Tree Fruit Edition

Seasonal updates on insects, diseases, weeds, maturity dates and cultural practices impacting only tree fruit.
 
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September 5, 2018

Fruit IPM for 09/06/18

Peach:

Peachtree Borer (PTB) and Lesser Peachtree Borer (LPTB): Now is the time to treat for peachtree borers and lesser borers. PTB has one generation per year, while LPTB and 2 generations per year. Over the last 10 years PTB has caused more problems than LPTB. It is not unusual to find multiple borer larvae in a single mature tree. At minimum this is a stress that the trees do not need to survive the winter and be productive for the following season. Too many larvae can kill the tree, and in young trees only 1-2 larvae can kill the tree. The trick is to apply insecticide soon after most of the eggs have been laid, which is now, and before the larvae get too established in the trunk. Lorsban has been the best product available for this use, and must be used now after the fruit is off and while the larvae have just emerged. Make sure to apply liberal amounts of water in a high volume soaking spray directed at the trunk. This is likely the last year that Lorsban will be able to be used. When Lorsban is gone, mating disruption will need to take its place, and applied in the Spring. Other insecticides are also labeled for this pest, but they have been shown to be less effective. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit
August 30, 2018

Fall control of perennial weeds with herbicides

Late summer and fall are perfect times to work on tough-to-control perennial weeds such as Virginia creeper vine, bindweed, green-brier, Canada thistle, goldenrod, and poison ivy. These perennials are among the most difficult weeds to eradicate, especially because of their ability to generate new shoots from their root systems. Successful management strategies will mostly rely on herbicide that can move from the leaf to the below-ground plant parts. Timely initial application and consistency at controlling any regrowth with follow-up spot treatments are crucial for long-term control of these weeds.

3 different species of weeds that affect blueberries

Field bindweed (upper left), goldenrod (lower left) and green-brier (right) are some tough weed species of NJ blueberry and will warrant extra time for achieving successful control

Glyphosate (Roundup or other generic products) is the only postemergence herbicide labeled on blueberry that can provide good control of perennial weeds. Late summer and fall are good times for applying glyphosate as plant sap movement is mostly directed toward the roots where nutrients will be stored in anticipation of next season. Therefore, large volume of glyphosate can easily be translocated from the leaves to the roots, improving the efficiency of the herbicide at killing below-ground storage organs. It is VERY IMPORTANT for glyphosate to be applied when weed leaves are still green before fall colors appear.

Use extreme care not to contact crop green tissues (stems and leaves) with glyphosate. Glyphosate absorbed by crop green leaves and bark moves within the plant and can severely damage or kill above-ground and below-ground parts of annual crop and perennial treess. Weeds such as bindweed, Virginia creeper, and greenbrier may need to be pulled out of the trees so they can be treated safely. This may seem too slow to be practical, but consider what these weeds cost in lost income. For example, blueberry bushes covered by Virginia creeper vine may yield just 20% of their potential. This easily equates to a $5 to $10 loss per bush. The loss is incurred each year and increases as the vines spread to neighboring bushes. Investing 15 minutes to carefully pull vines out of that bush and safely treat them on the ground is money well spent.

Glyphosate should be applied through low pressure spot treatment to limit drift movements. Glyphosate absorption will be improved if ammonium sulfate (17 lbs / 100 gal water) is added to your spray mixture. For effective control, at least 50% of the foliage should be wet with glyphosate applied as a 2% solution (see your product’s label for rate necessary to reach this concentration).

Consider also “cut stump” applications for Virginia creeper or poison ivy that have large diameter stems. Apply a 2% glyphosate solution to the cambium (inner bark area) IMMEDIATELY after cutting the stem. Don’t let time for cutting to dry as this would prevent glyphosate absorption and translocation to below-ground plant parts.

Always apply glyphosate on weeds that are actively growing and not under drought stress.

Always refer to the commercial product label for rates and additional information.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
August 11, 2018

Fruit IPM for 8/12/18

It’s Here!

