Minimizing Inputs for Minimizing Inputs for Optimal Floriculture Optimal Floriculture
and Nursery Crop Pest and Nursery Crop Pest ManagementManagement
Kevin M. Heinz & Fred DaviesKevin M. Heinz & Fred DaviesDepartments of Entomology & Horticultural SciencesDepartments of Entomology & Horticultural Sciences
Texas A&M University, College StationTexas A&M University, College Station
Floral and Nursery Crop Research InitiativeFloral and Nursery Crop Research InitiativeResearchers MeetingResearchers Meeting
March 25, 2003March 25, 2003
Project OverviewProject Overview
Fit relative to entire programFit relative to entire program
Project accomplishments - EntomologyProject accomplishments - Entomology
TangiblesTangibles
Future directionsFuture directions
Project PositionProject Position
AFEAFEIPMIPM
PESPPESPSamplingSampling
NRINRIThrips BCThrips BC
ARSARSInputsInputs
80% of Texans reside 80% of Texans reside in urban areasin urban areas
Urban and suburban Urban and suburban areas compete for areas compete for limited resource - limited resource - WATERWATER
Need for reduced Need for reduced inputs in an arid stateinputs in an arid state
Texas AgricultureTexas Agriculture
Texas Problems?Texas Problems?
• The Texas Department of Agriculture issued The Texas Department of Agriculture issued 1331 stop sale orders to Texas greenhouse 1331 stop sale orders to Texas greenhouse and nursery growers (1996 – 2000)and nursery growers (1996 – 2000)
• 98.8% were issued for the occurrence of pest 98.8% were issued for the occurrence of pest insects.insects.
Texas Department of Agriculture - Unpublished
Inputs and Pest Inputs and Pest ManagementManagement
Reducing inputs will reduce plant qualityReducing inputs will reduce plant quality
Reducing inputs will reduce insect Reducing inputs will reduce insect problemsproblems
At high inputs, prophylactic applications At high inputs, prophylactic applications of insecticidesof insecticides
Reduce inputs, reduce insecticides, Reduce inputs, reduce insecticides, retain plant qualityretain plant quality
Inputs and Pest Inputs and Pest ManagementManagement
Chrysanthemum as modelChrysanthemum as model
Nitrogen as first input measureNitrogen as first input measure
Study three insects: aphids, thrips, Study three insects: aphids, thrips, leafminersleafminers
Assess population dynamics, pesticide Assess population dynamics, pesticide applications, and plant quality at varying applications, and plant quality at varying input levelsinput levels
Inputs and Pest Inputs and Pest ManagementManagement
Heinz - EntomologyHeinz - Entomology
Davies - HorticultureDavies - Horticulture
BogrBográán – Plant Pathology (& extension)n – Plant Pathology (& extension)
Project OverviewProject Overview
Fit relative to entire programFit relative to entire program
Project accomplishments – EntomologyProject accomplishments – EntomologyNovember 2000 – March 2003November 2000 – March 2003
TangiblesTangibles
Future directionsFuture directions
Aphid Population GrowthAphid Population Growth
0 19.83 296.50
19 53.50 472.17
38 209.17 616.50
75 570.00 833.33
375 803.17 868.33
Nitrogenppm N
ChamberN = 6
GreenhouseN = 10
Aphid Population GrowthAphid Population Growth
Thrips Population GrowthThrips Population Growth
0 19.50 35.80
19 179.33
38 181.67 71.80
75 268.00 137.10
375 449.00 352.10
Nitrogenppm N
ChamberN = 6
GreenhouseN = 10
Insecticide ApplicationsInsecticide Applications
0 0.80 0.80 0.80
75 1.20 1.80 1.80
375 1.20 2.80 3.00
Nitrogenppm N
ConserveN = 5
OrtheneN = 5
TalstarN = 5
ControlN = 5
Thrips DensitiesThrips Densities
0 18.20 8.20 11.40 8.60
75 17.40 20.00 19.60 25.00
375 6.60 24.00 22.60 72.00
Nitrogenppm N
ConserveN = 5
OrtheneN = 5
TalstarN = 5
ControlN = 5
Proportion Flower DamageProportion Flower Damage
0 0.55 0.40 0.64 0.20
75 0.20 0.39 0.21 0.17
375 0.22 0.22 0.13 0.32
