Organic Solutions for Small Fruits-

A Research Summary

Marybel Soto

Carolyn Teasdale and Lena Syrovy

E.S. Cropconsult Ltd

Outline

• The wonderful world of berries

• Strawberry: - Spider mite control with predator mites

• Cranberry:- Fireworm control with Entrust & T. sibericum

- Perennial weed control with horticultural vinegar

• Blueberry: - Mummyberry control with organic fungicides

The Berry WorldA different kind of crop:

Opportunities:

Perennial

Health Direct marketing U-pick

Challenges

Pollination

Insects & Mites

Biocontrols

Cultural controls

Chemical controls

Physical controls

Disease Weeds

Organic Pest Management for Berries

• Lack of tools for organic production

• Pests are a major barrier for

transitioning to organics

• Conventional growers also interested

in reduced-risk pest controls

• Our trials are part of industry

funded efforts to develop protocols

for organic & reduced-risk production

Outline

• The wonderful world of berries

• Strawberry: - Spider mite control with predator mites

(Funding by FVSGA + LMHIA)

• Cranberry:- Fireworm control with Entrust & T. sibericum

- Perennial weed control with horticultural vinegar

• Blueberry: - Mummyberry control with organic fungicides

Strawberry Pests• Short term perennial crop (3 year life)

• Difficult to grow organic strawberries in the

Fraser Valley due to wet spring weather

and fruit rot pathogens

• Annual and perennial weeds

• High pest pressure during bloom from lygus

and thrips which directly damage fruit

• Pests that affect plant vigor: weevils,

aphids, virus, root rot, and two-spotted

spider mites

Mites in Strawberries

• Two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae, are a major strawberry pest (and many other crops)

• Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) fallacis is the most prevalent native predator of spider mites (Raworth 1990)

• A. fallacis is active earlier in the spring and later in the fall than other natural enemies (Raworth 1990)

• A. fallacis are commercially available

• Historically growers have released A. fallacis into new transplant fields in late August

• In Oregon, A. fallacis are released in June

Mites in Strawberries

Research objective:

• Compare the efficacy of early (June) vs. late (August) releases

• To monitor the efficacy of predator mite releases

Methodology• 6 newly transplanted

strawberry fields

• Predator mite releases: - 3 fields in June- 3 fields in August

• Mite populations monitored weekly from June to September, and the following April to May

1 acre

treated

1 acre

control

Spider Mite Levels: No Effect of Release Timing

0

5

10

15

20

25

Aug-20 Aug-27 Sept 3

date

me

an

nu

mb

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of

sp

ide

r

mit

es

pe

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af

trip

let

± s

.e. Early Control

Early Treated

0

5

10

15

20

25

Aug-20 Aug-27 Sept 3

date

me

an

nu

mb

er

of

sp

ide

r

mit

es

pe

r le

af

trip

let

± s

.e. Late Control

Late Treated

EARLY LATE

Predator Mite Levels: No Effect of Release Timing

0

1

2

Aug-20 Aug-27 Sept 3

date

me

an

nu

mb

er

of

pre

da

tor

mit

es

pe

r le

af

trip

let

± s

.e.

Late Control

Late Treated

0

1

2

Aug-20 Aug-27 Sept 3

date

me

an

nu

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er

of

pre

da

tor

mit

es

p

er

lea

f tr

iple

t ±

s.e

.

Early Control

Early Treated

EARLY LATE

Conclusions• Are predator mites effective???

• Many scientific studies support their efficacy √

• Difficult to demonstrate efficacy in the field X- Large baseline population of predator mites in fields

- Unknown fate after their release

- Poor establishment?

- Rapid dispersal?

• Our suggestions for growers √- Monitor for native predator presence & impact- Planning a release? Work with your biocontrol supplier to monitor efficacy release- Split application?

Outline

• The wonderful world of berries

• Strawberry: - Spider mite control with predator mites

• Cranberry:- Fireworm control with Entrust & T. sibericum

Funding by: OSDP + OFRF + Fraserland Organics)- Perennial weed control with horticultural vinegar

• Blueberry: - Mummyberry control with organic fungicides

Cranberry Pests

• Long-term perennial crop (30 year life)

• Cranberries form matted vines making

them a unique growing environment

• Chemigation is widely used

• Disease pressure is relatively

low in the Fraser Valley

• Annual & perennial weeds

are a major issue

• Soil-dwelling pests: girdler & weevils

• Above-ground pests: tipworm,

Sparganothis fruitworm, & fireworm

Fireworm Lifecycle & Damage

APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

Organic Control of Fireworm• Entrust (spinosad) is an organically

registered insecticide for several crops

in Canada (potato, pome fruits, corn)

