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- Author or Editor: John C. Williams x
Abstract
Cuttings of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.) treated with a basal dip of 0.1% indolebutyric acid (IBA) alone (control) or in combination with 5% ferbam (ferric dimethyldithiocarbamate), benomyl [methyl 1-(butyl-carbamoyl)-2-benzimida-zole-carbamate], metalaxyl [N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(methoxyacetyl) alanine methyl ester], PCNB (pentachloronitrobenzene), and ethazol (5-ethoxy-3-tricloromethyl-l,2,4-thiadiazole) did not differ in rooting index or weight. Increasing the percentage of fungicide above 5% generally reduced rooting. However, rooting was similar to the control with combinations of ferbam at 5% to 67% or metalaxyl at 20%. Fenaminosulf (p-dimethylaminobenzenediazo sodium sulfonate) at 5% to 67% reduced rooting.
Abstract
Spagnum peat, perlite, vermiculite, and six media formulated (by volume) from these constituents (2:1, 1:1, 1:2 peat: perlite; 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 peat: vermiculite) were limed with 0, 0.9, 1.8, 2.7. 3.6, 5.4, 7.2, and 9.0 kg∙m−3 dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2]. Media were wet to container capacity with distilled/deionized (d/d) water, incubated at 25° ±3°C, and pH determined at day 0, 2, 5, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 84. Liming reactions in mixes could not be predicted from reactions occurring in sphagnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite constituents alone. Although sphagnum peat made the major contribution to liming reactions, both perlite and vermiculite were found to contribute to liming responses of media in which they were incorporated. The major portion of pH change due to incorporation of pulverized dolomite in peat-based media occurred within 2 days. Change in pH was complete within 14 days.
Abstract
All fungicides applied as dips to polyurethane propagation cubes prior to propagation of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.) cuttings inhibited rooting at the concentrations employed. Least inhibition of rooting resulted from dips containing (per liter) either 37 mg metalaxyl [N-(2,6 dimethylphenyl)-N-(methoxyacetyl) alanine methyl ester] 25 WP plus 300 mg ferbam (ferric dimethyldithiocarbamate) 76 WP, 500 mg ferbam 76WP, or 599 mg benomyl [methyl l-(butyl-carbamoyl)-2-benzimidazole-carbamate] 50 WP. Treatments containing fenaminosulf (p-dimethylaminobenzenediazo sodium sulphonate) 35 WP inhibited rooting most. The PCNB (pentachloronitrobenzene) 75 WP treatment also caused low root counts.
Abstract
A container growing medium of 2 peat : 1 perlite (v/v) was limed with 0, 0.9, 1.8, 2.7, 3.6, 5.4, 7.2, and 9.0 kg·m–3 dolomite. Media were irrigated with water, providing alkalinity equivalent to 0, 38, and 371 mg·liter–1 CaCO3. Samples were incubated at 25° ± 3°C and pH determined at days 2, 5, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 84. Irrigating with even moderately alkaline water over three months increased pH substantially above levels resulting from dolomite amendments alone.
Abstract
An isolate of Thielaviopsis basicola (Berk. & Br.) Ferraris from Ilex crenata Thunb. was highly pathogenic to susceptible hollies while the isolate from Pelargonium × hortorum L.H. Bailey was less pathogenic. Various ratios of pine bark and sphagnum peatmoss did not suppress T. basicola on susceptible hollies. Of the cultivars tested, I. crenata ‘Helleri’ and I. pernyi Franch were most susceptible, while I. aquifolium L. × I. cornuta Lindl. and Paxt. ‘Nellie R. Stevens’, I. cornuta ‘Burfordii’ × I. peryni ‘Lydia Morris’, and I. cornuta ‘Burfordii Nana’ were the most resistant to T. basicola. I. crenata ‘Helleri’, grown in a medium with a pH of 5.0 or 6.0, had less black root rot development than similar plants in a medium with a pH of 6.5.