Spotted lanternfly was found on Friday August 10 on a commercial Hunterdon County fruit and vegetable farm. The insect was found in a Tree of Heaven being used as a trap tree with a plastic catch basin placed around the base of the tree, and the first 5-6 feet of the trunk sprayed with dinotefuran to kill any insects that land on the tree. The dead insects were supposed to fall into the catch basin. They did not. The find was made by looking up into the foliage and seeing the adult stage. To our knowledge this is the first sighting of this insect on a commercial farm in NJ. Growers should be particularly aware of any possible activity in trees of heaven that border cultivated plantings. These trees are common in poor and disturbed soil. This capture was made from trees on a hillside that line the border of a powerline which runs through the farm. With the amount of spraying that normally goes on in tree fruit, it is not likely that this insect will cause a major problem at this time of the season. However, if these insects are found on trees in close proximity to grapes it can be more problematic. See the July 18 Plant and Pest for an article by Anne Nielsen here https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/?s=spotted+lanternfly

The photos taken by Karlton Neidigh and Atanas Atanassov are below:

Spotted lanternfly adult

Figure 1. Spotted lanternfly adult from Hunterdon County farm. Photo – Karlton Neidigh & Atanas Atanassov.

 

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): Third flight adults are present and trap counts are low on most farms, except in isolated areas in northern counties. The timing for 3rd generation treatments is done in southern counties, but ongoing in northern counties. Please see table below for timing:

OFM 3rd Generation Timing
    Insecticide Type
County/Region Degree Days by 8/12 base 45

 

 Conventional

Target – 2100-2200, 2450-2500

 Intrepid / IGRs

Target -2050-2100, 2400-2450

 Diamides (Altacor, Exirel

Target – 2025-2150, 2375-2450
Gloucester –

Southern

Biofix-4/27

 2976 1st – past

2nd – past

 1st – past

2nd – past

 1st – past

2nd – past
Hunterdon – Northern

Biofix May1

 2619 1st – past

2nd – 8/7-8/8

 1st – past

2nd – 8/5-8/6

 1st – past

2nd – 8/4-8/6

 

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): BMSB pressure as seen in pheromone traps has increased over the past week, but is still very spotty. The highest counts are in Hunterdon County with 1 farm having over 13 BMSB per trap. There is no trap or treatment threshold in peaches. Growers with positive counts should be on a BMSB protective schedule or using border sprays every 7 days. Growers are encouraged to use highly effective materials, and follow with Venom or Scorpion up to 3 days preharvest.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Trap Counts – Southern Counties
Week Ending Average of Adults Average of Nymphs Max of Adults Max of Nymphs
7/7 1.5 0.5 5 1
7/14 1.25 0.0 4 0
7/21 0.67 0.0 2 0
7/28 0.0 0.0 0 0
8/4 1.44 0.00 5 0

 

San Jose Scale: Second generation scale crawlers appeared last week in southern counties. Crawler emergence will continue throughout August. In blocks where scale activity is observed on green fruit or at harvest should receive applications of either Esteem or Centaur either within the preharvest interval listed for the product, or in blocks that are harvested in early August, right after harvest. Belay and Actara also have good scale efficacy against crawlers. Refer to the product label for preharvest intervals and seasonal application limits.

Brown Rot: Brown Rot pressure has increased after the past few weeks of wet weather. Nothing can be done other than to stay diligent with preharvest fungicide applications starting about 3 weeks prior to harvest. Some of the rot problems may be a result of environmental problems such as streaking and “cooked flesh” that resulted from the very hot and dry weather in June.

 

Apple (and Pear):

Codling Moth (CM) and Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): These two “worms” together can cause problems for apple growers late in the season. The timing for Oriental Fruit Moth in peaches is earlier than in apples. Any treatments applied for codling moth now, will also control oriental fruit moth. Codling Moth trap captures have increased on a number of farms. Trap counts range from 12-43 moths per trap in many North Jersey orchards. The treatment threshold is 5 moths per trap. As you can see from the trap count table, the averages in both North and South Jersey orchards is well above 5 moths per trap. In southern orchards, 3rd generation treatments are due now. If using Madex, then continue treatments every 5-6 days.

