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.”
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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
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