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May/June 2008 Volume 64, No. 5 Editor Margaret Land mland@annexweb.com 1-888-599-2228 ext. 269 Advertising Manager Sharon Kauk skauk@annexweb.com 1-888-599-2228 ext. 242 Sales Assistant Laura Price lprice@annexweb.com 1-888-599-2228 ext. 219 Production Artist Brooke Shaw Editorial Director Drew McCarthy dmccarthy@annexweb.com 1-888-599-2228 ext. 265 VP/Group Publisher Diane Kleer dkleer@annexweb.com PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT #40065710 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT., P.O. BOX 530, SIMCOE, ON N3Y 4N5 e-mail: sbrady@annexweb.com Fruit & Vegetable Magazine is published seven times a year (January, February, March, April, May/June, September/October, November/ December)

by Annex Publishing & Printing Inc., P.O. Box 530, 105 Donly Dr. S.,Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 Printed in Canada ISSN 1488-7959 Circulation e-mail: sbrady@annexweb.com Tel: 1-866-790-6070 ext. 206 Fax: 1-877-624-1940 Mail: P.O. Box 530, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 Subscription Rates Canada – 1 Year $ 12.72 (includes GST – #867172652RT0001) U.S.A. – 1 Year $ 40.00 From time to time, we at Fruit & Vegetable Magazine make our subscription list available to reputable companies and organizations whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you do not want your name to be made available, contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above.

No part of the editorial content of this publication may be reprinted without the publisher’s written permission. ©2008 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. All rights reserved.

Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions.

All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval.

Such approval does not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised. Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising that does not meet the standards of the publication.

Page 6

Page 16

Contents Volume 64 • May/June 2008 • No. 5

‘Bin’ there, done that

By Dan Woolley ................................................................................................................... 6

MaxCel® – a new chemical thinner for apples

By Dr. John A. Cline and Dr. Charlie Embree ........................................................................ 10

New biological control for apple maggot

By Dan Woolley ................................................................................................................ 14

Insecticide combo can deliver knockout punch ........................................................................................................................................ 16

Battling European corn borer, corn earworm

By Dan Woolley ................................................................................................................. 18

Effect of trickle irrigation, soil amendments on early growth, yield of Honeycrisp

By Dr. John Cline and Zia Ullah .......................................................................................... 20

Viral insecticide registered for codling moth control in Canada

By Caroline Provost, José Valéro, Dr. Charles Vincent and Dr. Harnaivo Rasamimanana .......... 24

Departments Editorial ................................................................................................................. 4 Fruit & Veggie Online ........................................................................................... 9 Briefs .................................................................................................................. 26 New Products ..................................................................................................... 28 Eye on Potatoes ................................................................................................. 30

www.fruitandveggie.com FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

PAGE 3

On-farm innovation garlic’s anti-bacterial activity.

The Freeman farm features a state-of-the-art, GMP-certified processing plant to freeze dry botanicals such as garlic, blueberries, herbs and other plant material. Its equipment is the first of its kind in Ontario.

It’s refreshing to see these kinds of innovative projects being recognized by the Ontario government.

Farming can be a very solitary enterprise – a farm family on their operation working together to produce a crop and, hopefully, a profit, in the best, and most affordable, way possible. Sometimes that means thinking outside the box, constructing your own equipment, finding that necessary technology and making it work for your own situation. This sort of innovative, enterprising thinking isn’t always recognized or awarded.

It’s a triumph for agriculture when it is.

Congratulations to the Nightingales and the Freemans.

New website

Photo courtesy of OMAFRA

One aspect of innovation is the increasing use of computers on Canadian farms.

According to 2006 data from Statistics Canada, more than 46 per cent of all farmers (106,409 out of 229,373) list a computer among the equipment necessary for managing the operation. Out of those on-farm computer users, 80,133 (75 per cent) are on

the Internet and 74,202 (70 per cent) are using e-mail.

With this information in mind, Fruit and Vegetable Magazine recently relaunched www.fruitandveggie.com. The new website features up-tothe-minute information covering fruit and vegetable production across Canada, including the latest news, event listings, new products and even an opportunity to discuss and comment on industry issues.

The latest edition of Fruit and Vegetable Magazine can be viewed in a digital format, plus past issues of the magazine have been archived back to 2005. Visitors can easily search for and access past articles based on themes, including diseases, pests, field applications, industry issues and potatoes.

The site also features a list of web exclusives, articles and resources that can only be viewed at www.fruitandveggie.com.

We invite everyone to visit the new website. Test it out. Let us know what you like, what you don’t, what we could do differently, what you would like to see more of.

Visit us online regularly over the course of the 2008 growing season. News and resources will be updated continually, providing you with the freshest information possible.

May your yields be high and your worries low. ❦ Photo courtesy of OMAFRA

A

s this issue of Fruit and Vegetable Magazine was nearing printing, a press release crossed my desk announcing the top awards for the 2007 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.

William and Caroline Nightingale of B & C Nightingale Farms, located near LaSalette, Ont., were awarded the $100,000 Premier’s Award, while David and Lynn Freeman of Freeman Farms, near Meaford, Ont., received the $50,000 Minister’s Award.

Both award winners were announced during the Premier’s Agri-Food Summit, held during mid-April in Toronto and hosted

by Premier Dalton McGuinty.

The Nightingales were recognized for their work developing a high tunnel system for improving Ontario vegetable production.

William travelled to Europe to research the technology and modified the tunnels to withstand Ontario’s climate, ultimately extending the farm’s growing season by several weeks.

The family also formed their own company – Tunnel Tech – that manufactures and markets the technology to other growers.

The Freemans were awarded for their work producing freeze-dried products from plant material for use as nutraceuticals.

David has worked with the University of Guelph to develop freeze-dry technology and his farm currently manufactures garlic powder with allicin – the key ingredient behind

Left: Freeman Farms won the Minister’s Award from the 2007 Premier’s Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.

Pictured from left to right are Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; David and Lynn Freeman; and Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Right: B & C Nightingale Farms won the Premier’s Award from the 2007 Premier’s Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. Pictured from left to right are Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Carmina Halstead and Billy Nightingale, with their parents, Bill and Caroline Nightingale; and Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario.

PAGE 4

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

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‘Bin’ there, done that Nova Scotia’s fruit industry contemplates shift to plastic bins

By Dan Woolley

T

he Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association’s board of directors is considering a report outlining the pluses and minuses of converting the Nova Scotia fruit industry from wooden bins to plastic ones.

The report, compiled by agriculture consulting firm Agra Point International, draws on the results of an industry survey, conducted among packers and growers, plus input from a bulk bin strategy workshop held during the NSFGA’s annual convention in January.

NSFGA staff member Helen Arenburg conducted the industry survey, to which 32 growers responded. Combined, those 32 growers own about 33,945 bins. Respondents estimate there is a current shortfall of 12,663 bins within the industry and a need to immediately replace 11,000 bins plus a further 8,000 within the next five years. As a replacement option, the survey stated, 19 growers prefer wooden bins while another 13 are opting for plastic.

Of the four packers surveyed, three said a shortage of bins hampered their intake of apples while the remaining packer said 50 per cent of the current bins need to be retired.

Of the 42 growers present at the bulk bin workshop, 23 believe the industry should change to plastic bins.

Tom O’Neill, general manager of the Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (NFGA), Ontario’s fourth largest pack house with just over one million bushels of storage capacity – 150,000 bushels in cold storage, 880,000 bushels in controlled-atmosphere and 80,000 bushels in common storage, knows a thing or two about wooden and plastic bins. From 1997 to 2002, he led his association’s transition from wooden to plastic bins.

It was an expensive endeavour, sparked by the rising cost of repairing and replacing wooden bins. In 1995, the NFGA

Officials with the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association are considering shifting the Nova Scotia fruit industry from wooden bins to plastic ones.

PAGE 6

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

Photo below by Margaret Land

replaced or repaired about 5,700 of its 66,000 wooden bin inventory at a cost in excess of $400,000 or about $70 per bin.

