Plant Health CarePlant Health Care

Chapter 11Chapter 11

Ben GrossmanBen Grossman

ObjectivesObjectives

Plant Health Care (PHC) vs. Plant Health Care (PHC) vs. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Appropriate Response Process (ARP)Appropriate Response Process (ARP) Plant resource allocationPlant resource allocation Pest control or treatment optionsPest control or treatment options

America’s Love of America’s Love of ChemicalsChemicals

BiomagnificationBiomagnification

America’s Love of America’s Love of ChemicalsChemicals

Roundup Resistant VarietiesRoundup Resistant Varieties

America’s Love of America’s Love of ChemicalsChemicals

Algal BloomsAlgal Blooms

Plant Health CarePlant Health Care

Golf Course ExampleGolf Course Example

Augusta NationalAugusta National

Proactive approachProactive approach

The Alternative?The Alternative?

+ =

Vitality and VigorVitality and Vigor

Vitality – plants ability to deal with Vitality – plants ability to deal with stressstress

Vigor – plants inherent genetic Vigor – plants inherent genetic capacity to resist stress (adaptability capacity to resist stress (adaptability to environmental conditions defines to environmental conditions defines plant’s vigor)plant’s vigor)

VigorVigor Plants adaptability to various Plants adaptability to various

environmental conditionsenvironmental conditions Soil typesSoil types Moisture conditionsMoisture conditions Cold or heatCold or heat

To take advantage of a plants To take advantage of a plants vigorvigor, we , we need to select species well matched to the need to select species well matched to the environment and resistant to pests.environment and resistant to pests. Hardiness zoneHardiness zone Site characteristicsSite characteristics Varieties and cultivarsVarieties and cultivars Etc,…Etc,…

VigorVigor

Vigor or VitalityVigor or Vitality

VigorVigor

VitalityVitality Vitality – plants ability to effectively deal Vitality – plants ability to effectively deal

with stresswith stress

Vitality or VigorVitality or Vigor

Vitality – Parking lot TreesVitality – Parking lot Trees

Reduced growthReduced growth Close stomata more Close stomata more

frequentlyfrequently Shed leaves earlyShed leaves early

Household Ficus TreeHousehold Ficus Tree

Measure of Plant VitalityMeasure of Plant Vitality

Some only measure Some only measure success of success of treatments and treatments and practices by practices by increased growth increased growth in :in : HeightHeight Trunk diameterTrunk diameter Root massRoot mass Total leaf areaTotal leaf area

Resource AllocationResource Allocation

4 Primary 4 Primary FunctionsFunctions::

MaintenanceMaintenance ReproductionReproduction

GrowthGrowth StorageStorage DefenseDefense

Limited Resources = StressLimited Resources = Stress

Many related to Many related to soil and soil and environmental environmental conditionsconditions pH, drought, pH, drought,

excessive waterexcessive water

Excessive WaterExcessive Water

Limited Resources = StressLimited Resources = Stress

Many related to Many related to soil and soil and environmental environmental conditionsconditions pH, drought, pH, drought,

excessive waterexcessive water

DroughtDrought

Mild StressMild Stress

Mild Stress can redirect resource allocation Mild Stress can redirect resource allocation and increase drought or pest resistanceand increase drought or pest resistance

Drought Conditioning Jack Pine Seedlings

Plant Defense MechanismsPlant Defense Mechanisms

Physical Deterrents:Physical Deterrents:Thorns, Spikes and HairsThorns, Spikes and Hairs

Physical Deterrents:Physical Deterrents:Cellulose and LigninsCellulose and Lignins

Chemical Deterrents:Chemical Deterrents:AllelochemicalsAllelochemicals

Juglone

Sunflowers

Tannis and Phenols

Allelochemicals as Allelochemicals as PesticidesPesticides

Pyrethrins - Chrysanthemum

Nicotine Insecticide

Rotenone – Derris Plant

Stress and AllelochemicalsStress and Allelochemicals

Moderate drought stress can Moderate drought stress can increase allelochemical levelsincrease allelochemical levels

Sun adapted trees grown in shade Sun adapted trees grown in shade have reduced levels of have reduced levels of allelochemicalsallelochemicals

Rapidly growing trees can be less Rapidly growing trees can be less resistant to some insects and diseaseresistant to some insects and disease

Moderate Stress and Growth Moderate Stress and Growth Response/Resource AllocationResponse/Resource Allocation

Water is limited, stomata ___________?Water is limited, stomata ___________? Prolonged drought, leaves __________?Prolonged drought, leaves __________? Low light levels cause shoots to ______ and Low light levels cause shoots to ______ and

leaf adjustment by _____________?leaf adjustment by _____________? If nitrogen is deficient, trees _________?If nitrogen is deficient, trees _________?

What if stress is excessive, beyond a trees What if stress is excessive, beyond a trees ability to adapt (beyond vigor and vitality)?ability to adapt (beyond vigor and vitality)?

Mortality SpiralMortality Spiral

Mature TreeMature Tree

PredisposedPredisposed

InjuredInjured

DecliningDeclining

DeadDead

The Process of Plant Health The Process of Plant Health CareCare

MonitoringMonitoring Early detection is Early detection is

the keythe key Gather information Gather information

from the site prior from the site prior to determining a to determining a responseresponse

Appropriate Response Appropriate Response ProcessProcess

Gather InfoGather Info Access severity Access severity

and implicationsand implications Determine client Determine client

expectationsexpectations Determine course Determine course

of actionof action

Was there any construction Was there any construction near your tree?near your tree?

Anything that might cause soil Anything that might cause soil compaction?compaction?

Any underground utilities Any underground utilities installed?installed?

Severity and ImplicationsSeverity and Implications

Client ExpectationsClient Expectations

Determine a Course of Determine a Course of ActionAction

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – cost Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – cost benefit analysis, adapted from benefit analysis, adapted from agricultural cropsagricultural crops

Cost-Benefit Analysis

0

20

40

60

80

100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Herbicide Input

Pe

st

Co

ntr

ol

Point of Diminishing

Returns

Integrated Pest Integrated Pest ManagementManagement

Integrated Pest Integrated Pest ManagementManagement

Integrated Pest Integrated Pest ManagementManagement

Integrated Pest Integrated Pest ManagementManagement

Treatment OptionsTreatment Options

Pest Resurgence & Pest Resurgence & Secondary Pest OutbreakSecondary Pest Outbreak

Results of broad spectrum control of insect Results of broad spectrum control of insect pests as well a beneficial speciespests as well a beneficial species

Pest ResurgencePest Resurgence

Pest (8)

Natural EnemyUniversity of Kentucky

Pest ResurgencePest Resurgence

Pest

Natural Enemy University of Kentucky

Pest ResurgencePest Resurgence

pest

pest

University of Kentucky

Pest ResurgencePest ResurgenceNote: 14 pests/leaf

University of Kentucky

Secondary Pest OutbreakSecondary Pest Outbreak

Resistant Varieties and Resistant Varieties and Cultural ControlCultural Control

Selecting trees or varieties that are Selecting trees or varieties that are resistant to or tolerant of known resistant to or tolerant of known insects and diseases.insects and diseases.

Avoid planting trees in sites in which Avoid planting trees in sites in which they are ill suited.they are ill suited.

Resistant VarietiesResistant Varieties

Crabapple resistant to apple scab and rustCrabapple resistant to apple scab and rust Elm varieties resistant to Dutch Elm DiseaseElm varieties resistant to Dutch Elm Disease

Cultural ControlsCultural Controls10 % bleach

• Clean tools prior to and immediately after pruning• Clean tool between each cut on infected tissue and some highly susceptible plants

Cultural ControlsCultural Controls

Prune during the dormant season when Prune during the dormant season when possiblepossible

Identify infected plant material and take Identify infected plant material and take necessary precautions to limit its spreadnecessary precautions to limit its spread

Use of “wound sealer” not recommended Use of “wound sealer” not recommended unless oak wilt has been identified in the unless oak wilt has been identified in the area and growing season pruning is the area and growing season pruning is the only optiononly option

Cultural ControlCultural Control

Right Tree Right Place and Keep Right Tree Right Place and Keep Plants HealthyPlants Healthy

Chemical ControlsChemical Controls

Pesticides: Pesticides: Fungicides – typically applied as Fungicides – typically applied as

protectant to prevent infectionsprotectant to prevent infections Insecticides – kill pestsInsecticides – kill pests

Contact vs. SystemicContact vs. Systemic Commercial Applicators LicenseCommercial Applicators License

FungicidesFungicides

Fungicides primarily act as a Fungicides primarily act as a protectant.protectant.

Apple Scab and Cedar Apple RustApple Scab and Cedar Apple Rust AnthracnoseAnthracnose Leaf spot and blightLeaf spot and blight

Insecticides - ContactInsecticides - Contact

Insecticides - SystemicInsecticides - Systemic

Alternative PesticidesAlternative Pesticides

Insecticidal SoapsInsecticidal Soaps Horticultural oilsHorticultural oils BotanicalsBotanicals Insect Growth Regulators Insect Growth Regulators Microbial Extracts Microbial Extracts

Insecticidal SoapsInsecticidal Soaps Disrupt cell membranes of soft Disrupt cell membranes of soft

bodied insects and mitesbodied insects and mites Effective on:Effective on:

Scale Crawlers

Aphids

Mealybugs

Spider Mites

Horticultural OilsHorticultural Oils Suffocate or disrupt membranesSuffocate or disrupt membranes Dormant and summer oil applicationsDormant and summer oil applications Effective on scale crawlers, aphids, spider mites as well as:Effective on scale crawlers, aphids, spider mites as well as:

Adelgids LeafhoppersPowdery Mildew

Botanical PesticidesBotanical Pesticides Plant extracts used for insecticidal purposesPlant extracts used for insecticidal purposes Can be toxic to humans, animals and plantsCan be toxic to humans, animals and plants Examples include:Examples include:

Pyrethrins Capsaicin Neem oil

Insect Growth RegulatorsInsect Growth Regulators

IGR’s interrupt or inhibit the life cycle of a IGR’s interrupt or inhibit the life cycle of a pestpest

Synthetic compounds that act like hormonesSynthetic compounds that act like hormones Used for trapping, monitoring and controlUsed for trapping, monitoring and control

Gypsy Moth Japanese Beetle

La Cucaracha

Microbial PesticidesMicrobial Pesticides

Contain insect pathogens derived Contain insect pathogens derived from extracts of bacterial pathogens from extracts of bacterial pathogens of insectsof insects

Most common is Most common is Bt – Bacillus Bt – Bacillus thuringiensisthuringiensis

Leaf feeding beetles

Capterpillars Mosquito

Biological ControlsBiological Controls

Natural predators vs. introducedNatural predators vs. introduced

Beneficial InsectsBeneficial Insects

Mechanical ManagementMechanical Management

Pruning infected material

Physical barriers

Fall WebwormsFall Webworms

Bag WormsBag Worms

Fire BlightFire Blight

Challenge QuestionsChallenge Questions

1.1. Select two species of trees in our area Select two species of trees in our area that have different genetic strategies for that have different genetic strategies for resource allocation. Compare and resource allocation. Compare and contrast.contrast.

2.2. Describe some defense mechanisms Describe some defense mechanisms found in trees.found in trees.

3.3. Explain how different treatment and Explain how different treatment and control strategies can be implemented to control strategies can be implemented to control pest problems on plants.control pest problems on plants.