Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit
2024 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Evaluate various fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides for phytotoxicity and/or efficacy on floral and nursery crop plants in support of label expansion through the IR-4 regional project.
Approach
Selected floral and nursery crop species will be grown in the greenhouse, ground beds, or field plantings and treated according to specific protocols (timing, concentrations) with selected fungicides, insecticides, or herbicides. In some cases, chemicals will be tested for efficacy, but mostly they will be tested on plants for phytotoxicity. Data will be submitted for inclusion in the IR-4 Minor Use Testing Program.
Progress Report
This report documents FY 2024 progress for project 0500-00007-114-000D, “Minor Use Pesticide Testing on Floral and Nursery Crops”, which began in October 2020.
ARS scientists in Corvallis, Oregon, are evaluating fungicides and other pesticides for phytotoxicity effects on floral and nursery crop plants in support of label expansion through the Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) project. All phytotoxicity experiments from previous years were completed in 2023. Training is underway to teach the IR-4 technician how to conduct efficacy experiments to test 11 pesticides for control of boxwood blight. Forty-four crop safety trials are also in progress to test 11 different fungicides, biologicals, or insecticides on a wide range of ornamental annuals, perennials, and shrubs (Gerbera daisy, Begonia, Calibrachoa, Dahlia, Fountain Grass, Geranium, Chrysanthemum, Hydrangea, Impatiens, Pansy, Pepper, Periwinkle, Petunia, Poinsettia, Hibiscus, Silvergrass, and Zinnia). Test results are reported to IR-4 project managers at Rutgers and ARS, then forwarded to the product manufacturer to meet their request to expand pesticide labels to include the tested ornamental plants. This information helps register novel fungicides, biologicals, and insecticides for managing the diseases and pests of ornamental and other specialty crops.
Accomplishments
