Sustainable Integrated Pest Management for Tomato Norm Leppla, Jennifer Gillett & Heidi HansPetersen Heidi HansPetersen UF, IFAS Statewide IPM Program

IPM for Florida Tomato Growers Overview of IPM Florida Program Overview of IPM Florida Program Sustainable Pest Management Sustainable Pest Management Tomato & Pepper Growers Guide Tomato & Pepper Growers Guide Grant opportunities Grant opportunities

IPM Florida provides statewide, interdisciplinary and inter-unit coordination and assistance for UF, IFAS integrated pest management research, extension and education faculty.

Ask Extension Ask Extension Recent Additions IPM Florida Website Planning Planning Scouting Scouting Pest Identification Pest Identification Tactics Tactics Measuring IPM Measuring IPM Invasive Species Invasive Species GMOs GMOs Soil Quality Soil Quality Water Quality/BMPs Water Quality/BMPs About IPM Florida About IPM Florida Contact Us Contact Us What is IPM What is IPM Success Stories Success Stories Projects Reports Projects Reports Extension Resources Extension Resources Training Training Funding Employment Events Our Listserv Related Links Site Map

Tactics of IPM Sustainability Sustainability Cultural Practices Cultural Practices Biological Control Biological Control Chemical Control Chemical Control Physical Methods Physical Methods

 Economics  Natural resources  Human welfare  Environmental stewardship Sustainability of IPM

Perspective Perspective

Biological Control Other Tools Pesticides $$$$ Pesticides were the 20 th Century’s foundation for pest management. Pesticides were used first and all other decisions followed. Pesticides and application costs are nearly 25% of tomato grower’s expenses Historical Pest Management Triangle

Chemical Cultural & Physical Biological Control Biologically Based IPM Technologies REDUCE RISK… Disease Epidemic Environmental Health Hazards REDUCE CO$T IPM TRIANGLE INCREASE… Sustainability Biodiversity

Why Do We Have Pest Outbreaks?   Alien Invasive Species   Local Invasions   Pesticide Resistance   Disrupted Environments   Perceptions

Silverleaf whitefly Bemisia argentifolii #1 Pest 6 life stages: egg, 4 nymphal instars, adult Life cycle can be as short as 2 weeks

Bemisia Biology: In Favorable conditions, 15 generations per year Females Do not Require a male to reproduce All stages prefer the underside of leaves Nymphs

Photograph: Shahab Hanif-khan Whitefly Damage Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Tomato Mottle Virus Uneven Ripening Sooty Mold

IPM for Whitefly & Related Diseases  Plant WHITEFLY-FREE transplants  Establish a CROP-FREE PERIOD   Use UV REFLECTIVE MULCH  CONTROL Weeds & volunteers  DESTROY old Crops IMMEDIATELY after harvest DO NOT plant new crop adjacent to abandoned field, infested weeds or other solanaceous crops, cucurbits, or cabbage Olson, S. M. & D. N. Maynard Vegetable Production Guide for Florida. UF/IFAS publication.

Build-up Natural Enemies A B c C C

Grower’s IPM Guide for Florida Tomato & Pepper Production Table of Contents –Chapter 1- Introduction WHY IPM? –Chapter 2- Tomato & Pepper Production –Chapter 3- Soil & Nutrient Management –Chapter 4- Pest Management –Chapter 5- Disease Management –Chapter 6- Weed Management –Chapter 7- Cultural & Physical Controls –Chapter 8- Biological Control –Chapter 9- Chemical Control

IPM Partnerships

IPM Florida, working with Joan Dusky, IFAS Assistant Dean for Extension, developed a federally funded grants program that increases collaboration between extension agents and specialists in advancing IPM. IPM Florida Grants Program

IPM Florida Grants  Agriculture  Urban IPM  Mosquito Control  IPM Education  Landscape IPM  Plant Pathology  Nursery IPM  Weed Management Extension Agents Extension Specialists YOU!

Selection Criteria  Directly involve county Extension faculty  Have widespread, positive impact on increasing IPM in Florida  Have supplemental funds or in-kind resources already in place  Include partnerships between IFAS and our clientele  Involve applicants that have great need and limited resources, e.g., new faculty.