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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Enhancement Grants - Special Projects |
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Project Title:
Integrating Pest Management Tools for a Sustainable Strawberry Crop in Florida |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: FL Lead Organization: University of Florida |
| Undesignated Funding: $36,000 |
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Start Date: Jul-01-2004 End Date: Jun-30-2005 |
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Site/Commodity: strawberries |
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Summary:
This proposal is designed to reduce the dependency on pesticides on a strawberry crop in Florida by demonstrating the economic efficacy of integrating conventional pest management practices and biological control by using the twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus californicus McGregor) as a model. Also, it proposes to create a forecast model that will determine optimal time of spraying to control strawberry diseases such as gray mold (Botrytis cinerea L.) and anthracnose (Collelotrichum acutatum L). Recent assessment of priorities identified as a main concern the need for more information and training materials in biological control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, as well as the need to educate growers and pest managers with new pest management methods. Our project intends to conduct on-farm demonstrations with growers, extension personnel, and crop consultants. This project will identify and present the latest information on effective insect and disease control in strawberries as well as the revise scouting protocols for the strawberry growers. The trials will be conducted with growers on their fields. Information will be disseminated to growers in collaboration with Cooperative Extension personnel and the Florida Strawberry Growers Association by means of field days, intensive workshops on IPM, and through presentations at producerss meetings. As a result of this effort we expect to document an increase in the number of growers using IPM/ Biocontrol, with a corresponding decrease in the use of insecticides as documented by growers pesticide application records. A decrease in environmental pesticide loading should be substantial and should lead to a reduction in pesticide occupational exposure risk to farm workers.
Objectives: Our long-term goal is to reduce dependence on pesticide by integrating pest management tools for the strawberry crop using (a) the twospotted spider mite, T. urticae, control model utilizing two predatory mites, P. persimilis and N. californicus, and (b) creating a forecast model to optimize time of spraying for control of the various strawberry diseases such as gray mold, B. cinerea, and anthracnose, C. acutatum. Strawberries are an ideal commodity on which to develop this approach due to the high value of the crop and the heavy pesticide use. |
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