Crop Profile for Greenhouse Crops in Oklahoma

Prepared: August, 1999

General Production Information

● Oklahoma ranked 11th in national production of greenhouse crops in 1997. ● Oklahoma produces 2.3 percent of greenhouse crops grown in the United States. ● Greenhouse production area totaled 3,991,000 square feet covered area with an additional 65 acres open ground in 1998. The Expanded Wholesale Value of all products produced in 1998 was $18,336,000. (USDA, 1999) ● Five major crops grown in Oklahoma Greenhouses: Bedding Plants Perennials Poinsettias Easter lilies Foliage Plants

Production Regions

Greenhouse production takes place statewide, with a concentration in metropolitan areas. In 1998 there were 153 growers with an expanded wholesale value of $18,336,000. The area in floriculture production included 3,817,000 square feet greenhouse, 174,000 square feet shade and temporary cover, and 65 acres open ground.

Insect Pests

The Crop Profile/PMSP database, including this document, is supported by USDA NIFA. Aphids

Aphids are found on virtually every greenhouse crop. A number of different aphid species occur, differing in size, color, and food preferences. Sap feeding by aphids may cause plant stunting and other deformities. Aphids may also transmit plant viral diseases. Aphid populations may increase explosively because individuals can mature and begin to reproduce in as few as seven days. Although aphids have many natural enemies, these beneficial organisms are usually unable to keep pace with aphid populations in the greenhouse.

Controls: Aphids are controlled with any of the insecticide formulations, including foliar sprays, aerosols, fogs, or soil applied systemics.

● Organophosphates Acephate PT 1300 Orthene Orthene T& Pinpoint 15G Chloropyrifos Duraguard Dursban 2EC Diazinon Knox Out GH ● Pyrethroids Bifenthrin Talstar Attain Cyfluthrin Decathlon Tempo Duraplex TR Fenpropathrin TAME 2.4EC Permethrin Astro ● Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Endosulfan Thiodan Thiodan Smoke ● Other Insecticides Azadirachtin Azatin EC Beauveria bassiana Naturalis-O BotaniGard Horticultural Oils Sunspray Ultrafine Spray Oil Imidacloprid Marathon 1%G Marathon 60WP Merit 75WP Merit 75WSP Insecticidal Soap M-Pede Olympic Insecticidal Soap S-Kinoprene Enstar II Nicotine Fulex Nicotine Smoke Plant Products Nicotine Smoke

Cyclamen mites

Unlike spider mites, cyclamen mites prefer high relative humidity and low temperatures. They are commonly found in plant crowns, buds, or flowers. Damage consists of growth distortion, including curling, stunting, deformity, and tissue blackening. Plants commonly attacked are cyclamen, African violet, ivy, chrysanthemum, and begonia.

Controls: Chemical controls are difficult because of the mites’ secluded habits. They are usually controlled with foliar spray applications, and repeated treatments are usually necessary.

● Organophosphates Chloropyrifos Dursban 2EC ● Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Endosulfan Thiodan Fulex Thiodan Smoke Dienochlor Pentac Aquaflow ● Other Miticides Abamectin Avid

Spider Mites

Spider mites also referred to as red spiders, attack a wide range of greenhouse crops and feed on plant sap, generally from lower surfaces of leaves. Damage characteristically appears as spotting or light mottling of the foliage and associated leaf drop. In severe infestations, the plants may be covered with webbing. Spider mites are able to complete the egg to adult life cycle in as few as seven days during hot, dry conditions. Also, each female may deposit up to 200 eggs, thus allowing for rapid population increase.

Controls: All forms of miticide application are used in spider mite control, with a common preference for soil systemics and foliar sprays. Pesticide resistance is a serious problem with spider mite control. Using miticides from different chemical classes is advisable to delay the onset of resistance.

