Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

Archives for July 2023

July 27, 2023

Phomopsis fruit rot in eggplant

Phomopsis blight is caused by the fungal pathogen, Phomopsis vexans. It survives between seasons in the soil on infested plant debris. Although the pathogen can infect stems and older leaves, fruit infections are most prominent. Cankers that develop on stems and branches can cause the entire plant to collapse and die. Circular, grayish spots may develop on infected leaves. On fruit, the pathogen causes brownish-black spots that can quickly enlarge causing flat spots that can produce black pycnidia (e.g., fruiting bodies) that produce masses of conidia (spores) which are rain dispersed onto healthy plants and fruit. Phomopsis blight is favored by hot, wet weather (85 – 90 F). Spores germinate in free water on leaves and fruit causing infections. The pathogen can survive on solanaceous weeds such as nightshade, so good weed control is necessary. Crop rotations of 3 to 4 years are recommended. If possible, infected fruit should be harvested and removed from the field to help reduce to inoculum and the spread of the disease. Fields should be scouted on a regular basis, especially fields with a history of Phomopsis blight. Fungicide applications include Quadris Top (difenoconazole + azoxystrobin, 7 +11) or Priaxor (fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin, 7 +11) rotated with chlorothalonil every 7 to 10 days. For more information please see the 2022/2023 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

Phomopsis fruit rot in eggplant

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
July 26, 2023

Vegetable IPM Update 7/26/23

Sweet Corn

Fall armyworm (FAW) is increasing in coastal areas, and has been detected at several interior sites as far north as Ocean County. Some infestations in whorl corn are in excess of 20%.  It is very possible that economic infestations are present in much of southern New Jersey now.  Growers are advised to check whorl and seedling stage corn plantings weekly for signs of FAW.  Consider treating if infestation rates exceed 10%.  This pest is capable of significant injury to sweet corn plants, resulting in severe stunting and failure to produce viable ears.

Infected plantInfected plantNewly hatched FAW larvae cause holes and scratches on leaves that are similar to European corn borer (ECB) feeding, except that they tend to be more concentrated and always lead down into the whorl  (see photos at left).  As the larvae grow, the feeding becomes more destructive, with large ragged holes and obvious droppings deposited in the whorl (see photo at right).  Infected plant

We will provide updates on new FAW appearances and severity as reports come in.  FAW are resistant to synthetic pyrethroids.  Effective sprays should include IRAC grp. 5 (spinosyns) or IRAC grp. 28 (diamides).  The carbamate (IRAC grp. 1A) Lannate is also still effective.  Sufficient water should be used in the applications to allow the solution to penetrate the layer of droppings that may have formed above the caterpillar.

 

European corn borer (ECB) moth activity remains extremely low in areas where blacklight traps are operating in the northern and central counties.  Many plantings exhibiting no ECB injury at all.  We will report on ECB activity should numbers rebound to potentially damaging levels during the second flight.  In recent years, this later flight has not required targeted control in sweet corn.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
July 25, 2023 and

Rutgers Tree Fruit IPM Report for July 25, 2023

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/10 in both northern and southern counties.  Third generation timings are updated below:

OFM 2nd Generation Timing
Insecticide Type
County/Region Degree Days by  7/25 base 45 Conventional

2100-2200

2350-2450

 Diamide

2025-2150

2375-2450
Gloucester – Southern 2226 1st – 7/22-24

2nd – 7/28-7/31

 1st – past

2nd – 7/28-7/31
Middlesex – Northern 1719 1st – 7/22-24

2nd – 7/28-7/31

 1st – past

2nd – 7/28-31

Japanese Beetle: Japanese beetles have been observed feeding on fruit in southern counties. Adults are attracted to ripening fruit. June bugs also do similar damage. Insecticides that are effective against Japanese beetles and june bugs are products that contain imidacloprid (admire pro and leverage 360); danitol; and sevin.

Brown Rot: Brown rot is now appearing in ripening fruit in all regions. Most rotting fruit is the result of fruit that is damaged due to cracking from excessive rain or split pits. Highly effective rot materials such as DMI’s (FRAC group 3) and Strobilurins (FRAC group 11) should be applied beginning 3 – 4 weeks prior to harvest. See the NJ Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide for more information.

Apples and Pears:

Diseases: Now that primary scab has ended, the focus turns toward summer diseases such as fruit rots (esp. Bitter rot), and sooty blotch and fly speck. Bitter rot control has been difficult at best in recent years even where management programs have been rigorous. Research has suggested products such as Merivon, Luna Sensation and Inspire Super may be effective, and longtime reliable broad spectrum fungicides such as captan and ziram should provide control. Experience has suggested that the addition of phosphorous acid products such as Prophyt or Rampart to captan sprays may improve control. Observations are that these products improve control of other summer diseases such as sooty blotch and flyspeck, and may help suppress scab infections where present. Bitter Rot symptoms are now appearing in southern counties.

