Plant Sciences Commons^™

Providing Pest Management Education For Home Gardeners In Utah, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

In January 2024, Utah State University (USU) Extension's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program launched a three-part class series targeting Utah's home gardeners. The goal was to enhance their abilities in identifying and managing insect and plant diseases. With over 200 participants, the series notably increased the knowledge of attendees. This initiative aligns with the USU Extension IPM program's mission to promote sustainable pest management practices across Utah, evidencing its commitment to environmental stewardship and community education.

Dwarf Bunt In Winter Wheat, Justin Clawson, Claudia Nischwitz, Margaret Krause, Will Krause

All Current Publications

Dwarf bunt or stinking smut is a disease that impacted Utah winter wheat production in the 1930s, resulting in fields with 95% infections. Breeding and selection of resistant varieties has irradiated the disease. As organic production of winter wheat increases, selecting resistant varieties will become of utmost importance to prevent crop loss.

Demonstration Farm Provides Educational Opportunity For Ipm, Nick Volesky, Mair Murray

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The mission of USU Extension’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is to increase the use of sustainable pest management practices within urban and rural landscapes to provide economic, human, and environmental health in Utah. In the spring of 2022, the IPM program established a vegetable farm to test and demonstrate IPM practices. The farm served as an experiential learning classroom for almost 50 farmers and home gardeners.

The Backyard Garden - Leafy Greens Pests, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information about the diseases that affect leafy greens. It includes general information, other hosts, disease symptoms to watch for, and management options.

The Backyard Garden - Tomato Pests, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

This fact sheet contains information about pests and diseases that affect tomatoes. It includes general information and guidance on severity, other hosts, symptoms, and management.

The Backyard Garden - Cole Crops Pests, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

This fact sheet contains information about pests and diseases that affect cole crops. Cole crops are plants that belong to the mustard (Brassica) family, including hardy, cool-season crops such as broccoli, kohlrabi, cabbage, rutabaga, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and turnips. The fact sheet offers general information and guidance on severity, other hosts, symptoms, and management.

Helping Utah Landowners Reduce Pesticide Use Through A Statewide Ipm Program, Nick Volesky, Mair Murray

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Utah Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program provides outreach and education to Utahns to reduce pesticide use and ultimately protect human and environmental health. In 2022, the IPM program responded to stakeholders’ needs by partnering with county Extension offices to deliver eight (8) in-person workshops across the state. The workshops connected Extension specialists and county faculty with managers of home landscapes and farms. The objective of the workshops was to provide participants with IPM skills to identify, monitor, and manage pest problems in preparation for the upcoming growing season.

Abiotic Disorders Of Tomatoes, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Sheriden M. Hansen, Maegen A. Lewis

All Current Publications

Monitoring tomato plants regularly from seedling to harvest allows for early detection of abnormal conditions. Although tomato plants can be attacked by a variety of living organisms (insects, mites, pathogens, vertebrates), nonliving (abiotic) conditions can cause just as much damage. Abiotic diseases in tomato plants can arise from nutrient deficiencies, temperature extremes, abnormal lighting, chemical application, changes in water uptake, mechanical damage, genetic mutations, and more. This guide will cover most of the abiotic disorders and diseases that can affect tomatoes in Utah.

Big Bud Disease In Tomatoes And Peppers, Claudia Nischwitz, Erin Petrizzo

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information on the symptoms of big bud on tomatoes and peppers. It reviews the disease cycle and recommendations on controlling beet leafhopper and managing big bud disease in Utah.

Fusarium And Verticillium Wilts Of Vegetables, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Claudia Nischwitz

All Current Publications

Fusarium wilt and Verticillium wilt are soilborne plant diseases that attack vascular tissue. They cause similar symptoms in their hosts and are difficult to manage as they can survive in the soil for many years. Once a plant is infected, there is no treatment or cure. Therefore, management should focus on preventive and cultural control practices. This fact sheet identifies the many vegetables susceptible to these pathogens in Utah and reviews symptoms, diagnosis, and ways to prevent these diseases.

Vegetable Diseases Of Utah, Claudia Nischwitz, Marion Murray, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

This guide provides a list of vegetable crop diseases that have been documented in Utah along with some that are likely to occur. Plant diseases are caused by pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, and fungal-like organisms. Diagnosing specific plant diseases takes careful observation of signs, symptoms, and sometimes culturing and molecular testing in a laboratory setting.

Lily Leaf Beetle, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears

All Current Publications

The lily leaf beetle (LLB) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an important pest from Eurasia that threatens native and cultivated true lilies (Lilium spp.) and fritillaries (Fritillaria spp.). It is also known as the red lily leaf beetle or scarlet lily beetle. LLB was first reported in North America in Montréal, Canada, in 1945 and in the U.S. in 1992 in Massachusetts, likely arriving via European shipments of lily bulbs. LLB has been detected in nine of the 10 Canadian provinces and 14 U.S. states, including the New England states, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington (EDDMapS, 2021). Based on LLB’s native distribution …

Powdery Mildews On Vegetables, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Claudia Nischwitz

All Current Publications

Powdery mildew is one of the most easily recognized fungal plant diseases. It is categorized by spots or patches of white-to-gray powder-like growth on foliage, stems, or fruit. Roughly 700 species exist that infect grasses, ornamentals, weeds, fruit trees, landscape trees, shrubs, and vegetables. The closely related species of fungi that cause powdery mildew are host-specific, meaning they cannot survive without the proper host. Powdery mildew fungi spread in conditions of low rainfall and hot temperatures, making Utah’s climate the perfect environment. This fact sheet provides information on powdery mildew and its management.