● Organophosphates Chloropyrifos Dusban 2E Diazinon Dichlorvos Fulex DDVP Aire-Mate GH-19 Sulfotepp Plantfume 103 Dithio Dithione ● Pyrethroids Bifenthrin Talstar F Attain Fenpropathrin TAME 2.4EC Fluvalinate Mavrik Aquaflow Lambda-cyhalothrin Topcide ● Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Dicofol Kelthane T&O Dienochlor Pentac Aquaflow ● Other Insecticides Imidacloprid Marathon 1%G Marathon 60WP Propargite Omite ● Other Miticides Abamectrin Avid Horticultural Oils Sunspray Ultrafine Spray Oil Insecticidal Soap M-Pede Pyridaben Sanmite

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are common pests of numerous greenhouse crops. Sap feeding by mealybugs reduces plant vigor and also may cause distorted growth and leaf drop. Black, sooty mold may grow on the honeydew excreted by these insects. Wingless mealybug females lay eggs in waxy masses. Crawlers leave the egg mass and move actively about the plant seeking protected feeding sites. Adults can appear within six weeks of egg hatch.

Controls: As mealybugs feed, they secrete waxy filaments that eventually cover their bodies, giving them a white, dusty appearance. This wax covering is water repellant and protects the insects from insecticide sprays, and is one reason mealybugs are difficult to control. The newly emerged crawler are more susceptible to control attempts, but repeated applications are essential to control those that hatch after spray residues are gone all forms of insecticides application are commonly used for mealybug control.

● Organophosphate Acephate Orthene 75% Chloropyrifos Dursban Diazinon Knox Out GH ● Carbamates Bendiocarb Dycarb Turcam ● Pyrethroids Fluvalinate Mavrik Aquaflow Permethrin Astro ● Other Insecticides Chloropyrifos + cyfluthrin Duraplex TR Imidacloprid Marathon 1%G S-Kinoprene Enstar II

Scales

Several species occur on greenhouse plants. The one feature shared among the scale insects is the shell- like covering and the honey dew they secrete as they feed. This hard or soft scale provides protective coloration and also makes it virtually impossible to directly contact the organism with insecticides. Eggs produced by the female are usually concealed beneath the shell. The newly hatched nymphs (crawlers) emerge from beneath the female’s scale to seek a suitable location to settle and begin feeding. Once they settle they remain and develop in one location. The length of life cycle varies considerably with each scale species, ranging from one to eight generations per year.

Controls: Control of scales can be very difficult because of the protection afforded by the waxy covering. All formulations of insecticide can be used for scale control. Foliar sprays must be timed to kill newly emerging crawlers. A practical solution to scale infestations is to destroy infested plants if there are only a few of them.

● Organophosphates Acephate Orthene Chloropyrifos Dursban 50W Diazinon Diazinon 50W ● Pyrethroids Bifenthrin Talstar F Fenpropathrin TAME 2.4EC ● Other Insecticides Chloropyrifos + cyfluthrin Duraplex TR Fenoxycarb Precision Preclude TR Horticultural Oil Suspray Ultrafine Spray Oil Imidacloprid Marathon 1 %G

Whiteflies

Whiteflies are a very common pest of many crops. These tiny, white nuisances are not flies, but close relatives of scales, mealybugs and aphids. The sap-feeding damage is similar to that produced by these relatives, and copious quantities of honeydew are produced by all stages of the whitefly except the eggs.

Whiteflies have a complex life cycle that can be completed in as few as eight days. Eggs are usually laid on the undersides of leaves. Crawlers hatch from the eggs and move about selecting a feeding site. The crawlers soon become greatly flattened and nearly transparent, thus making them difficult to see, and tolerant to most insecticides. After a pupal or resting stage, the chalky white adults emerge.

Controls: Under greenhouse conditions, whitefly generations overlap, and all stages of the insect may be found on infested plants at any time. Because insecticide sprays do not control some of these stages, repeated applications of the recommended pesticides may be needed. As with most of the sap feeders, all forms of insecticide can be used for whitefly control. Some degree of control also is achieved by placing yellow sticky boards in infested greenhouses. The adults, attracted to yellow, become entangled in the sticky material. Other developing management practices include the use of tiny wasps that parasitize and kill the immature whiteflies.

