California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Pest/Disease Management

  • UC Davis Professor Honored for Citrus Pest Research

    UC Davis Distinguished Professor Walter Leal recently received an award from the citrus research organization, FUNDECITRUS,  São Paulo, Brazil, in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to citriculture, emphasizing his work on the Asian citrus psyllid and a Lepidopteran pest named “bicho furão” (citrus fruit borer).

    Leal, a member of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology faculty and a former professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, is the first U.S.-based researcher to receive the FUNDECITRUS. award.

    A native of Brazil and a Fellow of both the Entomological Society of America and the Entomological Society of Brazil, Leal is the principal investigator of a research agreement between UC Davis and the Fundecitrus-Fund for Protection of Citriculture, based in São Paulo.

    Leal’s discovery of the sex pheromone of the Asian citrus psyllid–which spreads the deadly citrus greening disease, Huanglongbing (HLB)–may result in the insect version of “The Fatal Attraction.” The team is now working on a formulation to be used in traps.

    The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citris, is a sap-sucking bug that is one of two confirmed vectors of HLB. A native of Asia, it is found in parts of the Middle East, South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It was first detected in the United States in 1998 (Palm Beach County, Florida) and is now also found in Louisiana, Georgia, Arizona, South Carolina, Texas, and since 2003, in California  (San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast counties, including San Luis Obispo.)

    Former UC Cooperative Extension advisor Surendra Dara of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties (now at the University o Hawaii, Mānoa) earlier said that “The Asian citrus psyllid is a major threat to the multibillion dollar citrus industry in the United States. When an insect pest vectors a deadly disease, the threat is more serious and ACP being an invasive pest made its management even more challenging.  Discovery of a sex pheromone by Dr. Leal’s team is a major breakthrough not just for managing a dangerous invasive pest, but also a significant contribution to environmental sustainability.  I envision this pheromone becoming a clean, green, mean weapon in the IPM arsenal against ACP.”.

    Integrated pest management specialist and UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emeritus (on recall) Frank Zalom, of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology and a past president of the Entomological Society of America, earlier hailed the discovery as a “significant breakthrough in preventing the spread of this serious citrus insect, and may offer a less toxic method for its control.” He was not involved in the study.

    Pheromones and other semiochemicals are widely used in agriculture and medical entomology. “Growers use them as lures in trapping systems for monitoring and surveillance, as well as for strategies for controlling populations, such as mating disruption and attraction-and-kill systems,” Leal noted.

    ACP feeds on new leaf growth of oranges, lemons, mandarins, grapefruit and other citrus, as well as some related plants. Infected psyllids can transmit the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, which causes the fatal citrus disease. An early symptom of HLB in citrus is the yellowing of leaves on an individual limb or in a sector of a tree’s canopy.

    Citrus trees infected with HLB usually die within five years, according to the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. There is no known cure. “The only way to protect trees is to prevent spread of the HLB pathogen in the first place, by controlling psyllid populations and removing and destroying any infected trees,” UC IPM says on its website.

  • 36th Annual Fall Desert Crops Workshop, Dec. 3

    Join UCANR on December 3rd for the 36th Annual Fall Desert Crops Workshop. Get up to date on the key issues affecting desert crops in our Valley through expert-led discussions. This FREE workshop offers a valuable opportunity to stay informed, connect with others and better understand the challenges facing our agricultural community.

    Topics to be discussed:

    • Irrigation
    • Soil Salinity Mapping
    • Pest & Disease Management
    • Pesticide Use Regulations
    • Other Agricultural Issues

    To pre-register use this link or join us onsite starting at 7:30am.

    Continuing Education Units will be offered with the following agencies: (Pending Approval)

    • California Department of Pesticide and Regulation
    • Arizona Department of Agriculture
    • Certified Crop Advisor (CCA)

    If you have any questions or need additional information on workshop, contact the office at (442) 265-7700.

    Document

    See the full agenda at: 36th Annual Fall Desert Crops Workshop_Agenda

  • Stink Bugs Foul Up Central Valley Stone Fruit

    While growers hoped the invasive brown marmorated stink bug would stay out of California orchards, they seem to have taken a liking to stone fruit, along with other stink bug species, and caused problems for some growers this year. UC Cooperative Extension Fruit & Almond Advisor Raymond Mireles shared this at Malcolm Media’s recent Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo in Fresno. Following his presentation, Raymond met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to explain. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot Grower Solutions for their industry support.

  • Why Do Some of My Peaches Stay Small and Never Fully Develop?

    Have you seen “nubbins” in your orchard? During a presentation at Malcolm Media’s recent Tree & Vine Expo, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Cameron Zuber described nubbins as occasional smaller sized fruit you may find on a peach tree that never fully develops. Watch this brief interview as Zuber meets with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to explain nubbins and why you might be seeing them in your orchard.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot Grower Solutions for their industry support.

