California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: UC Cooperative Extension

  • New Recommendations for Laurel Wilt Disease

    By Ben Faber, UC Cooperative Extension — Laurel Wilt Disease of Avocado and the relatives of avocado in the Laurel Family has devastated the the forests along the east coast from North Carolina down to Florida and along the Caribbean into Texas.  It has caused significant losses to wildlands and to the Florida avocado industry.

    Ambrosia Beetle

    The extent of the native tree loss is shocking and there is very little that can be done to correct the problem, other than to curb the spread of contaminated wood that is spread by humans,  There has been some success in the avocado orchards. While there is no “silver bullet”, there is some progress, e.g. pruning to increase light levels to suppress Ambrosia Beetle activity.  In addition, research has continued for:

    • Vaccinations to protect avocado trees from the LW pathogen
    • Developing a faster LW diagnostic tool
    • Screening scions and rootstocks for tolerance/resistance
    • AB control tactics and suppression
    • Molecular understanding of the pathogen
    • Economics and the LW epidemic

    Read the latest results in these two recent publications:

    Recommendations for the Detection and Mitigation of Laurel Wilt Disease in Avocado and Related Tree Species in the Home Landscape

    Recommendations for Control and Mitigation of Laurel Wilt and Ambrosia Beetle Vectors in Commercial Avocado Groves in Florida1

    Dead avocado trees from Laurel Wilt in Florida

  • Managing Cytospora Canker in Prunes

    Cytospora Canker has become a more prevalent problem for prune growers in recent years, and although pruning it out of the orchard is the number one priority regarding treatment of it, there are a few other practices that can be applied to mitigate this fungal pathogen.  Watch this brief interview with Franz Niederholzer, Farm Advisor from the UC Cooperative Extension, as he shares some ideas.

  • How to Control Grubs in Blueberries: Organic & Conventional Methods

    Masked Chafer (AKA white grubs) have been problematic for blueberry growers, particularly in the Central Valley of California.  The good news is that researchers and entomologists have come up with both organic and conventional methods treatments for these soil pests.  Watch this brief interview UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor David Haviland to learn about these options and read more about it in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.

  • How to Control Thrips in Blueberries

    Citrus thrips have been a major nuisance for California blueberry growers, but how do you keep them under control and when should you apply crop protection materials? Is there an organic treatment available? Watch this brief interview UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor David Haviland as he answers all these questions. Read more about blueberry pest management in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.

  • UCCE Biologicals Conference Introduces New Crop Protection Tools for Growers

    Biocontrol agents, beneficial microbes, entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria that can enhance crop production — these were all topics of discussion at the recent UC Cooperative Extension Ag Innovations Conference in Santa Maria, led by UCCE Entomology & Biologicals Advisor Surendra Dara.  Watch this brief interview with Surendra as he shares more about what was discussed.