Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO

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1 Asprgus Gret Lkes Fruit, Vegetble & Frm Mrket EXPO December 10-12, 2013 DeVos Plce Convention Center, Grnd Rpids, MI Tuesdy morning 9:00 m Where: Gllery Overlook (upper level) Room A & B MI Recertifiction credits: 2 (1B, COMM CORE, PRIV CORE) CCA Credits: PM(1.0) CM(1.0) Modertor: Ben Werling, Extension Eductor, MSU Extension, Hrt, MI 9:00 m Overview of Asprgus-Vriety Avilbility nd Performnce John Bkker, Michign Asprgus Advisory Bord nd Michign Crrot nd Onion Committees, DeWitt, MI 9:20 m Asprgus Pthology Reserch Results of 2013 Trils Mry Husbeck, Plnt, Soil nd Microbil Sciences Dept., MSU 10:00 m Asprgus Irrigtion- Effects on Yield nd Profits fter Four Yers Dniel Brinrd, Horticulture Dept., MSU 10:20 m Asprgus Insect Pest Mngement Zsofi Szendrei, Entomology Dept., MSU 10:40 m Using Mechnicl Hrvesters During the 2013 Growing Seson 11:00 m Session Ends Ben Werling, Extension Eductor, MSU Extension, Hrt, MI

2 Asprgus Pthology Reserch Results of 2013 Trils Dr. Mry K. Husbeck, , Dr. Leh Grnke, nd Chelse Woods Michign Stte University, Deprtment of Plnt, Soil & Microbil Sciences Rust disese of sprgus is cused by the fungus, Puccini sprgi, nd is problem on fern following the hrvest of spers. The rust fungus produces severl types of spores but rust pustules do not occur on hrvested spers. Bsidiospores develop in very erly spring on the overwintering sprgus debris tht hrbors the overwintering teliospores from the previous fll. When the bsidiospores infect sprgus fern, the resulting lesions re ovl nd light ornge. The lesions eventully turn bright ornge color due to the production of eciospores. Aeciospores re n erly source of inoculum for rust epidemics nd re typiclly first seen on volunteer sprgus nd on young plnts tht re not hrvested. Air currents nd splshing rins crry the ornge eciospores from the pustules to other brnches nd needles (cldophylls) where they germinte nd cuse new pustules if moisture is vilble. The next stge of the rust life cycle tht occurs is the repeting or uredil stge. Uredospores re produced in gret numbers nd my resemble reddish dust. They germinte in the presence of moisture nd within 10 to 14 dys cuse infections nd produce new genertion of spores. Even reltively smll number of uredi cn reproduce rpidly to cuse significnt nd dmging levels of disese. Uredil lesions occur in mid- to lte- summer nd re clled the repeting spore due to their high rte of reproduction. The finl stge occurs in mid to lte summer with production of the blck teliospores, which overwinter in plnt debris. The fungus cusing rust cn ttck ll boveground prts, nd severe infections cn stunt or kill young shoots, nd cn defolite plnts. During sper hrvest, sprgus plnts deplete stored crbohydrtes from the root nd crown tht re replenished during fern growth. If the fern becomes infected by rust, it my turn yellow, then die erly in the summer, thereby reducing the time for replenishing the reserves in the crown through photosynthesis. When the storge reserves re reduced in the crown, subsequent yields re reduced. Plnts stressed by rust infection my be more susceptible to Fusrium crown nd root rot. Dmge is most severe when the fern is ttcked erly in the growing seson nd the disese occurs for two or more yers in row. Reserch studies indicte tht the disese cn hve n dditive negtive impct over time on yield. For instnce, yield losses rnged from 2-23% (depending on the cultivr) fter one yer of rust infection. However, fter two yers of rust infection, yield losses incresed nd rnged from 11-54%. Since rust cn reduce the yield nd longevity of n sprgus field, disese mngement is needed. Resistnce to rust in some sprgus vrieties hs been identified nd found to reduce the intensity of rust infection. Vrieties such s Jersey Gint with this type of resistnce re clled slow-rusting. However, even slow-rusting vrieties cn become severely disesed when the rust inoculum is high nd the wether is wet nd wrm. Interrupting the eciospore stge in the erly spring prevents development of the repeting uredospore stge nd drmticlly decreses the need for fungicide sprys lter in the seson. Using slow-rusting cultivrs, removing volunteer plnts, scouting fields nd pplying fungicides erly in the seson before rust becomes estblished is sound mngement prctice.

