Global warming may fuel aggressive weeds
Higher levels of carbon dioxide — a side effect of global warming — are pumping up weed growth. Weeds grown under urban conditions of higher temperatures and more carbon dioxide grew up to 4 times higher than weeds in a country plot 40 miles outside the city in a USDA-ARS study. "As the climate and carbon dioxide levels change, we can no longer assume the weed control strategies we used in the past will continue to work," said Lewis Ziska, a USDA researcher who led the study. "Not only are some of the nation's most invasive weeds spreading, but they are becoming more difficult and costly to control."
5 Magnolia species to be added to P. ramorum host list
USDA's APHIS intends to add 5 new species or hybrids of Magnolia to the Phytophthora ramorum host list in the near future. The impetus for these additions is positive confirmations for the pathogen in United Kingdom gardens and at a nursery in British Columbia, Canada, according to Calif. Oak Mortality Task Force. Symptoms found on the magnolias included leaf necrosis, stem dieback and 1 stem canker.
Fruit fly eradication program shows returns
A research program to control exotic fruit flies in Hawaii has had an economic return of better than 30%. The Hawaii Area Wide Fruit Fly Integrated Pest Management (HAW-FLYPM) program is a cooperative effort of USDA's ARS, Univ. of Hawaii Cooperative Extension and Hawaii Dept. of Ag. The HAW-FLYPM program was developed to control 4 foreign fruit fly species: Mediterranean fruit fly, melon fly, Oriental fruit fly and Malaysian fruit fly. Within 3 years of the program's start, researchers knew it worked scientifically and that growers could apply it for themselves. But for growers to continue with the program, real economic benefit needed to be demonstrated. Economist Andrew M. McGregor conducted a cost-benefit analysis, totaling benefits to growers, households and the public at 32% return on an investment of $14 million over 15 years.
Growers needed to supply trees to Big Apple
New York City is embarking on an ambitious One Million Tree planting campaign. The city hopes to set up contracts with nurseries to grow large quantity of trees. If you're interested, contact Matthew Stephens, sr. forester in the NYC Dept. of Parks and Rec.: (718) 760-6882.
Species discovered to battle hemlock pest
Researchers at Oregon State Univ. have discovered 2 likely candidates for biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid, an insect about the size of a small ant that sucks the juices from tree needles, ultimately killing the tree. The 2 species of Chamaemyiidae flies are similar to related species that have successfully been used for biological control of pests in Hawaii and Chile. It appears these flies prey only on adelgids and have a life history that is closely synchronized with the pest. "The potential of this species for biological control looks very promising at this point," said Darrell Ross, professor of forest science at OSU. "With biocontrol it's always hard to predict what will work and what won't, but flies very similar to these have worked well elsewhere." Various other predators have been used in attempted biological control of this pest, so far with no proven success.
Web site provides energy-saving tips
A new online resource developed by Mich. State Univ. provides information that can help nursery growers save on energy costs. The Greenhouse Energy Cost Reduction Strategies Web site was developed by hort. professor Erik Runkle and grad. student Matthew Blanchard. Visitors can locate timely information on topics such as greenhouse lighting, temperature and scheduling, energy-saving technologies, alternative fuels and energy grant and loan programs. The site includes a compilation of studies on how to reduce energy costs conducted by researchers from MSU and other universities. Though the site is targeted at Michigan growers, the information is applicable to many other regions of the northern U.S. with similar climate patterns.
Discovering the world of sustainability
2 companies announce a joint venture to develop and commercialize new bio-packaging products for the horticulture industry. Project: Green Industry
Worth a visit
Pest identification is the first step to management. Keep a watchful eye for these plant pests. Only on GreenBeamPro.com.
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