Expert Insight on Resistance Management this Spring
(Sponsored) Atticus LLC, established in 2014, is a demand-driven manufacturer of Battle-Tested Chemistries. Through its growing portfolio, the company’s seasoned team of professionals are committed to the protection of critical food supply and beautification of the environment.
Jane Stanley
Jane Stanley, Manager, Technical Services – Greenhouse & Nursery, brings over a decade of experience in the horticulture industry, providing expert guidance and trusted support. Her invaluable industry insights inform Atticus’ Insider Intel and the Branching Out Podcast, helping end-users maximize product performance and value with every application.
A: As plants break dormancy, insects are signaled to emerge by lengthening days and increasing temperatures. Simultaneously, high humidity conditions encourage new plant growth. Exposure to fluctuations in day-to-night (diurnal) environmental conditions can make plants, especially tender new growth, susceptible to disease outbreaks. It’s important to scout early and often, planning for any necessary preventative treatments.
Q: Which insect pests tend to be most problematic this time of year?
A: In early spring, pests primarily fall into two categories. First, pests that overwintered in protected environments including aphids, thrips, and whiteflies. Second, insects introduced on incoming plant material, often in the egg stage and difficult to detect. Strong sanitation and inspection protocols are the foundation of a good Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program and help growers start off on the right foot to manage problematic pests.
A: When temperatures are still relatively cool, ventilation fans may not run as frequently, and high humidity, limited air movement and longer leaf wetness periods contribute to foliar diseases like Botrytis. As plant growth rate increases, it can be tempting to increase irrigation by default, leading to saturated conditions favorable to root rot pathogens like Pythium and Phytophthora. It is important to monitor and adjust irrigation based on field observations to avoid such conditions.
Q: How should growers adjust their scouting programs as production ramps up?
A: Scouting frequency and intensity should increase with production. High-risk areas like propagation, incoming plant material, and crops with a history of pest or disease issues should be closely monitored. This is a great time to set up sticky cards to detect flying insect pests. Inspect cards weekly and change them out regularly to track threats effectively. For insects and diseases that are recurring seasonal issues, consider using indicator plants, which can serve as an early warning that pest pressure is high, allowing time for cost-effective interventions.
Q: What role does resistance management play in IPM programs?
A: Early spring offers a reset in terms of crop cycles, and the decisions growers make set the stage for the entire season. Relying too heavily on just a few tools early on can increase selective pressure. By rotating modes of action, integrating non-chemical controls, and applying treatments according to economic thresholds, growers can preserve their most effective tools for when pest pressure is highest later in spring.
Q: How can biological and chemical controls be integrated effectively?
A: When combining biological and chemical strategies, timing is a key component of compatibility. Biological controls often perform best when pest populations are low, and introductions made early in the crop cycle may increase effectiveness. Compatibility can be increased using application methods, such as drenching, that reduce the exposure of beneficial insects to treatments. Pesticides may vary in their impact on different life stages of biological controls. Aligning treatment with the least vulnerable life stage or delaying the introduction of biological controls after treatment will improve outcomes.
Q: What is one key takeaway for growers managing ornamental crops in spring?
A: Early spring is best spent implementing preventative actions and laying the groundwork for a successful growing season. It’s time to be proactive rather than reactive later in the production cycle when shipping deadlines are closing in. Follow through on the plans made in winter, keep up regular scouting, monitor environmental conditions, and adjust as needed.
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