● Organophosphates Acephate Orthene Pinpoint 15G Chloropyrifos Dursban 50W Diazinon Diazinon Sulfotepp Plantfume 103 Dithio Dithione ● Pyrethroids Bifenthrin Talstar F Attain Fluvalinate Mavrik Aquaflow Permethrin Astro Resmethrin Aire-Mate GH-60 ● Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Endosulfan Thiodan Fulex Thiodan Smoke Dienochlor Pentac Aquaflow ● Other Insecticides Azadirachtin Azatin EC Beauveria bassiana Naturalis-O BotaniGard Chloropyrifos + cyfluthrin Duraplex TR Diflubenzuron Adept Fenoxycarb Precision Preclude TR Horticultural Oil Sunspray Ultrafine Spray Oil Imidacloprid Marathon 1%G Marathon 60WP Merit 75WP Merit 75WSP Insecticidal Soap M-Pede Olympic Insecticidal Soap S-Kinoprene Enstar II Pyridaben Sanmite

Caterpillars

Caterpillars are the immature forms (larvae) of butterflies and moths. Included within this diverse group are armyworms, cutworms, leafrollers, and loopers. Only the caterpillar stage is damaging. With chewing mouthparts, they consume large pieces of foliage, stems, and flowers. Caterpillars are variable in size, appearance, and life cycle. All have complete lifecycles but the size, duration, and location of the various stages differ with the species.

Controls: Caterpillars are usually controlled with foliar sprays. A popular choice for caterpillar control is the microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This selective insecticide is nontoxic to applicators and customers and does not harm beneficial insects.

● Organophosphates Acephate Orthene Pinpoint 15G Chloropyrifos Dursban 2E DuraGuard Duraplex TR Diazinon Knox Out GH ● Pyrethroids Cyfluthrin Decathlon Tempo Duraplex Permethrin Astro ● Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Endosulfan Thiodan Fulex Thiodan Smoke ● Other Insecticides Azadirachtin Azatin EC Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki Dipel 2X Dipel DF

Leafminers

A number of species of leafminers attack greenhouse crops. The most common are tiny fly maggots that feed between the upper and lower leaf surfaces, leaving narrow winding trails or mines. Small feeding and egglaying punctures made by the adult can give foliage a speckled appearance, further reducing the plant’s value. Larval feeding can be completed in as few as five days; then the larvae chew their way out of the leaf and drop to the soil to pupate. New adults emerge about 10 days later to repeat the cycle.

Controls: Control of leafminers has become difficult, especially on chrysanthemums. Foliar sprays are usually used to control leafminers, with repeated applications being necessary. The best prevention against leafminer infestation is to refuse to accept infested plant material and to maintain strict weed control in and around the greenhouse.

● Organophosphates Chloropyrifos DuraGuard Duraplex TR ● Pyrethroids Permethrin Astro Ambush ● Other Insecticides Azadirachtin Azatin EC Cyromazine Citation Imidacloprid Marathon 1%G Marathon 60 WP

Thrips

Thrips are small slender insects about 3mm long. Their rasping feeding action on flowers and foliage causes a streaked, silvery appearance. Black dots of excrement also are clues to thrips infestation.

Controls: Foliar sprays, aerosols, and fogs are usually used for thrips control.

● Organophosphates Acephate Orthene Pinpoint 15G Chloropyrifos Dursban 2E DuraGuard Duraplex TR Diazinon Knox Out GH Sulfotepp Dithio Dithione ● Carbamates Bendiocarb Dycarb Turcam Methiocarb Mesural ● Pyrethroids Cyfluthrin Decathlon Tempo Duraplex Fluvalinate Mavrik Aquaflow Permethrin Astro ● Other Insecticides Azadirachtin Azatin EC Chlorpyrifos + cyfluthrin Duraplex Fenoxycarb Precision Preclude TR Formetenate hydrochloride Carzol SP Imidacloprid Marathon 1%G Marathon 60WP Merit 75WP Merit 75WSP

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats are tiny fragile, black flies that frequently are abundant in greenhouses. The larvae feed on fungi and organic matter in the soil and may feed on roots or root hairs. The objectionable presence of the midgelike adults is usually worse than any physical injury to the roots caused by larvae. Soils or artificial mixes high in organic matter and moisture retention properties are more prone to fungus gnat infestations.

Controls: Aerosols or fogs are used to control the adult flies. Application of spray to the soil surface or a soil drench also is used.

