Topics in Subtropics

Topics in Subtropics Blog
You can subscribe to this  blog with multiple entries per week reflecting what's happening with subtropical crops and upcoming educational events.  Just click on the "Subscribe" button just to the right of this paragraph.  There's also our seasonal quarterly Topics in Subtropics newsletter found at our Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare and Kern Counties Cooperative Extension websites.

Pollinator Plantings Workshop

March 16, 2026
By Ben A Faber
Lockeford Plant Materials CenterSpring Field DayFocus on Pollinator PlantingsApril 15, 2026 – 9:30 - 12pm Location: Lockeford PMC, 21001 N. Elliott Rd., Lockeford, CA 95237A Trip to the…
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ALB symptoms

Avocado Lace Bug Revealed

March 4, 2026
By Ben A Faber
To address the growing threat of Avocado Lace Bug, the California Avocado Commission sought out industry experts to educate growers on the issue and produced an informational video to assist growers in early detection of the invasive pest. The video, featuring industry experts Tom Roberts, Pest Control…
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mulch

Mulch Effect on Root Rot

March 4, 2026
By Ben A Faber
Organic mulches are reported to control root rot of avocado, caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi.  A possible mechanism for this control is enzyme (specifically cellulase and glucanase) production by the large microbial population supported by the mulch, which can degrade the cell walls of the pathogen…
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Guava Pest Alert

March 4, 2026
By Bodil N Cass
Residential and commercial guava growers in California are asked to be on the lookout for Cardin’s Whitefly (Metaleurodicus cardini, (Back) Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). This pest is not known to be established in the environment in California; however, it is intercepted on incoming plant shipments at a…
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