PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY August 2008 Sponsored by The North Central Regional IPM Grants Program Workshop hosted by Michigan State University at the Trevor Nichols Research Complex Michigan State University Fennville, Michigan on April 17, 2008 Edited by Paul Jenkins (Project Leader) Small Fruit Education Coordinator, Michigan State University Annemiek Schilder Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University Rufus Isaacs Department of Entomology, Michigan State University Eric Hanson Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University George Bird Department of Entomology, Michigan State University Bruce Bordelon Department of Horticulture, Purdue University Lynnae Jess North Central IPM Center Document posted on PMSP website: http://ncipmc.org/pmsp/index.cfm PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS Allyn Anthony, Michigan State Horticultural Society George Bird, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University Bob Carini, Michigan Blueberry Advisory Committee/Grower Victoria Carini, Grower Bill Foster, UAP Karlis Galens, Grower Carlos Garcia-Salazar, Michigan State University Extension Matt Grieshop, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University Eric Hanson, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University Dennis Hartmann, Grower Rufus Isaacs, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University Paul Jenkins, Small Fruit Education Coordinator, Michigan State University Lynnae Jess (Facilitator), North Central IPM Center/Michigan State University Rick Kiel, Grower Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University Extension Larry Olsen, North Central IPM Center/Michigan State University Annemiek Schilder, Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University Art Thomas, Grower Dave Trinka, Michigan Blueberry Growers, Inc. Brian Verhougstraete, Michigan Department of Agriculture John Wise, Trevor Nichols Research Complex, Michigan State University 2 For information, please contact: Paul Jenkins Small Fruit Education Coordinator Michigan State University B18 National Food Safety and Toxicology Center East Lansing, Michigan 48824 Tel: (517) 432-7751 Email: [email protected] 3 PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ................................................................................................................2 CONTACT PERSON ........................................................................................................................3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................4 PREVIOUS PMSP .............................................................................................................................5 OUTCOMES OF PREVIOUS PMSP ..........................................................................................5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...............................................................................................................10 PRIORITIES ......................................................................................................................................11 BACKGROUND ..............................................................................................................................14 CURRENT AND FUTURE PEST MANAGEMENT OPTIONS.....................................................20 INSECT PESTS ...........................................................................................................................20 DISEASES ...................................................................................................................................48 WEEDS ........................................................................................................................................68 NEMATODES .............................................................................................................................73 TABLE 1. GENERAL TIMELINE FOR CROP STAGES, WORKER ACTIVITIES, AND KEY PESTS ..........................................................................................................................................80 TABLE 2. EFFICACY OF PEST MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR CONTROL OF INSECTS ......81 TABLE 3. EFFICACY OF PEST MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR CONTROL OF DISEASES ....82 TABLE 4. EFFICACY OF PEST MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR CONTROL OF WEEDS .........83 TABLE 5. EFFICACY OF PEST MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR CONTROL OF NEMATODES .............................................................................................................................84 TABLE 6. TOXICITY OF PESTICIDES TO BENEFICIAL INSECTS ..........................................85 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................86 4 PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY PREVIOUS PMSP On June 6-7, 2001, a group of blueberry growers, crop consultants, processors, specialists, and industry representatives met to develop a pest management strategic plan for the Michigan blu- eberry industry. At this meeting, the utility of pest management practices and tools for commer- cial blueberry production was discussed. Problems encountered by the industry were summarized as research, regulatory, and educational priorities. The authors of the 2001 PMSP were Lynnae Jess, Rufus Isaacs, Annemiek Schilder, Eric Hanson, and George Bird. OUTCOMES OF PREVIOUS BLUEBERRY PMSP Industry priorities outlined in the 2001 Pest Management Strategic Plan for the Michigan Blu- eberry Industry have the following outcomes: TOP PRIORITIES 1. Japanese beetles are the most severe pest in Michigan - it is threatening the marketability of the Michigan blueberry industry, with potential long-term impacts on the reputation for quality fruit. a) Effective control strategies for adult and grub stage of Japanese beetle. The presence of adults at harvest time is the primary target currently, but effective control of grubs will re- duce the population in the field. Reduced-risk and conventional insecticides have been tested for control of Japanese beetle adults and grubs, and these studies continue. Results to date have been transmitted to growers and manufacturers, and were used to gain IR-4 A-priority projects to gain regis- trations of new insecticide options. Cultural controls were tested including cover crops and tillage of row middles to remove grass that is an attractive egglaying site. Results from these trials have led to widespread adoption of a row-middle system sowing winter rye in the fall and tilling it in mid-June to provide bare ground row middles (and headlands at some farms) for beetle suppression. b) Effective post harvest sorting to remove Japanese beetles from berries in processing. This is the last place to remove beetles. Product contamination is an issue for buyers and consum- ers, and there is a zero tolerance for the presence of beetles or beetle parts. Studies were conducted to compare beetle removal rates from three of the common color sorting technologies. These results demonstrated over 90% removal effectiveness, with im- proved performance when multiple cameras were used and with particular settings opti- mized for beetle removal. Results of these studies were transmitted to the industry and have resulted in the processing industry adopting this technology to help ensure beetle-free product to its customers. 5 2. Replacement products for Benlate to control Phomopsis canker and twig blight, Botrytis fruit rot, anthracnose fruit rot, and mummy berry. Field trials have been conducted since 2001 to evaluate Topsin M (thiophanate methyl) as a Benlate replacement. Since Topsin M worked well for control of various diseases, a Section 18 (Emergency exemption) was requested and granted by EPA for Michigan and six other states. EPA granted a Section 18 for Topsin M to Michigan for the past 7 years. In addition, other fungicides like Pristine (pyraclostrobin + boscalid), Cabrio (pyraclostrobin), Abound (azoxystrobin), Switch (cyprodinil and fludioxonil), Elevate (fenhexamid), ProPhyt (potassium phosphite), Indar (fenbuconazole), Orbit (propico- nazole), etc. were evaluated and labeled for control of diseases previously controlled by Benlate, though few of these have the broad spectrum of control that Benlate had. In 2008, the request for Topsin M was not granted due to the registration of multiple new fungicides. OTHER PRIORITIES Research: • Study the biology of causal fungi, disease cycles, and post harvest problems in the control of fruit rots. Research has been conduced on the seasonal spore release patterns of Colletotrichum acutatum, Alternaria tenuissima, and Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi. In addition, we have conducted investigations into the overwintering vestiges of Colletotrichum acutatum. The effect of temperature on ascospore release by Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi has been studied as well as the leaf wetness and temperature requirements for infection by C. acuta- tum on blueberry fruit. In addition, we have studied the role of frost as a predisposing factor in the development of mummy berry shoot strikes. • Pest modeling information to determine proper spray timing for anthracnose, Alternaria, cranberry fruitworm, mummy berry, Phomopsis and blueberry maggot. Cranberry fruitworm degree day model has been developed and is currently being vali- dated