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

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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July 31, 2013

Blueberry Pest in Detail: Leafminers

Teepee shelters containing Blueberry Leafminer

Teepee shelters containing Blueberry Leafminer.
Only 1 larva is found per leaf.

The blueberry leafminer is generally not considered an economic pest problem mainly because larvae experience high levels of parasitism in most blueberry fields. Larval parasitism can reach levels up to 80%. Use of broad-spectrum insecticides can have a severe effect on the natural enemy populations of the leafminer.

Because of potential contamination, the blueberry leafminer might be a problem if you are processing more blueberries than usual. Blueberry leafminer larvae may become a contaminant, especially in machine-harvested fruit, as larvae drop from the bushes together with the harvested fruit. Under this special circumstance, treatment may be justified. Otherwise, we do not see the need to treat for this insect. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry
July 29, 2013

ACGA 2013 Summer Field Day

American Cranberry Growers Association 2013 Summer Field Day
Date: Thursday, August 15

Location: Rutgers P.E. Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research & Extension, Chatsworth, NJ

Parking will be available at the Center’s shop (across cranberry bogs).
Transportation for tours will be provided at the Center.

Agenda
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Cranberry
July 26, 2013

Insecticide Trial Results for BMSB

We have been conducting numerous insecticide trials at RAREC against BMSB in peaches (Encore variety). In particular, we are evaluating the efficacy of a a single insecticide sprayed on a 10 day schedule to see if we can identify differences in effectiveness of selected insecticides throughout the season. I understand that growers will not (and should not) spray the same chemical throughout the season but it helps to isolate the effect each chemical. This is complimented by laboratory trials using field collected bugs. Because of  limitations in the number of applications for certain chemicals I feel that this is an important component to developing IPM programs in NJ. We have evaluated Lannate LV, Bifenture (Sect 18 only), Bifenture+Assail (Sect 18 only), Assail+Perm-Up, Voliam Xpress, Voliam Flexi, Danitol, Endigo and Closer. Closer is a new neo-nicotinoid like compound (IRAC Class 4C) from Dow AgroSciences that is effective against green peach aphid. Because of its potential importance as a resistance management tool, we included this in the evaluation.

Our results thus far are interesting. We evaluate 3 ways:

  1. Percent of fruit with injury
  2. Severity of injury (ie. the number of feeding sites) and
  3. Mortality in the lab.

Percent BMSB Damaged Fruit in Mid July

Percent BMSB Damaged Fruit in Mid July
Click to View

Severity of BMSB Injury in Mid July

Severity of BMSB Injury in Mid July
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What we have seen suggests that Perm-Up+Assail and Danitol are more effective early season but Bifenture and Voliam Xpress have not decreased in effectiveness from end of May to now. This suggests that for those chemistries, it would be best to use Perm-Up or Danitol early in the season against the adults that are just emerging from diapause and migrating to the orchard. From the fruit injury data, our data strongly suggests that Lannate is not an effective compound against BMSB. Closer performed ok, there was a lot of fruit with injury, but the injury was not severe. Danitol, Voliam Xpress, Assail+Bifenture and Endigo had the least percent injured fruit. Keep in mind that Bifenture/bifenthrin is ONLY allowable on peaches and apples with a Sect. 18 which we do not have yet!! Danitol has been very variable in previous studies, but is performing well this season at RAREC. Voliam Flexi, Assail+Perm-Up and Bifenture alone also significantly reduced injury. Assail by itself has not performed well against BMSB in previous trials. Feeding severity was significantly reduced for all insecticides other than Closer and Lannate, although Closer was better than Lannate. Bifenture causes 100% mortality in the lab so my guess is that in the field it may not have as long of residual but once available, it will be a great addition to use and will cause mortality of BMSB present in the orchard.

Please keep in mind that the BMSB pressure at RAREC is very high! Always follow label instructions.

Filed Under: Tree Fruit
July 23, 2013

Fruit IPM Report: Week Ending 7/27/13

Fruit IPM Report 7-27-13 – Click to View | Download | Print

BMSB Damage in Pear

BMSB Damage in Pear

In this report:

  • Pear
  • Peach
  • Apple
  • Grape
  • Scouting Calendar
  • Blueberry
  • Trap Counts
Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
July 18, 2013

BMSB Populations in Mid-July

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug week ending 7/17/13BMSB populations are significantly higher than last year and unsprayed fruit is already damaged.

Fruit harvested (mid-season assessment) around July 4 in a research trial under light management had very early season injury as well as recent feeding damage. Some of this is due to the wet June we experienced which reduced the effectiveness of treatments, but this is compounded by high populations.

The ranking of materials can be found in previous posts or in the Rutgers Tree Fruit Production Guide utilizing a short interval between sprays. It is anticipated that two good BMSB chemicals Bifenthrin/Brigade and Scorpion/Venom will be available at effective rates shortly once the Sect. 18 request has been filled. The maximum rate of Belay has shown good results as has Endigo in last year’s trials at RAREC. Always follow label instructions.

BMSB Black Light Trap Maps

Kris Holmstrom of Rutgers Vegetable IPM program develops a weekly map of BMSB catches in black light traps. We have been monitoring BMSB in black light traps at vegetable farms throughout NJ since 2004. This has proven to be a great resource for identifying the spread of BMSB. From 2004 through 2011, BMSB spread at a rate of 2.84 new farms each year and is now spread throughout NJ.

The black lights work to attract BMSB adults flying at night. They mistake the trap for the moon and get caught. We have been able to correlate trap captures with key periods of flight activity, such as development of the 1st generation adults and large movements between crops. In late May/early June, early catches tell us that BMSB is active on the farm and coincides with the beginning of egg laying. Currently, these traps tell us about the activity of BMSB in the landscape, not on specific crops. We are working to identify what trap captures mean in terms of management decisions. In the meantime, if there is an increase in BMSB catches in your area it is a good indication of activity in a crop and the possibly need for management decisions.  As Kris develops these maps each week, I will distribute them to the fruit growers.

This week’s map shows that activity in southern NJ has picked up as well as some spots in northern farms – a trend that I anticipate to increase.

Filed Under: Fruit
July 16, 2013

Fruit IPM Report: Week Ending 7/20/13

Fruit IPM Report 7-20-13 – Click to View | Download | Print

Early Season Thrip Injury in Peach

Early Season (top) and Late Season (silvering)  Thrips Injury on Peach

In this report:

  • Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
  • Peach
  • Apple
  • Grape
  • Scouting Calendar
  • Blueberry
  • Trap Counts

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

BMSB adults nymphs and egg masses are present in orchards, although far from a uniform pattern. Black light trap captures indicate a significant increase in trap captures over the past 2 weeks, but individual insects may be difficult to find in many locations. Early pickings of Sentry show significant feeding damage, depending on tree location. We are monitoring this insect in commercial orchards with a several methods. These include random 3 minute counts, 3 minute counts on transect lines, use of a new USDA experimental pheromone in several trap types, and the black light traps in the vegetable IPM network. The bottom line for growers is that every treatment should include a BMSB active material. These treatments should be frequent. If treatments are applied on more than a 7 day schedule, then a 7 day border spray should supplement whole block treatments. Pyrethroid insecticides (permethrin, Baythroid, Mustang, Warrior, Danitol) can be very effective, but with the high temperatures we are having, they should be avoided this week. The neonicotinoids, Belay and Actara can also be very effective. Lannate has a short residual, but can have knock down ability.

We are hoping that the 2 best insecticides will be able to be used soon. These are dinotefuran (Venom and Scorpion) and bifenthrin (Brigade and Bifenture). These products had section 18 labels during 2012 (Venom and Scorpion had them in 2011), and were requested again for 2013. Although Venom and Scorpion are currently labeled in peach and nectarine, they are not labeled in apples. Nor are they labeled at the rate required to control BMSB, which is almost double the current labeled rate. The current maximum rate for Scorpion is 7 oz/A, and 10-12 oz/A is needed for BMSB control. The current maximum rate for Venom is 4 oz/A, and 6-6.9 oz/A is needed for BMSB control. Section 18 label requests originate in the individual states (usually a DEP) and are authorized by EPA in Washington, D.C. The bifenthrin package is currently in Washington. The dinotefuran package is with the NJDEP and has yet to be submitted. Brigade and Bifenture are the best materials we have for BMSB control. Since there will be a 14 day PHI, and a maximum of 2 applications not less than 30 days apart, let’s hope we get them soon, or they will see only minimal use.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape