Seminar for greenhouse growers IPM strategy in ornamental potted plants

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1 Seminar for greenhouse growers IPM strategy in ornamental potted plants Sam Gui Sustainable crop management specialist 16/11/2015

2 Biological/IPM: Challenge: Potted/bedding plants - Low pest tolerance (Ornamentals) - Often shorter crop cycles (establishing and reproduction of beneficials is poor) - No or very little traces can be tolerated (mummy, skins) - Often plant offers insufficient residence for beneficials Chemical: - Resistance - Lower residue toleration - Shrinking availability of compounds 16/11/2015

3 Most used beneficials Whitefly: Swirskii, encarsia, eretmocerus Thrips: Swirskii, cucumeris Sciaridea: Nematodes, atheta, hypoaspis Spider mite: P persimilis Key is preventive establishment! 16/11/2015

4 Generalistic predatory mites Predatory mites: - Released for biocontrol of various prey types - Many are also pollen feeders when pollen is present these can be used for preventive introductions Species of predatory mites Euseius gallicus Preys thrips, white fly, A. degenerans thrips, spidermite A. swirskii thrips, white fly, A. andersoni spidermite, thrips A. californicus spidermite A. cucumeris thrips

5 Dyna-Mite G-System Euseius gallicus sp. nov. (Kreiter-Tixier): Genus name refers to the place of first discovery France (= Gallia): Paris (July 2003) & Montpellier (June 2007) Also occurs naturally Registered by Biobest For the first time, an Euseius species is being commercially available on a large scale Patented breeding system

6 Dyna-Mite G-System Packaging Package Tube Type of seal Sprinkler lid Size 1 L Available As of January 2014

7 Morphology Eggs: Oval and transparent On leaf and hair on leaf Larvae: 6 legs and semi-transparent Nymphs: 8 legs and semi-transparent Adults: Pear-shaped, blurred transparent Colour beige/white Appearance: Very mobile Occurs at the bottom and at the top of the leaf

8 Lifecycle Fast lifecycle (25 C) Egg - Larva 2 d Larva - PN 1 d PN Adult 3 d Total 5-6 d

9 Bottleneck for early introduction Lack of food supply: Insufficient prey and/or pollen availability Often hampers establishment or population buildup of predatory mites Can be a serious bottleneck in biocontrol, mainly in: - Ornamental crops - Bedding plants - Young plant nurseries

10 The solution for early introduction Nutrimite! What? - Highly nutritional food supplement - Based on specially selected pollen Aim? - A booster for pollen feeding predatory mites: - To accelerate and enhance population development - To help populations survive in periods of low prey density

11 Advantages Advantages of Nutrimite: - Rich in nutrients - Keeps its nutritional value for up to two weeks - Relatively resistant to mould / high humidity - Relatively unattractive for pests, such as thrips - Not attractive to honey and bumblebees - Hardly allergenic

12 Reaction on Nutrimite TM Species of predatory mites Nutrimite TM response Euseius gallicus A. degenerans A. swirskii +++ A. andersoni + A. californicus + A. cucumeris +

13 Efficacy Nutrimite and predatory mites Source: Arijs, Y et al., Biobest Belgium Crop: - Sweet pepper - Flowers removed Observation: - Strong increase in mobile stages - Response varies between mite species

14 Efficacy Nutrimite and predatory mites Source: Pijnakker, J. et al., Biobest Belgium Crop: - Mini-gerbera Observation: - Higher predatory mite population - Response varies between species

15 Selectivity Nutrimite and thrips 6 Response of thrips to pollen 5 Nutrimite benefits the development of predatory mites, yet is relatively unattractive for thrips. eggs / day Pine Hazel Birch Nutrimite Thrips (Source: Hulshof et al., EEA 2003) Note: tested pollen of the same quality and characteristics as Nutrimite

16 Application Boosting predatory mite populations Enhance predatory mite populations when pollen sources are scarce Crop: - Calathea, non-flowering Observation: - Increase in mobile stages - High response of A. Swirskii on Nutrimite Source: Pijnakker, J. et al., Biobest Belgium Source: Pijnakker, J., et al. Biobest Belgium

17 Application Reduction of predatory mite introductions Crop: - Cut roses Observation: x higher predatory mites numbers with 1 x release and 3 x Nutrimite compared to 3 predatory mite releases!! Source: Pijnakker, J., et al. Biobest Belgium

18 Nutrimite TM Packaging Packaging Plastic bottle Type of seal Sprinkler lid Size Content Storage 1 L 500 g 2 year shelf life at -18 C (0,4 F) Cooled, to use within 1-2 days on receipt Before opening/using Nutrimite TM, it has to reach the ambient temperature Do not refreeze

19 Nutrimite TM Advice Dosage Interval 500 g / ha / application (0,45 lbs / acre / application) Every 2 weeks N of applications min. 2-3 times, depending on predatory mite density Application method To dust Use:

20 Calathea zebrina Main pest: Thrips Swirskii-system 100/m² Follow up on IPM status by monitoring. Additional introductions: Phytoseiulus, Feltiella, Encarsia, Nematodes, Cuttings root. Schipment Nutrimite : 500 gr / ha / 2 weeks 11/16/2015

21 Crossandra Main pest: Tobacco whitefly Additional introductions: Feltiella, Encarsia, Nematodes,... Cutting production Rooting/Growing period Harding down Nutrimite : 500 gr / ha / interval 2 weeks Swirskii-system 50/m² + Eretmix No standard introductions. Continuous scouting program Chemical corrections when pests occur 11/16/2015

22 Hibiscus/mini gerbera Swirskii-breeding system 1 sachet/2m² Main pests: Whitefly/thrips Follow up on IPM status by monitorring. Additional introductions: Phytoseiulus, Feltiella, Encarsia, Nematodes, Cuttings root. Schipment Nutrimite : 500 gr / ha / 2 weeks 11/16/2015

23 Cut roses ABS/1sachet/m² Main pest: Thrips, white fly; Follow up on IPM status by monitoring. Additional introductions: Phytoseiulus, Feltiella, Encarsia, Nematodes, Dynamite 50/m²/2X Chem corr if needed Dynamite top up 50/m²/2X Nutrimite : 500 gr / ha / 2 weeks 11/16/2015

24 Key to successes in the field The best defense is an attack Build up your population preventively, ideally from seed our cutting. Study specific habitat In one operation the approaches between different cultivars vary very often. Keep your goal in mind When experimenting, define the thresholds in advance Keep a Plan B in mind 16/11/2015

25 Final conclusion and thanks With Nutrimite: Less is more! Lower levels of predatory mite releases and fewer releases Yet larger and healthier predatory mite populations Better Biocontrol