3 Tble 1. Products tested for control of rust. Product Active ingredient FRAC code Lbeled Brvo WetherStik 6SC chlorothlonil M5 yes Cbrio 20WG pyrclostrobin 11 no Folicur 3.6SC tebuconzole 3 yes Fontelis 1.67SC penthiopyrd 7 no Inspire 2.08EC difenoconzole 3 no Inspire Super 2.82SC difenoconzole/cyprodinil 3/9 no Lun Experience 3.34SC fluopyrm/tebuconzole 7/3 no Lun Senstion 4.2SC fluopyrm/trifloxystrobin 7/11 no Lun Trnquility 4.16SC fluopyrm/pyrimethnil 7/9 no Mnzte Pro-Stick 75DF mncozeb M3 yes Prixor 4.17SC fluxpyroxd/pyrclostrobin 7/11 no Qudris 2.08SC zoxystrobin 11 yes Qudris Top 50WG zoxystrobin/difenoconzole 11/3 no Quilt Xcel 2.2SC zoxystrobin/propiconzole 11/3 no Tilt 3.6EC propiconzole 3 no A fungicide study ws conducted in Ocen County nd products were pplied to the fern every 14 dys. Ech rust fungicide ws pplied in progrm tht included totl of 5 sprys over the course of the growing seson. Rust ws estblished in the plot prior to the onset of the fungicide pplictions. At the end of the growing seson, the untreted control received rting tht exceeded 8 (1=helthy, 10=90-100% infection/defolition). Severl unregistered fungicides performed well in this tril nd included Inspire, Inspire Super nd Qudris Top. The rust levels tht were observed for sprgus plnts treted with Inspire, Inspire Super, or Qudris Top in this tril were similr to tht seen for the sprgus treted with Folicur, fungicide tht is considered n industry stndrd. Other fungicide tretments tht provided control tht ws significntly better thn the untreted control nd performed similrly to the Folicur tretment included Lun Experience, Quilt Xcel, Tilt, Qudris, Fontelis, nd Cbrio. Rust severity (1=helthy, 10=90-100% folir infection/100% defolited) d Untreted control Inspire 0.44 pt 5 sprys pplied t 14-dy intervls Inspire Super 1.25 pt Folicur 0.38 pt Qudris Top 0.25 lb Lun Experience 1.06 pt Rust on Asprgus b -c Quilt Xcel 1.5 pt -c Tilt pt -c Qudris 0.6 pt -c Fontelis 1.5 pt -c Cbrio 1 lb -d Lun Senstion 0.48 pt b-d Prixor 0.5 pt cd Lun Trnquility 1 pt Mnzte Pro-Stick 75DF 2 lb Ocen cd cd Brvo WetherStik 6SC 2 pt