• Efficacy against fireworm if applied with

a backpack sprayer (E.S. Cropconsult 2006)

• The native wasp Tricogramma sibericum can parasitize up to 93% of overwintering eggs

(D. Henderson 2002)

• Its efficacy against spring eggs

has not been assessed

• Develop a strategy to use a combination of

both controls effectively

Organic Control of FirewormResearch objective:

• Test the efficacy of Entrust applied via chemigation

• Assess levels of Trichogramma parasitism on fireworm

eggs laid in the spring

http://www.bccranberrygrowers.com/gallery/pests.htm

Fireworm Lifecycle

APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

1st

Entrust spray

2nd

Entrust spray

Methodology – Larval Control with Entrust

• Treatments: (1) Control (2) Entrust

Oregon farm Delta farmRate: 2.1 oz / acre Rate: 3 oz / acre

Water: 550 gallons Water: 785 gallonsTime: 3 hr and 45 min Time: 27 min

Pressure:1000 - 1800 g / min

Count before Count after

Treatment

Entrust significantly increased kill

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Entrust Control

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f d

ea

d la

rva

e P = 0.037Oregon

Delta

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Entrust Control

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f d

ea

d la

rva

e P = 0.02Delta

Follow-up Trial

• Field - wide Entrust spray Delta farm:

Rate: 2.5 oz / acre

Water: 53 gallons

Time: 7 min

• The kill rate was ~ 70%

• Efficacy was hindered by mature larvae presence & clogged sprinklers

Conclusions

• Entrust applied via chemigation has efficacy against fireworm √

• Checklist:

- Know your irrigation system √

- Avoid the risk of diluting Entrust! √

- Ensure all sprinkler heads work √

- Scout weekly for young larvae √

Fireworm Lifecycle

APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

1st

Entrust spray

SpringTrichogramma

release

2nd

Entrust spray

Fall Trichogramma

release

Methodology - Biocontrol for eggsPlots:

Assessment:

More parasitized eggs in biocontrol release plots

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Trichogramma Control

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f p

ara

sit

ize

d

eg

gs

P < 0.001

Conclusion• Spring release + Fall release = promising control for fireworm eggs √

• Can be used as part of a multi-pronged control against fireworm √

• Trichogramma release & Entrust spray do not overlap √

• Trichogramma is not commercially available X- Grower demand could encourage its mass production

• Entrust is not registered for fireworm yet X-It will be in the next 2 years

Outline

• The wonderful world of berries

• Strawberry: - Spider mite control with predator mites

- Lygus control with NeemAzal

• Cranberry:- Fireworm control with Entrust & T. sibericum

- Perennial weed control with horticultural vinegar

(Funding by: OSDP + Fraserland Organics)

• Blueberry: - Weevil control with nematodes & Metarhizium anisopliae

- Mummyberry control with organic fungicides

Perennial Weed Control

• Horticultural vinegars are organicapproved in Canada and U.S.

• Previous trials in cranberries show:

-weakens common perennial weeds:blackberry, juncus & false lily-of-the-valley(E.S. Cropconsult 2006; Patten 2007)

-efficacy is influenced by: weed species & size, number of applications(Stein and Rumsey, 2008; Webber and Shrefler,

2006; Chinery, 2002)

• Crop injury due to vinegarhas been recorded (E.S. Cropconsult 2006; Patten 2007)

Perennial Weed Control

Research Objective:

• Level of crop damage

• Evaluate the efficacy of application frequency:

- 1x vs. 6x

• Different application methods:

-Foliar spray vs. foliar spray + basal root drench

Research Methodology• 5 treatments (GroTek Elimaweed 30% acetic acid by Green Star Plant

Products diluted in water to 4% concentration)

Treatment June 29

Assess

July 6 July 15

Assess

July 21 July 30 August 6

Assess

Untreated

Control (water)

X X X X X X

Foliar + basal (1x) X X X X X X

Foliar (1x) X X X X X X

Foliar + basal (6x) X X X X X X

Foliar (6x) X X X X X X

More Cranberry Damage with Repeat Foliar Application

• Highest vine damage: 6x foliar sprays

• No significant difference between Control & 6x foliar + basal drench

• Reducing the amount of product applied to weeds via

foliage will help reduce damage to cranberry vines

1 3 4

Better weed control with repeat applications

1 3 5

P=xxxx

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Pre treatment Mid treatment End of treatment

me

an

we

ed

co

ntr

ol ra

tin

g (/5

)Control

Basal Drench + Foliar (1x)

