UTAH PESTS News Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory and USU Extension Vol. 1, Winter 2007-08 Plant Diseases C heer Up the Holiday Season Not many people know prices in the Netherlands dur- that some plant diseases are ing the 1630s. One tulip was actually beneficial (at least to recorded for selling around What’s Inside humans, not necessarily the $1,500 (price adjusted for FDT and DDIU host plant). Did you know historical comparison), about Programs that the poinsettia you are the price of a large home in Trip to Columbus used to seeing with its prolific Amsterdam at that time. Onion Thrips Research Woolly Apple Aphid and dwarf growth habit is One other plant disease that Research actually the result of a plant can be regarded as beneficial Overwintering Insects pathogen? Poinsettia, native to some is the pathogen that Drought and Trees to certain tropical regions, is causes corn smut, a disease Grower Profile scientifically known asEuphor - that often disgusts homeown- Hobo Spider Key bia pulcherrima, which means ers when they see the lumpy Calendar of Events and “the most beautiful euphor- disfigured ears of corn in their News of Interest bia.” In the wild, it grows to garden. But the young galls of an upright, medium-sized tree these same infected corn ears News Highlights or shrub. In cultivation, how- are considered a delicacy in NEW UTAH PESTS ever, a microscopic pathogen Mexico and other countries of A FACT SHEETS: called a phytoplasma induces Central America. There, the disease Asparagus Beetle and the plant to grow in a dwarf, disease, as well as the delicacy, caused Spotted Asparagus free-branching nature that is called huitlacoche. The by a Beetle transforms it into the pot- infected galls are priced much phyto- Cereal Leaf Beetle ted plant with which we are higher than healthy corn, and plasma Lygus Bug in Alfalfa all so familiar. The “flowers” are cooked into a recipe that causes Seed are actually showy bracts or includes garlic, onions, and poinset- Soft Scales modified leaves. epazote (a Central American tias to Plant diseases are most often herb Chenopodium ambrosioi- grow des). It was once regarded as UTAH PESTS STAFFS thought of in the negative short ambrosia to the Aztecs. The BOOTH AT FARM BU- sense, but the phytoplasma and popularity of huitlacoche is in- REAU TRADE SHOW infecting poinsettia is an stout, The hobo spider pro- exception that does not stand creasing, and is now marketed and the jected on a computer alone. Another example is the in the U.S. as “maize mush- fungus monitor awed several virus that causes color-break- rooms,” “Mexican truffles,” or of corn hundred people at this ing in tulips. We now know “caviar azteca.” So this year, a smut year’s Farm Bureau that there are several viruses plant disease may be cheering disease Trade Show. The Utah that can induce color-breaking up your living room as well as is a deli- Pests group displayed a and that they are vectored by your dinner plate! cacy to dissecting microscope aphids. Tulips with the viral -Kent Evans, some. and laptop to highlight disease once sold for inflated Extension Plant Pathologist common insects and spiders up close and personal. The free pens UPPDL Seeks State Legislative Funding and pads were an added bonus for visitors. The Utah Plant Pest Diag- diagnoses and management Although the Lab has been nostic Laboratory is the only recommendations for insects, in existence for nearly 30 www.utahpests.usu.edu service lab in Utah to provide spiders, and plant diseases. years, it has suffered from a Continued on page 2 UPPDL Legislative Funding, continued from page 1 lack of adequate funding. Without more for Extension agents, Utah Department of funds, the Lab will be unable to provide Agriculture and Food staff, plant indus- UTAH PESTS high quality pest management services to tries, homeowners, and others. Therefore, Staff the growing population of Utah. Utah has USU Extension is undertaking a funding experienced extensive population growth request initiative in the 2008 General State Diane Alston resulting in increased demand for informa- Legislative Session. The Lab is looking for Entomology Specialist tion and education on caring for landscape support from the agricultural, horticultural, [email protected] ornamentals, turf, small pastures, and spe- and green industries for this funding effort. 435-797-2516 cialty fruit and vegetable crops. National Please let your local state legislator know accreditation standards will require the that you rely on the support and services Lab to upgrade technology and real-time of USU Extension Service and the Utah Ryan Davis diagnoses. Legislative funding will stabilize Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab. Insect Diagnostician the Lab and allow staff members to in- [email protected] crease continuing education opportunities -Diane Alston, Extension Entomologist 435-797-2435 Kent Evans FDT and DDIU Programs Are Off and Plant Pathology Specialist [email protected] Running! 