Corn Smut (Ustilago Maydis), Kalen Taylor, Nick Volesky, Claudia Nischwitz, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

Corn smut is caused by the fungus Ustilago maydis. Smut rarely occurs in Utah and is not considered economically important for grain production. For home gardeners and small farms, serious smut infections on sweet corn can cause ears to be inedible. U. maydis spreads from plant to plant by wind-borne or water-splashed spores onto silks or through existing wounds. Therefore, keeping corn plants insect- and disease-free reduces the number of entry points for infections. This fact sheet reviews the disease cycle, identification, and management.

Mancha Anular Necrótica Y Mancha De Verano Del Césped, Claudia Nischwitz, Kelly Kopp, Jaydee Gunnell, Kent Evans, Erin Frank, Celina Wille

All Current Publications

La mancha anular necrótica y mancha de verano del césped son enfermedades fúngicas que infectan los pastos de estación fría y causan síntomas similares. Los síntomas comienzan como un crecimiento deficiente y marchitez de las hojas, que se convierten en parches marrones obvios que varían de 1 a 3 pies de diámetro. Debido a los síntomas similares que se observan en la infección por ambos patógenos, se necesita un microscopio para diagnosticar adecuadamente cada enfermedad. El manejo de ambas enfermedades puede ser difícil y frecuentemente requiere una combinación de técnicas de control cultural, químico y varietal.

Expression Analysis Of Plant Defense Responses During The Establishment Of Biotrophy And Role Of Abiotic Stress In The Infection Of Dyer’S Woad (Isatis Tinctoria) By Puccinia Thlaspeos, Elizabeth Thomas

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The kinetics and amplitude of the salicylic acid-responsive pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and the cytochrome P450 gene ItCYP79B2 in the compatible interaction between Puccinia thlaspeos and dyer’s woad (Isatis tinctoria) during the first 72 hours of inoculation were examined. Immediately following penetration of the host by the rust pathogen, there was a modest up-regulation of PR genes but a significant down-regulation of ItCYP79B2 expression. During haustoria formation, a significant pathogen-mediated suppression of PR genes was observed with a corresponding up-regulation of ItCYP79B2. This potentially facilitates haustoria formation by P. thlaspeos. After haustoria formation, a more …

In Vitro Morphogenesis And Mutation Of Glycine Max L., Thomas Daniel Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Soybean (Glycine max L. c.v. Consoy) tissue cultures were grown in synthetic media containing various concentrations and combinations of minerals, auxins, cytokinins, pH levels, and inorganic growth factors in a systematic procedure to establish optimum media for initiation and maintenance of callus. Further modification of the hormone level was employed to initiate callus morphogenesis. Normally toxic levels of atrazine were established in soybean calli media, and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and X ray-induced mutant calli were selected for atrazine tolerance.

Optimal media for initiation and maintenance of soybean calli were developed and a defined medium was determined that consistently yields …

The Action Of Antibiotics And Antimetabolites On The Tobacco Mosaic Virus Infection Process In Bean Leaves, Virendra Nayyar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The action of 28 antibiotics and antimetabolites at varying concentrations was studied in coincidence with the bioassay of tobacco mosaic virus on detached bean leaves by using an ultrasonic method of inoculation developed by Lamborn, Cochran and Chidester.¹ All tested chemicals were classified, in regard to the virus infection process, as inhibitory or stimulatory and their optimal concentrations in the inoculum were determined. Of the 28 antibiotics and antimetabolites studied, eight were found to stimulate while twenty inhibited TMV infection in bean leaves. From the results of these experiments, an attempt was made to characterize the nature of the …

Overwintering Of Erwinia Amylovora Inside Living Host Tissue In Cache Valley, Utah, G. Doyle Morrill

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Experiments were conducted to see if Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslow et al. overwinters inside living host tissue in Utah. Bacteria, collected from apple, pear, mountain ash, chokecherry and Pyracantha, were used in the experiment. Isolates taken from buds and inner bark plated on nutrient yeast dextrose agar, we re tested by serological and bacteriophage techniques. Those showing positive tests were then inoculated into Bartlett pear seedlings to test virulence.

Both virulent and avirulent isolates were isolated from each species of plant in the experiment. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from diseased tissue near cankers, as well as from apparently healthy inner …

Red Raspberry Root Rot In Northern Utah, Robert L. Powelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

During the last few years, red raspberry growers in Utah have been finding that plantings gradually lose vigor and are not profitable. In the largest raspberry growing area in Utah, Utah County, figures taken from the U.S. census from 1930 to 1950, show a decrease in acres of raspberries grown from 401 in 1930 to 190 in 1950 (2). In many instances this deterioration of raspberry plantings in Utah has not been definitely associated with known plant pathogenic fungi or virus infections. Neither can the expansion of suburbs account for this decrease. In certain cases it has been obvious that …

An Etiological And Host Range Study Of Celery Mosaic In Utah, Dennis H. Hall

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Celery mosaic is a virus disease of major economic importance in Utah. In years of severe epiphytotics, it has been a limiting factor in celery production. In 1947 losses due to this disease were estimated to exceed 8 per cent of the total crop. This estimate does not include losses resulting from reduction in grade or from plants discarded in the packing sheds. The celery acreage in Utah dropped from a high of 950 acres in 1946 to 750 acres in 1947 and dropped again in 1948 to 420 acres. Leaders in the industry attributed this reduction in acreage, in …