    Codling Moth Degree Day Timing – Model Predictions 3rd Generation Treatments
      Application and Insecticide Type
County Area Biofix DD by

8/12

 Rimon:

1150-1200 DD + 14-17 days later, or 1450-1500 DD

3rd Gen. Target at 2200

 Intrepid and

Diamides – Altacor, Exirel, Voliam mixes: 1200-1250 DD + 1550-1600 (14-21 days later)

3rd Gen. Start Target at 2200

 Cyd-X, Madex, Carpovirusine

1250 DD + every 5-6 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR)

3rd Gen. Start Target at 2200

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

1250-1300 DD + 1600-1650 DD

3rd Gen. Start Target at 2300
DD     2200 2300 2200 2300 2200   2300
Southern May 5 2336 8/8-10 8/12-13 8/8-10 8/12-13 8/8-10   8/12-13
Northern May 9 1975 Continue Treatments for CM if trap counts above 5, Otherwise target 8/21-22 for 3rd generation treatments Continue Treatments for CM if trap counts above 5, Otherwise target 8/21-22 for 3rd generation treatments Continue Treatments for CM if trap counts above 5, Otherwise target 8/21-22 for 3rd generation treatments Continue Treatments for CM if trap counts above 5, Otherwise target 8/25-26th for 3rd generation treatments

 

Grape:

Grape Berry Moth (GBM): Timing for the 4th generation will be due roughly around August 20-21in southern counties. Growers are advised to consider treatments only if pest pressure is high, especially around the edges of vineyards. GBM pressure along with various drosophila activity can combine to aggravate late season rot pressure.

Grape Root Borer (GRB): So far in our counts this year in 8 vineyards, we have not found any with populations that are high enough to merit treatment. Most of the adult activity seen in the pheromone traps is from mostly wild sources.

Grape Insect Trap Counts: 8 Grape blocks in southern counties.
Average # Males for Week Ending GBM – Grape Berry Moth GRB – Grape Root Borer
6/2 8 —
6/9 3 —
6/16 3 —
6/23 3 3
6/30 11 0
7/7 11 0
7/14 11 2
7/21 3 1
7/28 5 2
8/4 1 5

 

Scouting Calendar Tree Fruit Southern Counties

The following table is intended as an aid for orchard scouting. It should not be used to time pesticide applications. Median dates for pest events and crop phenology are displayed. These dates are compiled from observations made since 1995 in Gloucester County. Events in northern New Jersey should occur 7-10 days later.

 

Pest Event or Growth Stage

 Approximate Date 2018 Observed Date
Bud Swell (Redhaven) March 23 +/- 15 Days March 26

1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious

 March 31 +/- 13 Days April 2

Pink Peach (Redhaven)

 April 4 +/- 15 Days April 10

Tight Cluster Red Delicious

 April 9 +/- 13 Days April 16

Oriental Fruit Moth Biofix

 April 9 +/- 13 Days April 27

Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven)

 April 9 +/- 14 Days April 20

Pink Apple (Red Delicious)

 April 14 +/- 12 Days April 30

Codling Moth Biofix

 April 27 +/- 13 Days May 5

Green Peach Aphid Observed

 April 16 +/- 16 Days May 21

Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious)

 April 22 +/- 11 Days May 3

Petal Fall (Redhaven)

 April 22 +/- 10 Days May 1

Petal Fall (Red Delicious)

 April 27 +/- 14 Days May 7

Shuck Split (Redhaven)

 April 30+/- 11 Days May 7

First PC Oviposition Scars Observed

 May 3 +/- 18 Days May 14

Tufted Apple Bud Moth Biofix

 May 4 +/- 10 Days May 12

San Jose Scale Crawlers

 June 2 +/- 8 Days June 1

Pit Hardening Peach

 June 16 +/- 8 Days June 12

 

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties

 

