Development and Implementation of Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Poinsettias Progress Report –September 1994
Date September 1, 1994
Title of Project Development and Implementation of IPM Strategies for Poinsettias
Institution where work is being conducted Cornell University
Amount of Endowment Grant $ 15,000
Covering Period 1/94 to 12/94
Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report Spring 1997
Individual(s) Conducting Project:
(List Project Leader First)
John P. Sanderson - Title Assoc. Prof. Entomolgy
Telephone Number 607-255-5419
Rod Ferrentino - Title IPM Coordinator
Development and Implementation of IPM Strategies for Poinsettias
John P. Sanderson
Cornell University
- A. Project Objectives:
- Applied Research:
- I. Whitefly management.
- A. Evaluate and implement whitefly sampling plans for use in stock plantproduction and the finished crop.
- B. Evaluate a phenology model for whitefly population growth.
- C. Conduct trials with promising natural enemies in commercial greenhouses.
- D. Evaluate the integration of biorational insecticides for whitefly management.
- II. Fungus gnat management.
- A. Develop sampling procedures for adults and immatures.
- B. Determine fungus gnat population levels that result in damage to newly-potted poinsettias.
- C. Evaluate alternative control methods under commercial conditions.
- Implementation: Demonstrate and evaluate the implementation of new components to thePoinsettia IPM program. Develop training materials and procedures.
- B. Summary of Work Conducted/Results to Date:
- AppliedResearch:
- Objective IA. Sequential sampling plans for grower use have been expanded and published(Greenhouse Manager, August 1994). They are being evaluated under commercial conditions in NY
and MA (with MA funds) this fall.
- Objective IB. A visiting scientist from Holland, Hanneke Pompe, is working in my lab to develop acomputer model for whitefly population development that can be used for making control decisions.
We have made initial decisions on the information from model output that would be most useful to
gowers, and she is currently in the process of writing the first version of the model. Data sets of
whitefly levels, temperatures, and crop canopy growth, to be used for model validation, have been
collected for two poinsettia crops, with a third currently underway.
- Objective IC. Two parasitoid species have been evaluated and compared for whitefly control onpoinsettia in replicated greenhouse trials. Eretmocerus nr. califiornicus (Arizona strain) appears
promising for silverleaf whitefly control. A third parasitoid is under evaluation this fall. We are
currently coordinating commercial greenhouse trials of whitefly biological control with various
parasitoids on 1994 poinsettias among extension professionals/researchers in the Northeast (who
have independent funding). Trials are planned or underway in 8 commercial greenhouses in New
York (A.F.E.-funded), two in CT, and one each in MA, NH, and Ontario, Canada. An additional
trial of whitefly biological control with fungal pathogens is planned at Cornell this season.
Objective ID. Studies of the compatibility of foliar residues of common whitefly insecticides,
including biorationals, with parasitoids are underway.
- Objective IIA. Estimates of larval fungus gnat dispersion among pots as measured by potato disks,and adults caught on sticky cards, are being gathered in commercial greenhouses.
- Objective IIB. This study is planned to begin this spring.
- Objective IIC. Fungus gnat biological control trials in two NY commercial greenhouses areunderway this fall, using nematodes and a predaceous mite.
- C. Implementation:
- Many of the studies mentioned above are being conducted in commercialgreenhouses. These greenhouses will serve as demonstrations for several poinsettia educational
tours for local growers. We have also participated in several national grower conferences, and
convened a Northeastern U.S. Greenhouse IPM Workshop for researchers and extension
professionals to foster information exchange and to identify and coordinate implementation strategies
across the region.
- D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:
- The first year of commercial trials with the parasitoids, will be coupled with results ofCornell-based studies to suggest refinements in release strategies (e.g., species to use, timing
releases, numbers to release). These refinements will then be evaluated in future trials in commercial
greenhouses. Further measurements for the parasitoid/pesticide compatibility studies will be
continued this year. The predictions generated by the initial version of the computer model will be
compared with our validation dam sets to identify necessary improvements. Eventually the model
will be evaluated under commercial conditions, both for grower-friendliness and for predictive
accuracy. The research on fungus gnat damage levels will be begun during spring, and further
studies on fungus gnat monitoring will be done. Comell recently convened a Northeastern U.S.
Greenhouse EPM Workshop for 30 researchers and extension professionals from 9 states and one
Canadian province. The purpose was to foster information exchange and to identify and coordinate
implementation strategies across the region. Our AFE-funded research results will thus be provided
to workshop participants, particularly those who expressed interest in our work. This network will
hopefully speed up implementation goals across a wide region.
- E. Anticipated Benefits for Floral Industry:
- We propose to participate in a cooperative effort to develop and implement a total IPMprogram for all phases of commercial poinsettia production that emphasizes biological control and
other alternative control strategies. Results of the applied research will be incorporated into the major
effort to demonstrate and implement current IPM practices in commercial greenhouses, and develop
training information that can be used to implement IPM programs in other states.