Codling Moth (CM): The first generation codling moth timings have ended. Additional applications should be made if trap captures exceed 5 moths/trap. Trap captures continue and increased slightly in most southern county orchards this week. A biofix was set for CM on April 17th in both northern and southern counties.

Codling Moth Degree Day Timing – Second Generation
Application and Insecticide Type
County Area Biofix Rimon:

75-100DD + 14-17 days later

 

 Intrepid

1150 + 1450 DD

Diamides – Altacor, Voliam mixes: (150-200 DD)

 Madex

1250 DD + every 7-9 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR)

 Standard Insecticides –  Delegate, Avaunt, OP’s, carbamates, pyrethroids

1250 DD + 1550 DD

 
  DD 1150 1450 1250 1250 1550
Southern April 17 past past past past past past past
Northern  April 17 past past past past past past past

Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Southern Counties

STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB
4/15/2023 433 20 1
4/23/2023 423 1 13 8 4
4/30/2023 417 7 15 4 1 0
5/06/2023 9 2 3 1 0 0
5/13/2023 18 2 7 2 3 0 6 6
5/20/2023 5 18 6 0 51 0 13 67
5/27/2023 1 11 4 0 17 0 11 49
6/03/23 3 8 2 1 24 0 13 65
6/10/2023 21 14 5 0 55 0 6 54 0
6/17/2023 10 11 5 0 57 0 8 46 4
6/24/2023 15 5 2 0 57 0 6 47 2
7/1/2023 342 3 0 0 69 0 3 37 6
7/8/2023 463 0 0 0 26 0 0 35 6
7/15/2023 456 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 37 5
7/22/2023 25 0 1 0 0 57 0 0 38 3

Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Northern Counties

STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB
4/8/2023 10
4/15/2023 20 3
4/30/2023 28 11 6
5/06/2023 22 2 19 9
5/13/2023 34 1 3 2 5 0
5/20/2023 31 6 7 1 6 0
5/27/23 16 18 4 1 17 3 11
6/03/23 12 26 2 0 17 2 12
6/10/2023 21 14 5 0 55 0 54
6/17/2023 63 53 2 1 15 1 6
6/24/2023 134 52 3 1 0 11 3 8
7/1/2023 87 33 1 1 0 12 4 1 3
7/8/2023 296 37 1 1 0 30 0 0 1
7/15/2023 189 9 1 1 0 28 4 4 8

Phenology Table: Based on annual observations made in Gloucester County.

Pest Event or Growth Stage Approximate Date 2023 Observed Date
 Bud Swell (Redhaven)  March 23 +/- 15 Days March 7
1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious March 31 +/- 13 Days March 27
Pink Peach (Redhaven) April 4 +/- 15 Days March 24
Tight Cluster Red Delicious April 9 +/- 13 Days April 7
Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven) April 9 +/- 14 Days April 4
Pink Apple (Red Delicious) April 14 +/- 12 Days April 11
Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) April 22 +/- 11 Days April 16
Petal Fall (Redhaven) April 22 +/- 10 Days April 15
Petal Fall (Red Delicious) April 27 +/- 13 Days  May 3
Shuck Split (Redhaven) April 30 +/- 11 Days April 21
Pit Hardening June 15 +/- 9 Days  June 11
Filed Under: Tree Fruit
July 24, 2023

Agri-Technology and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting

Where:  Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC), 121 Northville Rd., Bridgeton, NJ 08302

When:  Wednesday August 16, 2023, 5 PM until dark,  refreshments and ice cream will be served 

This year’s twilight meeting at RAREC will showcase new agricultural technologies for stakeholders in the state. We will showcase the newly installed agrivoltaics system established at RAREC and discuss new technologies for autonomous seeding and weeding as well as drone technologies for improving crop production and decision making. 

Agrivoltaics Research at Rutgers – Dan Ward, Director of Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) and the New Jersey Wine Center for Wine Research and Education; and Dave Specca, Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program lead.  The demand for clean energy and the development of new technologies for solar electricity generated on producing agricultural land (Agrivoltaics) has driven Rutgers/NJAES to investigate this hybrid technology. We are investigating the effects of putting elevated photovoltaic panels above numerous cropping systems to see what effects the panels have on the crops; and what effects the crops have on the panel’s electrical productivity. Our results will be used in economic models and other recommendations to assist farmers, landowners, and solar developers in deciding whether these combined technologies are a good choice for them.

Presentation and demonstration of Naio OZ autonomous seeding and weeding platforms – Thierry Besançon, Extension Weed Science Specialist for Specialty Crops, Rutgers.  The use of small-size electrical autonomous weeders such as the Naio Oz multitask and multi crop robot may help growers to lessen their reliance on fossil fuels for weeding vegetable productions. Using an autonomous weeder can also help alleviating some of the issues with labor availability, especially for burdensome activities such as manual weeding. The GPS guided Naio Oz platform is 100% electric (8 hours autonomy) and versatile through the use a variety of tools (drill, brushes, harrows, hoes blades…) that allow it to weed within and between the crop rows, make furrows, sow, and carry loads to the field. We will present and demonstrate the use of the Naio Oz for autonomous seeding and weeding, and discuss trials currently conducted at RAREC to evaluate weed control efficacy with this system as compared to conventional herbicides. 

