By Clint Thompson Sometimes the management of a crop disease or insect requires an integrated approach to achieve full control. Organic sweet potato producers must implement such a strategy to achieve full control of root-knot nematodes. The southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is one of several plant-parasitic nematodes that cause damage to plant roots, according to Alabama Extension. Symptoms below …
Got You Covered: Desaeger Continues to Tout Cover Crops to Manage Nematodes
By Clint Thompson Cover crops remain an under-utilized but effective management option for specialty crop growers managing nematodes. Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, touted the practice at the Florida Grower Citrus Show. “If you have the time to put in …
What’s the Future of Fumigation?
By Clint Thompson How specialty crop growers manage weeds when the field is not being sown is just as important as what fumigant they choose prior to planting season. Nathan Boyd, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate center director and professor of horticulture/weed science at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, has conducted years …
Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Complicate Crop Quality
By Johan Desaeger The importance of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) in agriculture was first demonstrated in the mid-1800s with the discovery of sugar beet cyst nematodes in Europe and root-knot nematodes in Europe and the Americas. Experiments with nematicides in the early-mid 1900s demonstrated the significant yield loss caused by these nematodes. Yet to this day, PPN’s true impact on crop …
Turnaround Times for N.C. Nematode Testing Expected to be Long
RALEIGH – The North Carolina (N.C.) Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (NCDA&CS) Nematode Assay Lab is warning growers to expect turnaround times of 15 weeks or longer for routine (predictive) nematode samples submitted this year. Samples submitted for diagnostic testing, including molecular diagnosis of guava root-knot nematode species, will be given priority. Those results should be available in around …
UF Scientist to Study Ways to Combat Nematodes, Diseases in Turfgrass
Lawns, playing fields, golf courses, parks and many other outdoor areas are part of the multi-billion-dollar turfgrass industry. That industry provides aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits to Florida. Valued at $14.3 billion and planted on 3.9 million acres in Florida, that same industry struggles with parasitic nematodes and fungal diseases that prove costly for growers, homeowners and commercial industries. “Sting …
Expo Specialty Crop Sessions Educate Growers
By Clint Thompson A highlight of the annual Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is the seminar program that focuses on the vegetable and specialty crop industry in Florida. This year’s sessions covered a range of topics, including pest management, alternative crops that growers can take advantage of, and various other research updates from University of Florida Institute of Food and …
Corteva’s Salibro™ Effective Option Against Nematodes
By Clint Thompson Andrew Lovett, a market development specialist with Corteva Agriscience, believes Salibro™ nematicide provides specialty crop producers the most bang for their buck when managing nematodes. “Growers can’t take any risks. If they’re going to pull the trigger on an expensive product, especially a nematicide, then they need it to work. They can definitely have confidence with Salibro™ …
Expo Specialty Crop Sessions Educate Growers
By Clint Thompson A highlight of the annual Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo is the seminar program that focuses on the vegetable and specialty crop industry in Florida. This year’s sessions covered a range of topics, including pest management, alternative crops that growers can take advantage of, and various other research updates from University of Florida Institute of Food and …
Nematode Management: Know the Species Impacting Your Field
By Clint Thompson Before Florida specialty crop producers begin treating for guava root-knot nematodes, they need to understand what kind of nematodes species is impacting their fields. Not all nematode species can be treated the same, says Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and …