4 Soilborne pthogens, including Phytophthor sprgi nd Fusrium spp., cn shorten the lifespn of sprgus production fields by 50% despite good culturl prctices. These pthogens re the primry reson tht sprgus fields decline premturely nd growers re unble to recoup their initil estblishment costs. Both pthogens cn ffect sprgus seedlings in crown nurseries nd continue to cuse problems in production fields. In prticulr, P. sprgi cuses crown nd sper rot tht becomes especilly devstting when the wether is wet nd the soil becomes sturted. Sper rot during hrvest occurs when rin splshes infested soil onto the sper cusing rot tht mkes the sper unmrketble. Registered products for control of soilborne diseses in sprgus re limited nd delivery method to get the fungicide to the crown once it is estblished in the production field is lcking. Phytophthor sprgi ws first reported in Michign severl yers go. Recently, study ws conducted to determine whether there is difference in the bility of the vrious isoltes of P. sprgi collected from Michign to cuse disese on sprgus spers. Spers were inoculted with one of nine P. sprgi isoltes nd incubted for 7 dys fter which the lesion re ws mesured. When spers were inoculted with isoltes originlly obtined from disesed spers (SP324, SP325, nd SP326), the lesions were lrger thn those resulting from either the isolte SP318 or C013, which were obtined from disesed sper nd crown tissue, respectively. 14 Virulence of Phytophthor Isoltes on Spers Lesion re (cm 2 ) b b bc bc bc bc c c c 2 0 Control SP318 C013 SP326 SP319 SP317 SP316 SP324 SP325 SP3236 Phytophthor sprgi isolte Fusrium spp. re well-known pthogens to sprgus nd cn cuse crown, root, nd lower stem rot. The russet-colored lesions cused by Fusrium spp. on sprgus roots, lower stems nd/or crowns re telltle symptoms of this pthogen s infection. Fusrium spp. re difficult to control with fungicides regrdless of the crop. Identifying sprgus cultivrs tht re less susceptible to Fusrium spp. would be especilly helpful since other control options re limited. MSU reserch ws conducted to screen sprgus seedlings representing stndrd cultivrs such s Mry Wshington, Jersey Supreme, nd Millennium in comprison to sprgus lines in development from Cnd nd New Jersey. Since the two Fusrium spp. tht typiclly infect sprgus cn cuse different symptoms in the crop, ech specific Fusrium ws used to infect seedlings from different sprgus lines. The level of root infection tht resulted differed mong the lines tht were tested. The most drmtic differences were seen with the percentge of disesed roots on the NJ941 line compred to the other sprgus lines tht were included in the screen. The NJ941 line seemed to be especilly susceptible to root rot cused by both Fusrium spp. On positive note, in contrst to NJ941, Jersey Supreme nd the mjority of the other sprgus cultivrs were much less susceptible to Fusrium root rot.

5 Disesed root re (%) Disesed root re (%) Root Infection on Seedlings of Asprgus Cultivrs Inoculted with Fusrium Fusrium on Asprgus spp. in Cultivrs Lbortory Study Fusrium oxysporum f.sp. sprgi b b b b b -c bc bc b d -c Fusrium prolifertum b cd Supreme UG10 UG5 Mondeo UG20 NJ938 Mry Millennium UG9 NJ1191 NJ941 Wshington b-d -d c d d e This reserch ws supported by funding provided by the Michign Asprgus Advisory Bord.

Asprgus Miner Mngement Zsofi Szendrei (szendrei@msu.edu) nd Willim R. Morrison III Deprtment of Entomology, Michign Stte University, Est Lnsing, MI, 48824 Lb website: http://vegetble.ent.msu.edu/ Reserch in the MSU vegetble entomology lb focuses on the mngement of the sprgus miner (Ophiomyi simplex (Loew), Dipter: Agromyzide).

6 Asprgus Miner Mngement Zsofi Szendrei nd Willim R. Morrison III Deprtment of Entomology, Michign Stte University, Est Lnsing, MI, Lb website: Reserch in the MSU vegetble entomology lb focuses on the mngement of the sprgus miner (Ophiomyi simplex (Loew), Dipter: Agromyzide). This insect vectors pthogenic species of Fusrium fungus, which is the custive gent for erly decline syndrome in sprgus fields. Fusrium cn decrese the life spn of n sprgus field by 5-8 yers, mking it economiclly unsustinble to continue production. Currently ongoing projects on the srgus miner: 1. ASPARAGUS MINER DEGREE DAY MODEL The sprgus miner degree-dy model is in the process of being dded to the Envirowether website ( tht is run by Michign Stte University. It will be fully functionl nd redy for growers to ccess in erly spring 2014 for use in tiloring mngement for the sprgus miner to locl wether conditions. Growers cn use the degreedy model to check when importnt phenologicl events hve been reched or re pproching for dults, mggots nd pupe of the sprgus miner. For exmple, the model will stte when dults re in pek flight nd the dult stge is most vulnerble to the commonly used folir insecticides in sprgus. The degree-dy model will lso contin smple grphs for the bundnce of immtures nd dults to visully indicte progress through the growing seson. Future reserch will investigte the best timing for ppliction of insecticides using the degree-dy model. 2. ASPARAGUS MINER MONITORING WITH BAITS Asprgus plnts emit voltile compounds into the ir, nd one of these compounds, decnl, hs resulted in bout 25% reduction in sprgus miners cught on yellow sticky trps for the pst three yers. If combined with other repellent voltiles, this compound could ct s deterrent to sprgus miners nd my provide some protection for newly plnted fields from the sprgus miner. Other voltiles hve yielded vrible results over the yers, with some ttrctive in certin yers, but not in others. Reserch is ongoing in screening other types of voltiles. For exmple, we hve recently strted to investigte the presence of sex pheromone tht my serve s strong ttrctnt, one tht could disrupt mting in the field. This work is still in the preliminry phse, but the use of sex pheromones in other systems hs resulted in growers being ble to brek the infesttion cycle of the pest in the field. 3. ASPARAGUS MINER BIOLOGICAL CONTROL Ongoing reserch hs identified 12 pupl prsitoids tht use the sprgus miner s host in commercil sprgus fields, spnning five insect fmilies. By fr the most bundnt prsitoids re two wsp species: Thinodytes cephlon (Pteromlide) nd Chorebus rondnii (Brconide). The former is specilist on