The average age of the bins was 11.25 years.

O’Neill felt the association could no longer afford to fix its wooden inventory.

Since the NFGA’s storage was built to accommodate wooden bins 42 inches by 48 inches and 30 inches high, the association decided to shift to a plastic bin 44 inches by 48 inches with a height of 34 inches. This enabled the group to reduce its bin numbers from 66,000 to 43,000.

Although they could only stack plastic bins eight high, compared to the nine high possible with wooden bins, the NFGA gained a six per cent increase in capacity in its controlled atmosphere storage as well as reduced freight charges for its growers, explains O’Neill. The group also reduced fruit damage, improved bin sanitation and achieved improved cooling efficiency with 29 per cent less time and fewer people required to move the crop into storage.

O’Neill also cites other benefits from shifting to plastic bins, including less deterioration of the bin from the sunlight and prolonged outdoor storage. The bins are also less likely to flex under load weight when being transported; have no rough surfaces, metal pieces or splinters that can damage the fruit; are 40 per cent lighter than wooden bins when wet, and have an interlocking foot design for easy alignment and stacking.

The NFGA repair its own plastic bins on site using a hot-air welder and FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

Above: Currently, 32 growers and packers within the Nova Scotia fruit industry have about 33,945 wooden bins, with a shortfall of 12,663 bins within the industry and a need to immediately replace 11,000 bins and a further 8,000 within the next five years.

Right: The Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (NFGA) transitioned to plastic bins from 1997 to 2002 due to the rising cost of repairing and replacing wooden bins.

available replacement parts at a significant cost reduction from wooden repairs. “We probably repair about 1,200 bins a year,” says O’Neill.

He estimates that about 20 per cent of Ontario’s apple industry, including all of the major packers, has switched to plastic bins. Most are being sourced from Macro Plastics, based in California, which is marketing a 32-inch-high injection-moulded plastic bin. “There is no one building plastic bins in Ontario,” says O’Neill.

Plastic bins are currently more expensive than wooden bins, largely due to $100-per-barrel oil. This has led to a 30 per cent increase in material costs for Macro Plastics, explains Mark Harley, the company’s national sales manager. “(Growers) have to do what makes sense for (them),” he says. “Tom went at this very aggressively. The economics are different now.”

He suggests packers start small, transitioning to plastic in one storage room utilizing a standard bin size and a high-value

fruit. He claims the value of plastic bins will increase 2.5 times over wood.

“They can be a balance sheet asset over time rather than a liability,” he says, adding they should last for 20 years. “They won’t wear out before they are damaged.”

If Nova Scotia growers do decide to shift to plastic bins, O’Neill recommends they put some thought into the process and standardize the bin size footprint across the industry. “An odd-size bin not only messes up a stack; it will mess up an entire row,” he explains. ❦ PAGE 7

Not a knife.

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So, next time you battle mites, make sure you use KANEMITE. To learn more, visit www.arystalifescience.ca/kanemiteca or call 1-866-761-9397 toll-free.

Always read and follow label directions. KANEMITE and the KANEMITE logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America Corporation. The “Might versus Mites” slogan is a trademark of Arysta LifeScience North America Corporation.

The Arysta LifeScience logo is a trademark of Arysta LifeScience Corporation. ©2008 Arysta LifeScience North America Corporation. KANC-009

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Ohio State scientists discover gene that controls fruit shape

By Mauricio Espinoza

O

hio State University crop scientists have cloned a gene that controls the shape of tomatoes, a discovery that could help unravel the mystery behind the huge morphological differences among edible fruits and vegetables as well as provide new insight into mechanisms of plant development.

The gene – dubbed SUN – is only the second ever found to play a significant role in the elongated shape of various tomato varieties, says Dr. Esther van der Knaap, lead researcher in the study and assistant professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at Ohio State’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster, Ohio.

The discovery was reported, as the cover article, in a recent issue of the journal, Science.

FULL STORY ONLINE

that provides these trusted crop protection products:

www.fruitandveggie.com

NEWS Funding available for potato producers, packers implementing on-farm food safety programs Earlier this year, the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) received official approval from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) of its application for On-Farm Implementation (OFI) funding for potato producers under the Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program (CFSQP) – OFI component.

Funding under the CFSQP – OFI component provides producers with a total allocation of $1,050 to support them in implementing on-farm food safety (OFFS) in their operations. A total of $300 is made available to attend up to three commodityspecific OFI workshops, while the remaining $750 can be used to receive technical support from an OFFS consultant or purchase specialized food safety equipment.

FULL STORY ONLINE

To learn more, visit www.arystalifescience.ca or call 1-866-761-9397 toll-free.

Food safety begins as vegetables grow Farmers interested in preventing contamination of fresh produce with harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, should be monitoring their produce while it is still growing in the field, according to members of the American Phytopathological Society (APS).

“What we’ve found up to this point is that most contamination is occurring while the plants are still growing in the field,” says Jeri D. Barak, a research microbiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). “The most successful way to prevent contamination of fresh produce is to intervene before the harvest, not after.”

Always read and follow label directions. All products mentioned are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America Corporation and Arysta LifeScience Corporation except ORTHENE®, which is a registered trademark of OMS investments, Inc., exclusively licensed to Arysta LifeScience Corporation in numerous countries. ©2008 Arysta LifeScience North America Corporation. CAPC-025

FULL STORY ONLINE FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

PAGE 9

MaxCel® – a new chemical thinner for apples

By Dr. John A. Cline and Dr. Charlie Embree Valent Biosciences announced in December 2007 the registration of a new formulation of 6-BA for thinning apples called MaxCel. The product is available for use during the 2008 growing season.

uncommon because such rates were seldom used, it was of sufficient concern that the company reformulated Accel. One further advantage the manufacturer states is that the new MaxCel formulation contains additives to enhance absorption and provide increased product stability and solubility of the active ingredient.

Many comparisons of MaxCel and Accel are shown in Table 1.

What is new Rates and number of sprays: MaxCel is limited to two sprays if used for thinning, and four sprays if used for fruit size enhancement. The total amount of product applied

Table 1. Summary of Selected Differences between MaxCel and Accel [1] - Based on survey of pricing provided by supplies as of March 28, 2008 (Many did not have 2008 pricing available at the time of print. Prices may vary by supplier and purchasing volumes.

[2] - The Canadian distributor has indicated that the cost per litre for MaxCel® will be the same as Accel®.

PAGE 10

Contributed photo

V

alent Biosciences announced in December 2007 that the Pest Management Regulator Authority (PMRA) had approved the registration of a new formulation of 6-BA for thinning apples, called MaxCel®. The company reports that MaxCel will replace Accel®, first registered in Canada in the spring of 1996; however, both will be available for the 2008 growing season.

The active ingredient in MaxCel is 6benzyadenine (6-BA). 6-BA is a cytokinin, a class of growth regulator that promotes cell division. MaxCel contains 1.9 per cent 6-BA, which is slightly more concentrated than Accel, and unlike Accel, it contains no gibberellic acid (GA4+7). Prior research has clearly demonstrated that GA4+7, contained in the Accel formulation, can in some instances decrease the thinning efficacy of 6-BA at higher concentrations (> ~150 ppm) and may also inhibit flowering the following season. While this was rare and very

per season cannot exceed 446 grams 6-BA/ ha (22.5 litres/ha), which is nearly six times more 6-BA than was permitted under the Accel® label.

Using MaxCel to size fruit: The product label states that MaxCel can be used to enhance fruit with mild or no thinning. Two to four applications, beginning at petal fall and repeating every three to 10 days, are required to enhancing fruit size. Suggested rates are 10 to 50 mg/litre 6-BA (ppm), but the label cautions that some easy-to-thin cultivars and/or environmental conditions may result in fruit thinning.

Using MaxCel to thin: The product label states that MaxCel can be used at rates of 75 to 200 mg/litre 6-BA. Our experience has shown that 6-BA at concentrations ranging from 50-75 mg/litre 6-BA, is a mild thinner. However, if used alone at rates up to 200 mg/litre or combined with Carbaryl for harder-to-thin cultivars, the spray becomes much more aggressive.

Suggested use pattern: While 6-BA is not an ideal thinning compound for all cultivars, it has exhibited effectiveness for Empire, McIntosh, Idared, Gala and many other varieties. MaxCel and Accel currently have the advantage over other chemical thinners (NAA and Carbaryl) by thinning as well as increasing fruit. This is achieved by stimulating cell division in the early stages of fruit growth and development. One would need to carefully consider its use on Honeycrisp and other very large fruited cultivars, only FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

Table 2. Suggested rates of MaxCel® to use with or without Sevin®.

[1] There are several factors that influence the chemical thinning outcome. Rates are generally chosen on the degree of cultivar sensitivity to chemical thinners. Consult Publication 360 for further information on cultivars’ sensitivity to chemical thinners.

[2] 1 ppm is equivalent to 1 mg/L. [3] Based on April 2008 prices. May vary by supplier. Calculation based on manufacturer suggested retail price of $16.40/L Sevin® XLR Plus and $112/L MaxCel®, and [4] Mild thinning may occur under some conditions (weak trees, young trees, sensitive cultivars, and environmental conditions that favour the thinning response.

[5] While 6-BA has the potential to increase cell division and enhance fruit size beyond the thinning (crop load) effect alone, this is not observed in all years because the response can be affected by spray concentration, coverage, cultivar, tree health, time of application, tree stress, and environmental conditions during and following spray application

for the reason that excessive fruit size can be problematic.

The thinning response to 6-BA is concentration dependent, meaning that increasing the concentration applied will result in increased thinning activity. MaxCel at 100 to 150 ppm 6-BA will provide a stronger thinning response than what might be expected from Accel at an equivalent concentration of 6-BA. While most growers considered Accel to be a mild thinner, the MaxCel label will permit a range of rate options from mild through aggressive thinning, and in some instance, may cause overthinning if rates are excessive.

If mild thinning is desired, similar to the results obtained with Accel, then 75 ppm MaxCel is a good starting point. For moderate thinning with easy to moderately difficult cultivars, 75 to 100 ppm is accept-

able, while 100 to 150 ppm might be used for more difficult-to-thin cultivars. MaxCel can be used by itself or in combination with Sevin® where more aggressive thinning is desired.

Table 2 contains suggested rates of MaxCel and Sevin XLR Plus. It is important to review Publication 360: Fruit Production Recommendations for further information on cultivar sensitivity to fruit thinners and other information regarding the chemical thinning of apples.

Since the label is based on the amount of product to apply per hectare, the spray concentration will vary with the grower’s choice of water volume needed to provide good coverage of the orchard block’s canopy.

Table 3 provides the relationship between water volumes, grams active ingredient (BA) per unit area, and concentration (ppm).

Table 3. The relationship between spray water volumes, grams active ingredient (BA) per hectare, litres of product per hectare, and final tank concentration of MaxCel®

Pre-harvest interval: Another change on the MaxCel label is that the pre-harvest interval (PHI) has been increased from 28 to 86 days. This means that MaxCel may not be a good choice for very early season varieties, but apart from that, this change is minor.

Timing: The window of best response for MaxCel for thinning is between five- and 15-mm fruit size. To determine the average fruit size, select five to 10 spurs and measure fruit size of all the fruit on the spurs and then calculate an average fruit size. The label states that for enhancing fruit size, applications spray should begin at petal fall and be repeated up to four times at three to 10-day intervals.

MaxCel should be applied dilute (do not concentrate more than 2X) in 500 to 2,000 litres of spray solution per hectare. Uniform and thorough coverage is essential.

Research at the Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre in Nova Scotia and the Simcoe Horticultural Experiment Station in Ontario indicates that concentrations below 50 ppm 6-BA are ineffective for thinning and single applications of at least 50 ppm are necessary for improving fruit size. Multiple applications at lower concentrations may be equally effective; however, we are lacking any data from Simcoe to corroborate this recommendation.

Do not apply MaxCel in combination with NAA or NAD (either tank mix or separate sprays) during the same growing season to Delicious or to Fuji, as this combination may result in the formation of miniature fruit.

[1] Concentrations of 6-BA in yellow shaded area are not recommended (for either sizing or thinning).

Continued on page 23 FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

PAGE 11

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New biological control for apple maggot

By Dan Woolley

T

here’s a promising new biological control product on the horizon for tackling apple maggot.

GF-120 NF Naturalyte fruit fly bait from Dow AgroSciences is currently registered for use on cherry fruit flies and blueberry maggots in Canada and is also registered for organic use. The product is derived from spinosad and produced through a fermentation process of the bacteria Saccharopoloyspora spinosa. While it has low toxicity for mammals and birds, spinosad is neurotic to apple maggots, killing them through paralysis.

In 2007, researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based at Kentville, N.S., launched a project to evaluate the

efficacy of GF-120 for control of apple maggot and establish the best rate and application method. The product was trialled in apple orchards within Nova Scotia and Ontario. In Nova Scotia, three organic orchards and one orchard managed under integrated fruit production (IFP) were used. Varieties involved included McIntosh, Cortland, Rhode Island Greenings plus a seedling mix. In Ontario, two organic orchards of Novaspy were used in the trials.

In each orchard, there were four replications of four treatments – GF-120 at onetime, 1.5-times and two-times the labelled rate and a Surround application – plus the control. The treatments were applied weekly

following the capture of the first adult apple maggot. The orchards were monitored using yellow sticky traps.

Harvest assessments were conducted in September to evaluate the different treatments. Twenty apples were collected from 10 trees in each treatment plot while 20 apples were collected from 16 trees in the control plot. The fruit was incubated at room temperature for two weeks and then cut into quarters to record any apple maggot damage.

According to Eric Sprecht, a research technician with AAFC, the rate of apple maggot injury in the control blocks in Nova Scotia was about 70 per cent while the Ontario control block injury rate was about

Apple maggot

T

he apple maggot – Rhagoletis pomonella – is indigenous to North America and has been found in all Canadian provinces, with the exception of Newfoundland. It is especially widespread throughout eastern Canada and is considered a quarantine pest.

Hawthorn and apples are the favoured host plants of apple maggot but cherries, pears and other fruits have been attacked.

The adult apple maggot fly is somewhat smaller than a housefly and has clear wings with characteristic black bands, a pronounced white spot on the back of the thorax, and a black abdomen with light-coloured crossbands. Female flies have four crossbands while males have three. Larvae are cream-coloured maggots with a blunt posterior and a tapered front end that contains two black mouth hooks.

The apple maggot is closely related to the walnut husk fly and cherry fruit fly. It can be distinguished from these pests by the banding on its wings.

Every July, female apple maggots mate and lay up to 200 eggs singly under the skin of fruit. The eggs hatch three to seven days later inside the fruit and the larvae feed on the apple flesh, causing fruit damage. Browning of the larvae burrow trail occurs as the apple responds to the injury and bacteria associated with the maggots cause the fruit to rot internally.

The larvae can take anywhere from two weeks to several months to mature. The infested fruit usually drops to the ground and the larvae emerge and burrow into the surrounding soil. Larvae emergence from the fruit can occur well into December.

The larvae pupate under the soil and remain dormant through the winter. The pupae can last in the soil for several years before emerging, usually in June or July, as an adult. They reach sexual maturity seven to 10 days after emergence. Adults die three to four PAGE 14

weeks after emergence but can live as long as 40 days under field conditions.

For non-chemical control, growers are encouraged to remove any unmanaged, wild or unsprayed host trees within 500 metres of an orchard to eliminate outside sources of apple maggot. They should inspect orchards regularly for signs of apple maggot infestations, including dropped apples. Infested fruit should be destroyed or buried at least 30 centimetres before the larvae leave the fruit to hibernate in the soil.

