Source: MICHIGAN STATE UNIV submitted to
SEEKING ALTERNATIVES TO B2 FUNGICIDES AND CARBAMATE INSECTICIDES FOR ASPARAGUS PRODUCTION
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Hausbeck, M. K. Grafius, E. Johnston, S.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
PLANT PATHOLOGY
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
EAST LANSING,MI 48824
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Asparagus beetles, and rust and purple spot can defoliate and weaken asparagus. Miner flies may be associated with Fusarium root and crown rot, which can shorten the life of this perennial crop. Identify new and improved integrated pest management with reduced risk pesticides, biocontrol agents and disease resistant asparagus cultivars to improve insect and disease control in asparagus.
 
OBJECTIVES: 1) Identify safe and effective alternatives to products critical to asparagus production (i.e. chlorpyrifos and carbaryl). 1a) Evaluate the effect of pesticides on the naturally-occurring biological control agent of the asparagus beetle (Tetrastichus asparagi) with particular emphasis on adult activity and parasitism. Study experimental products such as imidacloprid, that may have reduced impact on T. asparagi. 1b) Test methods to reduce negative impacts of insecticides on T. asparagi by reducing the frequency of insecticide applications, substituting permethrin for carbaryl and chlorpyrifos, and using a trap crop (asparagus fern) for asparagus beetles and egg laying during harvest. 1c) Measure parasitoid adult activity, egg parasitism and egg predation in a trap crop compared with the main field. 2) Develop Fusarium disease management strategies based on biology of the pathogen, influence of the environment and interaction with insect vectors. 2a) Evaluate the following products in managing Fusarium crown and root rot in production fields: vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) inoculum, a biocontrol agent (Trichoderma harzianum), fludioxonil (Maxim) at a low and high rate, a biocontrol agent (avirulent Fusarium spp.), thiophanate-methyl (Topsin M) as a potential replacement for benomyl, and benomyl (Benlate) as a standard. 2b) Evaluate the role asparagus miner plays in spreading and exacerbating Fusarium infection in MI asparagus fields. 2c) Determine if insecticides applied to control asparagus miner reduces stem mining, and incidence and severity of Fusarium crown and root rot. 3) Develop foliar disease management strategies including disease forecasting systems. 3a) Test currently unregistered products with an emphasis on reduced risk fungicides and biocontrol agents for their activity against purple spot and rust in MI and NJ. 3b) Reduce reliance on foliar fungicides categorized as B2 carcinogens by establishing spray thresholds and using a disease forecaster with reduced risk fungicides or other effective alternatives for purple spot in MI and NJ. 3c) Develop a disease forecasting program to time fungicide sprays for control of rust. 4) Identify pest resistant asparagus varieties. Evaluate varieties and progenies for susceptibility to diseases including rust, purple spot, and Fusarium crown and root rot.
 
APPROACH: To achieve the stated objectives the following methods are proposed: 1a) Cage adult parasitoids 0/24 hours post-treatment with carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, permethrin, imidacloprid; assess mortality for 24 hours. 1b) Treat split field IPM plots normally or scout weekly/treat as needed using permethrin; monitor asparagus beetle and parasitoid adult activity. Monitor beetle egg and larvae predation/parasitism weekly (harvest) or biweekly (postharvest). Collect and rear beetle eggs and 3rd and 4th instars to determine parasitism. 1c) Use an unharvested edge row of a plot as a trap crop for beetles; monitor as for 1b. 2a) Plant 2-year-old asparagus crowns at a site with known Fusarium spp.; treat (crown dip or in-furrow) with a commercial biocontrol agent, avirulent Fusarium spp., arbuscular mycorrhizae, unregistered fungicides or a fungicide standard. Record rate of fern emergence, plant stand count, plant death and/or stunting. Dig crowns in the 3rd year; assess for disease incidence and severity, fresh and dry weight. 2b) Treat/no treat replicated plots in a young asparagus field in Oceana Co, MI with pyrethroids for asparagus miner flies. Compare fly abundance in the young field to a more mature field to determine if the young field is preferred early in the season. Harvest stems post-treatment; count the number of mines, larvae and pupae. Culture samples from mines to determine the presence of Fusarium and the number of infected mines per stem. 2c) In late fall, dig 10 crowns per plot yearly (from 2b) and rate for Fusarium symptoms. 3a) Conduct pesticide efficacy studies yearly in MI and NJ, include Quadris, Flint, Cabrio, Switch, Actigard, Omega, Tanos, Reason, Serenade, Greenleaf, Messenger, Milsana Bioprotectant, Mycostop, Topshield, Kocide, Tilt, Scala, Folicur, Indar, Dividend, Guardian, Jockey, Oxidate, ZA 1963, TN 415, Euparen Multi, Procure. Make biweekly readings and 7-, 10-, 14-day sprays in accordance with weather and crop conditions. 3b) Yearly test Quadris or Flint or Cabrio only, Quadris or Flint or Cabrio in alternation with Bravo Ultrex, and three sequential applications of Quadris or Flint or Cabrio followed by Bravo Ultrex in split plots in Hart, MI (established 1994) and Salem County, NJ; apply every 0 days (control), 10 days, 14 days, according to TOM-CAST 15 DSVs, TOM-CAST 20 DSVs and TOM-CAST 25 DSVs. Start when fern is fully expanded and continue through September/first hard frost. Collect hourly averages of leaf wetness and temperature data. Visually assess foliar disease yearly. 3c) Use a Burkard 7-day recording volumetric spore trap in an unsprayed established asparagus field from April to September yearly; calculate daily totals of spores. Record hourly temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and leaf wetness data. Monitor rust disease incidence on fern. Graph data and note/test relationships among the variables. Field test a preliminary model in the 3rd year if feasible. 4) Conduct yearly untreated cultivar trials based on susceptibility to rust, purple spot, Botrytis and Fusarium root and crown rot. Retest resistant cultivars. Collect yield and quality data.
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0189928 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: MICL08270 SPONSOR AGENCY: CSREES
PROJECT TYPE: OTHER GRANTS PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: (N/A)
START DATE: Sep 15, 2001 TERMINATION DATE: Sep 14, 2005

GRANT PROGRAM: IP-CROPS AT RISK
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: Integrated Programs

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
216149911604.213%
216149911304.213%
216402011604.213%
216311011304.213%
211149911304.212%
212149911604.212%
215149911304.212%
215149911604.212%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems
KA212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants
KA215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants
KA211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants
S3110 - Insects
S1499 - Vegetables, general/other
S4020 - Fungi
F1160 - Pathology
F1130 - Entomology and acarology
G4.2 - Reduce Number and Severity of Pest and Disease Outbreaks


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC (N/A)%
APPLIED 100%
DEVELOPMENTAL (N/A)%

KEYWORDS: asparagus; pesticide safety; biological control (diseases); biological control (insects); cultivars; variety tests; integrated pest management; rust (asparagus); puccinia asparagi; stemphylium; crown rot (asparagus); root rot (asparagus); fusarium oxysporum; fusarium proliferatum; crioceris asparagi; crioceris duodecimpunctata; management alternatives; fungicides; carbamates; insecticides; plant disease control; insect control; plant pathology; fungus diseases (plants); pesticide evaluation; parasites; imidacloprid; environmental impact; permethrin; trap crops; parasitoids

