Workshop On Thrips And Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Set For May 14-15 At UF’s North Florida Research And Education Center In Quincy

By:
Chuck Woods (352) 392-1773 x 281

Source:
Joe Funderburk JEFunderburk@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (850) 875-7146

QUINCY, Fla.—Described as major threats to global agriculture, thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus will be the focus of a special workshop, May 14-15, at the University of Florida’s North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy.

“Tomato spotted wilt virus has been spread around the world by thrips during the past two decades, causing serious damage to a variety of agronomic, ornamental and vegetable crops grown in the field and greenhouses,” said Joe Funderburk, professor of entomology at the center. “Epidemics of tomato spotted wilt virus have been troublesome throughout the South.”

He said the virus and insect vector are serious problems on peppers, tomatoes, peanuts, tobacco and many other crops in North Florida and the Southeast. In Gadsden County, where the annual tomato crop is valued at $75 million to $80 million, losses have ranged between 10 percent and 20 percent of total production.

“Producers have responded by spraying broad-spectrum insecticides against the non-damaging, non-vector species of flower thrips,” Funderburk said. “Insecticidal control of the vector species is not effective in preventing epidemics of tomato spotted wilt, but integrated pest management programs can be.”

He said IPM programs that rely on biological control, cultural control and reduced-risk pesticides have been developed by UF and are being used by many growers.

“Control costs and pest damage are greatly reduced by our pest management program that includes biological insecticides and natural enemies for peppers and ultra-violet reflective mulches and biological insecticides for tomatoes,” he said.

“At the workshop, we also will discuss the use of a new systemic acquired resistance inducer, an environmentally friendly treatment that boosts the plant’s immune system against diseases such as tomato spotted wilt virus,” Funderburk said.

The free workshop, which begins at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday (May 14), is being hosted by UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The program is designed for researchers, extension specialists, county agents and crop protection consultants.

On the first day, the program will cover information on the ecology and bionomics of thrips, the biology and epidemiology of tomato spotted wilt, and the effectiveness of various pest management tactics. The second day will include field tours of research plots and on-farm visits with producers who are adopting IPM programs.

Funderburk, who organized the program, said the workshop will include a session on the rapid and reliable identification of different thrips species, including the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis).

He said the workshop is part of a project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help growers use reduced-risk insect and disease management tactics for pepper and tomato production throughout the South.

Other faculty at UF’s Quincy center participating in the workshop include Tim Momol, assistant professor of plant pathology; Steve Olson, professor of horticulture, and Pete Andersen, professor of horticulture.

For more information on the workshop, contact Funderburk at (850) 875-7146 or e-mail: JEFunderburk@mail.ifas.ufl.edu

Information on the workshop also is available at the following Web site: http://thrips.ifas.ufl.edu/

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Posted: May 7, 2002


Category: UF/IFAS



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