Update on the IR-4 Ornamental Horticulture

ProgramCristi L Palmer

IR-4 Ornamental Horticulture Program Manager

l

IR-4 MissionFacilitate registration of

sustainable pest management technology for specialty crops

and minor uses

l

IR-4 Activities on behalf of the Green

Industry:Data development for registration support

Photos by Cristi Palmer

l

Ornamental Horticulture Program Data Summaries – 2015 YTD

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

Average 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber of Trials

Num

ber o

f Sum

mar

ies

Year

InternationalRegistration Support

Other Projects

High Priority Projects

Contributing Trials

l

Ornamental Horticulture Program –Registrations – 2015 YTD

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Average 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber of Trials

Num

ber o

f Reg

istr

atio

ns

Year

Not to be Registered

International Registrations

State Registrations

Federal Amendments

Federal New Registrations

Contributing Trials

l

Ornamental Horticulture Program –Crops Impacted by Registrations – 2015 YTD

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Average 2013 2014 2015

Num

ber o

f Im

pact

ed C

rops

Year

l

l

Setting the Stage• IR-4’s Ornamental Horticulture Program is focused

on finding solutions to high priority issues• Protocol development occurs after priorities have

been decided• Any product not yet registered for the use in

question is considered an ‘A’• Biologics and conventionals are tested side by side

l

Products tested during last decade for pathogen, pest, and weed management

Product TypeNumber of Products Tested

Pathogens Pests WeedsMicrobial 12 (8%) 12 (8%) 0 (0%)Plant Extract 9 (6%) 12 (8%) 6 (10%)Softer Chemistry 30 (19%) 15 (10%) 6 (10%)Conventional 108 (68%) 106 (73%) 51 (81%)Total 159 (100%) 145 (100%) 63 (100%)Microbial = extracts from or living cells of bacteria and fungiPlant Extract = plant derived productsSofter Chemistry = natural products such as oils or saltsConventional = synthetic products developed to interfere with pest biology and includes stabilized forms of natural chemistries

l

Challenges• Biopesticides being placed into protocols originally

designed for chemically-based product screens– Weekly, biweekly, monthly intervals– Screening typically one product throughout experiment rather

than testing rotational programs• Curative versus preventative• Level of inocula/infestation levels• Not all Pythium species are equal• Tank mix incompatibilities• Storage stability and environmental parameters• Potentially dealing with live organisms• Broad versus narrow impacts (target & non-target)

l

Take Home Messages• Out of these challenges, we have updated

protocols to:– improve testing parameters– incorporate clearer guidelines for preventative

application timing– provide guidance on obtaining fresh test materials

• Despite challenges in incorporating biologics into a ‘standard’ screening program, IR-4 continues to develop efficacy and crop safety information to aid in registration and grower adoption

l

30,000+ Crop Uses

101+ Registered Products

23,245 Studies

31,680 Completed Trials

60 – 70 researchers every year

50% of archived records validated

l

IR-4 Activities on behalf of the Green

Industry:Coordination of

research teams for invasive species

Photos by Cristi Palmer

Photo by Cristi Palmer

Boxwood Blight

Research TeamDr. Anton BaudoinDr. Mike BensonDr. JoAnne CrouchDr. Mark CubetaDr. Norm DartMs. Margery DaughtreyDr. Sharon DouglasDr. Anne GouldDr. Chuan HongDr. Kelly IvorsDr. Jim LaMondiaDr. Bob MarraDr. Nina ShishkoffDr. Oney Smith

Photo by Cristi PalmerLocation: Williamsburg, VADate: 9/5/2014

Boxwood Blight

Photo by Cristi PalmerLocation: Hightstown, NJDate: 9/5/2014

Research Goals• Fungicide screening and mitigation

strategies• Cultural control potentials• Effect of sanitizers on conidia and

mycelia• Impact of fungicides on

microsclerotium development• Screening of potential biopesticides

for microslerotium inactivation

Boxwood Blight

• Development of isothermic LAMP detection assay• Boxwood species and cultivar screen for resistance• Cps host range (Pachysandra and Sarcoccoca)• Development of infections under field conditions• Calonectria pseudonaviculata population genetics• Development of epidemiology model based on U.S. temperature and moisture

conditions

Boxwood Blight

Research TeamDr. JoAnne CrouchMs. Margery DaughtreyDr. Anne GouldDr. Mary HausbeckDr. Lina QuesadaDr. Aaron PalmateerDr. Nina Shishkoff

Photo by Cristi PalmerLocation: Cream Ridge, NJDate: Fall 2014

Impatiens Downy Mildew

Boxwood Blight

Photos by Margery Daughtrey

Research Goals• Overwintering of Plasmopora

obducens oospores• Fungicide screening and

rotational strategies• Sporangia and oospore

development and epidemiology• Plasmopora obducens population

genetics• Development of genetic tools for

downy mildews including Impatiens Downy Mildew, Cucurbit Downy Mildew, Hops Downy Mildew, Basil Downy Mildew

Impatiens Downy Mildew

Ornamental Horticulture Pollinator

WorkshopDec 15-16, 2014

Cristi L PalmerIR-4 Ornamental Horticulture

Program Manager

l

Ornamental Horticulture Pollinator Workshop

Outcomes• Better understanding of risk assessment

process and the data needed• Identification of key knowledge gaps• How scientific results are communicated is

important

l

How has IR-4 been so successful?

Collaboration!

Thank you !Funding for IR-4 Research:USDA-NIFAUSDA-ARSUSDA-APHISLand Grant Institutions

Researchers:All the fine researchers throughout the US and in cooperating countries

IR-4 Personnel:Susan

BierbrunnerMichelle FooEdith LurveySatoru Miyazaki

Mika Pringle-Tolson

Marylee RossBecky SiscoEly Vea

Growers:Who donate time to complete the biennial survey and all those plant materials!

Thank you !Photo by Cristi Palmer