Transcript HORTICULTURE_files/Unit 14 - Plant Pests and Treatment

Plant Pests
• Affect the productivity and reproduction of a plant
– Can even destroy the plant
• Animals
– Deer, skunks, armadillos, raccoons, rabbits, rats
• Diseases: An organism that reacts with its environment
to cause abnormality
– Environmental
– Nutrient deficiencies
– Pollution
– Weather
Diseases
• Abiotic: Noninfectious diseases
• Biotic: Infectious and transmittable diseases
caused by pathogens
– Pathogen: Disease causing organism
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Viruses
Insects
• A class of arthropods with segmented bodies and legs,
exoskeleton, two antennae, and compound eyes
– Over 800,00 species in the world
– Less than 1,000 are plant pests
– Less than 100 are problems for turf and ornamental
plants
• Some, like lady bugs and praying mantis, eat harmful
insects
Nematodes
• Worm-like creatures that live in the soil
• Do not have segmented bodies or appendages
– 2,000 of the species are plant parasites
• Ecto-parasitic
• Endo-parasitic
• Semi-endo-parasitic
Weeds
• A weed is any plant that is growing where it should not
• They force the desired plant to compete for:
– Light
– Water
– Nutrients
– Space
• Foster insects and disease
• Take away from the appearance of a
landscape
Controlling Pests
• Biological
– Using living organisms as predators
• Cultural
– Management techniques to limit the presence or
severity of pests
• Mechanical
– Traps, temperature extremes, hand removal, cultivation
• Genetic
– Uses biotechnology to manipulate pest’s genes
• Chemical
– Pesticides
Pesticide Labels
Includes the pesticide’s:
• Name
• Ingredient list
• Directions for use
• Statement of practical
treatment
• Precautionary Statements
Pesticide Application
• The PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE):
– Long-sleeve shirt and pants or overalls
– Rubber boots
– Hair pulled back and in a cap or hat
– Rubber gloves
– Goggles
– Respirator or oxygen mask
– Rubber bands over the cuff of
pants and boots
Storage and Disposal
• Limit pesticide purchase to the amount needed for a
single growing season
• Never store near flammable materials, food, medicine,
or cleaning supplies
• Mark with purchase date
• When disposing DO NOT contaminate:
– Water supplies
– Ground
– Air
Integrated Pest Management
• Best management practices (BMPs): use research and
knowledge and apply them to pest management
• Integrated pest management (IPM): Goal is to
maintain high quality plants with the least amount of
environmental damage
Integrated Pest Management
• Action Thresholds
– Level of pest control needed
based on pest populations and
environmental conditions
• Identify and Monitor Pests
– Look at the pest and host
• Prevention
– Keep pests from being a threat
• Control
– Evaluate all possible measures:
mechanical, biological, chemical