Growers are urged not to store apple bins under host trees to avoid risk of contamination with apple maggot larvae or pupae.

Empty bins should not be returned to non-infested areas until after they are cleaned and pressure washed.

Research out of Quebec has shown that using baited sticky red spheres or yellow panels hung at 10-metre intervals along the margins of low infested orchards can protect the orchard by intercepting females immigrating from nearby sources. This control tactic has not been investigated in western North America.

For chemical control, products registered for use on apple to control apple maggot include: Calypso 420 SC, Delegate WG, Diazinon, Guthion, Imidan WP, Pounce, Ripcord, Sevin XLR, Surround WP (organic), and Zolone Flo. Growers are urged to read and follow the rates and spray timings listed on the product labels and adhere to local recommendations.

It is important to keep fruit protected as long as flies are captured.

It is also important to consider the pre-harvest intervals when selecting a control product to ensure adequate protection for the apple crop as it approaches maturity, the favoured time for apple maggot attack.

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

Photos by Wendy Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood

We have you covered.

Above: An apple maggot captured in a yellow sticky trap. Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are hoping to add GF-120 to the list of control products registered for use on apple maggot.

Below: An example of the type of damage possible on fruit infested with apple maggot.

40 per cent. The addition of GF-120 reduced the injury rate to about 10 per cent, he adds, making the product as effective a control of apple maggot as Surround.

The GF-120 trials are expected to continue this season.

Apple maggot infestations in Nova Scotia were down in 2007, according to Dr. Alexander Shalin, Nova Scotia’s pest management regulation co-ordinator.

Of 88 growers inspected on 424 blocks, 5.4 per cent (32 blocks) showed a trace of the infestation, while five blocks (1.2 per cent) had a moderate rate of infestations and just 0.5 per cent (two blocks) had a heavy infestation rate.

Dr. Shalin credits increased grower attention to the issue of apple maggot damage for the decrease in infestation rather than weather conditions. In 2006, the 14 per cent infestation rate “raised alarm bells,” he says, while the seven-per cent rate in 2007 was much less than the provincial average for apple maggot.

About three-quarters of Nova Scotia’s apple maggot infestations originate in abandoned orchards or among wild apples and Hawthorne trees, Dr. Shalin explains. The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture has a program to eradicate these trees. Funding for the program is expected increase by 20 per cent this season. ❦ FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

SOVRAN® Fungicide Surface-Systemic-Activity™

Superior Powdery Mildew & Fruit Scab Protection For more information please call Engage Agro at 1-866-613-3336 or visit the BASF website at www.agsolutions.ca Always read and follow label directions.

SOVRAN is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation, used under license by BASF Canada Inc. Surface Systemic Activity is a trademark of BASF Canada Inc.(C) 2007 BASF Inc. Photos (C) www.bigstockphoto.com

PAGE 15

Insecticide combo can deliver knockout punch

PAGE 16

Photo by Jack Dykinga, USDA-ARS

A

cocktail of insecticides containing a plant protein and a common insecticide may be more lethal to crop pests than either ingredient used alone, according to biologists.

The combination’s one-two punch also inhibits the insects’ growth rate and reduces their chance of developing resistance, research suggests.

“We found a synergistic effect, where the two insecticides together decreased the growth rate of caterpillars more than either one did alone,” says Dawn Luthe, professor of plant stress biology at Penn State University. “The insect mortality rate was also much greater than the sum of mortality rates when only one insecticide was used.”

One of those insecticides, Bt, is commonly used around the world. When insects feed on plants genetically modified to produce Bt, the toxin binds to chemical receptors lining the insects’ midgut. This disrupts the receptor’s function, eventually killing the insects. But researchers say some insects always survive the ordeal and over time subsequent populations could develop resistance to the toxin.

Luthe and her colleagues Srinidhi Mohan and Peter W.K. Ma, post-doctoral student and professor at Mississippi State University, and W. Paul Williams, research geneticist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, studied a unique plant-based insecticide known as Mir1-CP. Their goal is to see if Mir1-CP, when used in tandem with other biological pesticides, such as the Bt toxin, can prevent pests from developing resistance and make the toxin more effective.

“This protein, which we developed from certain strains of corn from Antigua, breaks down other proteins and peptides in the insects’ gut,” explains Luthe, whose findings appear in a recent issue of PLoS ONE. Unlike Bt, Mir1-CP breaks down proteins in a protective membrane covering the midgut. This membrane acts as a barrier that protects the caterpillar from toxins in the diet, and cycles nutrients to the midgut.

Researchers found that a concentration of Bt at five parts per billion combined with Mir1-CP at a concentration of 60 parts per billion killed 61 per cent of corn earworms, more than 10 times the amount killed by either by itself.

“It is the caterpillar’s first line of defence against toxins and chemicals in its diet,” says Luthe.

The researchers fed insects a sublethal dose of the two insecticides to test the effectiveness of both insecticides on the pests.

They found that when used alone, a concentration of Bt at five parts per billion killed four per cent of all corn earworms and five per cent of tobacco budworms.

Mir1-CP, when used at a concentration of 60 parts per billion, killed eight per cent of the corn earworms and three per cent of the tobacco budworms.

But when researchers added the two insecticides together, the mixture killed 61 per cent of corn earworms and 57 per cent of tobacco budworms, which is more than 10 times the amount killed by either by itself. Researchers saw similar results against the fall armyworm and the southwest corn borer, when the insecticides were used at slightly different strengths.

In addition to a high mortality rate among the insects, the study indicates a significant decrease in the growth rate of the survivors.

“We think that Mir1-CP is making holes in the membrane, which in turn is

making it easier for the Bt toxins to reach the insects’ midgut,” explains Luthe, whose work is funded by the National Science Foundation.

The Penn State researcher says the findings have important implications for agriculture because each year insects cause major losses to farmers. Nearly 20 per cent of major crops worldwide are lost to insects.

Genetically modified crops that produce the Bt toxin have managed to check the insects to some extent but Luthe says insects may be winning the fight.

“Researchers in the Mississippi delta have found resistance to Bt among some insect populations in the region,” Luthe notes. “There is a chance that sometime in the future Bt will not be as effective against pests as it is now.”

The Penn State researcher suggests strains of corn that naturally produce Mir1CP could be cross-bred with other strains of corn that produce Bt to develop new varieties that are more effective against pests.

“If you have two mechanisms of attack, it will take much longer for an insect population to develop resistance to both modes of attack, and help slow the development of resistance,” Luthe adds. ❦ FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

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PAGE 17

Battling European corn borer, corn earworm

E

uropean corn borer and corn earworm are two of the most economically significant pests for sweet corn growers says Bernie Solymar of Earth Tramper Consulting.

Solymar is currently working on establishing a reduced-risk integrated pest management program for the pests. He has four trials underway in eastern Ontario and Quebec utilizing biological controls to manage them.

Consumers in the fresh produce market “have zero tolerance for insect-damaged corn,” he remarks, adding few growers have their own consultants or crop scouts to do crop monitoring for diseases and pests.

Corn borer overwinters in stalks and cobs, pupating in the spring and feeding on the leaves of the new corn crop. Corn borer adults appear in late May and early June and the later corn borer adults tunnel into sweet corn stalks and cobs.

The corn earworm, however, cannot survive Canada’s cold winters. Instead, it

Photo by Jack Dykinga, USDA-ARS

By Dan Woolley

Corn earworm is one of the most economically significant pests for sweet corn growers. Ontario crop consultant Bernie Solymar is currently examining a reduced-risk integrated pest management program for the pests.

blows north on winds originating in the southern U.S. and feeds on corn silks and ear tips. It is resistant to pyrethroid insecticides, although Solymar says there are other chemical controls that are either very expensive or have a high environmental impact. The corn earworm reproduces

European corn borer The European corn borer has four stages in its life cycle – adult (moth), egg, larva (caterpillar), and pupa. The winter is spent as a full-grown caterpillar in or near last year’s host plant. While most corn borers probably overwinter in field corn, they can also be found in other host plants such as large-stemmed grasses and various vegetables.

Adult – In the spring, the corn borer caterpillar changes to a pupa in its overwintering site. A few weeks later, it emerges as an adult moth. Males usually emerge a few days before females. While emergence begins around the third week of May in the southernmost parts of Canada, moths do not usually appear until mid-June in cooler parts of the country. Corn borer moths are 1.5 to 2 cm long and about 1 cm wide when the wings are folded at rest. Their colour varies from pale yellowish-brown to medium grey. The forewings have wavy dark lines running across them. Males have darker wings and are a little smaller than females.

Egg – Corn borer eggs are laid in a creamy white mass that resembles overlapping fish scales. In hot weather eggs may hatch in as little as three days, but in cooler weather they may take up to nine days to hatch. Each viable egg develops a black centre (blackhead stage) about one day before hatching.

Larva – The larvae (caterpillars) that hatch from eggs are about 3 mm (1/8 inches) long with a dark head and a spotted, dirty white body. They go through five instars (growth stages) and reach a total length of about 2.5 cm (1-inch) when fully grown.

Continued on page 23 PAGE 18

through three to four generations in just one growing season in the U.S. In his research plots, Solymar is examining reduced-risk materials – such as Dipel or Success – as well as bio-controls, including Trichogramma wasps, plus Bt corn varieties, which “very few growers are growing,” he says.

The two wasp species he is working with – T. brassicae and T. ostriniae – are parasites that feed on the eggs of the European corn borer.

While 2007 was a low-pressure year for European corn borer and corn earworm was not a pest management issue, Solymar reports that Dipel performed as well as the conventional controls, either in consecutive applications or alternated with a conventional insecticide, such as Matador.

On 50 per cent of the test sites, T. ostriniae held European corn borer below a damage rate of 25 per cent, while T. ostriniae kept corn borer damage at below 25 per cent damage on 100 per cent of the sites.

Solymar estimates that four applications of T. brassicae at 12-day intervals will cost just over $280 per hectare, remarking that just one application of T. ostriniae is worth examining.

According to Solymar, a cost comparison of conventional and alternative controls per hectare includes: T brassicae = $71 Lannate = $38 to $60 Dipel = $44 to $48 Sevin = $41 to $46 Furadan = $45 T. ostriniae = $ 38 Other pyrethroids = $25 Matador = $15 For the 2008 growing season, Solymar is continuing to examine the use of Dipel. He is also testing a new reduced-risk product from Dupont that he feels “has a lot of promise” as a corn borer control, as well as continuing his work on earworm controls. His Trichogramma trials will also continue and he hopes to locate more sites for organic trials. ❦ FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

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FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

Plant Growth Regulator

PAGE 19

Effect of irrigation, soil amendments on early growth, yield of Honeycrisp

By Dr. John Cline and Zia Ullah

T

Contributed photos

here is an increasing requirement in modern, high-density tree fruit orchards to intensify the use of nitrogenous fertilizers, herbicides, and supplemental irrigation water to maximize production, precocity and fruit quality.

The public today is also demanding reduced use of pesticides in fruit production as exemplified by the increasing demand for organically certified fruit. Growers are also forced to reduce use with increased cost of fertilizer, pesticides, fuel, and other inputs.

An experiment was initiated in 2002 to compare the use of various herbicide-free practices such as organic and inorganic mulches to traditional weed control methods. Their effects on tree growth, yield and performance over a two-year period were compared with and without trickle irrigation. Determine the environmental and agronomic benefits of various organic amendments and alternative non-chemical forms of weed control for improving tree establishment, vigour, precocity and yield of apple trees.

One-year-old Honeycrisp apple trees (whips) on M.26 EMLA rootstock were planted at the University of Guelph Horticultural Research Station in Simcoe, Ont., in the spring of 2002 at a spacing of 1.83 metres by 4.5 metres (1,213 trees/ha).

Fertilizer and lime were applied based on soil analyses before planting. The soil was classified as a Brady sandy loam with imperfect drainage with low water and nutrient-holding capacity. Trees were trained using a slender spindle training Top: Steam or fire is a relatively new, non-chemical approach to controlling weed growth. The hand-held torch was used to apply the BURN treatment.

Middle: In terms of irrigation and mulch effects on weed growth, the BURN treatment was ineffective and often harmful to the tree.

Bottom: Heavy mulching of young trees with straw is common in Niagara to aid in tree establishment.

PAGE 20

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

Contributed photo

system with individual tree supports.

Experimental treatments consisted of two irrigation (+/-) and six mulching treatments (see below) using a split-plot design. Irrigation was established as the main plot and soil/weed management and mulch (SMM) treatments served as the split-plots. Treatments were replicated four times with four trees per experimental unit and one guard tree between each main and subplot.

Soil/weed management treatments included: • non-residual glyphosate herbicide (360 mg/L Roundup, Monsanto) applied twice annually in May and July (HERB) • burning of weeds using a propanefuelled torch (Model 80 Westorch Mfg. Ltd, Priddis, Alberta) and applied three to five times per season at approximately two- to three-week intervals (BURN) • gypsum (a recycled water-treatment byproduct, Sternson Chemicals, Brantford) applied to a depth of 5 cm and 1 m on each side of the tree (0.14 g/cm3 fw basis; 237 kg/tree, 289 MT/ha) (GYP) • pine and spruce wood chips (2-4 cm in size) applied to a depth of 10 cm and 1 m on each side of the tree ( 0.19 g/cm3 fw basis; 156 kg/tree, 190 MT/ha) from recycled pallets (WC) • paper mill biosolids applied to a depth of 10 cm and 1 m on each side of the tree (0.43 g/cm3 fw basis; 354 kg/tree, 430 MT/ha) (PM) straw mulch applied to a depth of 15 cm and 1 m on each side of the tree (approx. 10 kg/tree, 12 MT/ha) (STRAW) Trees receiving irrigation were trickle irrigated with two litres per hour in-line pressure compensating emitters (Netafim, USA), spaced every 45 cm. Trees were irrigated for a total of 80 minutes daily when rainfall was less than 25 mm per week (based on the previous week).

Each April, the trees were fertilized with

Experimental use of paper mill biosolids as a surface-applied mulch (on Royal Gala/M.9) within the herbicide strip has demonstrated improved water conservation, and some suppression of weed growth. This material decomposes more slowly than wood chips or straw mulch.

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

PAGE 21

ammonium nitrate at the OMAFRA recommended rate of 100 and 175 g NH4N03 per tree in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

Results In this two-year study, tree growth was not influenced greatly by irrigation or mulch treatments. Trees that received the BURN treatment had less growth and smaller canopy volumes. No negative growth effects were observed from high rates of GYP, PM, and WC. Trees that received the STRAW mulch sustained more rodent injury in the winter when there was snow cover in spite of the use of metal tree guards.

Soil moisture levels at 0, 15, 30, and 50 cm from June through September varied considerably within the soil profile based on date, depth, and treatment. Soil moisture levels early in the season were not significantly affected by irrigation or mulch treatments primarily because of ample rainfall. Generally, when soil levels declined, HERB, BURN, and straw mulch treatments had lower soil moisture levels compared to WC and PM. Trickle irrigation did increase tree growth or yields in either year. This is not surprising because of ample rainfall. In one of two years, yields from the HERB treatment were greatest, while yields and fruit size from the BURN treatment were lowest both years.

In 2004 and 2005, leaf and soil analyses indicated that GYP treatments have resulted in greater tree uptake of calcium, leading to higher leaf Ca levels. Few studies have demonstrated that soil Ca levels can increase leaf Ca levels. It was, however, evident that this did not translate into

Figure 1.

Typical removal of nitrogen by a 2-yr-old Apple tree.

Total = 14.2 gram N/year

Figure 2.

Typical amount of stored nitrogen (N) in a 4-yr-old ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple Tree/M.26 rootstock.

Total = 17.2 grams N.

1-yr-old 11%

2-yr-old 20% 3-yr-old 18%

Spurs 16% 5-yr-old 19%

4-yr-old 16%

higher fruit Ca levels based on fruit tissue analysis.

There was no significant treatment effect on soil nitrate levels, as extracted and analyzed from suction lysimeters.

Nitrate concentrations were variable and inconsistent among treatments and between sampling dates.

Based on the tree partitioning and fruit analysis data, it was concluded that the measured removal and storage rates of actual nitrogen per hectare are 6.9 and 8.4 kg/ tree, respectively. The recommended rate of N input is considerably higher because perennial tree fruits are estimated to be 20 to 50 per cent efficient at utilizing all soilapplied N, and some losses to leaching, nitrification, and soil microbial activity are inevitable.

In order to estimate the total amount of stored nitrogen (by various ages of wood) and what was removed by pruning and by fruit, the nitrogen concentration in the aerial portions was measured. In addition, a representative sample of fruit was partitioned into skin, fruit flesh, and seeds, and the N concentration each portion measured.

The total amount of nitrogen removed by a four-year-old Honeycrisp on M.26 root-

stock, was 14.2 grams. The pruning wood, fruit flesh, and leaves contributed over 98 per cent to this total (roots were not analyzed in this study).

The total amount of N stored in the various vegetative tissue (excluding leaves) in the aerial portion of the tree was 17.2 grams. Wood that was five years old contributed 19 per cent to the total, while oneyear-old wood contributed 11 per cent. The contribution towards the total stored N in the other ages of wood ranged from 15 to 21 per cent. This data must be considered in the annual application on N to the orchard, particular if rates for N are based exclusively on removal rates only, and do not consider the N stored in the various components of the tree. The data generally agrees with previous reports of nutrient storage and removal for other cultivars in New Zealand.

In terms of irrigation and mulch effects on weed growth, the BURN treatment was ineffective and often harmful to the tree.

Overall, the HERB treatment had the least amount of weed growth while the other soil management/mulch treatments resulted in intermediate weed growth. With the exception of the STRAW mulch treatment,

treatments that received irrigation had greater weed growth in comparison with non-irrigated plots. Propane burning was ineffective for control weeds, while WC, GYP and PM were equally efficacious.

The merits of each of the various mulches for commercial growers will ultimately be determined by cost, availability, ease of application (and re-application in instances such as straw), and other indirect benefits realized through water conservation and improvement in soil properties. In Ontario straw mulch is used in some orchards for tree establishment. Wood chips are also gaining popularity and there is also an interest in using paper mill biosolids. ❦ Dr. John Cline is an associate professor of pomology and tree fruit physiology in the department of plant agriculture at the University of Guelph. Zia Ullah is a graduate student in the department of plant agriculture at the University of Guelph.

They would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council; and the University of Guelph for funding this research.

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PAGE 22

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

MaxCel® Continued from page 11

European corn borer Continued from page 18

Environmental Conditions: The effectiveness of chemical thinners is influenced by the weather in several ways. MaxCel is no exception. To optimize plant uptake of the spray solution, apply MaxCel during periods of slow drying (for example, early morning). Best results are obtained when warm temperatures (greater than 20 C) occur during and following application.

Larval colour may vary from pale greyish-brown to dirty white or pale pink; head capsules range in colour from medium to dark brown.

Conclusion The registration of MaxCel is important because it represents an improvement in 6-BA technology. Growers will be able to use highly effective concentrations, either as stand-alone thinners or in combination with Carbaryl. ❦ Dr. John Cline is an associate professor of pomology and tree fruit physiology in the department of plant agriculture at the University of Guelph. Dr. Charlie Embree is a tree fruit physiologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, based at the Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre in Kentville, N.S.

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

Corn earworm The corn earworm cannot overwinter in Canada – the population is killed by the winter’s low temperatures. Each spring, the moths must re-establish themselves from overwintering populations in the southern United States and Mexico. They begin their northward migration around May and usually reach Canada sometime in August, carried by highlevel winds.

There are four stages in the corn earworm’s life cycle. Earworms arrive in Canada as moths. The moths lay eggs, which then hatch into larvae (caterpillars). After feeding for two to four weeks, the larvae become pupae. Larvae are typically killed by frost before pupation.

Adult – The corn earworm adult is a buff- or tan-coloured moth with a wingspread of 3.5 to 4 cm (1.25 to 1.5 inches). The forewing may have several darker markings and always has a central brown dot, clearly visible on the underside of the wing and faintly visible from the top. The hind wings are very pale in colour, with a darker brown border.

Egg – Although earworms may lay eggs anywhere on the corn plant, almost all will be laid on fresh silks if these are available. Although eggs are laid individually, one female can lay more than 100 each night, and more than 1,000 during her lifetime. Each egg is nearly spherical, and about the same colour and diameter as a corn silk.

Larva – Upon hatching, young earworms crawl down the silks toward the ear. After feeding on the silks inside the husk for a few days, they begin feeding on the kernels at the ear tip. The worms will grow up to 3.7 cm long (1.5 inches), with prominent stripes running the length of their bodies. ❦ Information courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

PAGE 23

Viral insecticide registered for codling moth control in Canada

By Caroline Provost, José Valéro, Dr. Charles Vincent and Dr. Harnaivo Rasamimanana An example of codling moth damage in apple.

The target insect and its market In apple orchards, numerous insect pests can exert constant negative pressure on the fruit and the tree. Among them, the codling moth, Cydia pomonella, is a major pest of several orchard crops (e.g., apple, pear, plum and nut) throughout major apple-producing areas of the world. In relatively dry zones (e.g., the Northwest of North America, Italy, Argentina, and Australia), the management of this pest requires several insecticidal treatments per year. In relatively wet zones (e.g., the Northeast of North America), this insect was controlled until recently by

Contributed photo

A

pple production has traditionally occupied an important place in the agricultural economics of Eastern Canada. In recent years, consumers have become increasingly concerned about human health and environmental stewardship but still want to be able to purchase fruit with cosmetic appeal at low and stable prices.

In light of this, fruit growers have exerted considerable effort over the years toward addressing consumer expectations, even though the range of alternative methods for legally maintaining fruit quality is rather restricted. Enter VirosoftCP4, the first viral insecticide registered in Canada for agricultural use.

insecticidal treatments targeted against other insects, notably the plum curculio.

However, several populations of codling moth have recently developed resistance to insecticides all over the world, resulting in less effective treatments. Moreover, the legal context framing the use of pesticides has been tightened in several countries, including Canada, where azinphosmethyl has been excluded from the list of registered pesticides by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) effective December 2007. Some alternative methods are available to control this insect, including mating disruption with pheromones. However, this method incurs important costs and requires complementary tools that have very different modes of actions in case of failure.

Codling moth granulovirus The codling moth granulovirus (CpGV) is specific to this insect and innocuous to non-target organisms, including other insects present in orchard, birds and mammals. This granulovirus is very effective and ingestion of one to two granules by a young codling moth larva causes the death of the insect. This virus must absolutely be ingested by a larva to have an insecticidal effect. Once ingested, the encapsulated virions are released, penetrate PAGE 24

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

in the insect by the cells of the stomach and, upon multiplication, cause the death of the insect in a few days. Dead larvae may be infection sites for the other larvae of codling moths.

Virosoft In the world, few companies produce insecticidal formulations of codling moth granulovirus. In 1997, the company BioTEPP Inc. of Mont St-Hilaire, Que., undertook a research program in partnership with the Horticultural Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. This work resulted in the isolation and commercial production of a codling moth granulovirus. This virus, available under the trade name Virosoft, is registered in Canada and the U.S. Produced in Cap Chat in the Gaspé Peninsula, it is obtained by infection of live larvae and requires mass rearing of the codling moth.

For four years, various experiments were carried out in an organic orchard near Mont St-Hilaire, Que. The results showed that the product is a reliable tool to manage codling moth in this type of production.

Several field studies were also conducted

to evaluate the product’s virulence against codling moth, its persistence in orchard, its compatibility with various additives and its effectiveness. These studies, conducted in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and in the states of Washington, Michigan and New York, have shown the effectiveness of Virosoft in various agronomic conditions. They are also important so that the fruit growers can familiarize themselves with this new technology. As the virus persists only a few days once sprayed on the apple tree, the treatments must be made in an optimal way to impact the young larvae before they penetrate the fruit.

The application of Virosoft requires particular attention. As young codling moth larvae feed during a short period of time before entering apples, it is necessary to synchronize the moment of application with larval emergence, so that they ingest Virosoft before penetrating the apple. The quantity of virus ingested depends on the concentration and the exposition time of the larva to the product. Regular orchard monitoring for codling moth and the appropriate timing of the application – using a biofix – are two essential conditions for the use of Virosoft.

The future Fruit growers are eager to adopt new methods to manage their orchards in an effective and responsible way. As Virosoft has been tested in several localities of North America, several producers know the existence and the value of this insecticide specific to codling moth. Like conventional insecticides, it requires dedication and it is compatible with other control methods, such as mating disruption. In this context, BioTEPP invests continuously to optimize the production of VirosoftCP4. It also conducts new projects to develop other viral insecticides and environmentally friendly products. Oligosol Inc, who collaborated with Biotepp, is proud to have make history in Canada with this product and looks forward to develop other innovative pest management solutions. ❦ Caroline Provost, José Valéro and Dr. Harnaivo Rasamimanana are with BioTEPP Inc, based in Mont St-Hilaire, Que. Dr. Charles Vincent is an agronomist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, based at the Horticulture Research and Development Centre in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

/FX DIFNJTUSZ DBO NBLF B EJGGFSFODF The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™ and The miracles of science™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. DuPont Canada is a licensee.

Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2008 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

PAGE 25

Briefs New crop sales manager for onions, hot peppers at Nunhems

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Nunhems USA has named Jeff Boettge crops sales manager for the company’s onion and hot pepper programs. In this role, Boettge will be responsible for the design, implementation and execution of the marketing strategies for Nunhems’ onion and hot pepper portfolios across North and South America.

“This is like a homecoming for me,” said Boettge, who began his career as an assistant onion breeder nearly 25 years ago. “I’ve been on every side of this business and have learned that I have a real passion for the onion industry and the people in it.”

As a crop sales manager, Boettge will lead teams of experts in research, product development, and sales and marketing for both onions and hot peppers. Known as Nunhems crop teams, they are part of an international network of specialists responsible for bringing together Nunhems’ global resources for the benefit of local growers.

Together, crop teams work closely with the entire supply chain to understand market demands and maintain supply continuity. More importantly, they share what they learn with growers to help them succeed.

New online community to help unite Canadian berry and grape growers Berry and grape growers across Canada have a new forum for sharing ideas and information with the launch of an online community at www.berriesgrapes.ca. The new site, created by Bayer CropScience, helps berry and grape growers come together in a way their geographical locations wouldn’t normally allow to exchanges ideas, get advice and build relationships. Separate and distinct from the company’s product-based site, the new community is completely interactive and searchable for events and industry news. The site features a message board, question and answer section, and includes access to industry professionals to moderate online forums and answer grower questions. Eliminating the distance between berry and grape growers across the country means this new community helps facilitate interaction and discussions between growers who face many of the same challenges with the same crops. Members of the new community can create messages, post profiles, start discussions or even post a YouTube video.

GROWING AND SELLING FRESH-CUT HERBS A comprehensive guide for those who wish to start or expand their own herb business.

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New Saskatchewan regional manager for Agrotain International Norm Davy, Canadian sales manager with Agrotain International, recently announced that Neil Yelland has been hired as regional manager for Agrotain International in Saskatchewan. He will be responsible for the sales and service of Stabilized Nitrogen Technology (SNT)™ products, including Agrotain®, Nitrogain®, Agrotain Plus® and Super U® within the Saskatchewan marketplace.

“Neil is very well known and respected by retailers and growers across Saskatchewan, and he will be a valuable resource for them as they work to improve nitrogen use efficiency with our lineup of SNT products,” says Davy.

With a background in retail, seed, crop protection and the fertilizer industry, Yelland is well versed in working with technologies aimed at helping farmers.

New vegetable pest researcher at Ridgetown campus Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET

Tel: (877) 267-3473 Fax: (877) 624-1940 Warehouse Location: Simcoe, Ontario, CANADA a division of Annex Publishing & Printing Inc.

www.annexbookstore.com PAGE 26

Insects have a new enemy at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown campus. Christian Krupke recently joined the Ridgetown staff as the vegetable crop entomologist and pathologist. Krupke comes to Ridgetown after working at Purdue University in Indiana for three years. His research at Purdue focused on corn rootworm and other pest management issues in field crops. In his new position, he will study pests in vegetable FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

crops, particularly tomatoes, peppers, sugar beets and cucumbers. In addition to his research, Krupke will be teaching biology and pest management courses to Ridgetown students. Krupke is originally from Mississauga, and graduated with a B.Sc. from the University of Guelph in 1994. He received his master’s degree from Simon Fraser University and then earned a PhD at Washington State University.

Thimet receives four-year extension

Recently, the PMRA decided to reevaluate the use of the active ingredient Phorate for wireworm control in potatoes.

This included Thimet 15G, an insecticide that is registered in Canada for wireworm control in potatoes.

Over the past few years, wireworms have become a serious concern in potato production and have been seen over a larger area of the potato and sugar beet growing regions of Canada. It was deemed the wireworm problem in potatoes continues to be extensive in Canada and that no

adequate alternative management strategies are available to growers. Therefore, the PMRA decided to conditionally extend the phase-out of Thimet 15G Soil & Systemic Insecticide Granular as follows: Last date of sale of Thimet 15G by registrant – Dec. 31, 2011 Last date of sale by retailers and distributors – May 1, 2012 Last date of use by growers and users – Aug. 1, 2012 In the past, the PMRA had granted yearly extensions to Thimet. ❦

Amvac chemical corporation and Engage Agro recently announced the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has granted a conditional four-year extension for Thimet 15G insecticide (active ingredient Phorate).

“This four-year extension gives potato growers the comfort of having Thimet in their arsenal while they forward plan their management strategies and crop rotations for the next four years,” says Stuart Cullen, potato product manager for Engage Agro. “This is a product potato growers, government and potato organizations know and trust and we appreciate their hard work in gaining this four-year extension. Both Amvac and Engage Agro are pleased to be able to assist the growers by bringing this product to market and it will have both companies full support for as long as it is needed.”

New sales manager for WeighPack Systems Inc. WeighPack Systems Inc., a manufacturer of weigh-fill and packaging machinery, recently announced the appointment of Charles Nadeau to the position of Sales Manager – Canada. With more than 15 years’ experience in the packaging industry and 12 years with WeighPack, Nadeau will manage the daily operations of the Montreal sales department while developing sales opportunities throughout Canada. WeighPack has corporate headquarters in Canada and the U.S. and designs, manufactures and supplies a complete range of weighing and packaging equipment to the food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical and hardware industries FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

North Waterloo Farmers Mutual Insurance Company Represented by:

R.E. Mann Brokers Ltd. - Simcoe (519) 426-2031 “Your peace of mind...is our bottom line.”

PAGE 27

New Products John Deere 6030 and 7030 Series

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Syngenta announces new registration of ACTARA® 240SC Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc. recently announced the new registration of ACTARA 240SC® for application to potato seed pieces. Actara 240SC is a systemic insecticide containing the active ingredient thiamethoxam, which provides long-lasting protection against sucking and chewing insects including aphids, Colorado potato beetles and potato leaf hoppers. Actara 240 SC now offers even greater flexibility as it can be used directly on the seed or applied in-furrow. Growers benefit from increased efficiency as they are able to treat the seed piece at the same time that they apply a fungicide. Most importantly, by treating the seed piece directly, Actara 240 SC delivers superior performance against a range of pests. Because it is applied directly to the seed piece, the active ingredient is absorbed and moves systemically within the plant as it grows. This ensures protection right from the start and targets Colorado potato beetles when they are the most susceptible – in the spring, immediately following overwinter.