  • CAPCA on the Rise & Role of Biologicals in Crop Protection

    Crop protection tools are becoming more and more regulated and limited in California. Biostimulants, biopesticides and biofertilizers offer more options for growers. How they fit into conventional and organic farming systems is still being investigated and how the California Department of Pesticide Regulation should treat and classify them is still in debate. The California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) has been actively involved in the conversation though, advocating for tools for sustainable pest management. At their annual Conference, Malcolm Media Editor-in-Chief Matthew Malcolm sat down with CAPCA State Board Vice President Adam Tavares from AMVAC Chemical as he shared his perspective on where their at and priorities for the future.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot Grower Solutions for their industry support.

  • Western Brassica Growers Troubled by Diamondback Moth Insecticide Resistance

    When a prevalent pest like Diamondback Moth develops insecticide resistance, pest management costs can rise astronomically for farmers and can even lead to food shortages. California Fruit & Vegetable Editor-in-Chief Matthew Malcolm met with CAPCA Board Member Kyle Kuechel from Syngenta to discuss the gravity of the situation, what growers can do to manage resistance issues, and what hope can be offered looking to the future.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot Grower Solutions for their industry support.

  • Widespread Rat Infestation in Orchards & Vineyards, CAPCA on Tools & Resources Moving Ahead

    As if California growers and PCAs didn’t have enough on their plates with rising input costs compounded by the most restrictive laws & regulations in the nation, they’ve been further challenged with an unusual pest problem this year — rats! An  increasing number of abandoned orchards and vineyards due to poor economic circumstances has caused a feeding frenzy for some uninvited rodent guests, whose numbers have been multiplying at unprecedented levels. Ruthann Anderson, President/CEO of the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA), met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to explain this issue and what they are doing to help provide the tools and resources growers and PCAs to combat this emergency situation, beginning with an anonymous survey they can fill out HERE. Watch this brief video to learn more.

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  • California Orchards Blossom with NRCS Help Managing Pests

    California’s Central Valley is a land of agricultural abundance, known for its incredible diversity of crops including fruits, vegetables and nuts. It produces approximately 25% of the nation’s food.

    But with plenty can come pests – in as many varieties and types as the crops grown in the region. Area farmers have worked with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement integrated pest management into their orchard operations with marked results.

    Sandra and Mike Smith of Smith Family Farm in Fresno, California, showed NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt the benefits of the practices that they have incorporated with NRCS assistance as they toured their 36-acre almond orchard.

    Established in 1903, the farm is on the cusp of welcoming its fifth generation of farmers. By adapting their operations to increase conservation and sustainability practices, the Smiths hope to pass on a rich legacy to their young granddaughters.

    The Smiths highlighted the impact that integrated pest management practices – notably hormone disruptors – have had in their fight to combat navel orangeworms in their almond orchards.

    “We were at 17.1% loss of our almond crop two years ago because of the infestation of navel orangeworms,” Mike Smith told Chief Bettencourt. “Once we implemented the mating disrupters, we were able to bring our almond reject numbers down to 1.1%.”

    Navel orangeworms burrow into almond nuts to feed on the kernel, damaging the nut and impacting producers’ overall yield and harvest quality. Deploying pheromone-based mating disruption tools can reduce navel orangeworm populations by hindering male moths’ ability to locate females.

    The Smiths have also leaned on NRCS technical assistance to implement other conservation techniques to increase the health of their orchard. The family now prioritizes composting and increasing organic matter, guided by the knowledge gained through NRCS collaboration.

    Further north, Chinchiolo Farming Co., Inc., a family-run business located in Lodi, California, is managing orchards of a different kind while embracing similar production practices.

    Producer James Patrick Chinchiolo has worked to uphold a century-old farming legacy, started by great grandfather Italian immigrant James Joseph Chinchiolo. Chinchiolo has worked with NRCS to incorporate a number of conservation practices including cover crops, tractor replacements, orchard removal and soil incorporation.

    Like the Smiths, Chinchiolo has dealt with pest issues, incorporating a Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) approach in managing his orchards. The BIOS system aligns with NRCS principles, embracing the implementation of conservation practices like cover cropping, beneficial insect habitat, and compost application to keep pests at bay.

    “We aim to foster a more ecologically balanced environment within our orchards,” Chinchiolo said during his discussion with Chief Bettencourt. “We are focusing on minimizing our inputs and creating more habitat for beneficial insects to flourish to help control unwanted pests.”

    Conservation practices like cover cropping and compost application not only help pollinators flourish – a crucial part of growing beautiful cherries – they also protect the trees’ overall health, improving soil structure and water retention.

    After last summer’s heat impacted this year’s cherry crop, Chinchiolo is working to take additional measures to make his trees more heat resistant in preparation for next season.

    “Growing cherries is never predictable. But it’s always beautiful.” Chinchiolo said.

    Helping People Help the Land

    During her visit, Chief Bettencourt emphasized that the agency’s primary focus is to give producers the tools that they need to be the best producers that they can be – increasing their yield while stewarding the nation’s natural resources.

    “Producers are the solution, and we want to empower them by getting our highly skilled staff out in the field to provide technical support. We want to streamline our programs to work better and faster for producers,” she said.

