Master Gardener Plant Health Care Unit

1
Plant Health Care
A Unit of the MSU Extension Master Gardener
Volunteer Training Program
2
Plant Health Care (PHC)

• Manage plant health rather than just control
  pests
• Manage plant environment to reduce stress
• Detect problems early

3
Practical Procedures for PHC

• Planning and site placement
• Site preparation and establishment
• Selection of appropriate species/cultivars
• Proper cultural practices
• Pest management strategies

4
Planning and Site Placement

• Assess landscape features
• Amount of sunlight
• Soil conditions
• Moisture
• Hardiness zone

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Conduct a Site Survey
Kim Rebek
Kim Rebek
Kim Rebek
Kim Rebek
6
Conduct a Site Survey
Winter Winds
Kim Rebek
Sun Exposure
7
Make a Plan
8
Site Preparation

• Correct drainage and erosion problems
• Amending and preparing soil
• Altering light conditions

9
Soil Analysis..

• takes the guesswork out of fertilization
• Correct nutrition imbalances
• Prevent over fertilization
• Adjust pH
• Test soil every 2-3 years

www.plintestusa.com
10
Select Appropriate Plants

• Know the requirements of plants
• Winter hardiness
• pH requirements
• Water needs
• Space requirements
• Rooting depth

www.plant-tag.com.au
11
Select Resistant Varieties
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Right Plant, Right Place

• Compare plant requirements to site traits
• Amount and intensity of light
• Soil nutrition and pH
• Soil moisture

13
Purchase High Quality Material

• Purchase vigorous plants
• Look for signs of insects and damage
• Be ready to plant new materials immediately

14
Proper Cultural Practices

• Planting techniques
• Fertility management
• Moisture management

www.postfallsidaho.org
15
Planting Techniques

• Hole Dimensions
• Only as deep as root ball
• 2-3 times width of root ball

Dennis Murphy Art
16
Planting Techniques
Dennis Murphy Art
17
Planting Techniques
Kim Rebek
Kim Rebek
Tree Planted Too Deep
Tree Planted Properly
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Planting Techniques

• Moisture Management
• Irrigation
• Mulching

Dennis Murphy Art
19
Planting Techniques

• Do not prune
• Slow release fertilizer
• Limit staking

www.sportys.com
20
Fertility Management

• Trees and shrubs
• Fertilize annually, preferable in autumn, after
  the first hard freeze
• Herbaceous annuals and perennials
• Fertilize when planting with controlled release
  fertilizer
• Or use a liquid fertilizer bi-weekly

21
Fertilization Rates

• Generally, woody plants require 3 pounds nitrogen
  per 1,000 feet per year
• Broadleaf evergreens, dwarf conifers, and alpine
  plants require one-half above rate
• Follow soil or foliar test recommendations where
  available

22
How much do I use?
NPK --- 18612
You have 18612 fertilizer and want to apply 3
pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
23
Moisture Management
Water moves through air spaces in soil
www.bettersoils.com.au
After rain, gravity pulls water down, the faster
this happens, the better the soil drainage
Water remaining in soil is available to plants
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Watering

• Frequency
• Temperature
• Soil type
• Amount of sunlight
• Plant life stage

• Guidelines
• Water thoroughly
• Water at plant base
• Morning is best
• Dont over water

25
Automated Watering
www.bestbudsgarden.com
www.colostate.edu
26
Diagnosing Plant Problems

• Accurately identify the plant
• Many insects and diseases are plant specific
• Limit the number of suspected diseases and
  disorders

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Diagnosing Plant Problems

• Look for a pattern of abnormality

Diseased Plant
Insect Damage
www.scri.sari.ac.uk
28
Diagnosing Plant Problems

• Carefully examine the landscape
• History of property
• Land use adjacent to property
• Number of species affected
• Extent of problem

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Diagnosing Plant Problems

• Note the position and appearance of affected
  leaves

www.rhs.org.uk
www.hortnet.co.nz
Nutrient deficiency
Curled leaves due to virus
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Diagnosing Plant Problems

• Check the trunk and branches for wounds
• Lawnmowers
• Rodents
• Freezing and thawing
• Fire

• Examine the roots

www.cbarc.aes.oregonstate.edu
31
The Big Pests
www.bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au