PROGRESS: Sep 15, 2001 TO Sep 14, 2005
http://plantpathology.msu.edu/labs/hausbeck/AsparagusCAR/asparagusCAR home.htm. Asparagus miner fly (associated with Fusarium disease) populations and damage effects on stand maturity and harvest end date were observed in commercial asparagus fields for 2 years. Two peaks in adult activity were seen in all fields, the biggest in mid-August. Most mining occurred in fields with a short harvest; significantly more adults emerged in these than in older fields. Fusarium sporulated on up to 30% of the mined stems in the field. Sampling found infestation of F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum on 15% and 3% of above-ground puparia, 11% and 17% of below-ground puparia, and 44% and 4% of above-ground mined tissue, respectively. Fusarium studies in 2 commercial fields tested pre-plant crown dips or drip treatments with/without irrigation; dips were not significantly different, but trends show they may be beneficial when planting new fields. Drip-applied thiophanate-methyl produced a significantly greater stand count in 2004. Nonpathogenic F. oxysporum and Trichoderma harzianum tended to produce taller plants with higher stand counts. Phytophthora symptoms were seen after 2004 flooding and in 2005. Weekly watering significantly reduced dead fern in 2004. Mefenoxam produced significantly more new and total growth than the control in 2005. Phytophthora sp. (from 2004 asparagus) were inoculated on 19 cultivars; Grolim and UC 157 were significantly more resistant than Mary Washington, Thelim, Dulce Verde and Jersey General. Phytophthora sp. from 2004-05 were fingerprinted using AFLP. All isolates, regardless of site of origin or year sampled, had identical fingerprints, possibly be due to asexual reproduction in this species, transplanting of crowns infected in nurseries to production fields, or isolates persisting in the fields over years due to the longevity of this perennial crop. When tested on 5 hosts, soybean and asparagus isolates caused significant disease only on soybean and asparagus, respectively. TOM-CAST forecaster consistently controlled Cercospora and purple spot diseases in MI and NJ while saving 5 sprays over 7-day, and 2 sprays over 10-/14-day applications. Starting a program after scouting found a trace of rust or a severity rating of 1 saved 1-2 sprays while controlling the disease. Rust spores were sampled from asparagus fields for three years; evaluating effect of weather on rust spore numbers is ongoing. Pesticides were tested yearly in 21 trials in MI and NJ, including 43 products (10 reduced-risk, 10 biopesticides, 3 organophosphate alternatives). Especially effective for Cercospora spot were reduced-risk strobilurins (Cabrio, Flint and Quadris), Nova and Folicur. Cabrio, Quadris, Endura and Bravo significantly controlled purple spot. Folicur was consistently and especially effective on rust; other effective products included Penncozeb, Flint, Bravo, Nova, Quadris and Pristine. Asparagus miner insecticide research was inconclusive; coverage of the entire plant targeting the stems would be difficult in a commercial setting. Sevin and Actara effectively controlled asparagus beetle eggs during spear harvest.

IMPACT: 2001-09-15 TO 2005-09-14 Michigan and New Jersey account for about 18.5% of the U.S. production of fresh market and processing asparagus. Any of the effective alternative pesticides identified by this research can be used in rotation with industry standards to reduce the amounts of B2 carcinogens or carbamates that are being applied to asparagus fields by up to 50% without compromising pest control. Rotation also helps delay the development of pesticide resistance in the pest. Use of disease forecasters and initiating spray program by scouting can further reduce carcinogen application as they were found to save 1-5 pesticide applications per season while producing a quality crop. TOM-CAST, a disease forecaster, was used to effectively manage purple spot on 60% of Michigan acreage in 2005, and saved 2 sprays compared to calendar applications. This prevented 19,575 pounds of chlorothalonil (industry standard, B2 carcinogen) from entering the environment and saving Michigan growers $176,175. Two reduced-risk products have been labeled for use on asparagus based on the information generated by this project: Quadris for foliar pathogens and Elevate for Botrytis. A Phytophthora sp. was reported for the first time on Michigan asparagus. Mefenoxam applied via trickle irrigation limited disease and enhanced overall growth and the development of new shoots. Research updates were provided to growers via yearly meetings and field demonstration plots. MI research trials in the field were highlighted each year during tours of EPA personnel, Michigan Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2001-09-15 TO 2005-09-14
Saude, C., Hausbeck, M.K., Hurtado-Gonzales, O., and Lamour, K.H. 2005. Detection of a Phytophthora sp. causing asparagus spear and root rot in Michigan. Plant Disease 89:1011.

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Hausbeck, M. K.
PHONE: 517-355-4534
FAX: 517-353-1926