Managing pests on edible crops

Dan Gilrein

Published April 30, 2007

There seems to be more interest in greenhouse-grown specialty food crops, such as mescaline (salad) mix, raspberries and heirloom cherry tomatoes. Greenhouse-grown herbs have been a common specialty crop for awhile. Growers are looking at “preharvest” vegetable plants, such as fruiting tomatoes, lettuce and other greens in containers. They consider these niche markets worth trying because of their potential high return.

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Treating edible plants

These specialty crops can be a challenge to produce and market. The trouble with some of these crops can occur when trying to control insect and disease pests on food crops in the same greenhouses where nonedible ornamental plants were or are grown. To use a pesticide on an edible plant, the material must have an established residue tolerance (except for a few pesticides with certain active ingredients exempt from tolerance).

The first solution is to consider biological controls, cultural techniques and other non-pesticide tools where possible to prevent or manage insects and diseases at a tolerable level. Biological controls, including banker plants, are used successfully in greenhouse vegetable production for spider mites and whiteflies. For more information on banker plants, check out www.bugwood.org/arthropod/day2/matteoni.pdf and http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/banker/banker.htm.

I am familiar with one grower who used only Encarsia formosa wasps to successfully control greenhouse whitefly on cherry and standard tomatoes. He never applied an insecticide.

A crop grown without pesticides can have great marketing potential to some buyers, including consumers at farmer’s markets and restaurants looking to buy locally grown produce. The switch to biologicals should not be undertaken without careful consideration and a monitoring program in place.

Need for reinforcements

Although biologicals can provide effective pest control, it is necessary to have a backup plan when intervention is needed. Some pest-control products for ornamental plants, including Enstar, Mavrik, Citation, Ovation and DuraGuard, must never be applied to edible greenhouse plants. Which products are specifically labeled for greenhouse vegetables can be confusing. Some products have lost their label for greenhouse vegetables, but other new products have received registration.

If compatibility with biological control is an issue, consult with suppliers or the Koppert Side Effects list for specifics. Some products are even approved for organic production.

Remember that product and label uses must be approved for your state or region. Trial new materials on a small scale before treating an entire crop to be sure no plants are injured. Consult your local extension specialist and talk with experienced growers for additional support.

Products labeled for control of insect and mite pests on greenhouse food crops*

           

Trade name

EPA number

Active ingredient

Company

Labeled greenhouse crops

Labeled pests

Thionex 3EC

66222-63

endosulfan

Makhteshim

Tomato

Aphid, whitefly, others

Thionex 50W

66222-62

endosulfan

Makhteshim

Tomato

Aphid, whitefly, others

Endosulfan 3EC

19713-399

endosulfan

Drexel

Tomato

Aphid, whitefly, others

Fulex Thiodan Fumigator

1327-35

endosulfan

Fuller

Tomato, cucumber

Aphid, whitefly adults

Pyrethrum TR Micro (aerosol)

499-479

pyrethrins + PBO

Whitmire

Many

Many

Pyreth-It

1021-1091-499

pyrethrins + PBO

Whitmire

Many

Many

Pyrenone Crop Spray

432-1033

pyrethrins + PBO

Bayer

Many

Many

Pyronyl Crop Spray

655-489

pyrethrins + PBO

Prentiss

Many

Many

Pyganic 1.4EC

1021-1751

pyrethrins

MGK

Many

Many

Azatin XL

67250-10-59807

azadirachtin

OHP

Many

Many

Ornazin

5481-476-69690

azadirachtin

SePRO

Many

Many

Neemazad 4.5 EC

11688-12

azadirachtin

Grace

Many

Whitefly, thrips, mealybug, aphid, others

Aza-Direct

71908-1-10163

azadirachtin

Gowan

Many

Many

M-Pede

62719-515
(old: 53219-6)

potassium salts of fatty acids

Dow Agrosciences

Many

Aphid, whitefly, thrips, plant bug, leafminers, mites

Revoke

51036-221-5905

potassium salts of fatty acids

Helena

Many

Aphid, whitefly, thrips, others

PT Ultra-Fine Spray Oil

862-23-499

paraffinic oil

Whitmire

Many

Aphid, mites, whitefly, others

Organocide

none

sesame oil

Organic Laboratories

Many

Many

Eco E-Rase

68186-1

jojoba oil

IJO Products

Many

Whitefly, powdery mildew

GC-Mite

none

cottonseed and clove oil; garlic extract

JH Biotech

Many

Certain mites, thrips

Floramite

400-508

bifenzate

Crompton

Tomato

Twospotted spider mite, clover mite, other mites

Admire Pro

264-827

imidacloprid

Bayer

Tomato, cucumber

Aphid, whitefly

Marathon II

432-1369-59807

imidacloprid

OHP

Tomato, cabbage, others (transplants for sale only, in flats)

Aphid, whitefly, others

Marathon 60W

432-1361-59807

imidacloprid

OHP

Tomato, cabbage, others (transplants for sale only, in flats)

Aphids, whiteflies, others

Talus

71711-15-67690

buprofezin

SePRO

Tomato

Whitefly, mealybug, leafhopper

Gnatrol

73049-11

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis

Valent Biosciences

Many

Fungus gnat larvae

Pylon

241-374-59807

chlorfenapyr

OHP

Fruiting vegetables

Caterpillars, twospotted spider and broad mites, western flower and melon thrips

Dipel DF, Dipel Pro DF

73049-39

B.  thuringiensis kurstaki

Valent Biosciences

Many

Caterpillars

Agree WG

70051-47

B. thuringiensis aizawai

Certis

Tomato, cole crops, pepper

Caterpillars

BotaniGard ES

70810-6

Beauveria bassiana

Laverlam

Many

Whitefly, aphid, thrips, others

BotaniGard 22WP

70810-8

Beauveria bassiana

Laverlam

Many

Whitefly, aphid, thrips, others

Malathion 5LB Spray

655-777

malathion

Prentiss

Cucumber, endive, lettuce, tomato

Aphid, armyworm, thrips, others

Malathion 5EC

51036-104

malathion

MicroFlo

Beans, Cucumber, endive, onion, head and leaf lettuce, tomato, eggplant, pepper

Aphid, armyworm, thrips, others

Sluggo-AG

67702-3-54705

iron phosphate

Monterey

Many

Slugs, snails

*Products not listed were omitted inadvertently.

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- Dan Gilrein 

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