• Insects

• Pathogens

www.ces.ncsu.edu
32
Insects
Good Guys and Bad Guys
J. Warfel
D. Herms, Ohio State University
Clemson Univ. - USDA Cooperative Extension
www.york.ac.uk
33
Insect Feeding Guilds
D. Cappaert, MSU
Wood Boring
Chewing
Sucking
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Plant Diseases

• Diseases
• Caused by infectious or living agents
• Fungi
• Viruses
• Bacteria

• Disorders
• Caused by noninfectious or nonliving agents
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Temperature
• Vandalism
• Pollution

35
Treatment

• Treatment options depend on
• Species involved
• Extent of problem
• Local regulations
• Situational factors
• We need to know more about the pests

36
Basic Entomology
www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov
www.agry.purdue.edu
USDA
Corn rootworm
37
Beneficial Insects
www.anbp.org
Predators
Weed feeders
Parasitoids
www.e-gnu.com
www.york.ac.uk
Decomposers
Pollinators
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Classification
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Classification
vegipm.tamu.edu

• Phylum Arthropoda
• Class Arachnida
• Class Crustacea
• Class Insecta

oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
www.uky.edu
40
Class Insecta

• Insect Classification
• Type of metamorphosis
• Type of mouthparts
• Wing type and number

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Insect Anatomy 101
Head
Thorax
Abdomen
Kim Rebek
42
The Head
Compound Eye
Antennae
Mouthparts
Kim Rebek
43
Sucking Mouthparts
Cliff Sadof
Cliff Sadof
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The Thorax
Prothorax
Metathorax
Mesothorax
Kim Rebek
45
Wings
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The Abdomen
Cerci
Ovipositor
Kim Rebek
www.ufl.edu
47
Insect Development

• Metamorphosis
• Complete
• Incomplete (simple)
• Gradual
• No metamorphosis

www.uk.dk.com
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Insect Life Cycle
www.kidsfish.bc.ca
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Insect Orders Coleoptera

• Beetles and weevils
• Chewing mouthparts
• Complete metamorphosis
• Outer wings (elytra) hardened, shell-like
• Adults usually have noticeable antennae
• Larvae have head capsules, three pairs of legs on
  the thorax and no legs on the abdomen

University of Arkansas
50
Insect Orders Hemiptera

• True bugs
• Sucking mouthparts
• Gradual metamorphosis
• Half-wing - front wing is thick at base,
  membranous at tip
• Antennae of five or more segments, long and
  conspicuous or short and concealed
• Immature insects are similar to the adult but
  wings are incomplete or absent

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Insect Orders Homoptera

• Aphids, whiteflies, scales
• Piercing-sucking mouthparts
• Gradual metamorphosis
• Adults are winged or wingless when present, hind
  wing is shorter than the front wing
• Immature stages usually similar to adult but
  wingless
• Serious pests of cultivated plants and sometimes
  vectors of plant diseases

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Insect Orders Hymenoptera

• Ants, bees, wasps, sawflies, horntails
• Generally with chewing mouthparts
• Complete metamorphosis
• Adults with two pairs of membranous wings
• Larvae with no legs (wasps, bees, ants) or with
  legs on thorax and abdomen (some sawflies)
• Rather soft-bodied or slightly hardened adults

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Insect Orders Neuroptera

• Lacewings, antlions, snakeflies, mantispids,
  dobsonflies, dustywings, alderflies
• Insect predators many are aquatic
• Two pairs of similar-sized wings
• Chewing mouthparts
• Complete metamorphosis

www.ento.vt.edu
54
Insect Orders Orthoptera

• Grasshoppers, crickets, praying mantids
• Chewing mouthparts adults and nymphs damaging
• Simple metamorphosis
• Forewings are elongate, narrow, and somewhat
  hardened hindwings are membranous with extensive
  folded area.
• Hind legs often enlarged for jumping
• Immature stages (nymphs) resemble wingless adults

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Other Insect-like Creatures

• Nematodes

www.nysaes.cornell.edu
56
Mites
ARS-USDA
ianrpubs.unl.edu
Predatory spider mite
Two-spotted spider mite
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Snails and Slugs
ngic.clemson.edu
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Symptoms of Damage

• Insect Damage
• Discoloration or distortion of leaves, blossoms
  or twigs
• Chewing damage
• Cracked bark
• Dieback of plant parts

