By Clint Thompson
The March issue of Specialty Crop Industry Magazine highlights advancements in the management of cornsilk flies. Julien Beuzelin, an assistant professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, discusses the insects, where they are found and why the potential for pyrethroid resistance is a concern.
Abolfazl Hajihassani, assistant professor at UF/IFAS, talks about a resistant rootstock for root-knot nematode control in tomatoes. He discussed nematicide trials that UGA is collaborating with Clemson.
Sriyanka Lahiri, assistant professor at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), discusses integrated pest management of chilli thrips in strawberries. This includes chemical and biological controls.
Johan Desaeger, assistant professor at the UF/IFAS GCREC, also highlighted nematodes and discussed the importance of producing nematode-free plant material. The first step in nematode management is avoid introducing them into fields. Once nematodes are present, eradication is near to impossible.
Also, Bhabesh Dutta, Timothy Grey and Jason Schmidt, three scientists on the UGA Tifton campus, put the spotlight on the impact of neglecting weeds and what it could mean for late-season disease development in organic onions.
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