve pest control, are practical to implement, and will minimize environmental disruption. The goal of this cooperative project was to develop management strategies for nematodes and other soilborne pests in floriculture production systems. This work is critical for growers of field-grown floral and ornamental crops, because as methyl bromide becomes unavailable, effective alternative practices for managing these pests must be found. The most significant accomplishments of this project were to determine the susceptibility of cut flower species and cultivars to root-knot nematodes and soilborne diseases, to improve the performance of solarization in the field and to determine the limitations of solarization relative to soil fumigation. Solarization was as effective as fumigation with methyl bromide for weed management, and solarization was improved by use of durable, Ultra Violet-stable plastic films. Prolonged cloudy weather is an important limitation to solarization, as management of root-knot nematodes over a very long (6-8 months) growing season is a challenge and performance was somewhat limited relative to methyl bromide in sites with unusually heavy pressure from root-knot nematodes and soilborne disease. Integration of solarization with organic amendment application or trap cropping shows some promise. However, integration of solarization with reduced-risk fungicides or with mulching did not improve results over solarization alone. Information from these studies is important to growers of floriculture crops, so timely dissemination of results is critical. Outreach was provided to growers through traditional meetings and presentations, as well as through readily-accessible on-line publications on the Florida Cooperative Extension Service website. Two articles on solarization and two articles on susceptibility of floral cultivars to root-knot nematodes are now available on this site which provides ready access to growers in Florida and worldwide. Progress was monitored through with continuous interactions in the form of meetings, telephone calls, emails, and site visits with the University of Florida PI and industry grower/cooperators.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To assess the benefits of new products and integrating practices such as soil solarization, cover crops, and resistant cultivars for effective control of root-knot and other plant parasite nematodes and soilborne pests in ornamental production systems. As resources permit, research will be conducted on novel approaches to manipulating soil environments common to ornamental production systems so that they are suppressive to root-knot nematodes and other pests, yet encouraging or neutral to ornamentals and non-target plants. Approach (from AD-416) Field research will be conducted in a commercial grower's site in southeastern Florida. Treatments will include standard grower practices as well as alternative practices that are compatible with current production systems, such as cover crops, solarization, and low-impact nematicides. Since these treatments are conducted prior to planting, and may require several months in the case of cover crops, soil samples to evaluate nematode populations will be collected from all treatment plots at the beginning and conclusion of the treatment period. Plots will then be planted with susceptible ornamentals, and additional soil samples for nematode evaluation will be collected at planting and harvest of the ornamental crop. At harvest, several plants per plot will be removed and rated for galling by root-knot nematodes. This research relates to inhouse objective: Research efforts will concentrate on the testing of novel chemical, biological, biorational, cultural, and organic pest conrol tactics and on improving their application technology. The goal of this cooperative project is to develop management strategies for nematodes and other soilborne pests in floriculture production systems. A recent publication summarized results of field testing with snapdragon with the objective of comparing solarization and reduced-risk pesticides to a methyl bromide (MB) standard, in a site that was heavily infested with Pythium spp., Meloidogyne incognita, and weeds. Solarization sometimes provided pest management similar to fumigation, and was consistent in managing weeds. Methyl bromide was more consistent for management of root-knot nematodes. Solarization was similar to or more effective than MB for reducing plant mortality due to Pythium spp., however surviving plants were larger and more vigorous following MB. Flower yields were greater following MB than solarization. Integrating solarization with Biophos (a phosphonate /phosphate product) or Kodiak (a rhizobacteria product) did not improve solarization. Managing a severe nematode-disease complex over the long snapdragon growing season remains challenging, due to nematode resurgence late in the season. Research on different plastic films for solarization was recently published. Plastic solarization films differed in their efficacy against nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) and their durability in the field. Optimum performance was achieved with Polydak solarization film, currently produced in Israel. Selection of effective film can help optimize solarization as a soilborne pest management practice for growers. Two on-line articles were recently published on the Florida Cooperative Extension Service website. These provide access to research results to growers in Florida and worldwide. One article is a summary of field work with solarization in Florida, providing benefits and risks of solarization and references to previous field trial results. Also, a summary of resistance and susceptibility of flower species and cultivars to root-knot nematodes was published. This provides information on flower crops and cultivars that have resistance to one or more species of Meloidogyne spp. Research progress on management of root-knot nematodes and other soilborne pests in floriculture production systems was summarized and presented at the USDA- ARS Third Floral and Nursery Crops Researchers� Workshop, Cleveland, OH, 10/14/09. Results were also presented to growers at a field day in Zolfo Springs, FL, on 9/29/09. Additional work is being prepared for publication. Accomplishments are aligned with NP308 Preplant soil fumigation alternatives component. Progress was monitored by being actively involved in all aspects of this research project and monitors activities with continuous interactions in the form of meetings, telephone calls, emails, and site visits with the University of Florida and industry grower/cooperators.