Weekending STLM TABM-A CM OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB BMSB  
5/12 2 2 10 117   32          
5/19 8 5 10 53   3   7    
5/26 0 8 28 53   3 6 45    
6/2 2 11 1 19   0 10 27    
6/9 4 10 9 39 42 4 19 55    
6/16 11 11 8 14 181 5 10 4 0  
6/23 17 4 5 9 98 2 8 27 11  
6/30 10 3 3 12 173 1 1 8 20  
7/7 19 1 4 68 94 0 2 19 2 3
7/14 3 1 3 38 109 1 0 3 4 1
7/21 8 1 6 32   3 0 3 4 1
7/28 5 1 6 12 116 2 0 1 13 0
8/4 10 2 7   19 15 3 1 0 2

 

 

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties

 

Weekending STLM TABM-A CM OFM-A DWB OBLR OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB BMSB
4/7 0                    
4/14 4                    
4/21 11     0     0        
4/28 15   0 0     0        
5/5 17 0 0 0     1        
5/12 30 0 0.2 7     16.9 0 0    
5/19 26 0.3 1.8 3.7 0 0 4.5 0.4 1.1 0  
5/26 43 2.2 2.5 4.6 0 0 6.1 1.4 11.8 2  
6/2 4 7.2 2.4 4 0.7 0 5.1 11.3 14.9 0  
6/9 10 20.8 5 3.3 1.2 12 6.6 22.2 18.5 0.8  
6/16 13 42.3 4.6 7.4 0.3 31 2.9 96 12.7 0.3  
6/23 54 42.8 5.8 3 0.6 17 4.7 60.5 9.3 0.4  
6/30 45 29.3 2.5 2.2 1.3 12 3.2 29.8 7.8 4.5  
7/7 61 13.7 1.5 2.3 1 7 2.9 10.3 8.5 2.7  
7/14 20 5.9 0.9 2.8 2.4 8 2.7 4.7 5.8 4.5  
7/21 40 1.2 2.7 2.9 1.9 0 5.9 0.8 6.3 4.2  
7/28 51 0.9 5.6 1.3 2.2 0 3.2 1.6 3.3 1 3.1
8/4 108 1.7 6.9 1.8 0.8 1 1.7 3.5 2.2 5.8 3
8/11 144 1.7 7.5 1 0.5 2 4.6 2 3.1 6.5 7.3

 

Blueberry

Putnam Scale: Second generation crawlers are active. Anybody who had any fruit infested with scale should treat those fields now. The keys to scale control are 1) High Volume sprays, 2) Timing, and 3) the correct material. Use plenty of spray volume for this spray. The two best choices for materials are Esteem and Diazinon. Diazinon can only be once post bloom, and it is still too early for the second generation Sharpnosed Leafhopper treatment. Therefore, if you plan to use Diazinon later for SNLH, then you have to use Esteem now. It’s the better material for this anyway.

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD):  Trap counts continue to increase. The highest counts this past week were 50 in Atlantic County and 68 in Burlington County. Treatments are over for most growers, but if you still have any Elliott still on the bushes, then treatments are still required. At the end of July we did get a positive fruit reading in a salt test. Spraying and picking had just stopped in this field.

SWD larvae on filter screening

Figure 2. SWD larvae on filter screening – Photo Brendan Branca

 

Sharpnosed Leafhopper (SNLH): Trap captures have increased, but this is still too early to define this as the second generation flight. Treatments are still Not suggested at this time.

Summary of insect counts seen during the week of July 23rd – July 27th    

  Leafroller % Inj. Shoots Aphids % Inf. Shoots CBFW % Inf. Fruit Leafrollers

% Fruit injury

 PC % Fruit Injury Scale % Fruit Injury
Average 0.96 5.98 0 0.010 0 0.02
High 26 32 0 0.2 0 0.7

 

