Several designs for yellow sticky traps where placed on the periphery of cotton and lettuce fields and evaluated to determine the most efficient type for capturing bandedwinged and sweetpotato whiteflies. Cylindrical traps caught more (55% of the total) than the other designs; upward-facing horizontal traps caught 26 %, vertical traps 16% and downward- facing horizontal traps 3 %. The number of both species of whiteflies captured by the various designs placed around fields was compared with the number caught on traps in lettuce field interiors. Catches from cylindrical and upward-facing horizontal traps were consistantly correlated at high levels with field populations. Traps placed at ground level caught a significantly higher number of whiteflies when compared with those placed at 50 and 100 centimeters (81% of the total versus 11% and 7% respectively). Aerial traps displayed more variation with field populations than did ground level traps.

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Methyl anthranilate (MA) did not provide effective repellent effects when applied to crops to prevent stand reduction by birds. When compared to crops protected by netting and to untreated plots, greater crop stand reduction was observed for MA treated crops. MA at 2.0 pt/A was more efficacious than a lower rate of 1.0 pt/A for certain crops. MA performance was not enhanced by the addition of an adjuvant. Greater activity with birds moving from plant to plant was observed in MA treated crops compared to untreated plants.

Reproductive traits of wasp parasitoids are thought to be strong indicators of their success as biological control agents. Our study looks at the number of eggs produced by the whitefly parasitoid Eretmocerus eremicus. A series of experiments conducted on female wasps reared in the absence of whitefly hosts demonstrated that adult wasps emerge with a large (approximately 54) number of eggs that is retained during the first 2 days of adult life. Eggs are then absorbed steadily until at least 8 days following emergence. The results of this study suggest that the mode of egg production exhibited by E. eremicus is the type where they emerge with all, or nearly all, of their eggs, i.e. they do not produce additional eggs as they age. This information is significant when considering how they find their whitefly hosts and how effective they might be in controlling whitefly numbers.

Studies to examine lettuce aphid population growth on Admire and Platinum treated plants were conducted on head lettuce at the Yuma Agricultural Center. By artificially infesting plants on several lettuce plantings during the spring, the influence of insecticide residual and temperature were measured. Results of five field trials suggest that both Admire and Platinum can have a significant influence on lettuce aphid population growth. Depending on timing of infestation and insecticide residual, significant suppression of population growth can result from the application of these compounds. Infestations initiated at 28 d following Admire application initially resulted in minimal population growth, but later allowed aphids to reproduce at high numbers. In both cases, Admire provided about 90% control of the lettuce aphid population. However, aphid infestations occurring at later periods of plant residual almost always resulted in higher population development. In addition, these studies also support conclusions drawn form last season that suggested lettuce aphid population growth is greatest when ambient temperatures average between 65-70 ºF.

Studies were conducted in the laboratory to investigate how the addition of a insecticides to two sources of Colorado River water would effect the pH of spray mixtures. In addition, we were curious what the effects of various labeled concentrations of buffers, acidifiers, spreader/stickers, and foliar nutrient sprays would have on the pH of spray water. Results showed that in most cases, spray concentration remained alkaline following addition of insecticides and adjuvants, with variations occurring primarily for the OPs. Buffering agents dramatically lowed pH at concentration greater than 0.25% v/v. Studies were also designed to evaluate the knockdown and residual mortality of Success against worms when applied in an acidic spray solution. Bioassays of larval mortality on field-treated foliage showed that knockdown mortality was not affected, but residual efficacy was significantly reduced when Success was applied using acidic (pH 4.2) spray solutions.

Studies were conducted to compare the residual field efficacy of Calypso, compared with soil applications of Admire and foliar sprays of Provado and Actara. The results demonstrate that several insecticide product uses are being developed that offer melon growers management alternatives for controlling whiteflies comparable to what they have experienced with Admire. Calypso showed excellent promise as a foliar, post-planting spray with good residual activity. Two spray applications provided good whitefly control and excellent crop and melon quality. Although we saw a measurable impact on some natural enemies, the compound is supposedly very safe to honeybees. Overall, when directed at low adult and immature densities, Calypso provided 14-21 days of residual control and was capable of preventing yield and quality losses in spring melons. These studies also emphasize, that like the IGRs, these foliar neonicotinoids should be used when whiteflies densities are low and beginning to build. This compound may be available as early as 2002.

Downy mildew of broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage is caused by the fungus Peronospora parasitica. Cool moist environmental conditions favor the development of downy mildew on these crops. Several potential new fungicides were evaluated for control of this disease on broccoli in 2001. The final severity of downy mildew in this trial was moderate. Significant reduction in disease severity compared to nontreated plants was achieved by application of available compounds such as Aliette, Bravo, Maneb, Serenade and Trilogy. The nonregistered chemistries Acrobat, Actigard, Curzate, Flint, BAS 500, DPX-KP481 and Quadris also were active against broccoli downy mildew. Actigard was the superior treatment in this trial, as plants treated with this compound were almost free of disease. The future registration and subsequent availability of one or more of these new chemistries for broccoli and related crops could enhance the overall level of disease control as well as help minimize the risk of development of resistance to fungicides used to manage downy mildew.

A fungicide trial was established at The University of Arizona Marana Agricultural Center in April 2000 to evaluate rotation and timing of application for several fungicides used for control of powdery mildew on cantaloupe. Treatments included seven registered fungicides: azoxystrobin, micronized sulfur, neem extract, potassium bicarbonate, benomyl, thiophanate methyl and trifloxystrobin. Different rotations and timing of application of these fungicides were applied either before or immediately after initial signs of powdery mildew infection and up to three times thereafter depending on rotation scheme. By the second application, disease severity was mild but increased rapidly, and it was severe by the time of the last application. Powdery mildew was controlled to some degree on the upper leaf surface by all treatments. However, efficacy was more variable on the lower leaf surface and was reduced when applications were made only at dates 1 and 2. Results show the increased efficacy of fungicides with systemic or trans-laminar activity and the possibilities of rotations with contact fungicides for resistance management.

Sclerotinia leaf drop in Arizona is caused by two soil-borne fungi, Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum. Moist soil and moderate temperature favor this disease. Some new products in development were evaluated for control of leaf drop on lettuce during the winter vegetable growing season of 2000-2001. Sclerotia of each pathogen were applied to plots after thinning and just before the first of two applications of test compounds. A high level of disease control in the S. minor plots occurred with an appropriate concentration of Plantpro 45, Fluazinam, Contans, BAS 510, BAS 510+BAS 500, Medallion and Serenade. The same products (except Serenade) at an appropriate rate significantly reduced the amount of leaf drop caused by S. sclerotiorum. Elevate did not significantly reduce disease caused by either pathogen. Two of the products tested, Serenade and Contans, are biological control materials. Continued demonstration of efficacy by one or both of these products may provide the opportunity to utilize biological control agents to manage Sclerotinia leaf drop.