7 lef-mining flies, while the ltter is host-specific to the sprgus miner nd ws previously described from Europe. Both represent good potentil cndidtes for conservtion biologicl control, whereby growers my be ble to plnt flowers in the mrgins of fields to increse the lifespn nd killing power of the prsitoids t the expense of the sprgus miner. Reserch on the effect of diets on the lifespn of sprgus miners nd its prsitoids indicte tht sugr-rich resources increse the lifespn of ech group. As result, it is impertive to find flowering species tht enhnce the lifespn of the prsitoids but not the pest. Our reserch hs found tht the sprgus miner is not ble to use buckwhet nd fv ben s food resource in the field. Use of those flowers by the sprgus miner resulted in the sme lifespn s when the miner ws fed wter only. If these flowers cn be used by the prsitoids to increse their lifespn, then they my be ble to be plnted in the mrgins of fields to increse biologicl control services. Future reserch will investigte the use of these nd other flowers to increse the impct of the sprgus miner s prsitoids on the pest both in the lb nd field. 4. ASPARAGUS MINER CHEMIGATION TRIAL Since sprgus miner lrve feed inside the stems, contct insecticides re unble to rech nd control them. We re currently investigting the potentil for drip systems to deliver systemic insecticide to reduce sprgus miner lrvl popultions in stems. In 2012, we plnted new sprgus plot to investigte the efficcy of drip irrigtion to distribute insecticides to sprgus plnts. After plnting, sub-surfce irrigtion lines were instlled nd insecticides were dministered through the irrigtion lines twice during the growing seson. The sme insecticide pplictions were mde in 2013 s in First ppliction in both yers occurred when new growth ws strting to emerge, nd second ppliction ws mde in the middle of July, when the summer genertion of miners ws ctively lying eggs. Along with the chemigtion tretments, Movento ws lso tested, which is folir insecticide tht cn trnslocte systemiclly in the plnt. This product ws pplied t two different timings, once 7 dys nd in nother tretment, 14 dys prt. The first ppliction in both cses ws mde when fern ws just beginning to emerge. The thimethoxm-bsed compounds (Pltinum nd Durivo) were the most effective (see figure below) mong the chemigtion tretments. Asprgus miner dmge in plots protected by these two products fell from 50% in the control plots to bout 30%. The longevity of the insecticides in the stems is bout 3-4 weeks.

Use of Mechnicl Hrvesters During the 2013 Growing Seson Ben Werling, Michign Stte University Extension, werlingb@msu.edu The Siler sprgus hrvester.

8 Use of Mechnicl Hrvesters During the 2013 Growing Seson Ben Werling, Michign Stte University Extension, The Siler sprgus hrvester. The Siler Hrvester ws designed nd produced by locl sprgus grower in the 1990s s n lterntive to hnd hrvest of sprgus, given tht lbor is one of the mjor costs of sprgus production. Roughly eight hrvesters hve been produced, with six still present in Michign. The working prt of the mchine consists of potto-digger chin wrpped round preciselysized, plstic-molded sprocket. The guts of the mchine re ground driven, with the chin moving t the sme speed s the ground. Asprgus spers end up between gps in the chin, nd rubber mt lys the sper down nd snps it once the sper reches the sprocket, which is t the rer. The sper is then crried by centrifugl force up nd round nd dropped onto conveyer belt. The mchines come in both twond three-row models. Becuse the mchine is non-selective it hrvests every sper bove minimum height it wstes hrvestble spers. A 1996 study by Michign Stte University Extension found this reduction in efficiency offset the benefit of reduced lbor requirements, mking the Siler Hrvester not competitive with hnd hrvest. However, the study lso showed tht if lbor costs incresed t fster rte thn other costs, the Siler could become competitive. A two-row Siler Hrvester used by locl sprgus grower during the 2013 growing seson.

