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E.V. Smith Field Day Features Several Alternative Pest Control Studies
AUBURN, Ala. - From flame cultivation to destroy weeds to using B.t. peaches, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a hot topic for research at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station's E.V. Smith Research Center.
At a recent horticulture field day, Auburn University researchers highlighted their studies of alternative pest control methods in peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables.
Bobby Boozer, area horticulturist for the Chilton Area Horticulture Substation in Clanton, discussed ways to reduce or optimize pesticide applications on peaches. He and other researchers are comparing the benefits of timed applications, which is the standard practice, to modified application practices.
The researchers monitor insect problems using different kinds of traps to indicate the extent of an insect population. Boozer said disease and insect pressures on peaches were lighter than normal this year.
Boozer is also working on a project to evaluate how B.t. varieties affect fungal diseases in peaches. Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) is a bacteria that controls pests without the use of synthetic pesticides.
Plant pathologists are also studying biological control of bacterial speck in tomatoes at E.V. Smith.
"This was an excellent year for working on bacterial diseases on tomatoes," said Lee Campbell, Auburn University research specialist. Because of the cool, wet weather in April and May, there was a high incidence of disease, he said. Control of bacterial speck is an important economic issue for tomato growers.
"When lesions occur on the fruit, it makes it unmarketable, and if you can't market it, you're not going to make any money," Campbell said.
Geoff Zehnder, associate professor of entomology at Auburn University, is using plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to control bacterial wilt and cucumber beetles in cucumber. Bacterial wilt is transmitted to cucumber by the cucumber beetle.
"The only way to manage the disease is to try to control the insects," Zehnder said.
Zehnder's research team is working to develop a commercially available product treated with the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.
Flame cultivation is an old method of weed control, according to Mike Patterson, professor of agronomy and soils, but it is regaining popularity. Patterson said the use of the 2000 to 2200 degrees Fahrenheit flame is most effective on weeds that grow low to the ground.
"If you want to grow organic crops, this flame cultivator may allow you to do that," he said.
Drawbacks to the practice are that it takes more time than conventional methods and may not be as economical, Patterson said. They are trying to determine the cost of flame treatment versus hand hoeing to control weeds.
Among the research projects not directly related to IPM, but also featured at the field day were the effects of soil compaction and different planting methods on green ash and sawtooth oak by Kerry Smith, graduate student in landscape horticulture; muscadine and blackberry production by David Himelrick, professor of horticulture; asparagus production and fertilization of bell peppers when using plastic mulches by Joe Kemble, assistant professor of horticulture; effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates through drip irrigation on tomato yields by Detra Boutwell, graduate research assistant; vegetable variety trials by Eric Simonne, assistant professor of horticulture; and annual and perennial flower evaluations and All America Selections by Bridget Behe, associate professor of horticulture.
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News from:
Office of Ag Communications & Marketing
Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)
Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Anna M. Lee
July 1, 1997
