Fruit — Page 168 — Plant & Pest Advisory

Fruit Crops Edition

Seasonal updates on diseases, insects, weeds impacting tree fruit and small fruit (blueberry, cranberry, and wine grape). Fruit Pest Alerts are also available via this category feed.

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October 29, 2014 Dave Schmitt

Fall Urea Sprays for Apple Scab Control

It’s time to consider sanitation practices that can help reduce over wintering scab inoculum. These practices should be considered an essential part of apple IPM programs.

Apple Scab Control with Urea.
Video link: http://youtu.be/8g0WyVi68GM

In 2014 scab was once again a problem in most orchards we scouted. Even if you didn’t see scab on the fruit at harvest there still could be infected leaves in the orchard at low levels. In addition, in the northeast and other regions scab is becoming increasingly resistant to chemistries we rely upon for primary season control. Therefore, all growers should consider integrating sanitation practices into their scab control program. The recommended sanitation program involves either: fall or spring applications of Urea; flail mowing fallen leaves; or preferably both.

For a refresher we’ve linked a short video explaining this approach.

Filed Under: Tree Fruit

October 2, 2014 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona

Bug Damaging Cranberries Identified: Plagiognathus repetitus

This year we observed damage to cranberries likely caused by an unknown “mirid” bug (Hemiptera: Miridae). These insects are known as true bugs and have piercing-sucking mouthparts to suck juices out the plants. The species has now been identified by Dr. Thomas Henry, from USDA-ARS-Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, as Plagiognathus repetitus (Hemiptera: Miridae).

Adult Plagiognathus repetitus
(Hemiptera: Miridae)

The insect seems to damage young leaf and flower buds. We observed deformed leaves and flowers in June. This damage appears to cause serious reduction in yield. The damage was likely caused by the nymphs in April-May, as adults were seen in June-July.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Cranberry

September 25, 2014 Daniel Ward

Red Blotch Virus Alert Meeting

South Jersey vineyard and winery managers are invited to an Alert Meeting at Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery, 117 Sharptown-Pilesgrove Road, Woodstown, NJ on Monday September 29th at 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

Do you have plants that look like this?
It may be a virus symptom.

We often see red leaves in vineyards at this time of the season, which can result from many causes including viruses, mineral deficiencies, trunk injury, and crown gall. In a season like 2014, following a damaging winter, the most common causes include the aftereffects of cold injury to the woody parts of the vines and the subsequent crown gall infections.

There are several well-documented types of viruses known to have serious deleterious effects on the performance of grape vines with names like Grape Leaf Roll and Grape Fan Leaf. A newly identified virus, generally called Red Blotch, is present in New Jersey vineyards. Red Blotch biology and potential impact on vineyard performance is yet to be worked out.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Wine Grape

September 9, 2014 Anne Nielsen

Volunteers Needed for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Count

Scientists at the USDA are conducting a second year of the “Great Stink Bug Count” and are looking for volunteers from NJ! They are trying to identify characteristics of houses that brown marmorated stink bugs look for when finding overwintering sites. Last year’s count had over 200 volunteers with 44 individuals who counted every day.

The basics:

Fill out the form
Count the BMSB on the exterior of your home each day
Enter in your count data

Consider participating in the 2014 Great Stink Bug Count!

September 15 – October 15, 2014

You can download particpant forms here: http://www.stopbmsb.org/2014-count

Results from 2013 are the first to document factors that may be important in where bugs chose to overwinter. Last year’s results suggest that landscape factors, specifically agriculture and woodland habitats, may have the greatest influence on the number of BMSB overwintering on a house.

This data will go a long way to helping us figure out important steps to managing BMSB. They are looking for citizen scientists to help out! Please fill out the attached form and send it in if you are interested!