A three row Siler Hrvester used by locl sprgus grower during the 2013 growing seson. Wether nd lbor sprk interest in 2013.

9 A three row Siler Hrvester used by locl sprgus grower during the 2013 growing seson. Wether nd lbor sprk interest in West Michign sprgus growers re used to producing high qulity crop despite lbor nd wether chllenges, nd 2013 ws no exception. One of the unique spects of 2013 ws spring freeze which killed ny developing spers tht were bove ground followed by period of summer-like wether. This creted sitution where growers went from hving nothing to pick one weekend to hving sprgus spers growing extremely rpidly 7 dys lter. As result, some growers hd to mow percentge of their sprgus crege t tht time s it grew too fst for lbor to keep up with plnt growth. During this period, number of growers used Siler Hrvesters to ctch up nd slvge t lest some sprgus, which ws sold for cuts nd tips. This sitution lso prompted purchse of used Siler mchines fter the growing seson by other producers. In ddition, growers report wges for hrvest lbor were higher lst yer. Dt from the Hrt, MI Ntionl Wether Service sttion show how tempertures dipped nd then incresed in spring The dip in tempertures froze erly pickings of sprgus, which left nothing to pick for the next week. However, s tempertures rebounded sprgus grew rpidly, mking it difficult for hrvesters to keep up with crop growth.

10 This suggests there my be renewed plce for the Siler Hrvester mong the tools used by sprgus growers. First, it my be possible to use it s insurnce for times when sprgus is growing fster thn it cn be picked, recouping t lest some of the losses tht occur when n sprgus picking is mowed. Second, lbor costs my be especilly difficult to bsorb for smller frm opertions, which my hve < 100 cres of sprgus, nd my mintin lbor housing just for this crop. In this sitution, the Siler Hrvester could provide n lterntive. Key questions to ddress. To mke n ccurte ssessment of the potentil for the Siler Hrvester to gin be produced nd become lrger prt of West Michign sprgus production, few questions remin to be ddressed. First, 1996 MSU study of the Siler mchine found tht increses in lbor costs could mke the mchine competitive, or even more economicl, thn hnd hrvest in some situtions. While locl producers hve good sense of wges, there re other costs for lbor, one of which is mintennce of housing. An ccurte ssessment of current lbor costs will llow us to determine if the Siler Mchine hs become more economiclly competitive. Tips for using the Siler Hrvester. For those who recently purchsed mchine, n interview with its inventor suggested few key tips for its use. These re bsed on his experience with the mchine. It is best to hrvest when spers re bout 10 with the hrvester s height set to cut 2 bove the ground, which will hrvest spers close to the 7.5 sper needed for processing Hrvest fter 9:00 A.M., before this time spers re covered in dew, which results in mud nd snd sticking to spers In ddition, if spers re hrvested too erly in the morning they will be cold nd brittle nd will snp before they re crried up nd over onto the collection belt If you must hrvest when tempertures re cold, reduce speed to void breking brittle spers When tempertures re hotter thn norml, increse trctor speed, s spers will be more plible nd hrder to snp An verge speed for hrvesting is ~ 5 mph References Purdy, TW, Myers, NL, & RE Hepp Economics of Mechnicl Hrvesting of Asprgus. Deprtment of Agriculturl Economics, Michign Stte University, Est Lnsing, MI. Stff Pper

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO Michigan Greenhouse Growers EXPO. December 4-6, DeVos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids, MI

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO Michigan Greenhouse Growers EXPO. December 4-6, DeVos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids, MI Gret Lkes Fruit, Vegetble & Frm Mrket EXPO Michign Greenhouse Growers EXPO December 4-6, 2012 DeVos Plce Convention Center, Grnd Rpids, MI Crrot Where: Gllery Overlook (upper level) Room C MI Recertifiction