In-crop cereal cover crop and living mulch trials for vegetables at RAREC – Thierry Besançon, Extension Weed Science Specialist for Specialty Crops, Rutgers.  Row-middle weed control in plasticulture vegetable production is becoming increasingly difficult due to a lack of effective herbicides, a need for multiple cultivations, or hand labor. Alternative solutions that integrate multiple weed control tactics are needed to address these issues. One solution is to use cover crops to aid in weed suppression along with an effective herbicide program. A field study is being conducted at RAREC in 2023 to assess the effects of integrating spring-seeded grass cover crops with herbicide treatments for weed control in watermelon. Results from 2023 and from previous studies conducted in 2021 and 2022 show that spring seeded grass cover crops can successfully be integrated with effective herbicide programs for improved weed control between plastic beds. 

The potential applications of using drones in agricultural production in New Jersey – Peter Oudemans, Professor and Director P.E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension, Rutgers.  Drones or UAVs can be used to detect anomalies in agricultural fields to directly determine the impacts of disease, pests, weeds, and soil conditions on crop production. This information can be used to determine economic crop losses, pest management strategies, and provide a wealth of other information that can be used to improve crop production and management decisions by the grower. The potential benefits and drawbacks of using drones in agricultural production will be discussed along with a flight demonstration. 

Assessing the production potential of fiber hemp in New Jersey – Raul Cabrera, Extension Specialist in Nursery Production and Management, Rutgers.  The recent re-introduction of agricultural/industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) to New Jersey (2020 season) was initially focused on production of cannabinoid-rich (CBD, CBG) flowers. Saturation of the floral hemp market has abruptly and significantly dropped its economic viability and interest, and focus has shifted to hemp for grain and fiber production. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture funded a pilot program with Rutgers to evaluate the potential of hemp for fiber production, including the viability of agronomic production and potential industrial end uses (bioplastics, textiles, etc.). To this end, three experimental fiber hemp plots are being planted and evaluated at different locations in the state (north, central and south).

Syngenta Product Update – Erin Hitchner, Senior Research and Development Scientist, Syngenta.  An update will be given on upcoming product registration and overall pipeline development for new Syngenta active ingredients.  An overall description of the pesticide registration process and timelines will also be presented.

Understanding copper resistance development and controlling bacterial leaf spot of bell pepper with resistant varieties – Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers.  Over the past three years the pepper and tomato fields throughout New Jersey have been surveyed to determine what species of bacterial leaf spot caused by Xanthomonas spp. are present in the state and if copper resistance is present. Copper based fungicides have been used for decades for the control of bacterial diseases across many different vegetable crops, especially in tomato and pepper. Thus, it is not surprising that ~60% of the bacterial isolates collected throughout the state are resistant to copper fungicides. We will discuss how to control bacterial leaf spot and the benefits of adopting the use of X10R bell pepper varieties to help mitigate losses due to the pathogen.

Controlling Phytophthora blight in cucurbit and other vegetable crops – Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers.  Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is the most economically damaging vegetable disease in the state. It can cause significant losses in cucurbit, pepper, and tomato crops in any given year. We will discuss the most up-to-date information on how to control P. capsici in cucurbit and other crops using genetic resistance, cultural practice and fungicide chemistry.

Note:  Following pesticide credits have been requested:  CORE, PP2, 1A and 10

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
July 23, 2023

Recognizing Angular Leaf Spot in Cucurbits

Angular leaf spot, caused by the bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans), is common in New Jersey and the region. Although it often shows up during cooler, wet weather; it can show up almost anytime during the production season with favorable weather conditions for its development.

Symptoms of angular leaf spot in cucurbit.

Symptoms of angular leaf spot in cucurbit.

Angular leaf spot of pumpkin. Note the 'shot holes' in the leaf.

Angular leaf spot of pumpkin. Note leaf ‘shot holes’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angular leaf spot will first appear in ‘hot spots’ as, small water-soaked lesions which will expand until they reach a larger leaf vein resulting in the angular looking symptoms on leaves. Under heavy disease pressure, the bacteria will infect fruit causing small, water-soaked circular spots. In many cases once weather conditions become dry again, infected tissue in leaves will die and fall out leaving the characteristic ‘shot hole’ symptoms. Control of angular leaf spot begins scouting your fields, particularly in areas that may get shaded and remain wet after heavy rainfalls. Application of labeled rates of fixed copper plus mancozeb to help suppress the spread of the disease until hot, dry weather returns.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 22, 2023

Vegetable Disease Update: 07-22-23

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,