Vegetable Update for May 28, 2009

| Agriphones and Crop Updates Index Page |

Want to be notified when new agriphones/crop updates are added?
Use our subscription service to subscribe or unsubscribe.

COLE CROPS, ROOTS, BULBS AND LEAFY VEGETABLE EDITION

Prepared by: Jennifer Allen, Vegetable Crop Specialist

Degree Days

Here are the degree and growing degree-day accumulations for April 1 – May 22, 2009.

Area

Onion Maggot

Cabbage

Maggot

Carrot Rust Fly

Carrot Weevil

Tarnished
Plant
Bug

Leaf-hopper

GDD

Bradford/
Holland Marsh*

266.3

n/a

308.8

147.5

40.6

91.6

224.3

Sarnia

301.4

217.2

347.6

179.9

52.6

118.4

261

London

301.3

217.0

346.8

179.2

53.6

117.1

251

Waterloo

255.5

178.4

298.8

146.0

43.2

95.1

213

Windsor

421.4

329.6

470.3

287.6

119.6

212.5

373

Highlighted cells indicate areas where 1^st generation numbers have been achieved.

Degree-day information for pests.

Degree Days

1^st Generation

2^nd Generation

3^rd Generation

Onion Maggot

210

1025

1772

Cabbage Maggot

314-398

847-960

1446-1604

Carrot Rust Fly

329 – 395

1399-1711

n/a

Carrot Weevil

138 – 156
455 (90% oviposition)

No model available

n/a

Tarnished Plant Bug

40

n/a

n/a

Aster Leafhopper

128

390

n/a

* Data provided thanks to funding from the Bradford Co-op Storage Ltd., and Muck Crops Research Station, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph.

Down to the Wire! Winning the War on Wireworms.

Dr. Bob Vernon, AAFC-Agassiz, B.C.

Dr. Bob Vernon, entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is behind a nation-wide wireworm tracking survey. Since some insecticides do not control or suppress all wireworm species, it is important to know which type of wireworms are present in the major growing areas of Canada so that the right control option(s) are chosen to get the job done.

Wireworms have an interesting, and troubling, lifecycle. The larvae, the most damaging life stage, are able to live in soil for several years (3-5) depending on the species. Here is a breakdown of their lifecycle:

Click beetles (adult wireworms) enter fields, preferably those with pasture, cereals and certain weeds, between April and June to lay eggs (about 200 per female)
Eggs hatch into wireworm larvae in about three weeks and live and feed on plant roots and germinating seeds in the soil for 3-5 years depending on the species
Wireworms burrow deeper into the soil (up to a meter) when it is hot and dry (mid summer), or when it is cold (winter), or when there is nothing to eat
In potato fields in the spring, wireworms move towards the soil surface, following carbon dioxide (C0₂) trails produced by potato seed pieces after planting
In late August, wireworms return to the surface to feed on daughter tubers and damage from wireworms can double every three weeks until the crop is harvested
After 3-5 years, wireworm larvae metamorphosize into click beetles (adult wireworm), which overwinter in the soil and emerge in spring to lay eggs and continue the cycle

Finding and Baiting Wireworms in Your Field

Wireworms are attracted to C0₂, whatever the source. Bait balls are a simple, effective way to check for wireworms in potato fields because they give off C0₂. Burying 1 cup of wheat flour or oatmeal in narrow 4-6 inch deep holes in fields will attract them. Mark the spot with a flag and check back in about 4-5 days (no later). About 20 evenly spaced baits per acre should suffice. This technique will indicate wireworm ‘presence’ but is NOT an indication of population threshold. Any wireworms you find should be put in a small container such as a camera film canister with soil to be identified (see “Tracking the pest” below), because some wireworm species may not be adequately controlled with certain insecticides.

Tracking the Pest - You Can help!

By using the baiting approach described above, or if you notice wireworm damage in your crops, collect the wireworms you find, along with some of the field soil, and put them in a hard plastic container. There may be more than one species present, so collect as many as you can.

Please mail the sample(s) to Dr. Vernon at:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
6947 #7 Hwy
P.O. Box 1000
Agassiz, B.C.
V0M 1A0

It is important to include a brief description of where the sample was collected (nearest town or address), what crop the wireworms were found in, and your name and phone number. Once identified, you will be contacted with the results.

If you have any questions about this wireworm tracking initiative, please contact Dr. Bob Vernon at 1 604-796-1708 (bob.vernon@agr.gc.ca), Bayer CropScience at 1 888-283-6847, or the Pest Management Regulatory Agency at 1-800-267-6315.

Label Expansions for Serenade MAX and ASO Biofungicides

J. Chaput, OMAFRA, Provincial Minor Use Coordinator

AgraQuest Inc., UAP Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently announced the registration of significant label expansions for Serenade MAX and Serenade ASO Biofungicides for suppression of a number of commonly occurring fungal and bacterial diseases. Serenade MAX and ASO are derived from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and offer growers an effective biological control alternative for these diseases.

Serenade MAX and ASO are broad spectrum, preventative biofungicides that can be applied as a foliar spray alone, or in an alternating spray program with other registered crop protection products. For maximum effectiveness they should be applied prior to or in the early stages of disease development. The biological mode of action of Serenade MAX and ASO means that they are suitable for use in a disease resistance management program with other registered fungicides.

The following table provides a summary of new disease registrations for cole crops, root, and leafy vegetables on the Canadian labels for Serenade MAX and ASO Biofungicides.  For detailed instructions and information on other crops/diseases, consult the full Serenade MAX and ASO labels.