❍ Organophosphates Chloropyrifos Dursban DuraGuard Duraplex TR Diazinon Knox Out GH ❍ Carbamates Bendiocarb Dycarb Turcam ❍ Pyrethroids Permethrin Astro Baythriod Decathlon 20WP ❍ Other Insecticides Azadirachtin Azatin EC Bacillus thuringiensis Gnatrol Cyromazine Citation Diflubenzuron Adept Fenoxycarb Precision Preclude TR S-Kinoprene Enstar II

Springtails

These very small insects are another nuisance pest found in moist, high organic-matter soils.

Controls: Complete soil sterilization with occasional soil drenches reduces objectionable populations of this harmless annoyance.

Diseases

Bacterial Blights, Leaf Spots and Wilts

Bacterial diseases include galls, rots, cankers, wilts, fruit spots, leaf spots, blights and abnormal shoot formation. Some bacteria can live for several months or even years on plants, in soil or in water. They can live on or in roots, leaves stems and flowers of host as well as non-host plants. They become pathogenic when environmental factors favor infection and disease development Controls:

Copper sulfate pentahydrate Phyton-27 5.5EC Cupric hydroxide Kocide 101 77WP Fixed copper Bordeaux Mixture 12.75WP Bordo-Mix 12.75WP Fosetyl-Al Aliette WDG, 80WDG Streptomycin (Outdoors Only) Agrimycin 21.2WP Agri-Strep 21.2WP

Botrytis Blights, Spots, and Stem rot

The most encountered flower and foliage plant blight diseases include those caused by Botrytis fungi, especially Botrytis forms grouped together as B. cinerea. Botrytis blights are most common in temperate zones where these pathogens attack a vast range of hosts including almost every herbaceous ornamental. In addition to ornamentals (herbaceous and woody), plant groups attacked by Botrytis are glasshouse and field vegetables, small fruits, bulb and corm-producing plants, monocotyledons and forest tree seedlings. Botrytis spp. Are also spoilage organisms, causing considerable losses during storage and transit of flowers, fruits, cuttings, bulbs, and greenery.

Controls:

Captan Captan 50WP Chlorothalonil Exotherm Termil 20 Fum Daconil Ultrex 82.5WDG Daconil 2787WDG, 90WDG Daconil 2787 Flo 4F Thalonil 4F Copper sulfate pentahydrate Phyton-27 5.5EC Cuprus hydroxide Kocide 101 77WP Dicloran (Outdoors Only) Botran 75WP Fixed copper (Outdoors Only) Bordeaux Mixture 12.75WP Fludioxonil Medallion Fungus-Streptomyces Mycostop 30WP Iprodione Chipco 26019 50WP Mancozeb Protect T/O 80WP (Outdoors Only) Dithane T/O 75DF Dithane WF 4F Fore 80WP Fore Flo 4F Thiophanate-methyl Cleary’s 3336 4.5F (Outdoors Only) Cleary’s 3336 50WP Fungo FL 4.5F Fungo 50WP Systec 1998 4.5F

Fungal Leafspots, Blights and Cankers

Various fungi are rather diverse and these disease symptoms are somewhat varied. Blights or spots may appear on leaves, stem or flowers depending on which disease is present. Many microbes in this group can attack all three plant parts. Few occur on below ground plant portions. Generally, leaf blights and spots will be first visible on lower foliage or foliage within the canopy. Plants in the bench or bed center may become infected more readily. It may take finding a fungal sign associated with the diseased plant tissue to determine the specific pathogen involved.

