PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds

PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds
COLLECTIONS
Insect collection
Plant disease and
damage collection
Weed collection
WHY IDENTIFY
THE PEST,
DISEASE OR
WEED?
THE AIM OF THE COLLECTIONS
The aim is to help in the systematic study of pests, diseases and weeds and to
obtain experience in correctly identifying the causes of plant problems. About
20 specimens should be prepared for each collection. It is a good idea to
swap specimens with other collectors. Instructions can be given for all
collections, including details about collecting and preserving them, well
before commencing the study of Plant Protection. It is easy to compile
collections during the summer. Collections can be a valuable personal
reference for many years.
Insect collection. A dry and preserved collection of local pests of
economic importance can be prepared and identified. A systematic index
should accompany the collection, ie insects should be arranged according
to Order. Some specimens may be compulsory; the others collected as
desired but be of relevant horticulture interest.
Plant disease and damage collection. A dry herbarium collection of
plant diseases and plant damage can be collected and arranged according
to the agents which cause plant problems, eg insects, snails, nematode
diseases, virus diseases, etc (page xi). A systematic index should
accompany the collection, ie diseases should be arranged according to
their type, eg bacterial diseases, fungal diseases, etc. Some specimens may
be compulsory and others of local or personal horticultural interest.
Weed collection. A dry herbarium collection should be prepared and
arranged according to specified weed groups. An index should accompany
the collection. Collection of the majority of weeds should be compulsory.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
Pests, diseases and weeds are the main causes of plant problems and
if they are not identified accurately, control measures are likely to be
ineffective.
Identification of the pest, disease or weed is the 3 rd step in IPM. If
dealing with:
– Diseases, the term IDM (Integrated Disease Management) is used.
– Weeds, the term IWM (Integrated Weed Management) is used.
Some pests, diseases and weeds are difficult to identify.
IPM
PLAN
PLAN
PLAN
PLAN
CROP,
REGION
List the
diseases
and pests
and weed
problems
that your
crop gets
Prepare a
fact sheet for
each problem
IDENTIFY
PROBLEM
STEPS
1. Client’s enquiry
2. Identify affected
plant, crop
3. Examine plant
parts for signs,
symptoms, tests
4. Visit site, history,
questions
5. Consult
resources
(colleagues,
books, websites)
6. Seek expert help
7. Report the
diagnosis
MONITOR
Know:
When to monitor?
Where to
monitor?
What to count,
eg pest &
beneficial
insects, eggs,
etc?
How to monitor,
sticky traps,
etc?
Keep records
THRESHOLD
Economic?
Aesthetic?
Biodiversity?
Complaints?
Is there a
threshold for this
pest above which
controls must be
implemented?
Is there a legal
requirement to
comply?
CONTROL,
ACTION
Decision making
?
Legislation
Cultural
Sanitation
Biological
Resistance
Quarantine
Disease-tested
Physical etc
Pesticide
BMP
Organic, etc
Combinations
of these
EVALUATE
Was the IPM
program
successful?
Did you
achieve the
control you
wanted?
Can the IPM
be improved?
YES/NO?
Steps in Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
xii