Modern intensive cropping systems often contribute to the accumulation of phenolic acids in the soil, which promotes the development of soilborne diseases. This can be suppressed by intercropping. This study analyzed the effects of intercropping on Fusarium wilt based on its effect on photosynthesis under stress by the combination of Fusarium commune and cinnamic acid. The control was not inoculated with F. commune, while the faba bean plants (Vicia faba L.) were inoculated with this pathogen in the other treatments. The infected plants were also treated with cinnamic acid. This study examined the development of Fusarium wilt together with its effects on the leaves, absorption of nutrients, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, contents of photosynthetic pigments, activities of photosynthetic enzymes, gas exchange parameters, and the photosynthetic assimilates of faba bean from monocropping and intercropping systems. Under monocropping conditions, the leaves of the plants inoculated with F. commune grew significantly less, and there was enhanced occurrence of the Fusarium wilt compared with the control. Compared with the plants solely inoculated with F. commune, the exogenous addition of cinnamic acid to the infected plants significantly further reduced the growth of faba bean leaves and increased the occurrence of Fusarium wilt. A comparison of the combination of F. commune and cinnamic acid in intercropped wheat and faba bean compared with monocropping showed that intercropping improved the absorption of nutrients, increased photosynthetic pigments and its contents, electron transport, photosynthetic enzymes, and photosynthetic assimilates. The combination of these factors reduced the occurrence of Fusarium wilt in faba bean and increased the growth of its leaves. These results showed that intercropping improved the photosynthesis, which promoted the growth of faba bean, thus, reducing the development of Fusarium wilt following the stress of infection by F. commune and cinnamic acid. This research should provide more information to enhance sustainable agriculture.

Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) are eukaryotic protist predators that are associated with wood, leaf litter, and soil in forests, where they feed on bacteria, protozoans, and (to a more limited extent) fungi. The health of crop plants is essential because they represent a primary food source for humans. However, when myxomycetes produce numerous fruiting bodies on the stems and leaves of crop plants, which is herein referred to as a myxomycete colonization, this has the potential of interfering with plant photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration by blocking out light and covering stomata. Myxomycetes are not pathogens, but their occurrence on plants can be mistakenly interpreted as some type of infection. However, this phenomenon has been largely ignored. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the taxonomic and economic diversity of the organisms involved in myxomycete colonization. In addition, the various types of myxomycete colonization reported in the literature are described and discussed, a number of images provided, and cultural and chemical prevention and control measures are summarized. The latter should be of significant relevance for local production of crops and plant protective stations. While myxomycetes are not pathogens of crop plants, some species can seriously impact commercially grown mushrooms. Reports of myxomycetes affecting mushrooms are also described in this paper.

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor (Anderson and Trueman) is one of the greatest stressors of Apis mellifera (L.) honey bee colonies. When Varroa infestations reach damaging levels during fall, rapid control is necessary to minimize damage to colonies. We performed a field trial in the US Southeast to determine if a combination of registered treatments (Apivar, amitraz-based; and Apiguard, thymol-based) could provide rapid and effective control of Varroa. We compared colonies that received this combination treatment against colonies that received amitraz-based positive control treatments: (i) Apivar alone; or (ii) amitraz emulsifiable concentrate (\"amitraz EC\"). While not registered, amitraz EC is used by beekeepers in the United States in part because it is thought to control Varroa more rapidly and effectively than registered products. Based on measurements of Varroa infestation rates of colonies after 21 days of treatment, we found that the combination treatment controlled Varroa nearly as rapidly as the amitraz EC treatment: this or other combinations could be useful for Varroa management. At the end of the 42-day trial, colonies in the amitraz EC group had higher bee populations than those in the Apivar group, which suggests that rapid control helps reduce Varroa damage. Colonies in the combination group had lower bee populations than those in the amitraz EC group, which indicates that the combination treatment needs to be optimized to avoid damage to colonies.