Controls:

Captan Captan 50WP Captan 80WP Chlorothalonil Daconil Ultrex 82.5WDG Daconil 2787WDG, 90WDG Daconil 2787 Flo 4F Thalonil 4F Copper sulfate pentahydrate Phyton-27 5.5EC Cuprus hydroxide Kocide 101 77WP Fixed copper Bordeaux Mixture 12.75WP (Outdoors Only) Bordo-Mix 12.75WP (Outdoors Only) Iprodione Chipco 26019 50WP Mancozeb Protect T/O 80WP Dithane T/O 75DF Dithane WF 4F Fore 80WP Fore Flo 4F Myclobutanil Systhane WSP 40WP Propiconazole Banner MAXX 14.3ME(Outdoors Only) Thiophanate-methyl Cleary’s 3336 4.5F Cleary’s 3336 50WP Fungo FL 4.5F Fungo 50WP Systec 1998 4.5F Thiophanate-methyl + Iprodione Benefit 39.3WP Thiophanate-methyl + mancozeb Zyban 75WP Triadimefon Strike 50DF Triflumizole Terraguard 50WP (Outdoors Only) Vinclozolin Ornalin Flo 4.17F Curalan DF 50DF Curalan 4.17F

Powdery Mildews Powdery mildews attack many plants. While powdery mildew fungal infection seldom causes plant death, it almost always reduces the plant’s looks and value. Serious losses are common. Symptoms are easily recognized: white, powdery appearance on infected host portions. Sometimes powdery mildews cause various other symptoms, such as: defoliation, witches brooms, drying and withering plant parts, leaf roll and virus-like symptoms. The pathogens don’t directly attack plant parts below ground, but may indirectly affect root health. Severely infected plants frequently recover slowly even after the disease has been arrested. They may be more susceptible to insect attack, air pollution or root rot.

Controls:

Copper sulfate pentahydrate Phyton-27 5.5EC Fenarimol Rubigan 12.5EC (Outdoors Only Myclobutanil Systhane WSP 40WP Piperalin Pipron 82.4EC Propiconazole Banner MAXX 14.3ME (Outdoors Only) Soaps M-Pede Sulfur Flotox 90 Dust Flotox 90WP Sulfur 95 Dust Sulfur 95WP Thiophanate-methyl Cleary’s 3336 4.5F Cleary’s 3336 50WP Fungo FL 4.5F Fungo 50WP Systec 1998 4.5F Thiophanate-methyl + Iprodione Benefit 39.3WP Thiophanate-methyl + mancozeb Zyban 75WP Triadimefon Strike 50DF Triflumizole Terraguard 50WP (Outdoors Only)

Rhizoctonia Damping-off, Root and Crown Rots

Root and crown rots are a constant threat to the profitability of flower or foliage plant production for many reasons. Many different fungi can cause root and crown rots. Each pathogen has its own environmental needs. Thus, one or another can appear at any time during a crop’s production cycle. Rot and crown rots can kill plants in the greenhouse or drastically shorten their usable life after sale. In this way they directly affect the amount of harvested crop. Most importantly root and crown rots debilitate a crop. They can destroy a crop’s uniformity and nutritional balance. They can subvert a grower’s attempt to schedule a crop for sale on a certain date.

Controls:

Bacteria – Burkholderia Deny Ethazol + Thiophanate-methyl Banrot 40WP Ethazol + Thiophanate-methyl Banrot 8G Fludioxomil Medallion Fungus – Gliocladium SoilGuard 12G Fungus – Trichoderma RootShield 1.15%WP RootShield 1.15%G Iprodione Chipco 26019 50WP Quintozene Defend 75WP Terraclor 75WP Thiophanate-methyl Cleary’s 3336 4.5F Cleary’s 3336 50WP Fungo Fl 4.5F Fungo 50WP Systec 1998 4.5F Thiophanate-methyl + Iprodione Benefit 39.3WP Triflumazole Terraguard 50WP

Rusts

Plant rusts are so named because these fungi’s spores are yellow orange to dark brown. Produced in large numbers, they give affected areas a rusty appearance. Many plant rusts exist throughout the world and some can be economically important. In general, those affecting floral and foliage crops are not too damaging, although on occasion they may be serious enough to severely limit growth, cause extensive defoliation, or even kill plants or plant parts.

