Tree Fruit IPM Report for May 17, 2017

Peach:

Tufted Apple Budmoth (TABM): The first tufted apple budmoth adults were caught on 5/1 in southern counties. The first insecticides that target this pest will be due in a few weeks in southern counties. This has been only a minor pest during the last 6-8 years.

Plum Curculio (PC): We are entering the period of peak of PC activity in all areas of the state. If significant rains follow insecticide applications, then re-apply with effective materials after an inch or more of precipitation. Do not rely on pyrethroids for control, especially in hot weather. Avaunt, Imidan (phosmet), provide the best control. The neonics, Actara, and Belay also work well, but should not be used with weedy groundcovers to protect bees.

 Tarnished Plant Bugs and Other Catfacing Insects:  This is the other key insect complex at this time of year. Tarnished plant bugs will become more of an issue as temperatures warm and mowing and other ground cover activities become more common. General spray timing at this time of year should still be targeted for Plum Curculio (PC). Most materials, except the diamides (Altacor) used for these pests will have some efficacy for plant bugs.

Bacterial Spot: Copper formulations should be maintained in cover sprays to suppress bacterial spot. Generally we recommend starting at 0.5 ozs metallic copper and gradually lowering the rate as the season progresses. The rate applied will depend on the formulation. Dr. Lalancette published a chart listing common copper formulations and rates for peach and nectarine applications. Avoid combining copper with captan especially if it has been overcast for several days. Also avoid acidic spray solutions when applying copper. Mycoshield may also be used at 1-1.5#/acre. It is more rainfast than copper but has a short residual.

Peach Scab: In addition to Rusty Spot and Bacterial Spot, peach scab requires protective applications at this time. Topsin/Captan or Topsin/Sulfur combinations are general used in cover sprays where scab was a problem last year. Captan or Sulfur alone is sufficient in orchards that were clean last year.

Rusty Spot: An effective material should be included at petal fall, and continue through 2^nd cover on rusty spot sensitive varieties. Rally at 2.5 – 5 oz./acre is the standard product used in cover sprays.

Apple:

Codling Moth (CM): The first codling moth flight has started. A biofix was set for CM on April 26 in southern counties, and on May 2 in northern counties.

Tufted Apple Budmoth: See peach section above.

European Apple Sawfly (EAS): This insect is active and will be active into first cover. Adult females lay eggs just under the skin of freshly set fruit, and the young larvae mine just under the skin. If let go, the larvae will cause extensive fruit damage. Where this insect is active, it is a primary target at petal fall. In orchards of mixed variety plantings, the petal fall spray for the entire planting is prolonged. This enables EAS to start damaging the first varieties where petals fell earlier before a petal fall spray could be applied to the entire block. Petal fall treatments should not be delayed, especially in northern counties. Fresh damage was observed in apple blocks in southern counties last week.

Summer Diseases: We are now entering the phase for secondary scab control if primary infections are becoming visible. The primary diseases of concern are the Rots, Sooty Blotch and Fly Speck. Anthracnose (Bitter Rot) has been troublesome over the past few wet seasons especially on Empire and Honeycrisp. If you are using the extended EBDC schedule control should be good on most cultivars. Where anthracnose control has been difficult to control consider using Pristine, Merivon, or add Captan or Ziram to the program.

Fire Blight: A few orchards have low to moderate levels of strikes present. Sanitation is important both to remove inoculum and help to bitter rot inoculum buildup. Instructions for deciding when and how to cut out fire blight strikes can be found on page 7 of the UMASS bulletin, “An Annual Program for Fire blight Management”.

Pear Psylla : Pear Psylla adults are still laying eggs for the second generation of nymphs. Control of this generation is important to avoid overlapping generations throughout the summer. Scout the growing tips for eggs. Eggs are usually laid along the center leaf rib mostly on the leaf underside. Applications of 1 % summer oil in early cover sprays have shown to be of benefit. Use oils and adjuvants with caution on Asian varieties. When applying insecticides for psylla control timing is important as materials such as Movento and Agrimek should be applied when the first eggs hatch. In the case of Movento application a few days before hatch is better as this material takes some time to move into the tissue. Add penetrants as per label instructions. Neonicotinoids may also applied when the first eggs hatch. The addition of 1 qt. summer oil or a non-ionic surfactant will improve control with these materials. Finally Sivanto, a chemistry closely related to neonicotinoids is effective but should be used with oil as per label instructions. Some miticides such as Portal and Nexter are effective, but should be applied when most eggs have hatched but before any nymphs begin to form wings.

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties