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California Agriculture, Vol. 46, No.4

Bt controls tobacco budworm on petunia
Cover:  A resistant tobacco budworm feeds on petunia, unaffected by insecticide applications. Researchers at UC are now managing the pest with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacterium-derived biological control agent. UC;s overall agenda for non-chemical pest control research is set forth in a new book: Beyond Pesticides. Photo by Marvin G. Kinsey
July-August 1992
Volume 46, Number 4

Peer-reviewed research and review articles

In the San Joaquin Valley, cotton aphids have become resistant to commonly used pesticides
by Elizabeth E. Grafton-Cardwell, Thomas F. Leigh, Walter J. Bentley, Peter B. Goodell
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
By reducing or eliminating early season chemical applications, growers can increase beneficial insect populations and reduce the likelihood that cotton aphids will develop resistance.
Laboratory bioassays have demonstrated that cotton aphids are resistant to organophosphate pesticides in many areas Of the Sari Joaquin Valley. Many of the aphids are resistant before they reach newly emerged cotton; their resistance tends to decline at the end of the season. The best management strategy: Avoid using pesticides in spring when they are least effective and natural enemies are abundant, and use pesticides at the end of the season to prevent sticky cotton bolls.
Tobacco budworm, pest of petunias, can be managed with Bt
by Nita A. Davidson, Marvin G. Kinsey, Lester E. Ehler, Gordon W. Frankie
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Two biological control methods were tested, but only Bacillus thuringiensis proved effective.
Damage to petunias by tobacco budworm has reduced the popularity of this colorful summer annual in some parts of California. However, properly timed applications of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can effectively manage budworm in home gardens and in greenhouses. Lacewing applications proved ineffective on petunias, but may control tobacco budworm on other plants.
Dietary change among Latinos of Mexican descent in California
by Eunice Romero-Gwynn, Douglas Gwynn, R Barbara Turner, Gwendolyn Stanford, Estella West, Eunice Williamson, Louis Grivetti, Roger McDonald
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Encouraging increases in fruit and vegetable consumption are tempered by increases in sugar and fats.
Mexican immigrants to California and their descendants are maintaining some traditional eating patterns as they incorporate many new foods into their diets, a survey found. There have been modest increases in the consumption of milk, vegetables, and fruits. But not all changes are for the best: consumption of fats, sugar, and sliced white bread is up.
Consumer attitudes toward locally grown produce
by Christine M. Bruhn, Paul M. Vossen, Erin Chapman, Suzanne Vaupel
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Without adequate signage in the supermarket, shoppers may be unaware of what is or is not locally grown. Given the choice, many prefer the local product, but they don't want to pay a premium price.
Can small farmers in California achieve greater profits through promotion of “locally grown” produce? Interviews and sales data indicate that consumers are attracted to locally grown produce, but not if the quality is poor or the price is more than they are used to spending. When markets advertise high-quality, locally grown produce at a fair price, produce sales increase.
Fuji apple, radicchio, basil, walnut top specialty crop research needs
by Stephen H. Brown, Louie H. Valenzuela
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Specialty fruits, vegetables, herbs, and nuts are becoming more important to California's agricultural economy. This UC survey will help guide future research.
Growers and distributors list 130 specialty crops they think need research. Heading the list: Fuji apple, radicchio, basil, and walnut.
Deterring compaction of soil by heavy machinery
by S. K. Upadhyaya
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Alternative equipment and cultural techniques can reduce the harmful effects of heavy equipment on farm soils, and improve agricultural sustainability.
During the last four decades, capital-, chemical-, and energy-intensive agriculture has doubled farm production, while mechanization has reduced agricultural labor by a factor of three. These achievements are not without their problems. For instance, the use of heavy machinery often leads to soil compaction, which in turn is overcome by increasing inputs of energy, chemical fertilizers, and water. All of these practices have a negative bearing on agricultural sustainability. Farmers can deter soil compaction by resorting to reduced tillage or no tillage, using high-flotation tires or steel or rubber-belted tracks on vehicles, or by using controlled-traffic, wide-span vehicles. Additional research could help pin down the right combination of deterrents.
Irrigated warm- and cool-season grasses compared in Northern California pastures
by Melvin R. George, Pefer B. Sands, Charles B. Wilson, Roger Ingram, J. Michael Connor
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Warm-season species are more productive in late summer than the traditional cool-season irrigated pasture grasses.
North American prairie grasses were most productive in a comparative study of irrigated warm-and cool-season grasses. The high yield and later peak in production of warm-season grasses make them ideal for increasing the productivity of irrigated pastures in California. All grasses in the study survived reduced irrigation. Grazing cattle preferred dallisgrass over all other grasses.
Fight weeds and increase forage: Using oats as a companion crop in establishing alfalfa
by W. Thomas Lanini, Steve B. Orloff, Ronald N. Vargas, Jack P. Orr
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Fast-growing oats keep weeds from dominating new alfalfa plantings; the first alfalfa harvest eliminates the oats as well.
During alfalfa stand establishment, an oat companion crop helps fight weeds and can increase first-cutting forage yield, experiments indicate. No long-term negative impacts on alfalfa production were observed.
Paving the way to a better artichoke
by Wayne L. Schrader, Keith S. Mayberry, David W. Cudney
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Imperial Star, a new thornless artichoke cultivar, shows promise as an annual crop in south coast and desert production areas.
Significant yield increases were achieved when a seed-propagated, thornless artichoke cultivar was developed for winter production in coastal and desert regions of Southern California and Arizona. The new cultivar was compared to commercial seed-propagated artichoke cultivars. Through research on fertilization, spacing, and weed control, scientists developed guidelines for producing these artichokes as annuals.
Brown-bagging Granny Smith apples on trees stops codling moth damage
by Walter J. Bentley, Mario Viveros
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Bagging individual apples on the tree provides effective but uneconomical protection for Granny Smith apples; economics may be better for Fuji variety.
In a 2-year study, thinning Granny Smith apples to one per cluster and covering them with brown paper bags when they were the size of a golf-ball resulted in significantly fewer fruits damaged by codling moth compared with fruits hand-thinned and left untreated. Sunburned fruit were also reduced both years by bagging, and fruit firmness and sweetness were improved in 1 of the 2 years. A similar experiment is now underway with Fuji apples.

News and opinion

EDITORIAL
Veterinary medicine in service to animal agriculture
by Frederick A. Murphy
Full text HTML  | PDF  
Webmaster Email: bjnoel@ucanr.edu

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California Agriculture, Vol. 46, No.4

Bt controls tobacco budworm on petunia
Cover:  A resistant tobacco budworm feeds on petunia, unaffected by insecticide applications. Researchers at UC are now managing the pest with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacterium-derived biological control agent. UC;s overall agenda for non-chemical pest control research is set forth in a new book: Beyond Pesticides. Photo by Marvin G. Kinsey
July-August 1992
Volume 46, Number 4

Peer-reviewed research and review articles

In the San Joaquin Valley, cotton aphids have become resistant to commonly used pesticides
by Elizabeth E. Grafton-Cardwell, Thomas F. Leigh, Walter J. Bentley, Peter B. Goodell
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
By reducing or eliminating early season chemical applications, growers can increase beneficial insect populations and reduce the likelihood that cotton aphids will develop resistance.
Laboratory bioassays have demonstrated that cotton aphids are resistant to organophosphate pesticides in many areas Of the Sari Joaquin Valley. Many of the aphids are resistant before they reach newly emerged cotton; their resistance tends to decline at the end of the season. The best management strategy: Avoid using pesticides in spring when they are least effective and natural enemies are abundant, and use pesticides at the end of the season to prevent sticky cotton bolls.
Tobacco budworm, pest of petunias, can be managed with Bt
by Nita A. Davidson, Marvin G. Kinsey, Lester E. Ehler, Gordon W. Frankie
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Two biological control methods were tested, but only Bacillus thuringiensis proved effective.
Damage to petunias by tobacco budworm has reduced the popularity of this colorful summer annual in some parts of California. However, properly timed applications of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can effectively manage budworm in home gardens and in greenhouses. Lacewing applications proved ineffective on petunias, but may control tobacco budworm on other plants.
Dietary change among Latinos of Mexican descent in California
by Eunice Romero-Gwynn, Douglas Gwynn, R Barbara Turner, Gwendolyn Stanford, Estella West, Eunice Williamson, Louis Grivetti, Roger McDonald
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Encouraging increases in fruit and vegetable consumption are tempered by increases in sugar and fats.
Mexican immigrants to California and their descendants are maintaining some traditional eating patterns as they incorporate many new foods into their diets, a survey found. There have been modest increases in the consumption of milk, vegetables, and fruits. But not all changes are for the best: consumption of fats, sugar, and sliced white bread is up.
Consumer attitudes toward locally grown produce
by Christine M. Bruhn, Paul M. Vossen, Erin Chapman, Suzanne Vaupel
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Without adequate signage in the supermarket, shoppers may be unaware of what is or is not locally grown. Given the choice, many prefer the local product, but they don't want to pay a premium price.
Can small farmers in California achieve greater profits through promotion of “locally grown” produce? Interviews and sales data indicate that consumers are attracted to locally grown produce, but not if the quality is poor or the price is more than they are used to spending. When markets advertise high-quality, locally grown produce at a fair price, produce sales increase.
Fuji apple, radicchio, basil, walnut top specialty crop research needs
by Stephen H. Brown, Louie H. Valenzuela
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Specialty fruits, vegetables, herbs, and nuts are becoming more important to California's agricultural economy. This UC survey will help guide future research.
