- Author: Therese Kapaun
This week Lindcove REC is performing the annual citricola scale counts, to determine what type of treatment is warranted this year, if at all. Some San Joaquin Valley citricola scale populations are known to be resistant to Lorsban, an organophosphate pesticide. Other treatment options are available, such as using softer pesticides that are less lethal to natural enemies. One hundred leaves are plucked from each block, and healthy first instar nymphs are counted under a dissecting microscope.
For detailed citrus pest descriptions, as well as pest management and treatment strategies, visit Beth Grafton-Cardwell's citrus website www.ucanr.org/sites/kaccitrusentomology/ where you can also view or subscribe to her citrus blog http://ucanr.org/sites/KACCitrusEntomology/Citrus_Pest_Blog/
In addition, you can click on this link to citricola scale from the UC IPM Online website http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107301511.html
- Author: Therese Kapaun
Lindcove staff member Gerardo Perez is budding the scion Parent navel to Carrizo rootstock for an upcoming research project. First a T-cut is made on the rootstock plant through the bark just deep enough to reach the cambium layer. Then an individual bud from the scion budstick is cut away, cutting through the cambium layer. The bud is slotted into the T-cut so that the two cambium layers will fuse and grow together over several weeks. The newly slotted bud is wrapped tightly with non-sticky stretch tape and left in place until new vegetative growth from the scion appears under the tape.
- Author: Therese Kapaun
Three times each year the Citrus Clonal Protection Program (CCPP) at UC Riverside conducts a budwood cut at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center. The citrus trees that provide the budwood are grown inside Lindcove’s protective screened buildings and the budwood is distributed from LREC to the nursery industry. The screening prevents insect vectors such as aphids and psyllids from reaching the trees and potentially infecting them with diseases. All CCPP screenhouse trees are tested several times per year to ensure they are free of all known citrus diseases. The next budwood cut is planned for September. For more information about the CCPP's mission, facilities, variety descriptions, and citrus diseases log on to http://ccpp.ucr.edu/index.html
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
A portion of the roads around the main buildings at Lindcove are being reworked and paved. This is a very much appreciated upgrade provided by UC Ag and Natural Resources.
- Author: Therese Kapaun
Dr. Frank Byrne is an Associate Researcher with the Dept. of Entomology, UC Riverside. He is conducting neonicotinoid uptake research trials at Lindcove REC, to test the efficacy of these systemic pesticides as a control measure for Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid can be applied directly to the soil, injected into irrigation drip lines, sprayed onto tree trunks, or placed as slow-release tablets into greenhouse pots as shown here. The tree takes up the insecticide and moves it into new leaves, which is important for killing nymphal stages of the psyllid. This project is in its third year of testing and includes leaf collections from outdoor and indoor trials to determine the efficacy of the treatments, as well as nectar collections during bloom to determine the impact of neonicotinoids on bees. Dr. Byrne is assisted by Richard Aubert (left) and Tim Roose (center), also from UC Riverside.