Nitrogenppm N
ConserveN = 5
OrtheneN = 5
TalstarN = 5
ControlN = 5
Plant HeightPlant Height
0 16.26 16.26 15.98 15.16
75 21.76 22.92 21.56 20.90
375 20.64 23.36 21.56 22.24
Nitrogenppm N
ConserveN = 5
OrtheneN = 5
TalstarN = 5
ControlN = 5
Leaves Per PlantLeaves Per Plant
0 60.20 57.80 56.40 51.20
75 168.80 166.40 185.80 154.20
375 180.60 175.80 204.40 204.40
Nitrogenppm N
ConserveN = 5
OrtheneN = 5
TalstarN = 5
ControlN = 5
Opened Flowers Per PlantOpened Flowers Per Plant
0 5.00 5.40 5.60 4.40
75 23.40 24.60 23.80 21.40
375 25.80 26.60 25.00 29.40
Nitrogenppm N
ConserveN = 5
OrtheneN = 5
TalstarN = 5
ControlN = 5
Project OverviewProject Overview
Fit relative to entire programFit relative to entire program
Project accomplishments - EntomologyProject accomplishments - Entomology
TangiblesTangibles
Future directionsFuture directions
TangiblesTangibles
Demonstrate capability to produce quality Demonstrate capability to produce quality chrysanthemums with reduced inputs.chrysanthemums with reduced inputs.
Preparing students for the industry (Karol Preparing students for the industry (Karol Burns, Carlos BogrBurns, Carlos Bográn, undergraduate án, undergraduate interns)interns)
Growth in TAES/TCE faculty with Growth in TAES/TCE faculty with ornamentals emphasis (Carlos Bogrornamentals emphasis (Carlos Bográn, án, Scott Ludwig)Scott Ludwig)
Fertility Affects on Chrysanthemum × Aphid Fertility Affects on Chrysanthemum × Aphid Interactions: Influences on Plant Growth, Interactions: Influences on Plant Growth, Photosynthesis, Ethylene Evolution and Photosynthesis, Ethylene Evolution and
Herbivore AbundanceHerbivore Abundance
Fred DaviesFred DaviesChuanjiu HeChuanjiu He
Amanda ChauAmanda ChauKevin HeinzKevin Heinz
Host Plant/CropHost Plant/Crop: Greenhouse mum ‘Charm’ : Greenhouse mum ‘Charm’ Biotic StressBiotic Stress:: Aphids Aphids
Abiotic Stress:Abiotic Stress: Fertility Fertility
Objectives:Objectives: Determining fertility and aphid influenceDetermining fertility and aphid influence on plant growth & development and on plant growth & development and herbivore (NO PESTICIDE STRESSES herbivore (NO PESTICIDE STRESSES ADDED) ADDED)
Treatments:Treatments: 2 2 aphid levels x 5 fertility levels = 10 trts. aphid levels x 5 fertility levels = 10 trts.
Bottom Middle Apical Quick Rinse of Aphid Exudate
Tot
al P
lan
t D
M (
g)T
otal
Pla
nt
DM
(g)
Fertility Level (ppm N)Fertility Level (ppm N)0 19 38 75 375
0
10
20
30
40
50
No Aphids
Aphids
0
1
2
3
No Aphids
Aphids
Tot
al B
ud
DM
(g)
Tot
al B
ud
DM
(g)
00 19 19 38 38 75 75 375 375
Fertility Level (ppm N)Fertility Level (ppm N)
Lea
f D
M (
g)L
eaf
DM
(g)
0 19 38 75 3750
5
10
15
20
No Aphids
Aphids
Fertility Level (ppm N)Fertility Level (ppm N)
Tot
al L
eaf
Are
a (c
mT
otal
Lea
f A
rea
(cm
22 ))
00 19 19 38 38 75 75 375 375
Fertility Level (ppm N)Fertility Level (ppm N)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
No Aphids
Aphids
Sp
ecif
ic L
eaf
Are
a (c
mS
pec
ific
Lea
f A
rea
(cm
22 g g-1-1
))
Fertility Level (ppm N)Fertility Level (ppm N)
0 19 38 75 3750
50
100
150
200No Aphids
Aphids
Eth
ylen
e P
rod
uct
ion
Rat
eE
thyl
ene
Pro
du
ctio
n R
ate
(pm
ol g
(pm
ol g
-1-1 F
W h
FW
h-1-1))
BudsBuds Young Phys. Mat Old Young Phys. Mat Old LeafLeaf LeafLeaf Leaf Leaf
0
100
200
300
400
No Aphids
Aphids
Pn
(P
n (
mol
CO
mol
CO
22 m m
-2-2 s s
-1-1))
Young Phys. Mat OldYoung Phys. Mat Old LeafLeaf Leaf Leaf Leaf Leaf
0
5
10
15
20
No Aphids
Aphids
N (
%)
N (
%)
Fertility Level (ppm N)Fertility Level (ppm N)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
No Aphids
Aphids
00 19 19 38 38 75 75 375 375
Phys. Mat LeavesPhys. Mat Leaves
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5No Aphids
AphidsYoung LeavesYoung Leaves
0 19 38 75 3750
500
1000
1500
2000
Young Leaf
Phys. Mature Leaf
Old Leaf
Fertility Level (ppm N)
Ap
hid
s N
o.