A 2-year field study in Lexington, Ky., evaluated weed control efficacy and influence on yields of several organic mulches in two organically managed bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) production systems. Five weed control treatments [straw, compost, wood chips, undersown white dutch clover (Trifolium repens) “living mulch,” and the organically approved herbicide corn gluten] were applied to two production systems consisting of peppers planted in double rows in either flat, bare ground or on black polyethylene-covered raised beds. In the first year, treatments were applied at transplanting and no treatment was found to provide acceptable season-long weed control. As a result, bell pepper yields in both production systems were very low due to extensive weed competition. First year failures in weed control required a modification of the experimental protocol in the second year such that treatment application was delayed for 6 weeks, during which time three shallow cultivations were used to reduce early weed pressure and extend the control provided by the mulches. This approach increased the average weed control rating provided by the mulches from 45% in 2003 to 86% in 2004, and resulted in greatly improved yields. In both years, polyethylene-covered raised beds produced higher yields than the flat, bare ground system (8310 lb/acre compared to 1012 lb/acre in 2003 and 42,900 lb/acre compared to 29,700 lb/acre in 2004). In the second year, the polyethylene-covered bed system coupled with mulching in-between beds with compost or wood chips provided excellent weed control and yields. When using the wood chip mulch, which was obtained at no cost, net returns were $5587/acre, which is similar to typical returns for conventionally grown peppers in Kentucky. Net returns were substantially decreased when using compost due to the purchase cost. Results from this study indicate that shallow cultivation following transplanting, combined with midseason mulch application, resulted in high yields in an organically managed bell pepper system that were comparable to yields of most varieties grown conventionally in a variety trial conducted on the same farm.
Thirty-eight leafy greens, eight kale (Brassica oleracea acephala group), nine mustard (Brassica juncea), six arugula (Eruca sativa), five swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla), five collards (B. oleracea acephala group), and five turnip (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa) varieties were evaluated during Spring and Fall 2007–08 to determine suitability for organic production with respect to yield and stability. Trials were conducted on certified organic land using organic production practices. For mustard, kale, collards, and arugula, there were significant variety by season by year interactions. Despite these interactions, some varieties consistently performed well throughout the trial. ‘Florida Broadleaf’ was the highest yielding mustard in three of the four seasons evaluated. ‘Siberian’, ‘White Russian’, and ‘Red Russian’ were in the highest yielding group of kale varieties for overall yield. For collards, ‘Georgia/Southern’ and ‘Flash’ were part of the highest yielding group as determined by Duncan’s multiple range test in three of the four seasons examined. Turnip and swiss chard had significant year by variety interactions. Overall yields of ‘Alamo’ and ‘Alltop’, both F1 hybrids, were better than other turnip varieties assessed. Despite the interaction, ‘Fordhook Giant’ had superior yields in both years of the study. Arugula performance was significantly and negatively affected in Spring 2008. Overall, ‘Astro’, ‘Apollo’, and ‘Arugula’ had the greatest yields. This trial was designed to provide recommendations specifically for organic growers marketing directly to consumers.
The eriophyid mite, Phyllocoptes fructiphilus, vectors the causal agent, Rose rosette virus (RRV), that results in rose rosette disease. Parts of the southeastern United States have remained free of the disease, except for infected plant material introductions that were eradicated. A survey of sampling points through Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi (n = 204) revealed the southeastern border of RRV. The presence of RRV in symptomatic plant tissue samples (n = 39) was confirmed by TaqMan-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Samples were also collected at every plot for detection of eriophyid mites, specifically for P. fructiphilus. Three different species of eriophyid mites were found to be generally distributed throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Most of these sites (n = 60) contained P. fructiphilus, found further south than previously thought, but in low populations (<10 mites/gram of tissue) south of the RRV line of incidence. Latitude was found to be significantly correlated with the probability of detecting RRV-positive plants, but plant hardiness zones were not. Plot factors such as plant size, wind barriers, and sun exposure were found to have no effect on P. fructiphilus or the presence of RRV. The reason for the absence of RRV and low populations of P. fructiphilus in this southeast region of the United States are unclear.