• Symptoms of Disease
• Spots or dead areas on leaves or stems
• Abnormal growth or coloration
• Sudden wilting

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Types of Insect Injury
www.ces.ncsu.edu
Kim Rebek
Chewing Damage
Piercing-sucking Damage
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Types of Insect Injury
www.discoverlife.org
Wood borer
www.k-state.edu
Gall insect
Leaf miner
D. Cappaert, MSU
www.caf.wvu.edu
Apple maggot
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Types of Insect Injury
www.uky.edu
www.extension.umn.edu
Oviposition damage
Root-feeding beetle larva
Leaf-cutter bees
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Plant Pathology
www1.sac.ac.uk
Chestnut blight
Potato late blight
www.uoguelph.ca
www.scri.sari.ac.uk
63
Pathogens

• Disease-causing organisms
• Generally microscopic
• Fungi, bacteria, viruses, virus-like organisms,
  and nematodes

64
Fungi
www.scri.sari.ac.uk
www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk
www1.sac.ac.uk
cbarc.aes.oregonstate.edu
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Fungi

• Multi-cellular
• Sexual and asexual reproduction via spores
• Spores used for ID

narc.naro.affrc.go.jp
Fungal spores
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Fungal Infections
bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au
ohioline.osu.edu
Downy mildew
Rust
Stem rot
www.science.siu.edu
67
Bacteria

• Single-celled organisms
• Cause leaf spots, rots, and cankers
• Form toxins or produce enzymes that break down
  plant cell walls

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Disease Transmission
www.komotv.com
69
Viruses

• Too small to view with ordinary microscope
• Depend on host for reproduction
• Cannot exist outside host for very long
• Stunt plant growth alter color

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Viruses
aged.ces.uga.edu
www.oznet.ksu.edu
71
Viroids and Mycoplasms
www.vegfed.co.nz
ccat.sas.upenn.edu
Mycoplasm
Viroid Infection
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Disease Triangle
Host
Environment
Pathogen
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Disease Triangle
Host
Environment
Pathogen
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Disease Triangle
Host
Environment
Pathogen
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Disease Triangle
Host
Pathogen
Environment
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Host Specific
www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk
Peggy Sellers
Irene Roth
Pathogen
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Disease Cycle
www.apset.org
78
Plant Disease Diagnosis

• Symptoms the host plant's reaction to the
  disease agent
• Signs visible presence of disease agent
• Remember abiotic- and pathogen-caused diseases
  often have similar symptoms

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Symptoms of Disease
Blight
Gail Ruhl
Chlorosis
Canker
plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu
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Symptoms of Disease
Flecks
Decline
Distortion
Michael Dana
Gail Ruhl
www.apsnet.org
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Symptoms of Disease
Gummosis
Galls
www.uky.edu
www.ext.colostate.edu
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Symptoms of Disease
Wilt
Scab
J. Hartman
hflp.sdstate.edu
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Disease Management

• Control measures are mainly preventive
• Once a plant is infected and symptoms appear, few
  control methods (including pesticides) are
  effective

84
Weed Pests

• Weed plant growing where not wanted
• Weeds cause losses by
• Reducing plant yield and quality
• Decreasing harvest efficiency
• Harboring insect pests and disease agents

85
Weed Identification

• Examine the entire plant
• Roots
• Stem
• Leaves
• Flowers
• Seeds

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Weed Identification

• Underground reproductive structures
• Stem shape round, flat, square, or triangular
• Leaf size, shape, arrangement and hairiness
• Size, shape, and color of the flower
• Seeds and seed capsules
• Characteristic odor
• Location where the plant is growing

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Life Cycle
Annuals
88
Life Cycle
Biennials
www.uwex.edu
89
Life Cycle
Perennials
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Vegetative Reproduction
ppathw3.cals.cornell
www.turf.uiuc.edu
Rhizomes
Stolon
www.nwcb.wa.gov
Tubers
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Vegetative Reproduction
www.oznet.ksu.edu
Creeping Roots
Bulbs
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Vertebrate Pests

• Plant damage
• Production losses
• Disrupt harvest
• Damage equipment

USDA-APHIS
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Vertebrate Pests

• Control Considerations
• Thresholds unavailable
• Rapid reproduction
• Attitudes toward vertebrate pests
• Risks to human health and safety