SummarySummary:: •REDUCED PLANT QUALITY: Aphids depressed plant REDUCED PLANT QUALITY: Aphids depressed plant vegetative and reproductive growth, and altered carbohydrate vegetative and reproductive growth, and altered carbohydrate partitioning at high fertility. partitioning at high fertility.
•Aphid inoculated (Aphid inoculated (AIAI) plants at high fertility had increased ) plants at high fertility had increased specific leaf area [(SLA), i.e. thinner leaves] and greater leaf area specific leaf area [(SLA), i.e. thinner leaves] and greater leaf area than aphid-free (than aphid-free (NonAINonAI) plants. ) plants.
•Aphids caused greater ethylene production in reproductive buds Aphids caused greater ethylene production in reproductive buds and young leaves of high fertility plants, but had no effect on and young leaves of high fertility plants, but had no effect on ethylene evolution in physiologically mature or older - basal ethylene evolution in physiologically mature or older - basal leaves.leaves.
Summary (con.)Summary (con.)::
• AIAI plants had lower leaf N than plants had lower leaf N than NonAINonAI treatments. treatments.
•Aphids reduced photosynthesis in young leaves of high fertility Aphids reduced photosynthesis in young leaves of high fertility plants, whereas physiologically mature and older leaves were plants, whereas physiologically mature and older leaves were unaffected. unaffected.
• Aphid abundance was greatest at high fertility. Aphid abundance was greatest at high fertility.
• A higher proportion of aphids were observed in physiologically A higher proportion of aphids were observed in physiologically mature and older leaves at low fertility, whereas at high fertility mature and older leaves at low fertility, whereas at high fertility young leaves had 33% more aphids than older, basal leaves. young leaves had 33% more aphids than older, basal leaves.
Application to StakeholdersApplication to Stakeholders
•The morphology and physiological status of chrysanthemum The morphology and physiological status of chrysanthemum determines its susceptibility to aphids. determines its susceptibility to aphids.
•Aphids increase ethylene, decrease net photosynthesis, and Aphids increase ethylene, decrease net photosynthesis, and decrease carbon allocation to leaves and reproductive structures, decrease carbon allocation to leaves and reproductive structures, particularly at higher fertility.particularly at higher fertility.
•While growing plants under deficient fertility levels is not a While growing plants under deficient fertility levels is not a satisfactory strategy for reducing insect pests, reducing fertility satisfactory strategy for reducing insect pests, reducing fertility and pesticide levels and producing healthier, less stress and pesticide levels and producing healthier, less stress susceptible plants is a realistic endeavor for best management susceptible plants is a realistic endeavor for best management practices (BMP) and IPM systems.practices (BMP) and IPM systems.
Experiment Harvest
FutureFuture
One More Insect Herbivore - Leafminers.One More Insect Herbivore - Leafminers.
Increase Resolution of Reduced Inputs.Increase Resolution of Reduced Inputs.
IPM approach to include biological control.IPM approach to include biological control.
Demonstrations in Commercial Greenhouses.Demonstrations in Commercial Greenhouses.
Incorporation of Plant Pathogen Management.Incorporation of Plant Pathogen Management.
Inclusion of Water and Water Inclusion of Water and Water × Nutrient × Nutrient Stresses.Stresses.
Top Related