Growers and distributors list 130 specialty crops they think need research. Heading the list: Fuji apple, radicchio, basil, and walnut.
Deterring compaction of soil by heavy machinery
by S. K. Upadhyaya
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Alternative equipment and cultural techniques can reduce the harmful effects of heavy equipment on farm soils, and improve agricultural sustainability.
During the last four decades, capital-, chemical-, and energy-intensive agriculture has doubled farm production, while mechanization has reduced agricultural labor by a factor of three. These achievements are not without their problems. For instance, the use of heavy machinery often leads to soil compaction, which in turn is overcome by increasing inputs of energy, chemical fertilizers, and water. All of these practices have a negative bearing on agricultural sustainability. Farmers can deter soil compaction by resorting to reduced tillage or no tillage, using high-flotation tires or steel or rubber-belted tracks on vehicles, or by using controlled-traffic, wide-span vehicles. Additional research could help pin down the right combination of deterrents.
Irrigated warm- and cool-season grasses compared in Northern California pastures
by Melvin R. George, Pefer B. Sands, Charles B. Wilson, Roger Ingram, J. Michael Connor
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Warm-season species are more productive in late summer than the traditional cool-season irrigated pasture grasses.
North American prairie grasses were most productive in a comparative study of irrigated warm-and cool-season grasses. The high yield and later peak in production of warm-season grasses make them ideal for increasing the productivity of irrigated pastures in California. All grasses in the study survived reduced irrigation. Grazing cattle preferred dallisgrass over all other grasses.
Fight weeds and increase forage: Using oats as a companion crop in establishing alfalfa
by W. Thomas Lanini, Steve B. Orloff, Ronald N. Vargas, Jack P. Orr
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Fast-growing oats keep weeds from dominating new alfalfa plantings; the first alfalfa harvest eliminates the oats as well.
During alfalfa stand establishment, an oat companion crop helps fight weeds and can increase first-cutting forage yield, experiments indicate. No long-term negative impacts on alfalfa production were observed.
Paving the way to a better artichoke
by Wayne L. Schrader, Keith S. Mayberry, David W. Cudney
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Imperial Star, a new thornless artichoke cultivar, shows promise as an annual crop in south coast and desert production areas.
Significant yield increases were achieved when a seed-propagated, thornless artichoke cultivar was developed for winter production in coastal and desert regions of Southern California and Arizona. The new cultivar was compared to commercial seed-propagated artichoke cultivars. Through research on fertilization, spacing, and weed control, scientists developed guidelines for producing these artichokes as annuals.
Brown-bagging Granny Smith apples on trees stops codling moth damage
by Walter J. Bentley, Mario Viveros
| Full text HTML  | PDF  
Bagging individual apples on the tree provides effective but uneconomical protection for Granny Smith apples; economics may be better for Fuji variety.
In a 2-year study, thinning Granny Smith apples to one per cluster and covering them with brown paper bags when they were the size of a golf-ball resulted in significantly fewer fruits damaged by codling moth compared with fruits hand-thinned and left untreated. Sunburned fruit were also reduced both years by bagging, and fruit firmness and sweetness were improved in 1 of the 2 years. A similar experiment is now underway with Fuji apples.

News and opinion

EDITORIAL
Veterinary medicine in service to animal agriculture
by Frederick A. Murphy
Full text HTML  | PDF  

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