A severely affected strawberry field in Santa Maria Many strawberry growers in the Santa Maria and possibly in Salinas and Watsonville areas are now aware of a disease that is causing the die out in some fields.
Poor air quality It's that time of year again when hot weather fuels the creation of ozone, or smog. Some pesticides emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to ozone formation.
Whiteflies are usually considered a minor pest on strawberries, but greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum has become an important pest with regular and high infestations in the recent years.
Cabbage aphids-Two live aphids in the foreground and those killed by B. bassiana in the background. (Photo by Surendra Dara) Green peach aphids (above) and western flower thrips adult (below).
My research in the past few years demonstrates the potential of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana in managing various arthropod pests on broccoli, lettuce, and strawberries.
