Biological Control of Key Pests of Greenhouse and Nursery Production

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1 UC ANR Pesticide Use Report Analysis Workgroup Meeting Tuesday, June 9 th, 2015 PES3001, UC Davis Campus Biological Control of Key Pests of Greenhouse and Nursery Production We Edwin Lewis & Michael Parrella Department of Entomology & Nematology University of California, Davis

2 Overview of Presentation Value of the industry Pesticide use in greenhouses and nurseries Survey of biological control practices (?) Facts about biological control in greenhouses Case study: Entomopathogenic nematodes Advantages as we look to the future

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4 Pesticide Use 2002: 22,259 lbs. a.i. applied to 27,346 acres of floriculture crops ,498 lbs. a.i. applied to 23,875 acres. > 50% decrease in pesticide use Data on pesticide use in greenhouse vegetable production less available Fewer pesticides registered for use on greenhouse vegetables. Tomato growers use bumblebees for pollination The situation for the nursery industry (outdoor plants in containers) is not as positive. Acreage stable from the number of pesticide applications actually increased Partially due to quarantine requirements associated with invasive species.

5 Greenhouse/Glasshouse Production California is the largest producer of greenhouse vegetables in the US approximately 300 acres / $112 million (Hickman, 2012). Tomatoes are the largest greenhouse vegetable crop New regulation: a tomato may be labeled greenhouse grown when is produced in a fixed steel structure using irrigation and climate control. Tomatoes grown under variable conditions that do not meet the greenhouse grown definition may now be labeled as hothouse.

6 Greenhouse/Glasshouse Production Sustainable production: large increases in greenhouse vegetable crops Major advantages over their field counterparts. In 25 years, US greenhouse vegetable industry has grown from about 0.5 % of retail grocery sales of tomatoes to >60 %. Additionally, in the big box stores 72% of the tomatoes sold are greenhouse grown A large scale greenhouse can grow 30 times more pounds of tomatoes per acre using 85% less water than traditional field production due to the use of recycled water. (Bledsoe, 2014).

7 Greenhouse/Glasshouse Production The conversion rate of water used to tomatoes produced is much higher in the greenhouse than in the field. In addition the use of IPM and biological control in greenhouse tomatoes has a rich history and is more widely used with documented success compared to field grown tomatoes. Gross sales for greenhouse vegetables in California are valued at $378,00 per acre (Hickman, 2012) Note: This is very similar to the per acre value of cut flowers

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11 Facts About Biological Control in Greenhouses Although crop value is high, this does not mean that growers are more willing to use biological control They always look at the economics and effectiveness of their choices There are many commercially available Arthropod natural enemies but 10 make up more than 90% of the natural enemies used Encarsia formosa, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Eretmocerus eremicus, Amblyseius swirksi, Aphidius colemani, Aphidoletes aphidomza, Diglyphus iseae, Stratiolaelaps scimitus, Amblyseius cucumeris, Orius insidiosus There will be few new commercially available natural enemies We may be able to better utilize native natural enemies that move into the greenhouse Microbial insecticides can be effective and are increasing in number Entomopathogenic nematodes, fungi, bacteria

12 Incorporating Entomopathogenic Nematodes Into Production Systems: What Needs to Change and What Can Stay the Same?

13 Using Microbials in IPM Do not have to change everything about crop management Many microbial insecticides fit into current production plans with minimal effort and change They require specialized information about their use

14 Infective Stage Juvenile Steinernema carpocapsae

15 Uses in Greenhouse/Nursery Fungus gnats Black vine weevil Diaprepes root weevil Thrips Leafminers? Borers

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17 Three Areas for Thought Compatibility Habitat assessment and modification EPN application and formulation

18 Three Areas for Thought Level 1: What other management materials/methods need to change so I don t kill my biological control agents outright?

19 Simple Compatibility Lots of reliable information available Herbicides: Forschler et al Steinernema feltiae activity and infectivity in response to herbicide exposure in aqueous and soil environmentsjip 55: Insecticides Li et al Effects of Insecticides on the Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 29: Fungicides Krishnayyaand & Grewal Effect of Neem and Selected Fungicides on Viability and Virulence of the Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema feltiae. Biocontrol Sci. Technol. 12: Fertilizer Shapiro et al Effects of Fertilizers on Suppression of Black Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) Damage with Steinernema carpocapsae. J Nematol. 31:

20 ..But, is Compatibility Enough? When can EPNs do something that conventional approaches can t do? Seeking fungus gnats beneath soil surface Dispersing via flying adults

21 Navel Orangeworm Pest of many nut crops in CA Multivoltine Overwinters as larvae in dropped nuts Larvae in nuts susceptible to EPN infection The only material useful to attack overwintering generation

22 Three Areas for Thought Level 2: What conditions in the crop environment can be changed to optimize field viability and efficacy?

23 Habitat Assessment Improved tools for assessment of soil for suitability for EPNs

24 Diaprepes abbreviatus Life Cycle Adults Eggs Neonates Pupae Larvae

25 Percent mortality Nematodes Most Effective in Coarse Sandy Soils Field Experiment + S. riobrave Untreated 0 Sand Sandy Clay Loam (Duncan et al., unpublish

26 What to do in California? Soil type has major impact on efficacy Soils in California much more diverse than in Florida

27 Objective Develop methods to determine whether or not entomopathogenic nematodes will be effective biological control agents of citrus root weevils in CA citrus

28 Column Assay Units

29 1000 S. riobrave Efficacy Bioassay 800 Number of S. riobravae (±SE) Soils

30 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 Silt Clay ph EC MR A B C D OM Cluster analysis: grouped similar soils based on physical and chemical characteristi cs

31 Efficacy of EPNs in different clusters Median Number of Nematodes (± 25 th percentile ) (a) b (b) c (c) b a b b a a a c d 10c m 25c m 50c m 10 0 c A B C D Cluster Kaspi et al., 2008

32 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 Silt Clay ph EC MR A B C D OM Cluster analysis: grouped similar soils based on physical and chemical characteristics

33 Using This Information Can soilless media be constructed to enhance persistence and efficacy of microbial insecticides?

34 10 Foraging of S. riobrave in Soilless Media Components Distance travelled (cm) a abc abc abc bcde def f ab ab abc f f def bcde cdef f f f ef abc abcd bcde 0 Sand Peat Moss Cedar/Pine Bark Recycled Plant Material Redw ood Saw dust (w /o bark) Redw ood Saw dust (w /bark) Perlite Vermiculite

35 Movement and Infection of S. riobrave

36 Three Areas for Thought Level 3: What can be altered in the nematode and/or formulation to optimize field viability and efficacy?

37 Application of EPNs via infected cadavers Use of adjuvants (Barricade) to prolong field lifespan

38 Advantages As We Look to the Future Increased costs of some new pesticides make biological control economically competitive Increasing state and federal regulation of pesticide use Increasing problems with pesticide resistance Negative impact on overall plant quality with repeated applications of insecticides Potential for integration of some of the newer, more specific pesticides (i.e., insect growth regulators; entomopathogens) with natural enemies

39 Advantages As We Look to the Future General move toward sustainability and 3 rd party certification of sustainable practices lead by the California Cut Flower Commission A new generation of growers more concerned about pesticide use and their potential non-target effects The field expertise offered by the international and local commercial insectaries The ability of growers to screen a greenhouse (physical barriers) The potential to completely clean a greenhouse between crops

40 Advantages As We Look to the Future Year-round production systems allow natural enemies to establish and move from crop to crop Advances in the use of banker plants and new mechanical applicators for natural enemy release The greater and more effective use of entomopathogens for control of all agricultural pests