435-797-2504 This Fall marked the beginning of two a certificate of completion for First Detec- new programs offered through the Utah tor Training. Future programs of FDT will Erin Frank (as of 1/02/08) Pests group of Extension Specialists Diane be arranged through the county Master Plant Disease Diagnostician Alston, Kent Evans, and Erin Hodgson, Gardener programs. Please contact Kent [email protected] in association with the Utah Plant Pest Evans for details of future training and col- 435-797-2435 Diagnostic Lab’s (UPPDL) Arthropod laborative program development that can Diagnostician, Ryan Davis. Both programs be tailored to fit our state’s programs. Erin Hodgson are interrelated but are different in their Entomology Specialist emphases. DISTANCE DIAGNOSTICS IN UTAH [email protected] Sometimes it isn’t the big picture that 435-797-5689 FIRST DETECTOR TRAINING counts most but more importantly it is First Detector Training is a national pro- the unseen details. This past October saw Marion Murray gram that trains individuals in agricultural the beginning of the Distance Diagnostics IPM Project Leader industries and state agencies to recognize in Utah (DDIU) program. DDIU is a new Editor, Utah Pests News and report recent pest introductions to program where digital dissecting micro- [email protected] ensure the security of our food and envi- scopes were disseminated among 12 Utah 435-797-0776 ronment. First Detector Training (FDT) counties as a new Extension program was conducted in Utah this past October to facilitate rapid diagnostics for plant Utah Plant Pest at the Kaysville Botanical Center’s Utah pests. Counties receiving the scopes were Diagnostic Lab House. Dick Hoenisch was the invited selected based on agricultural productiv- BNR Room 203 speaker from the University of Califor- ity, populace, and equipment need. The Utah State University nia at Davis, representing the offices of scopes are capable of digital imagery to 5305 Old Main Hill the Western Plant Diagnostic Network 3-megapixel resolution and magnifications Logan, UT 84322 (WPDN). Other speakers included Spe- from 8-35x. The scopes are also capable cialists Diane Alston, Erin Hodgson, and of being attached to digital projectors or Utah Pests News Kent Evans. Dick presented modules of computers for presentations to larger is published quarterly by FDT regarding general, and some specific, groups, such as 4-H and Master Gardeners, the UTAH PESTS staff. issues in the WPDN. The WPDN is one of and for training programs that can be initi- five regional divisions of the National Plant ated at the county level. Diagnostic Network which is part of the www.utahpests.usu.edu Beyond diagnoses, there is much room for USDA/APHIS Homeland Security Depart- creative application with the new scopes, ment. There were 26 Extension agents and ranging from simple imaging for clientele Master Gardeners in attendance repre- to developing publications from the images senting most of Utah’s counties. The train- these scopes can generate. The scopes ing was a success and participants received also come with a software program with a Continued on page 3 www.utahpests.usu.edu Utah Pests News - Winter 2007-08 - page 2 FDT and DDIU Programs, continued from page 2 suite of options that facilitate image processing (color, light- ing, and sharpening), on-screen measurements, and image time stamping. Images can be transmitted via e-mail attachment(s) to interact with the Arthropod and Plant Disease Diagnosti- cians at the USU campus or national diagnostic networks as well. The continuing emphasis of the program will be to acquire two additional scopes annually for dissemination to the remain- ing Utah counties until the state is covered with DDIU capa- bilities. Annual and regional trainings will be part of the Utah Pests and UPPDL groups’ programming each season. The future looks bright for this newer technology and how County Exten- sion offices will be able to interact with the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory and local clientele. County Ag Agent Matt Palmer learns about Distance Diagnostics in Utah (DDIU). -Kent Evans, Extension Plant Pathologist Trip to Ohio Will Help Utah Diagnostics Recently Ryan Davis and I traveled to Columbus, Ohio for a couplet keys, constantly referencing moth body parts through customized insect diagnostics workshop. As a Co-State Survey a microscope, and drawing our observations. Dr. Passoa would Coordinator for the CAPS (Cooperative Agricultural Pest often mix in native moths with exotic species to point out diag- Survey) Program in Utah, I felt it was important for us to have nostics features and how not to confuse similar-looking moths. this specialized training. We coordinated our trip with two He discussed microleps of potential concern to Utah, including members of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, light brown apple moth, Egyptian cottonworm, silver Y moth, Clint Burfitt and Dan Clark, and visited the Ohio State Univer- and false codling moth.