Topics in Subtropics

So I got an email with an attached set of photos showing a number of 18 month avocado trees that had broken at the ground line in a wind storm.

I get a call. He: My trees not doing well. Me: What's the problem? He: It's yellow? Me: Have you looked at the roots? Are there roots? He: NO Me: I'll be out next week, but in the meantime, look at the root system.

All the media are full of stories about the impending El Nino effects and possible flooding rains in California. As I write this, it is the day before our first significant storm (Jan. 4) with a 100% chance of rain throughout Ventura county for tomorrow.

We hear about the decline in honeybees (non-native, from Europe and the most commonly managed bees), but native bees are declining too and in many instances these are the pollinators of California avocado. The loss of any pollinators is a loss for agriculture as well as the environment.

The disease pyramid describes how disease can eventually destroy a plant. It is comprised of the presents of the pathogen that causes the disease, the plant or host, the environmental conditions that sets up the pathogen to go after the plant and time.