New Crop(s) addition

Disease(s) addition

Rate ASO (L per ha)

Rate MAX (kg per ha)

Application Instructions

Crop Group 5 (Brassica vegetables)

Downy mildew, Pin rot (Alternaria/Xanthomonas complex)

8 - 15

2 - 3

Make the 1^st application at emergence or immediately following transplanting.  Repeat applications on 10 – 14 day intervals if conditions for disease development continue.

Crop Group 1 (Root and tuber vegetables)

Sclerotinia white mould

8 - 15

2 - 4

Begin application soon after emergence and when conditions are conducive to disease development.  Repeat as necessary on a 7 – 10 day interval.

Crop Group 4 (Leafy vegetables)

Sclerotinia rot

5 - 15

1 - 3

Make the 1^st application at planting.  Make a 2^nd application as a directed spray with multiple nozzles per seed line in sufficient water to ensure thorough coverage of lower plant leaves and surrounding soil surface within 7 days of thinning.  Repeat applications on 10 -14 day intervals if conditions for disease development persist.

Grey mould

4 - 12

1 - 3

Begin applications soon after emergence or transplant and continue as necessary on a 7 to 10 day interval.  When environmental conditions are conducive to disease development use Serenade MAX in a rotational program with other registered fungicides.

Powdery mildew

4 - 12

3 - 6

Begin applications at the 1^st sign of disease or when conditions become conducive for disease development.  Repeat as necessary on a 7 – 10 day interval.

Spinach

White rust

4 - 8

1 - 2

Begin applications at the 1^st sign of disease or when conditions become conducive for disease development.  Repeat as necessary on a 7 – 10 day interval.

Radish, turnip and rutabaga

Downy mildew

10

2.5

Begin application when environmental conditions are conducive to disease development and repeat on 7 -10 day intervals.

Serenade MAX and ASO biofungicides should be used in an integrated disease management program and in rotation with other management strategies. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Serenade MAX and ASO labels.

This minor use project sponsored by the Minor Use office of OMAFRA was submitted in June 2008 in response to minor use priorities identified by producers and extension personnel. Because of the size of the submissions, PMRA converted the submission to a Category B submission; however we worked very closely with the registrant and PMRA to maintain the review as though the projects were still label expansion submissions.

We also wish to thank the personnel of Agraquest Inc. and UAP Canada Inc. for their support of this registration and the personnel of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency for evaluating and approving this important pest management tool.

For copies of the new labels contact Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-3539 or visit http://www.uap.ca

Label Expansion of Rhapsody ASO Biofungicide

J. Chaput, OMAFRA, Provincial Minor Use Coordinator

AgraQuest Inc., UAP Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently announced the registration of a significant label expansion for Rhapsody ASO Biofungicide for suppression of a number of commonly occurring diseases including Botrytis, powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial diseases and fungal leaf spots. Rhapsody ASO is derived from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and offers growers the first biological control alternative for these diseases.

Rhapsody ASO is a broad spectrum, preventative biofungicide that can be applied as a foliar spray alone, or in an alternating spray program with other registered crop protection products. For maximum effectiveness it should be applied prior to or in the early stages of disease development. The biological mode of action of Rhapsody ASO means that it is suitable for use in a disease resistance management program with other registered fungicides.

The following table provides a summary of new disease registrations for cole crops and leafy vegetables on the Canadian label for Rhapsody ASO Biofungicide. For detailed instructions and the complete list of crops/diseases consult the full Rhapsody ASO label.

New Crop(s) Addition

Disease(s) Addition

Rate
(litre/100 litres of water)

Application Instructions

Crop Group 4 (Leafy vegetables): in the greenhouse including transplants

Sclerotinia rot

1.0 - 2.0

Head and leaf drop: Apply as a directed spray with multiple nozzles to each seed line in sufficient water to ensure thorough coverage of lower plant leaves and surrounding soil surface within 7 days of thinning or transplanting. Repeat applications on 10-14 day intervals if conditions for disease development persist.

Crop Group 4 (Leafy vegetables): in the greenhouse including transplants

Grey mould

1.0 - 2.0

For suppression, begin applications soon after emergence or transplant and continue as necessary on a 7 to 10 day interval.  When environmental conditions in the greenhouse are conducive to rapid disease development, use Rhapsody in a rotational program with other registered fungicides. Thorough coverage is essential.

Powdery mildew

1.0 - 2.0

Begin applications when conditions are conducive to disease development. Repeat as necessary on a 7 to 10 day interval. Apply in sufficient water to ensure complete coverage of entire plant.

Lettuce only

Downy mildew

(Bremia lactucae)

1.0 - 2.0

Begin application soon after emergence or transplant and when conditions in the greenhouse are conducive to disease development.  Repeat as necessary on a 7 to 10 day interval.

Crop Group 5 (Brassica vegetables): in the greenhouse including transplants

Downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica)

1.0 - 2.0

Begin applications when environmental conditions in the greenhouse are conducive to rapid disease development and repeat as necessary on 7 to 10 day intervals.  Thorough coverage is essential.

Pin rot (Alternaria/Xanthomonas complex)

1.0 - 2.0

Powdery mildew

1.0 - 2.0

Begin application soon after emergence or transplant and when conditions in the greenhouse are conducive to disease development.  Repeat as necessary on a 7 to 10 day interval.

Rhapsody ASO biofungicide should be used in an integrated disease management program and in rotation with other management strategies. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Rhapsody ASO label.

For copies of the new labels contact Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-3539 or visit http://www.uap.ca

| Crops Home Page |

This information is provided as a public service, but we cannot guarantee that the information is current or accurate.
Readers should verify the information before acting on it.

Feedback and technical inquiries to: ag.info@omafra.gov.on.ca
Queen's Printer for Ontario