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To assess the benefits of new products and integrating practices such as soil solarization, cover crops, and resistant cultivars for effective control of root-knot and other plant parasite nematodes and soilborne pests in ornamental production systems. As resources permit, research will be conducted on novel approaches to manipulating soil environments common to ornamental production systems so that they are suppressive to root-knot nematodes and other pests, yet encouraging or neutral to ornamentals and non-target plants. Approach (from AD-416) Field research will be conducted in a commercial grower's site in southeastern Florida. Treatments will include standard grower practices as well as alternative practices that are compatible with current production systems, such as cover crops, solarization, and low-impact nematicides. Since these treatments are conducted prior to planting, and may require several months in the case of cover crops, soil samples to evaluate nematode populations will be collected from all treatment plots at the beginning and conclusion of the treatment period. Plots will then be planted with susceptible ornamentals, and additional soil samples for nematode evaluation will be collected at planting and harvest of the ornamental crop. At harvest, several plants per plot will be removed and rated for galling by root-knot nematodes. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This project relates to objective 4 of the inhouse project: Define the impacts of pest management and crop production practices on soil health, including the suppression of soilborne pests. The goal of this cooperative project is to develop management strategies for nematodes and other soilborne pests in floriculture production systems. Greenhouse experiments evaluating the susceptibility of selected flower cultivars to Meloidogyne incognita (race 2) and M. javanica were completed and published. Snapdragon and nasturtium were susceptible and supported high populations of both nematode species, but marigold, zinnia, salvia, and carnation cultivars evaluated were poor hosts. Delphinium showed light galling with some intermediate nematode population levels, but was significantly less susceptible than snapdragon and often similar to the resistant flower species. Flower growers typically produce several different crop species, and may have the opportunity to rotate some of these, such as snapdragon and delphinium. While Florida growers do not typically produce all of these species as cut flower crops, growers are interested in using marigold, and possibly other cover crops for nematode suppression. Several field and laboratory experiments have been aimed at optimizing the efficacy of soil solarization for management of nematodes and other soilborne pests. Recently published work revealed that eggs and juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita can be killed over time at temperatures of only 40-42oC, substantially lower than the temperatures of >45oC typically expected under solarization. However, lethal effects at reduced temperatures required exposure to those temperatures for >13 hours up to several days, so the recommendation to keep solarization films in place for 6 weeks remains unchanged. A second season of field testing with snapdragon was recently completed with the objective of comparing solarization and reduced-risk pesticides to a methyl bromide standard, in a site that was heavily infested with Pythium spp., Meloidogyne incognita, and weeds. Solarization was not as effective as methyl bromide for reducing pest levels and improving flower yields. Integrating solarization with Biophos (a phosphonate/phosphate product) or Kodiak (a rhizobacteria product) did not show significant improvement over solarization alone. Managing a severe nematode-disease complex over the long growing season needed for snapdragon is challenging due to nematode resurgence later in the growing season. Another field test was conducted to compare the performance of different kinds of plastic films for use in solarization. The plastic solarization films evaluated differed in their ability to manage nutsedge and in their durability in the field. Optimum performance was achieved with Polydak solarization film. Work is currently being summarized and submitted for publication. Selection of the most effective plastic film can help to further optimize the use of solarization as a soilborne pest management practice for growers. Progress was monitored through continuous meetings, phone calls, email, and site visits.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To assess the benefits of new products and integrating practices such as soil solarization, cover crops, and resistant cultivars for effective control of root-knot and other plant parasite nematodes and soilborne pests in ornamental production systems. As resources permit, research will be conducted on novel approaches to manipulating soil environments common to ornamental production systems so that they are suppressive to root-knot nematodes and other pests, yet encouraging or neutral to ornamentals and non-target plants. Approach (from AD-416) Field research will be conducted in a commercial grower's site in southeastern Florida. Treatments will include standard grower practices as well as alternative practices that are compatible with current production systems, such as cover crops, solarization, and low-impact nematicides. Since these treatments are conducted prior to planting, and may require several months in the case of cover crops, soil samples to evaluate nematode populations will be collected from all treatment plots at the beginning and conclusion of the treatment period. Plots will then be planted with susceptible ornamentals, and additional soil samples for nematode evaluation will be collected at planting and harvest of the ornamental crop. At harvest, several plants per plot will be removed and rated for galling by root-knot nematodes. