UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre 2q.) Growers of poinsettias md other greenhouse crops face difficult adversaries in their ef forts to bring healthy plants to market each year. A variety of insect pests can re luce crop yields and quality, ause economic loss, and lead to greater reliance'on chemical pesti cides. But with the help of Penn State researchers, growers are finding new allies in their battle against bugs. Penn State scientists have used beneficial insects successfully to help manage pests in poinsettias and greenhouse tomatoes. Pest control strategies arising from the research could greatly reduce, or even eliminate, the use of insecti cides in many greenhouses. “Insect pests can devastate a greenhouse crop,” said Cathy Thomas, an entomology research technologist in Penn State’s Col lege of Agricultural Sciences. "But growers no longer can rely on conventional pesticides be cause of concerns with worker safety, insect resistance, food safety, new government regula tions and a lack of registered chemicals for greenhouse use.” u % %, % % % & JANUARY 29, 1994 A SPECIAL SECTION IN LANCASTER FARMING ADVERTISERS PLAN NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE PHONE 717-394-3047 or 626-1164 Deadline Friday January 21 GROWERS INFORMATION FEATURE INTERVIEWS • STATE & NATIONAL ASSOCIATES NEWS • PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER Researchers Look For A Few Good Bugs Greenhouse production is a side the pests’ larvae. When die house workers often are women of pests, such as aphids and western highly valuable industry in Penn- eggs hatch, the emerging wasps child-bearing age, and they have a flower thrips. The latter pest is es sylvania. Annual wholesale re- feed on the larvae, which soon die. right to be concerned,” said Mi- pecially serious because it is the ceipts in the specialized green- The parasite is so effective that c hael. “In most cases, greenhouse primary carrier of tomato spotted house vegetable and floriculture many participating growers have employees involved in this pro- wilt virus, a disease that can infect sector are more than $l3O million, practically eliminated pesticide gram were delighted they no long- hundreds of greenhouse plant var- Morc than a dozen commercial spraying to control whiteflies. “In cr had to enter a confined space to iedes. In 1989 and 1990, the virus greenhouse operators have coop- some cases, we’ve found that En- handle plant material containing was responsible for nearly crated with the Penn State re- carsia can virtually wipe out pesticide residues.” $700,000 in lost sales of green searchers to study biological con- whiteflies in poinsettias,” said Eliminating pesticides also al- house plants in Pennsylvania, trol as part of an integrated pest Thomas. “We’ve gone into the | ows native beneficial insects to The researchers say several is management (IPM) strategy. The sales season with hardly any migrate into a greenhouse. “In one sues must be addressed before program, which began in 1989, is whiteflies left That’s never hap- instance, we had an invasion of biocontrol is more widely adopt supported by the Pennsylvania pened in tomatoes, but the wasps green peach aphid,” said Dr. Paul ed. Some growers need mere in- Departmentof Agriculture and the significantly reduce the pest” Heller, professor of entomology. formation to be receptive to IPM. Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers In most cases, success depends “Since no pesticides had been More research is needed to devcl- Association. . p n when the beneficial insects are used in the biocontrol house, na- op better beneficial insects for “Good things seem to happen introduced in the greenhouse, tore parasites migrated in and took some pests. And more suppliers when you reduce pesticides in the “You have to introduce benefi- care of the problem. In die grow- are needed to improve availability greenhouse,” said Alan Michael, cials rather early, while you still er’s other houses, where pesti- and quality control of beneficials. the Penn State Cooperative Exten- have low levels of infestation,” cides had been used, he had to In the meantime, a grower who sion horticulture agent who initial- Dr Michael Orzolek, profes- spray to get rid of die aphids.” has participated in the Penn State ed the project. “Natural predators so* of vegetable crops. “But you The absence of chemicals also research recommends biocontrol come in, insect populations stay never want to completely elimin- reduces the risk of pesticide poi- to other greenhouse operators, low, crop quality improves, em- ate the pest If you always have a soning of plants, and protects “They soon won’t have any ployees are happier, you tend to tow pest population, the benefi- plants from physical damage caus- choice,” said Boyd Mertz of meet more of the regulations im- cials can feed and reproduce. Our ed by tanks, hoses and sprayers Northumberland. “Growers who posed on growers, and you get a research shows that small num- being pulled through the green- aren’t looking at biocontrol have little better harvest.” bers of pests aren’t a problem for house. In addition, biocontrol per- their heads in the sand.” In the project’s first phase, sci- cro P quality and quantity.” mils the use of bumblebees for na- “When we first started this pro entists used a tiny, stingless wasp. The use of biocontrol offers se- tural pollination, which often in- ject, growers laughed,” said Tho- Encarsia formosa, to control vend advantages over traditional creases fruit quality and yield. mas. “Using bugs to control bugs? greenhouse whitefly. The wasp at- chemical pesticides, not the least Researchers now are studying They don’t laugh anymore. Now tacks whiteflies by laying eggs in- of which is worker safety. “Green- biocontrol for other greenhouse they listen.” The Official Publication For The PENNSYLVANIA MASTER CORN GROWERS ASSOC. (O®lM TMJK PENNSYLVANIA MASTER CORN GROWERS ASSOC, INC. Corn Grower President M.ni|l"«“ llor hcciuic ot ihc suspicion oj din I QOMWYVIULEfLmcaarer ”, u ,j,,i| t hc safeguard'and I CoV It «eeds •" n “ " on to >«' I polled >ou lie *“"» ® and 1 feel loi doing ’ ' 3,t l T' > I tireally reduced crop The mos , , amm g u works for me | tingle limntng r » cloT ’ n a d xrorip graduated from Penn I production re urater and wee su ,c«,dradc|rccina|ironomy 1 I rake n , n imiandimmcdialclyylaned The aullror of Ihrs guorc " (pnlly farm arcil ot I Granl Troop PTS'*” 1 Georgetown Before In' I"™ 1 I i | • intrn' » 1 Brothers p a % % % Mac Model ConseryatiogFarm c;. : mm •V ’ a-- rte&i d Of Corn iZ ' hev Plant MtCONneIT!?""*" '"?' k p “ ™ » (fulioncoi • LlSfi L'Rc « c C *cnn hm. fc IWM. 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