Biocontrol Nematodes Help Keep Strawberry Pest In Check
March 4, 2014 New York strawberry growers are hearing about a promising treatment for their fruit crop based on the success of a Cornell University entomologist applying microscopic worms to beat back a highly-destructive alfalfa crop pest. Dr. Elson Shields expects to confirm the success of field trials with native-New York nematodes to control two species of weevils in strawberry crops this year.
“Like alfalfa snout beetle, strawberry root weevil and black vine weevil are difficult to control with conventional pesticides, but they are very susceptible to attack by the biocontrol nematodes,” says Shields, who received an Entomological Society of America Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management in 2013.
Shields estimates weevil damage at $20,000-$30,000 of economic loss at the regional berry farm hosting the nematode research trials.
The Shields Lab at Cornell will complete a series of soil tests this spring to confirm the effectiveness of the nematodes for controlling the berry pests.
“Based on our years of experience with biocontrol nematodes, we expect to document an excellent level of control in the berry fields in May 2014. We also expect the nematodes to persist within the soil of the strawberry production environment for a number of years to continue to minimize the root damage by the root weevils,” Shields says.
To learn more about the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program which receives funding through the New York State Senate for agricultural research, technical assistance and educational outreach in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, visit the website at www.nnyagdev.org. The website includes a manual for the on-farm rearing of biocontrol nematodes.
Source: Cornell University News Release
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