The increased cultivation of high THC-containing Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis), particularly in greenhouses, has resulted in a greater incidence of diseases and molds that can negatively affect the growth and quality of the crop. Among them, the most important diseases are root rots (Fusarium and Pythium spp.), bud rot (Botrytis cinerea), powdery mildew (Golovinomyces ambrosiae), cannabis stunt disease (caused by hop latent viroid), and a range of microbes that reduce post-harvest quality. An integrated management approach to reduce the impact of these diseases/microbes requires combining different approaches that target the reproduction, spread, and survival of the associated pathogens, many of which can occur on the same plant simultaneously. These approaches will be discussed in the context of developing an integrated plan to manage the important pathogens of greenhouse-grown cannabis at different stages of plant development. These stages include the maintenance of stock plants, propagation through cuttings, vegetative growth of plants, and flowering. The cultivation of cannabis genotypes with tolerance or resistance to various pathogens is a very important approach, as well as the maintenance of pathogen-free stock plants. When combined with cultural approaches (sanitation, management of irrigation, and monitoring for diseases) and environmental approaches (greenhouse climate modification), a significant reduction in pathogen development and spread can be achieved. The use of preventive applications of microbial biological control agents and reduced-risk biorational products can also reduce disease development at all stages of production in jurisdictions where they are registered for use. The combined use of promising strategies for integrated disease management in cannabis plants during greenhouse production will be reviewed. Future areas for research are identified.

In Australia, macadamia orchards are attacked by four main insect pest groups. Management and control of three of these key pests currently relies on broad-spectrum insecticides whose long-term future is questionable. Of the 23 insecticides registered for use in macadamia in Australia, 19 face issues affecting their availability and 12 are presently not approved in the EU, the USA or Canada. These international markets may refuse produce that does not adhere to their own insecticide use standards, hence Australian produce may be excluded from market access. Many of the potential replacement integrated pest management methods of pest control are generally considered less effective by the industry and have not been adopted. There are 17 insect pest groups identified by the industry, any of which have potential to become major problems if broad-spectrum insecticide options become unavailable. Thirteen pest groups need urgent attention as they are at risk of losing current effective control methods, and no replacement solutions have yet been developed. The lag period for research and development to identify new chemical and biological control solutions means there is now an urgent need for the macadamia industry to craft a strategy for sustainable pest management for each pest. Critically, this industry strategy needs to address the vulnerabilities identified in this paper, identify potential solutions for any cases of market failure and consider funding mechanisms to address these gaps. On economic and sustainability grounds, potential biological control options should be explored, especially in cases where insecticide control options are vulnerable. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Arthropods use a variety of environmental cues to navigate between and locate hosts. In agricultural systems, clarifying the relevant cues and their effects on arthropod behavior can inform management practices to reduce or inhibit the activity of arthropod pests. The lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) is a ubiquitous arthropod pest of broiler house chicken production, and while the patterns of movement and behavior of A. diaperinus are well documented, the specific environmental factors that govern these patterns are not known. We conducted behavioral assays testing the response of A. diaperinus adults and larvae to different wavelengths of light and to the presence of water. Alphitobius diaperinus displayed a significant repulsion from white, green, red, and blue light, while larvae consistently sought shelter and displayed no behavioral change in response to light. Dehydrated adult beetles displayed an attraction to water while hydrated beetles displayed a repulsion to water. Regardless of the availability of water, dehydrated beetles displayed a reduced repulsion from light. Taken together, these results indicate that A. diaperinus will hide from sources of light unless they are dehydrated. Knowledge of the environmental cues that influence the behavior of A. diaperinus could be used to improve methods of trapping, monitoring, and controlling populations of A. diaperinus in experimental and commercial settings.

Severe bermudagrass mite (Aceria cynodoniensis Sayed) infestation stunts turfgrass growth and reduces the aesthetic and recreational value of managed bermudagrass. Management practices, such as fertilization, mowing, and irrigation, may impact bermudagrass mite infestation and damage, but empirical evidence is lacking. Two 20 wk experiments were conducted with potted bermudagrass in a greenhouse or nursery to evaluate the effect of varying nitrogen rates (0, 24.5, or 49 kg N/ha), mowing heights (1.3, 2.5, 3.8, or 5 cm), and irrigation rates (60%, 100%, or 140% evapotranspiration [ET] rate) on the densities of witch\'s brooms (i.e., stunted and deformed terminals symptomatic of infestation) and bermudagrass mites. Increasing nitrogen fertility from 0 to 49 kg N/ha increased witch\'s broom and bermudagrass mite densities by 292% and 339%, respectively. Bermudagrass fertilized with nitrogen maintained higher turf quality than unfertilized grass despite greater mite damage. Decreasing irrigation from 140% to 60% of the ET rate also increased witch\'s broom densities by 124%. Mowing height did not consistently affect witch\'s broom or mite densities. Witch\'s broom and mite densities were positively correlated and followed a general trend with greater densities in April-August and a decline in densities in August-October. These findings suggest that nitrogen fertilization and water stress influence bermudagrass mite damage. Thus, limiting nitrogen fertilization to a level necessary to maintain turfgrass health and quality (0.5 kg N/ha) and minimizing turfgrass water stress can complement current chemical control strategies as part of an integrated pest management program.

Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann is an exotic and invasive tick species rapidly expanding across the United States. Large infestations of these ticks on cattle can cause anemia, and in eastern regions of the country, they are transmitting Theileria orientalis Ikeda within herds. Methods for managing H. longicornis in the environment are rarely successful and rely on chemicals. To document population effects from producer management decisions, we investigated the change in H. longicornis populations to different tick management practices chosen by producers at 3 different H. longicornis-infested farms. Farm 1 kept a closed herd, chose to cut brush monthly, used on-animal acaricides, and allowed us to drag weekly. Farm 2 kept an open herd, chose to cut brush yearly, did not use on-animal acaricides, and allowed us to drag for ticks weekly/monthly. Farm 3 kept an open herd, chose to cut brush yearly, used on-animal acaracides, and allowed us to drag for ticks monthly. We assessed H. longicornis populations responding to those methods over time using active surveillance methods at each farm. Management decisions on Farms 1 and 3 significantly reduced H. longicornis on farms. Importantly, Farm 1 management decisions reduced the chance of a tick being present by 90%; the number of questing ticks collected fell from 5,000 to 12 H. longicornis in 2 years. Therefore, combined management strategies such as keeping a closed herd, use of on-animal chemical control, mechanical control, and reducing the amount of vegetation on farms were effective ways for producers to manage Haemaphysalis longicornis Neuman (Ixodidae).

Although the boll weevil (BW), Anthonomus grandis grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has been attributed to the significant losses caused to cotton yield in the Americas, the categorization as a quarentenary pest in places where it is still not occurring has increased its relevance worldwide. In areas where it is widespread, pest suppression relies on many broad-spectrum insecticide applications. However, other control tactics are sought. Considering that early-flowering cultivars escape from boll weevil infestation, we investigated if three different planting dates (November, December, and January) could alter the plant life cycle, allowing the plants to escape from boll weevil infestation. Field trials were run in two seasons (2014/2015 and 2017/2018), and variables (days required to reach each flowering stage, fruiting plant structures-undamaged and damaged by the BW, and totals-number of boll weevils on plants and that had emerged from fallen structures on the ground) were assessed over 29 and 33 weeks, respectively. Based on the number of days required to initiate and terminate the flowering stage, the time to reach the economic threshold (ET), the number of undamaged, damaged, and the total reproductive structures, we concluded that planting dates in December for the Central Cerrado of Brazil should be preferred over the other two tested dates. Cultivations run at this planting date, anticipating the flowering period initiation and termination, reduced infested flowering structures, and delayed the decision making to control the pest, when compared to the other two planting dates.

BACKGROUND: Spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper which was first found in 2014 in the eastern USA, has become a significant pest to vineyards. Sap-feeding by this pest has been associated with plant stress and yield declines, and current management depends entirely on the prophylactic use of insecticides. Our study explored two new integrated pest management (IPM) tactics against spotted lanternfly to reduce the negative effects of frequent chemical applications: the use of exclusion netting and the use of perimeter applications of insecticides.
RESULTS: Exclusion netting was installed across five vineyards in 2020 and compared to adjacent vines without exclusion netting. The netting reduced spotted lanternfly on vines by 99.8% and had no effect on air temperature, humidity, fungal disease pressure, or fruit quality. Perimeter applications of insecticides were compared against full-cover applications for both in-season and late-season control of spotted lanternfly in 2020. Residual efficacy with adult spotted lanternfly was evaluated within the vineyard plots, revealing that insecticide efficacy declined after 8 m into the vineyard in the perimeter application. However, there was no difference in the level of control achieved using a perimeter spray compared to a full-cover spray. Additionally, the perimeter spray reduced the area treated with insecticide by 31% in a 1 ha block and took 66% less time to spray.
CONCLUSIONS: Both methods, exclusion netting and perimeter spraying, offer new strategies to alleviate the invasion of spotted lanternfly into vineyards, reducing chemical input and rebuilding IPM in vineyards after invasion by spotted lanternfly. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.