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TO SUBSCRIBE: Tel: 866-790-6070 Fax: 877-624-1940 Mail: Fruit and Vegetable Magazine c/o Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. P.O. Box 530, Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4N5 e-mail: sbrady@annexweb.com

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PAGE 28

For farmers who desire tractor performance in horsepowers ranging from 75 to 140 PTO-hp, John Deere introduces the full line of 6030 and 7030 Series tractors.

This new team of tractors can be configured from economical to premium models to meet any farm, ranch or worksite application and provide flexible performance to get the job done. The high-performance PowerTech Plus engines are standard equipment on all 6030 Premium and 7030 Premium models and can be configured as either PowerTech E™ or PowerTech Plus™. They feature a four-valve common rail fuel delivery, a fuel-saving variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and dual temperature cooling. The optional Intelligent Power Management delivers up to an additional 25 engine horsepower when needed for transport or mobile rear PTO work.

Many transmission options are available and can be tailored to specific customer needs. The field-proven PowrQuad PLUS™ transmission offers four power-shift gears within four ranges and is available in a transport speed up to 19 mph. For faster transport speeds and gear selection, AutoQuad PLUS™ goes a step further with automatic shifting within each of its six ranges and transport speeds up to 25 mph. A more economical transmission option, SyncroPlus™, is available on the 6030 and 7030 mid-specification models and offers a fully synchronizable clutch system that allows shifting on the go. Precision guidance innovations are also available on the 6030 Premium and 7030 Premium Series Tractors. Designed to fully integrate with new technology such as GreenStar AutoTrac™ or AutoTrac Universal, operators can take full advantage of precision accuracy and gain even more productivity from these tractors.

There’s no need to use a ladder to trim high hedges with the new SOLO 129 HS model hedge trimmer from SOLO, Inc. By simply setting the adjustable cutting blade to the required angle, contractors, farmers, commercial operators and homeowners can achieve an exact trim no matter how high or low the hedge may be. The unit is powered by a SOLO 29cc displacement, two-cycle gas engine, and its unique adjusting gear offers a 135-degree operating range with enough adjustment possibilities to find the optimum working angle for both cutter and handle. The trimmer’s ease of operation becomes clear from the moment you start the engine, beginning with the SOLO easy-start system in which a steady, light tug tensions the spring and starts the motor. The 129 HS model also features a comfortable anti-vibration system with loop handlebars and a 21-inch- (536-mm-) long cutting blade. It weighs less than 14 pounds (6.2 kg), has a half-litre tank capacity and features a three-shoe clutch with plates.

For more information on any of these products, visit www.fruitandveggie.com.

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FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

REFRIGERATION

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FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

PAGE 29

Eye on Potatoes Down to the wire!

Winning the war on wireworms

W

ireworms are on the rise in Canadian crops such as potato, sugar beet, carrot, cole crops forages and cereal grains. Wireworms are the larvae of slender beetles known as click beetles. There are approximately 30 pest species of wireworm in Canada – with many found in potato fields. Before pesticides, potato growing was abandoned in some areas of Canada due to wireworm damage. There are indications that wireworm numbers are increasing, and damage is growing in many crops. If growers aren’t familiar with wireworms, it’s time they learn more about these damaging pests, and determine if they are a threat in their area.

Tuber damage Wireworms do their damage when they feed on potato seed pieces and daughter tubers, burrowing shallow holes and opening the way for secondary diseases, including Rhizoctonia and blackleg. The greatest damage occurs when they tunnel into daughter tubers destined for the processing and table markets, leaving them unmarketable. While wireworms are doing their damage under the surface, growers will not generally see any above ground symptoms unless damage to the seed pieces is severe. Plants will then become discoloured and may wilt.

Wireworm life cycle Wireworms have an interesting, and troubling, life cycle. The larvae – the most damaging life stage – are able to live in soil for several years (three to five) depending on the species. Here is a breakdown of their life cycle: • Click beetles (adult wireworms) enter fields, preferably those with pasture, cereals and certain weeds, between April and June to lay eggs (about 200 per female).

• Eggs hatch into wireworm larvae in about three weeks and live and feed on plant roots and germinating seeds in the soil for three to five years, depending on the species.

• Wireworms burrow deeper into the soil (up to a metre) when it is hot and dry (midsummer), or when it is cold (winter), or when there is nothing to eat.

PAGE 30

• In potato fields in the spring, wireworms move towards the soil surface, following carbon dioxide (CO2) trails produced by potato seed pieces after planting.

• In late August, wireworms return to the surface to feed on daughter tubers and damage from wireworms can double every three weeks until the crop is harvested.

• After three to five years, wireworm larvae metamorphosize into click beetles (adult wireworm), which overwinter in the soil and emerge in spring to lay eggs and continue the cycle.

Wireworm – the larval stage of click beetles – are glossy brown, slightly darker on each end, and reach up to three centimetres in length.

Finding and baiting wireworms in the field

Tracking the pest – Growers can help!

Wireworms are attracted to CO2, whatever the source. Bait balls are a simple, effective way to check for wireworms in potato fields because they give off CO2. Burying one cup of wheat flour or oatmeal in narrow four to six-inch-deep holes in fields will attract them. Growers should mark the spot with a flag and check back in about four to five days – no later. About 20 evenly spaced baits per acre should suffice.

This technique will indicate wireworm presence but is NOT an indication of population threshold. Any wireworms growers find should be put in a small container – such as a camera film canister – with soil to be identified, because some wireworm species may not be adequately controlled with certain insecticides.

Dr. Bob Vernon, an entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), is behind a nationwide wireworm tracking survey. Since some insecticides do not control or suppress all wireworm species, it is important to know which type of wireworms are present in the major growing areas of Canada so that the right control option(s) are chosen to get the job done.

Growers can help! By using the baiting approach described above, or if producers notice wireworm damage in their crops (especially potato), they are urged to collect the wireworms they find, along with some of the field soil, and put them in a hard plastic container. There may be more than one species present, so they should collect as many as they can. They can mail the sample(s) to Dr. Vernon at: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 6947 #7 Hwy, P.O. Box 1000 Agassiz, B.C. V0M 1A0 It is important they include a brief description of where the sample was collected (nearest town or address), what crop the wireworms were found in, their name and phone number. Once the wireworms are identified, the grower will be contacted with the results. ❦ If there are any questions about this wireworm tracking initiative, producers are urged to contact Bayer CropScience at 1-888-2836847, Dr. Bob Vernon at 1 604-796-1708 or the Pest Management Regulatory Agency at 1-800-267-6315.

Important information on control Wireworm populations are high in fields that have had a recent history of pasture and rotations with forages and cereal grains.

If growing potatoes in high risk fields, the effectiveness of insecticides will be reduced if green manure is present in soil at planting.

This is because green manures produce CO2, which will attract and hold wireworms away from the treated areas. Later in the season, wireworms will then attack daughter tubers.

Ideally, a well-fallowed field prepared well in advance of potato planting would ensure that wireworms would visit the seed furrows and come in contact with the insecticides applied.

FRUIT & VEGETABLE MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2008

YOU WON’T FIND A BETTER FIT FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

All across Canada, in a growing number of fruit and vegetable crops, growers like you are discovering how Dow AgroSciences products fit smart business practices. From scab and mildew to leafrollers and codling moth we help control your pests and improve your profit. This season, that control includes new Delegate* insecticide for fruit and vegetables. Delegate offers exceptional control of codling moth and a wide range of other insects – and it comes with a Reduced Risk classification. From exciting new chemistries to the names you know and trust – there’s a great fit for your business with Dow AgroSciences horticulture products.

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