Progress 01/25/18 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:This project was intended to aid greenhouse growers in their pest management efforts using insect-killing nematodes. Cooperative extension professionals can also use this information to provide to their grower clientele. Entomology and nematoology researchers may also use this information. Companies that produce nematodes for sale to growers may use this information. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Sanderson, J.P., E. Shields, L. White, & A. Testa. 2017. Effect of irrigation method on persistence of fungus gnat (sciarid) control by the nematode Steinernema feltiae. Proceedings of the IOBC-WPRS Working Group "Integrated Control in Protected Crops, Temperate Climate" international meeting, 04-08 June 2017, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Editors: Bruno Gobin and Rose Buitenhuis. ISBN 978-92-9067-309-5 [IX + 254 pp., p. 112] https://www.iobc-wprs.org/members/shop_en.cfm?mod_Shop_detail_produkte=170 Sanderson, J.P. 2018. "Biological Warfare against Greenhouse Pests: Some New Developments." Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association (LMHIA) Growers' Short Course. Jan. 25. Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. 85 attendees. 1 hr. Sanderson, JP, AR Giesmann. 2018. "Nematodes: Nice, not Naughty." Capital District Bedding Plant Conference. Albany, NY. Jan. 11. 90 attendees. 45 min. Sanderson, JP, AR Giesmann. 2018. "Nematodes: Nice, not Naughty." Long Island Greenhouse & Floriculture Conference. Jan. 16. 105 attendees. 1 hr. Sanderson, JP, AR Giesmann. 2018. "Nematodes: Nice, not Naughty." Greenhouse Session, Empire State Producers Expo. Jan. 17. Syracuse, NY. 30 attendees. 45 min. Sanderson, JP, AR Giesmann. 2018. "Nematodes: Nice, not Naughty." Western NY Greenhouse Conference. Eden, NY. 65 attendees. 1 hr. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Growers are growing greenhouse crops at cooler temperatures to reduce heating costs. To evaluate the efficacy of Steinernema feltiae nematodes at cool temperatures, we grew potted pansy plants in replicated cages within replicated walk-in growth chambers set at either constant 12.8C (cool treatment) or constant 23.9C (warm treatment) and 12:12 L:D. Cages were then infested equally with large numbers of adult fungus gnats for 2 weeks, or were uninfested to serve as controls. The nematodes were then drenched at recommended rate into the pots twice at a 2-week interval. Adult fungus gnats captured on yellow sticky traps were then counted in each cage until no adults were found for 2 consecutive days. Results show that, relative to fungus gnat numbers of the control cages, fungus gnat numbers were reduced by 40% in the warm treatment and by 60% in the cool treatment, indicating that the nematodes were still effective at the cool temperatures. Additional greenhouse tests were done to evaluate how often nematodes should be applied, and whether the irrigation method (overhead vs. sub-irrigation) affect nematode persistence in the pots. Results were inconclusive due to the eventual unwanted presence of extraneous fungus gnats somehow infesting the cages that were intended to exclude them. However, fungus gnats were consistently suppressed for at least two weeks after a single application, suggesting that growers need not make weekly nematode applications. Biweekly applications should suffice under low to moderate fungus gnat levels. The result from the application frequency was evaluated in a commercial greenhouse. Nematodes were applied either weekly or biweekly for 6 weeks and adult fungus gnats and Western flower thrips were counted on sticky traps. Result showed no differences in trap catches during the trial, suggesting that control was not improved with weekly applications over biweekly applications. The efficacy of two commercial nematode species, Steinernema feltiae and S. carpocapsae, were compared against larval fungus gnats at three application rates, 1000, 5000, and 10,000 nematodes per 10cm container. These rates span below and above typical commercial application rates. At 23.9C, fungus gnats were significantly suppressed at all rates of S. feltiae well below that of any S. carpocapsae treatment. Control was 100% with 10,000 nematodes per container for S. feltiae vs. 65% for the same rate of S. carpocapsae. However, preliminary results from another project are suggesting that S. feltiae cannot survive temperatures exceeding 35C, whereas S. carpocapsae can. Thus at high temperatures, growers may want to switch to S. carpocapsae.
Publications
|