Plum Pox
(Continued from Pago A 1)
terial. Penn State, along with the
state and federal departments of
agriculture, has been looking
closely at how the virus spreads.
Nov. 4 was the last observation
of active virus made.
In a survey conducted in
Adams County, of 39 samples,
18 were positive in two town
ships Latimore and Hunting
ton, near York Springs. A
quarantine was established ex
tended to a two-mile radius
around the infected zone.
Fortunately, the Strain D
virus found tends, noted Hul
brendt, to spread slower with
fewer severe symptoms com
pared with other strains, and
does not affect cherry trees.
PPV is spread from aphids,
who inject the virus into plants
while feeding. They do not pass
the PPV onto the progeny.
The quarantine does not
extend to the movement of fruit.
But no plant material is allowed
to leave the quarantined site.
According to an article in the
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal,
this spring, “front teams’’ orga
nized by Penn State and the
other departments of agriculture
will visit tree farms and nurser
ies to collect information to help
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stop the virus.
Teams will take leaf samples
from trees to be used to test for
plum pox. Symptoms don’t
appear on the trees for two to
three years, according to Hul
brendt. That’s why testing now
is necessary.
Since the outbreak was dis
covered, 31 states that have re
ceived fruit from Pennsylvania
requested test kits.
The virus has no ill effects on
humans. But the virus leaves
lesions on the fruit, making
them hard to market.
Adams County is the center of
the fruit-growing region in the
state. Pennsylvania produces
more than $25 million worth of
stone fruit each year.
With increasing environmen
tal regulations, growers have
been steadily losing selection of
materials to fight fruit tree
fungus. But some new, potent
weapons are undergoing ap
proval or already have been ap
proved for use in orchards.
Travis, Penn State patholo
gist, spoke about the new
“stroby” fungicides available.
Stroby, short for Strobilurin, is
an antifungal compound origi
nally discovered in a fungus.
The material was discovered
in Europe by someone observing
pine cones infected with a
fungus. The cone was not rott-
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ing. Apparently, a substance in
the fringus prevented other
fungi from developing on the
cone.
The stroby fungicides are
manufactured by a variety of
companies. The fungicides are
broad-spectrum, rain-fast, pro
vide systemic activity, and are
effective against rusts, scab, and
powdery mildew. The only con
cern Travis and other research
ers have is resistance
management. Travis said that if
the stroby fungicides are
overused, “you’ll lose them
fairly quickly.”
There are no phytotoxicity
problems.
The key is to apply the fungi
cides early enough and to care
fully watch label rate
application.
“If you use them well in your
orchard, you’ll be able to use
them for a long time,” Travis
said. He also provided informa
tion on peach fungicide pro
grams.
Steve Miller, of the Appala
chian Fruit Research Station,
spoke about the new plant
growth regulator (PGR) that
may soon be available to
growers. The material, with the
scientific name prohexadione
calcium, inhibits gibberellic acid
biosynthesis, “which causes cell
elongation,” noted Miller.
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In other words, the material
reduces plant vegetative growth,
promoting more fruit develop
ment on the plant.
Critical to growers, Miller
said, is timing. Timing “is ex
tremely important if you are
going to reap the benefits of the
material.”
Growers must apply the PGR
early in the season, at petal fall
to 3-inch height, for effective
growth control. The material
shortens the length of time re
quired to prune trees, reduces
the number of primary cuts, and
reduces tree canopy, which
helps in improving fruit size and
quality.
There are also disease benefits
using the PGR, according to
Miller. Research has noted that
the material controls fire blight
by reducing the shoot growth,
thus reducing the number of fire
blight strikes and length of
strikes, consistently.
Using the new PGR, there is
no reduction in fruit size, fruit
firmness, or solids. There are no
adverse effects on fruit quality
Photoperiod Meeting Set
NEW FRANKLIN (Franklin
Co.) - A meeting to discuss
photoperiod management is
scheduled for March 2, 2000 at
the New Franklin Runtan
Community Center. Time is from
9:45 a.m to noon Dr. Geoffrey
Dahl, University of Maryland and
Dan McFarland, PSU ag engineer
will be the featured speakers.
Growing evidence supports the
use of photoperiod as a
management tool for dairy
producers. Photoperiod is the
cycle of light and dark periods
within a day. Recent research has
shown that long days stimulate
increased milk production by 6-10
percent in lactating dairy cows.
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and no carryover even at higher
rates. However, the PGR can in
crease fruit set, requiring an ag
gressive thinning program,
Miller said.
The PGR may be available to
growers as early as April this
year.
Also at the meeting, Greg
Krawczyk, Penn State entomol
ogist, provided details on studies
on oriental fruit moth control.
He also provided information on
managing aphids in fruit trees.
With the use of more selective
chemicals for growers, scouting,
timing, and application take a
greater emphasis, according to
the Penn State entomologist.
Tim Elkner, Lancaster horti
culture agent, provided infor
mation on fine-tuning sprayers.
He noted that, according to the
New Jersey fruit production
guide, 20 percent of seasonal
costs are involved in spraying.
Proper calibration not only
helps get the proper rates of
sprays to plants but can “also
save you money,” he said.
Pre-registration is not required
However, there will be a five
dollar per person (farm) charge at
the meeting to help cover the
expenses for getting Dr Dahl into
the county Multiple people from
the same farm do not pay more
than the one five-dollar
registration
Directions. From 1-81 exit 5,
follow route 316 SE for two miles
to New Franklin. At Arthur's
Country Deli, turn left onto New
Franklin Road Proceed for the
equivalent of one block. Look tor
the Runtan Community Centei
sign and driveway on your right
The meeting will take place in the
block building.