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This project is related to Objective 1 of this in-house project: Develop new management strategies for control of pest and pathogens currently controlled by methyl bromide in vegetable and ornamental cropping systems. The goal of this cooperative project is to develop management strategies for nematodes and other soilborne pests in floriculture production systems. Progress has been made in identifying important pathogens of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus). Fusarium spp. and Pythium spp. are common components isolated from diseased plant tissue in growers� fields. Pathogenicity tests examining the relative pathogenicity of P. aphanidermatum and F. oxysporum alone and in combination on snapdragon have been completed. Pythium aphanidermatum was consistently pathogenic to snapdragon, causing root and crown rot, and reduced plant height, root weight, and numbers of flowers. Fusarium oxysporum was not pathogenic. This is important information for flower growers because Pythium spp. are common and endemic in field sites. Therefore growers must be careful to minimize conditions of standing water or flooding that can be conducive to development of disease epidemics due to Pythium spp. In addition, a demonstration test was performed comparing summer solarization and fumigation with methyl bromide for management of weeds and other pests in a fall crop of delphinium. Nematodes were negligible in this site but weeds were a particular concern to the grower. Fumigation with methyl bromide was more effective in managing several kinds of summer weeds, but solarization was more effective against white clover (Trifolium repens). White clover was the main concern of the grower, since it competes more directly with the flower crop. Although preliminary, results are encouraging in that solarization may provide some benefits in managing this weed species. These accomplishments are aligned with National Program 308 Preplant soil fumigation alternatives component. The Authorized Departmental Officer's Departmental Representative is actively involved in all aspects of this research project and monitors activities for this project with continuous interactions in the form of monthly meetings, weekly telephone calls, and weekly site visits with the University of Florida Principal Investigator and the industry grower/cooperator.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To assess the benefits of new products and integrating practices such as soil solarization, cover crops, and resistant cultivars for effective control of root-knot and other plant parasite nematodes and soilborne pests in ornamental production systems. As resources permit, research will be conducted on novel approaches to manipulating soil environments common to ornamental production systems so that they are suppressive to root-knot nematodes and other pests, yet encouraging or neutral to ornamentals and non-target plants. Approach (from AD-416) Field research will be conducted in a commercial grower's site in southeastern Florida. Treatments will include standard grower practices as well as alternative practices that are compatible with current production systems, such as cover crops, solarization, and low-impact nematicides. Since these treatments are conducted prior to planting, and may require several months in the case of cover crops, soil samples to evaluate nematode populations will be collected from all treatment plots at the beginning and conclusion of the treatment period. Plots will then be planted with susceptible ornamentals, and additional soil samples for nematode evaluation will be collected at planting and harvest of the ornamental crop. At harvest, several plants per plot will be removed and rated for galling by root-knot nematodes. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and the University of Florida, with additional details of research found in the report for the parent CRIS 6618-22000-029-00D, Alternatives to Methyl Bromide Soil Fumigation for Vegetable and Ornamental Production. The goal of this cooperative project is to develop management strategies for nematodes and other soilborne pests in floriculture production systems. Progress has been made in identifying important pathogens of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus). Fusarium spp. and Pythium spp. are common components isolated from diseased plant tissue in growers� fields. Pathogenicity tests examining the relative pathogenicity of P. aphanidermatum and F. oxysporum alone and in combination on snapdragon have been completed. Pythium aphanidermatum was consistently pathogenic to snapdragon, causing root and crown rot, and reduced plant height, root weight, and numbers of flowers. Fusarium oxysporum was not pathogenic. This is important information for flower growers because Pythium spp. are common and endemic in field sites. Therefore growers must be careful to minimize conditions of standing water or flooding that can be conducive to development of disease epidemics due to Pythium spp. In addition, a demonstration test was performed comparing summer solarization and fumigation with methyl bromide for management of weeds and other pests in a fall crop of delphinium. Nematodes were negligible in this site but weeds were a particular concern to the grower. Fumigation with methyl bromide was more effective in managing several kinds of summer weeds, but solarization was more effective against white clover (Trifolium repens). White clover was the main concern of the grower, since it competes more directly with the flower crop. Although preliminary, results are encouraging in that solarization may provide some benefits in managing this weed species. These accomplishments are aligned with NP308 Preplant soil fumigation alternatives component. The ADODR is actively involved in all aspects of this research project and monitors activities for this project with continuous interactions in the form of monthly meetings, weekly telephone calls, and weekly site visits with the University of Florida PI and the industry grower/cooperator.
Impacts
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Publications
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