Foliar Only (1x)

Basal Drench + Foliar (6x)

Foliar Only (6x)

P <0.0001

Control Affected by Weed Species

Good:

Moderate:

Poor:

Impact of Soil Type

• Vinegar works better on sandy than heavier soils (Patten 2007)

• Soil composition: 61.6% silt and clay

21.2% organic matter

17.2% sand

• Level of weed control was likely affected by soil composition

• No difference in final pH between Control & 6x plots (foliar) – 6.0

Conclusions

• Vinegar is a good “burn-down” product for some perennial weeds √` in cranberry bogs

• We recommend a split application (foliar + basal root drench) as it √causes less cranberry vine damage than a solely foliar spray

• Our future work:

-More consecutive vinegar applications for better control

of hardier weeds like juncus & woody stem plants

-Assessing damage levels in other crops

Outline

• The wonderful world of berries

• Strawberry:- Spider mite control with predator mites

• Cranberry:- Fireworm control with Entrust & T. sibericum

- Perennial weed control with horticultural vinegar

• Blueberry: - Mummyberry control with organic fungicides

(Funding by: COABC, OSDP, BCBC)

Blueberry Pests

• Blueberries are attacked

by several insect pests

• Also susceptible to numerous fungal,

bacterial & viral pathogens

• Fungal diseases are the most

common but also the most treatable

• Interest in organic production is rising

• Organically-approved fungicides

are now available!

Organic Mummyberry Control

Research objective:

Evaluate the efficacy of organic controls

for mummyberry on blueberries

Organic Mummyberry Control• Monolinia vaccinii-corymbosi

• Fungal disease that can significantly reduce yield

• Ascospores are released from mummyberries on the ground and infect foliage at bud break

• Spores are spread from infected leaves by wind and bees to the open flowers

• Infected berries prematurely turn pink

• Infected berries turn white and fall off the bushes

• Once established, disease cycle is difficult to break

Methodology

Seven treatments:1. Actinovate – Streptomyces lydicus2. Serenade Max – Bacillus subtilis3. Serenade ASO – Bacillus subtilis4. Sonata – Bacillus pumilis5. Topas - propiconazole (conventional industry standard)6. Funginex - triforine (conventional industry standard)7. Untreated control

Treatment and Assessment

Sprays were applied weekly for 5 weeks

Flower and leaf infections were counted on each pair of plants in May

All organic products were effective

0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.0

Fungi

nex

Topas

Ser

enad

e Aso

Ser

enad

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ax

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inov

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Con

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treatment

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p < 0.001

All organic products were effective

0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.0

Fungi

nex

Topas

Ser

enad

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ax

Sonat

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Con

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aa

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p < 0.001

Conclusions

• All products provided some suppression of mummyberry √

• Serenade products are very promising and available √- Begin sprays at bud break (2-5mm of new green tissue)

- Spray weekly for 5 weeks

Organic Berry Toolbox

Predator Mites - available

Serenade - available

Trichogramma- in the near future???

Vinegar - available

Entrust – available in 1-2 yrs Nematodes-available

AcknowledgementsTracy Heuppelsheuser, BCMAL

Mark Sweeney, BCMAL

Dr. Gary Judd, AAFC

Dr. Gerhard Gries, SFU

Tom Baumann, Expert Agriculture Team

Renee Prasad, E.S. Cropconsult Ltd.

Amanda Brown, E.S. Cropconsult Ltd.

Alf Krause, Krause Farms

Ed McKim, McKim Farms

Kevin Husband, Emma Lea Farms

Harvey Krause, South Alder Farms

Henry and David Mutz, Berry Haven Farms

Rhonda Driediger and Rick Giesbrecht,

Driediger Farms

Abbotsford Growers Cooperative

Dave Ducek, Fraserland Farms

Terry Bremner, Bremner Farms

Mary Margaret & David Smith, Winsmuir Farm

Lisa Jarett, Dow

Jimmy Gaskin, Gaskin FarmsPat Harrison, Historic Collishaw FarmMark Sweeney, BCMALRenee Prasad, Heather Meberg, Lena Syrovy, Karina Sakalauskas, Brock Glover, Emily Carmichael, Amanda Brown, E.S. Cropconsult Ltd.BC Blueberry CouncilOrganic Sector Development Program