Hal Korber
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Vertebrate Pest Management

• Hindrances to control
• Risk to pets
• Laws protecting wildlife
• Non-lethal Control Options
• Live traps and decoys
• Fences
• Repellents and anti-feedants

Pochamoonshine
95
Deer and Rodent Management
www.mynaturephotos.com
96
Integrated Pest Management
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Physical and mechanical control
• Cultural control and sanitation
• Biological control
• Genetic control
• Selective chemical control

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IPM Procedures

• Pest identification
• Monitoring
• Determination

• Select control strategies
• Implementation
• Evaluation

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Pest Identification
Friend
or Foe?
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Monitoring

• Which pests are active, in which life stage?
• Are biological controls are present?
• Type and extent of damage being done
• How many plants are affected?
• Any changes in plant condition?

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Scouting

• General appearance of plant
• Inspect individual plants
• Identify what you find
• Keep good records

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Look for Natural Enemies
www.uky.edu
www.anbp.org
Spiders
Lady Beetles
Parasitoid Wasps
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Avoid These Scouting Mistakes

• Visiting a site too frequently
• Checking every plant
• Recording every insect
• Failing to record information

104
Trapping
www.ianr.unl.edu
www.ipm.uiuc.edu
www.hortnet.co.nz
Sticky trap
Apple maggot trap
Pheromone trap
105
Plant Phenological Indicators

• Correlate pest development to recognizable plant
  life stages
• Act as a wake-up-call for monitoring
• Pinpoint timing of control measures
• Accounts for influence of weather on pest
  development

106
Growing Degree Days (GDD)

• Temperature-derived index
• Temperature-dependent pest development
• Online resources
• Practical applicability limited

107
Decision Making

• Thresholds
• Plants can tolerate some damage
• How much varies with
• Situation home versus commercial production
• Specific pest species

108
Economic and Action Thresholds
E.T.
Pest Population
A.T.
Time
109
Economic and Action Thresholds
E.T.
Pest Population
A.T.
Time
110
Economic and Action Thresholds
E.T.
Pest Population
A.T.
Time to treat
Time
111
Economic and Action Thresholds
E.T.
Pest Population
A.T.
Time
112
Evaluation

• Did the management measures work?
• If not, why not?
• What strategies might work better next time?
• Could you make changes in the landscape to avoid
  the problem in the future?

113
Control Strategies

• Cultural
• Biological
• Chemical

www.postfallsidaho.org
www.ento.vt.edu
114
Cultural Control
Kim Rebek
Plant Selection
115
Cultural Control
Host Plant Resistance
116
Cultural Control
www.ianr.unl.edu
www.colostate.edu
Mechanical Control
117
Cultural Control

• Crop Rotation
• Soil management
• Pest Management
• Alternate susceptible and unsusceptible crops
• Immobile pests
• Pests with restricted host range

118
Cultural Control
Kim Rebek
Sanitation
119
Cultural Control

• Trap crops
• Early maturing varieties used to attract pest
• Pests treated only in trap crop
• Reduces amount of pesticide applied

120
Cultural Control
Water Management
Fertility Management
www.eurocosm.com
www.colostate.edu
121
Biological Control

• Utilizing natural enemies to control pests
• Insects, mites, bacteria, fungi
• Predators, parasitoids, pathogens, herbivores
• Safe to humans and environment
• Natural predator-prey dynamics

122
Predators

• Often generalists rather than specialists
• Generally larger than their prey
• Individuals kill or consume many prey
• Males and females may be predatory
• Attack immature and adult prey, including eggs

123
Biological Control
Early Suppression
Late Season Control
Pest Population
Pest Population
Time
Time
124
Common Insect Predators
www.ento.vt.edu
W. Sterling
Lacewing
www.anbp.org
Predaceous Bug
Lady Beetle
Ground Beetle
125
Parasitoids

• Immatures develop on or in host
• Immatures almost always kill host
• Adults free-living, mobile, and may be predaceous
  
• Specialized in choice of host species and life
  stage
• Different parasitoid species can attack different
  life stages of a host

126
Parasitoids
www.bioserv.univ-lyon1.fr
127
Pathogens

• Kill, reduce reproduction, slow growth, or
  shorten the life of pests
• Usually specific to target species or life stages
  
