Biocontrols

Aphids a Major Issue in Ornamental and Vegetable crops

September 2017 – Aphids can cause significant economic losses on ornamentals by causing deformities, reduced size, or by merely being present on the plants. Such presence affects the aesthetic value of infested plants, thereby reducing or preventing their marketability.

Discussing The Latest IPM Tools

Gongyu Lin from the University of Montreal demonstrates her research on using predatory mites to carry Beauveria spores to infect western flower thrips.

September 2017 – I’m sure growers sometimes wonder what the heck scientists are doing behind closed doors all day in our labs and research greenhouses. Since it often takes several years of repetitious experiments to conclusively find an answer to a problem (or even longer to bring a new product or process to the market), I’m sure that, from the outside, it sometimes seems like things are at a standstill.

How to Use Non-Crop Plants in Your Thrips IPM Programs

September 2017 – This is part 5 in a six-part series of articles on thrips (and other pests) integrated pest management, where we will provide practical application tips and tricks, information on new technologies and how it all fits within an overall IPM program. Each article will be accompanied by a short video demonstrating a technique or principle.

The Rise of Biologicals

September 2017 – Growers who have been relying on biocontrols as effective pest management tools over the years are now also turning to biostimulants to improve crop performance.

IPM update: 1001 ways to use predatory mites

August 2017, Vineland Station, Ont. – This is part four in a six-part series of articles on thrips (and other pests) integrated pest management, where we will provide practical application tips and tricks, information on new technologies and how it all fits within an overall IPM program. Each article will be accompanied by a short video demonstrating a technique or principle.

ARS studying new beneficial fungus

Phytophthora ramorum (see large circle) can fell mighty oaks and sicken woody ornamental crops. But it’s no match against Trichoderma asperellum, a beneficial fungus (see strands) that infects and kills the pathogen.

August 2, 2017 – A beneficial soil fungus could offer a bio-based approach to battling Phytophthora ramorum, a pathogen that kills oaks, other tree species and woody ornamentals.

Application of entomopathogenic nematodes

July 12, 2017, Vineland, Ont. – Part 3 in a 6-part series: In nature, insects and mites are commonly infected and killed by naturally occurring micro-organisms (fungi, bacteria, viruses) and nematodes.

Designing your greenhouse IPM program

May 2017, Vineland, Ont. – First in a 6-part video series: There are many interactive variables that affect the growth of greenhouse crops, the incidence and impact of pests and diseases, and the performance of biological and chemical controls.

May 2017 – First in a six-part series: The May 2017 edition of Greenhouse Canada launched this series of articles on thrips integrated pest management.

The goal is to provide practical application tips and tricks, information on new technologies and how it all fits within an overall IPM program. Each article will be accompanied by a short video (the first debuting here) demonstrating a technique or principle.

The content of this series is based on research performed at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and is supplemented with ‘information from the field,’ contributed by colleagues using biocontrol strategies in greenhouse production.

Click here for the accompanying feature.

Biobest part of the latest buzz on space travel

June 28, 2017 – Biobest bumblebees are on track to become the first in space!

Success with cutting dips

June 2017, Vineland, Ont. – Part 2 in 6-part series: One very effective way to control pests early is through the use of cutting dips, note scientists at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

The rise of microbes offers growers some important new IPM tools

Figure 1 - Western flower thrips infected with Beauveria bassiana.

July 2017 – This is part 3 in a six-part series of articles from the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre on thrips (and other pests) integrated pest management, where we will provide practical application tips and tricks, information on new technologies and how it all fits within an overall IPM program.

Biopesticides a critical tool for growers

May 29, 2017, Vineland, Ont. – Plant treatments with biopesticides can prevent or mitigate root-borne diseases.

IPM: Prevention And Early Intervention

June 2017, Vineland, Ont. – This is Part 2 in a six-part series of articles on thrips (and other pests) integrated pest management, where we will provide practical application tips and tricks, information on new technologies and how it all fits within an overall IPM program.

A powerful predator in the greenhouse

Adult Dicyphus hesperus and Macrolophus pygmaeus.

June 2017 – What is Dicyphus hesperus?

Thrips Control: Making the Case for Mass Trapping

Petal streaking caused by thrips feeding, which makes the plant unsellable.

May 2017 – In Ontario, we continue to struggle with control of western flower thrips. Even those growers religiously using preventive, mite-based biocontrol programs can suddenly find themselves throwing out a significant portion of their crop due to visible damage.