Controls:

Chlorothalonil Exotherm Termil 20 Fum Daconil Ultrex 82.5WDG Daconil 2787 WDG, 90WDG Daconil 2787 Flo 4F Thalonil 4F Mancozeb Protect T/O 80WP Dithane T/O 75DF Dithane WF 4F FORE 80WP FORE Flo 4F Myclobutanil Systhane WSP 40WP Oxycarboxin Plantvax 75WP Propiconazole Banner MAXX 14.3EC (Outdoors Only) Triadimefon Strike 25DF

Pythium and Phytophthora Water Molds

Pythium and Phytophthora are called water molds because they have a motile spore stage that spreads in water. These organisms attack a wide variety of plants, causing root rots, stem rots, and cutting rots. Often they will not kill a plant but will "prune" the root system, resulting in poor growth and yellowing or stunting of the plant top. Water mold root rots can be prevented with a good sanitation program. Improving the plants’ growing media drainage reduces these root rots. Finally soil drench fungicides are a management option.

Controls:

Bacteria - Burkholderia Deny Captan Captan 50WP Orthocide 10D (Outdoors Only) Orthocide 7.5D Orthocide 5D Etridiazole Terrazole 35WP Truban 5G Truban 30WP Truban 25EC Ethazol + Thiophanate-methyl Banrot 40WP Banrot 8G Fosetyl-AL Aliette WDG, 80WDG Fungus – Gliocladium SoilGuard 12G Fungus – Streptomyces Mycostop 30WP Fungus - Trichoderma RootShield 1.15%WP Rootshield 1.15%G Metalaxyl Subdue 25EC (Outdoors Only) Subdue 2G Subdue II 25WP Mefenoxam Subdue MAXX 21.3ME Propamocarb Banol 66.5EC (Outdoors Only)

Downy mildew

Controls: Fosetyl-Al Aliette WDG 80WDG Mancozeb Protect T/O 80WP

Root rots caused by other fungi

Controls:

Bacteria – Burkholderia Deny Captan Captan 50WP Orthocide 50WP Orthocide 5D Orthocide 7.5D Orthocide 10D Dicloran Botran 75WP Etridiazole + Banrot 40WP Thiophanate-methyl Banrot 8G Fungus-Streptomyces Mycostop 30WP Fungus-Trichoderma RootShield 1.15%G Iprodione Chipco 26019 50WP Quintozene Defend 75WP Terraclor 75WP Thiabendazole Mertect160 WP Thiophanate-methyl Cleary’s 3336 4.5F Cleary’s 3336 50WP Fungo Fl 4.5F Fungo 50WP Systec 1998 4.5F Thiophanate-methyl + Iprodione Benefit 39.3WP Triflumazole Terraguard 50WP Vinclozolin Ornalin 4.17F Curalan 50WP Curalan 4.17F

Nematodes

Nematodes feed on roots with a needlelike mouth-part called a stylet. This feeding usually causes dead areas in root tissue. Root knot nematodes cause abnormal root cell growth. In all cases host plant root functions are greatly decreased, resulting in various, nonspecific symptoms, such as stunting, slow growth, various mineral imbalances and water shortage symptoms. Foliar nematodes invade leaf tissue and cause general blighting.

Controls:

Chitin protein Clandosan 618 20G

Contacts

Marty New Extension Assistant Oklahoma State University Dept. of Entomology & Plant Plathology 127 NRC Stillwater, OK 74078 (405) 744-5526 [email protected] Jim T. Criswell Extension Pesticide Coordinator Oklahoma State University Dept. of Entomology & Plant Pathology 127 NRC Stillwater, OK 74078 (405) 744-5531 [email protected]

References

1. Ball Pest & Disease Manual, Disease, insect and mite control on flower and foliage crops. 1992. Powell, Charles C., and Lindquist, Richard K., Ball Publishing. Geneva, Illinois.

2. Biological and Economic Assessment of Pest Management in the United States Greenhouse and Nursery Industry. 1997. Garber, Melvin P., Hudson, William G., Norcini, Jeffrey G., Thomas, William A., Jones, Ronald K., Bondari, Kaine. University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Athens, Georgia.

3. Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics 1997. Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. 1997. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

4. Tips On the Use and Safety of Chemicals, Biologicals, and the Environment on Floriculture Crops. Ohio Florists’ Association. 1995. Columbus, Ohio.

5. Tips on Managing Floriculture Crop Problems. Ohio Florists’ Association. 1998. Columbus, Ohio.

Database and web development by the NSF Center for Integrated Pest Managment located at North Carolina State University. All materials may be used freely with credit to the USDA.