    NRCS helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners make critical investments in their operations and local communities by helping them implement proven practices to ensure all of America’s farms, ranches and private lands are economically viable and thriving.

    If you are interested learning how these programs can help you achieve your operational and land management goals, find your local USDA Service Center and get started today.

    Follow the Chief through our blog series as she meets with producers across the country to learn how NRCS has helped their operations. — By Debra Denhart, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA

  • Medfly Quarantine in Portion of Santa Clara County

    A portion of Santa Clara County has been placed under quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) following the detection of two wild female flies in the city of San José. If not stopped, Medflies can devastate fruits and vegetables grown in backyards and on local farms by reproducing and leaving larvae in produce, and the invasive flies can then spread to other regions. A quarantine is a way to minimize damage and stop the risk of spread by restricting the movement of fruits and vegetables.

    CDFA is working collaboratively with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Santa Clara County Division of Agriculture on this project.  This project is new and separate from the recently-eradicated Medfly infestation in Alameda County.

    The quarantine area measures approximately 109 square miles, bordered on the north by Trade Zone Boulevard; on the south by Camden Avenue; on the west by San Tomas Expressway; and on the east by Evergreen Valley Community College.  The quarantine will cover parts of the cities of San José, Santa Clara, Campbell, and the town of Los Gatos. A link to the quarantine map may be found here: www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/medfly/regulation.html

    The quarantine will affect any growers, wholesalers, and retailers of susceptible fruit in the area as well as local residents.  Home gardeners are urged to not move homegrown produce from their property.  However, residents living in the quarantine area may consume or process (i.e. juice, cook, or grind in the garbage disposal) fruit on the property where they were picked or dispose of fruit by bagging and sealing and placing in the garbage (not green waste).  These actions protect against the artificial spread of the infestation to nearby regions where it can affect California’s food supply and backyard gardens.

    Sterile male Medflies are scheduled to be released in the area as part of the eradication effort. The release rate will be 250,000 males per square mile per week in an 84.76 square mile area around the infestation.  The sterile medfly release program has a proven track record of eradication in California.  Sterile male flies mate with fertile wild female flies in the natural environment but produce no offspring.  The fly population decreases as the wild flies reach the end of their natural life span with no offspring to replace them, ultimately resulting in the eradication of the pest.  The sterile male medflies are reared at the joint CDFA/USDA sterile insect rearing facility in Los Alamitos, California, which prepares sterile flies for release everyday over California.

    Additionally, properties within 200 meters of the detection sites are treated with an organic formulation of Spinosad, which originates from naturally-occurring bacteria in soil, to eliminate any mated females and reduce the density of the population.  To further reduce the population, properties within 100 meters of infested properties are subject to host-plant or fruit removal to eliminate eggs and larvae.

    This eradication approach is the standard Medfly program used by CDFA and is the safest, most effective, and most efficient response program available.  CDFA has successfully eradicated each and every detected Medfly infestation in California history, dating back more than 40 years.

    The pest is known to target more than 250 types of fruits and vegetables. Damage occurs when the female lays eggs inside the fruit.  The eggs hatch into maggots, which tunnel through the flesh of the fruit, making it unfit for consumption.  Residents who believe their fruits and vegetables are infested with fruit fly larvae are encouraged to call the State’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899 or email reportapest@cdfa.ca.gov.

    While fruit flies and other invasive species that threaten California’s crops and natural environment are sometimes detected in agricultural areas, the vast majority are found in urban and suburban communities.  The most likely pathway for these invasive species to enter our state are by “hitchhiking” in fruits and vegetables brought back illegally by travelers as they return from infested regions of the world or from packages containing fruits and vegetable from other states or countries.  To help protect California’s agriculture and natural resources, CDFA urges travelers to follow the Don’t Pack a Pest program guidelines (www.dontpackapest.com/). 

    To help prevent future introductions, residents are encouraged to:

    • Assist agriculture crews working to protect your garden by allowing them access to your yard to place traps and inspect plants.
    • When entering California from another state or country, avoid bringing agricultural products – including fruits and vegetables.  Help us protect our agriculture, natural resources, and California’s unique biodiversity from invasive fruit flies – please Don’t Pack a Pest (www.dontpackapest.com/).
    • Determine if your property is located within an active quarantine area by visiting www.CAFruitFly.com.
    • Please do not send or receive any homegrown fruit, vegetables, or meat products, as they may contain invasive species that can “hitchhike” in these products.
    • Inspect your garden regularly for signs of invasive fruit flies or maggots and report any findings to CDFA at 1-800-491-1899.

    Federal, State and County agricultural officials work year-round to prevent, deter, and eliminate the threat of invasive pests and diseases that can damage or destroy our agricultural products, natural environment, resources, and unique biodiversity.  The efforts are aimed at keeping California’s food supply plentiful, safe, and pest-free.

    Residents with questions about the project may call CDFA’s Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.  To learn more about invasive species and how to protect California’s fruits and vegetables, please visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/fruitfly