• Effectiveness dependent on environment and host
  abundance
• Degree of natural control may be unpredictable
• May cause epizootics

128
Microbial Insecticides

• Commercial formulations applied like chemicals
• Take longer to kill than chemical insecticides
• Application to specific pest life stages
• Compatible with predators and parasitoids
• Nontoxic to humans

129
Pathogens
Leah Bauer
www.cornell.edu
130
Weed Biological Control
P. M. Catling
www.ento.vt.edu
Purple Loosestrife
Galerucella
131
Herbivores

• Desirable traits of weed-feeding natural enemies
• Specific to one plant species
• Impact individuals and populations of target weed
• They are prolific
• Thrive in all habitats and climates pest weed
  occupies
• They are good colonizers
• Relative effectiveness

132
Weed Biological Control

• Natural Enemies
• Insects
• Plant pathogens
• Nematodes
• Vertebrates (mainly fish)
• Natural and agricultural application

133
Chemical Control

• Products and Safety

134
Chemical Control Methods

• Herbicides, insecticides and fungicides
• Sex pheromones
• Sterilants
• Repellents and attractants

135
Chemicals and IPM

• Threshold-based applications
• Evaluate alternative control strategies
• Use selective chemistries

136
Pesticide Chemistry

• Inorganic pesticides
• Mineral origin
• Broad-spectrum in activity

• Organic pesticides
• Carbon-based
• Specificity varies, many highly specific
• Inexpensive

137
Botanical Insecticides

• Include soaps, nicotine-based insecticides,
  NEEM, rotenone, pyrethrum
• Largely abandoned with advent of cheap
  synthetics
• Renewed interest as health/environmental concerns
  over synthetics grew

138
Botanicals vs. Synthetics

• Natural ? Non-toxic

139
The Pesticide Label

• "Always read and follow the label directions"

140
The Pesticide Label
141
The Pesticide Label

• Ingredient Statement
• Active ingredients
• Amount of inert material included
• Net Contents
• Specific Pest Controlled

142
Signal Words and Symbols

• DANGER ? POISON
• WARNING
• CAUTION

143
The Pesticide Label

• Name and address of manufacturer
• First Aid
• Precautionary Statements

144
The Pesticide Label

• Environmental Hazards
• Special Toxicity Statements
• General Environmental Statements

145
The Pesticide Label

• Protective Clothing
• How to Use the Product
• Storage and Disposal

146
Pesticides and the Environment

• Where do pesticides go?
• Volatilize, adsorbed by soil, taken up by plants
• Broken down by sunlight, microorganisms, chemical
  reactions
• Leach to groundwater
• Surface run-off

147
Pesticides and the Environment

• Groundwater

• Surface Water

www.epa.gov
www.ucar.edu
148
Pesticides and Human Health

• Risk Toxicity Exposure
• Toxicity
• Capacity to cause injury
• Hazard
• Potential for injury

149
Exposure

• How Pesticides Enter the Body
• Dermal Absorption
• Inhalation
• Oral Ingestion

150
Dermal Exposure

• Most important route of pesticide exposure
• Head and scrotal area are most absorptive
• Oil based formulations are readily absorbed
• Eyes are highly sensitive

151
Oral Exposure
www.pested.msu.edu
www.epa.gov
152
Inhalation Exposure
www.bissettnursery.com
153
Toxicity

• Acute Toxicity
• Injury caused by single exposure
• Chronic Toxicity
• Injury from repeated, prolonged exposure

154
Pesticide Safety

• Read and follow label instructions
• MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets
• PPE Personal Protective Equipment

155
Pesticide Storage

• Store in a locked, ventilated area
• Keep fire extinguisher, first aid gear available
• Store pesticides in their original containers
• Keep the original label attached
• Buy only what you will use

156
Disposal of Pesticides and Containers

• Reduce waste by mixing only what you need
• Household hazardous waste collection
• Triple rinse and puncture containers
• Check local regulations before discarding
  containers

157
Pesticide Classification
158
(No Transcript)
159
Pesticide Classification

• Protectants
• Sterilants
• Broadsprectrum

• Contact Pesticides
• Systemic
• Fumigant

160
Integrated Pest Management
Exclusion
Biological Control
www.colostate.edu
Crop Rotation
www.anbp.org
Chemical Control
Trapping
Sanitation
www.hortnet.co.nz
Kim Rebek