Reducing tuber damage by potato tuberworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) with cultural practices and insecticides.

Cultural practices and insecticide treatments and combinations were evaluated for effect on tuber damage by potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in the Columbia basin of eastern Oregon and Washington. A range of intervals between initial application of several insecticides and vine-kill were tested to determine how early to implement a program to control potato tuberworm tuber damage. Esfenvalerate, methamidophos, and methomyl were applied at recommended intervals, with programs beginning from 28 to 5 d before vine-kill. All insecticide treatments significantly reduced tuber damage compared with the untreated control, but there was no apparent advantage to beginning control efforts earlier than later in the season. Esfenvalerate and indoxacarb at two rates and a combination of the two insecticides were applied weekly beginning 4 wk before and at vine-kill, and indoxacarb was applied at and 1 wk postvine-kill as chemigation treatments. Application of insecticides at and after vine-kill also reduced tuberworm infestation. 'Russet Norkotah' and 'Russet Burbank' plants were allowed to naturally senesce or were chemically defoliated. They received either no irrigation or were irrigated by center-pivot with 0.25 cm water daily from vine-kill until harvest 2 wk later. Daily irrigation after vine-kill reduced tuber damage, and chemical vine-kill tended to reduce tuber damage compared with natural senescence. Covering hills with soil provides good protection but must be done by vine-kill. Data from these trials indicate that the most critical time for initiation of control methods is immediately before and at vine-kill.

Management of Paratrichodorus allius Damage to Onion in the Columbia Basin of Oregon.

Production of storage and dehydration (dehy) onions is increasing rapidly in the northcentral Oregon region of the Columbia Basin. Roughly circular patches of stunted onions have been observed in many fields and are often numerous and (or) extensive in area. Onions in these patches often exhibit symptoms typical of stubby-root nematodes, and Paratrichodorus allius has been collected from several damaged areas. This study examined the relationship of P. allius densities to onion yield reduction and benefit from oxamyl application. Transect samples and onions harvested across areas with varying P. allius densities revealed that the total number of onions was not affected by P. allius but that onions were in smaller, less valuable size classes. Yield of the largest size class of storage onions (colossals) declined substantially (57-61%) even at low (5-16/250 g soil) nematode densities. Treatment with oxamyl at 1.1 kg a.i./ha mitigated most of the damage, and the value of both storage and dehy onions was increased by more than $1,200/ha. Early applications were superior to later applications, whereas treatment at both times was no better than the early treatment alone. Damage at low (<10/250 g soil) nematode densities, low treatment cost ($86-172/ha), and high crop values suggest an economic benefit from treatment at population densities of four or more P. allius/250 g soil. However, stunted patches of onions may occur for reasons other than nematodes, and the presence of P. allius should be confirmed before treating fields. This is the first report of stubby-root nematode damage to dehy onions and to storage onions in the Columbia Basin.

First Report of Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Watermelon in Oregon.

Most of the watermelons, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, consumed in the Pacific Northwest during the summer months are grown in the southern Columbia Basin under dry (<5 cm rainfall), low relative humidity (46 to 57%), and high temperature (29 to 41°C) conditions, using transplants, plastic mulch, and drip irrigation. During May 1996, irregularly shaped, water-soaked lesions were observed on cotyledons and first true leaves of watermelon cv. Sangria transplants growing in a greenhouse. Similar lesions were observed later on older leaves in a commercial field of cv. Millionaire. Microscopic examination of symptomatic tissue revealed bacterial streaming, and isolation on nutrient agar consistently yielded numerous creamy to off-white bacterial colonies. Bacteria from purified, single colonies were Gram negative and rod shaped. Physiological characterization by the Biolog GN Bacterial Identification System (version 3.5) showed a similarity of 0.971 to the Biolog description for Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. Pathogenicity of two strains was confirmed in three separate tests by hypodermic needle infiltration of cotyledons or by stab inoculation into hypocotyls of 12 to 24 21-day-old cv. Crimson Sweet seedlings with aqueous suspensions of bacteria containing approximately 6.0 × 108 CFU/ml. Inoculum was prepared from 48-h-old nutrient agar cultures. Test plants were incubated in the greenhouse at 21°C, under a 16-h photoperiod. Hypocotyl and cotyledon inoculations produced water-soaked lesions within 24 to 48 h on both the hypocotyl and cotyledons or just the cotyledon, respectively, on plants inoculated by either method. No symptoms developed on control plants infiltrated or stabbed with sterile water only. Isolations from three symptomatic seedlings yielded colonies similar in morphology to those used for inoculation. Tests of two purified cultures by Biolog indicated the bacteria were A. avenae subsp. citrulli. The symptomatic test plants were transplanted to fields, and the maturing melons developed large, dark green, water-soaked lesions with irregular margins. Similar fruit symptoms were seen in commercial fields. Labels on seed used in commercial production and in our tests warned of risks related to fruit blotch. This is the first report of bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon in Oregon. This disease may have a significant impact on watermelon production in the Columbia Basin.