 Blueberry Trap Captures – Atlantic County

Week Ending PC CBFW OB SWD BBM SNLH Putnam Scale
5/26 0.43 0.0          
6/2 0.43 0.0          
6/9 0.09 0.43 5.4        
6/16 0 0.015 31.75 0.02 0 0.072  
6/23 0.285 0.015 1436 0.176 0.024 0.104  
6/30 0.28 0 2583 2.78 0.012 0.1333  
7/7 0.428 0.016 3469 3.16 0.09 0.09 24.5
7/14 0.142 0.02 2827 8.235 0.011 0.253 1
7/21 0.142 0 827 10.42 0.101 0 0.714
7/28 0 0 96.43 15.21 0.125 0.02 0.29
8/4 0 0.05 68.48 8.7 0.15 0.02 7.71

Blueberry Trap Captures – Burlington County

Week Ending PC CBFW OB SWD BBM SNLH Putnam Scale
5/26 1.67 0.18          
6/2 0.67 0.16          
6/9 0.0 0.1 0.6        
6/16 0 0.5 38.52 0.15 0 0  
6/23 0 0 1016 0.5 0 0  
6/30 0 0.25 2463 4.63 0 0.5517  
7/7 0 0.105 3741 4.8 0.25 0.143 0
7/14 0 0 1980 26.45 0 0.071 0.5
7/21 0 0 1002 15.5 0 0 0.333
7/28 0 0 485.5 8.35 0.49 0.07 0.67
8/4 0 0.1 206.47 11.1 0.38 0.11 0.67

 

 

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
August 1, 2018

Fruit IPM For 08/02/18

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): Third flight adults are present and trap counts are low on most farms, except in isolated areas in northern counties. The timing for 3rd generation treatments is done in southern counties, but ongoing in northern counties. Please see table below for timing: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
July 26, 2018

Fruit IPM for 7/27/18

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): Third flight adults are present in southern counties and starting to emerge in northern counties. The timing for 3rd generation treatments is now statewide. Treatments should be finishing up in southern counties and just starting in northern counties.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
July 18, 2018

Spotted Lanternfly in NJ

NEW PEST ALERT

Spotted lanternfly in grape

Spotted lanternfly in grape – photo credit E. Smyers

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata, SLF) has been found in NJ. SLF is an invasive plant hopper species that could be very devastating to some NJ crops. Since its discovery in Pennsylvania in 2014, SLF has been placed under a state quarantine encompassing 13 Pennsylvania counties. Populations are also present in Virginia.

SLF adults and nymphs are phloem feeders that feed in large aggregations on woody tissue. Over 65 host plants were reported in Asia, many of which grow in the mid-Atlantic area. These host plants include hardwood trees such as Tree of Heaven, black walnut, and red maple and agricultural crops such as grape, apple, and hops. Feeding occurs on the trunk and limbs of plants, not on the fruit or leaf tissues. However, because they feed in aggregations and produce large amounts of honey dew (or sugar water), sooty mold can grow on plant surface and fruit, leading to reduced photosynthesis and plant vigor. In Pennsylvania, adults and nymphs have been observed feeding in commercial vineyards on cultivated grape. Economic estimates of injury are not available but growers report direct yield losses due to sooty mold and reductions in plant health and canopy coverage. Insecticides are effective but due to the high mobility of this pest, in highly infested areas, vines should be monitored closely for new bugs. Populations and injury are higher along vineyard edges, especially near Tree of Heaven. Interestingly, SLF tends to aggregate on a few trees or vines. Survey for SLF along the perimeters of fields and on Tree of Heaven, Black Walnut, Red Maple, and wild grapevines at the edges of wood lines. Aggregations of adults were found on commercial apple trees in PA near apples harvest in 2017, so apple growers need to be diligent as well.

The adults are large (~1” long) and quite colorful with a black head, grayish black spotted forewings and reddish black spotted hind wings. Adults may start to appear mid-late July (now) and will feed through the first hard freeze in the fall. Young nymphs hatch from eggs in late Spring/early summer and are black with white spots and as they get older they become red and black with white spots. While 4th instars have been reported in NJ, adults are present in VA, so be on the lookout for all life stages.

Spotted lanternfly on tree

Spotted lanternfly on Tree of Heaven – photo by A.L. Nielsen

If you think you seen or collected a spotted lanternfly please report it the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Department of Entomology at the Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences by emailing slanternfly@njaes.rutgers.edu

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,