Tech Training

Irrigation water quality plays a critical role in influencing plant nutrition, substrate chemistry, and overall plant growth. Conducting annual water tests is a simple and cost-effective practice that helps ensure that irrigation water quality meets the necessary standards for producing healthy crops.

Stem and root diseases are common issues occurring in a wide variety of plants and production systems. There are numerous fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens that cause disease in roots, crowns and stems, many of which cause similar symptoms that can be challenging to distinguish. While pathogen identification can be difficult, recognizing disease symptoms can help inform control measures from a cultural, biological and chemical standpoint.

Identifying the exact cause of disease symptoms on the leaves can be challenging due to the wide range of symptoms that vary among species and cultivars. Fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens can cause similar diseases, and proper identification is crucial for implementing the best treatment and control measures. While lab analysis may be necessary to determine the specific pathogen, many diseases can be identified and treated through a combination of in-house testing and diagnostics.

Abiotic or physiological disorders are plant health issues caused by non-disease factors. Environmental conditions like temperature, light and substrate moisture are responsible for many abiotic disorders, while others are caused by chemical injury, nutrient deficiencies or genetic abnormalities. Remember that abiotic disorders aren’t contagious diseases but, in many cases, an environmental factor must be changed to correct the disorder.

Nutrient deficiencies and toxicities commonly occur during commercial production when there are issues with the substrate pH, electrical conductivity (EC) or fertilizer management. First, identify and describe the observed symptoms and compare them with published descriptions. Then, check the current fertilization strategy and confirm the diagnosis with in-house nutrient monitoring techniques.

There are many important considerations when trying to diagnose a plant health issue, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Remember the 3 Ds of Diagnostics: DESCRIBE the symptoms, DETERMINE the affected plant parts and consider the symptom DISTRIBUTION. The following tips pose some key questions to consider when starting the diagnostic process.

Chemical pesticides are essential tools used to control the development and spread of pests and pathogens including insects, mites, fungi, and bacteria. Over time, the consistent use of similar chemicals can result in the target pest or pathogen developing resistance to that type of chemical, rendering them ineffective. Insecticides and fungicides are grouped based on chemical properties, and these groups should be rotated to prevent resistance and preserve these valuable tools.

Bringing in plugs and liners is a great way to start a successful growing season. While it is easy to focus on finishing, it is just as essential to start off on the right foot at transplant. As production ramps up, it is important to continue following best practices from the time young plants are received. Following these best practices will produce the best quality plants going into the greenhouse and make the growing side easier.

Time is money when debating what to spray on diseased crops. However, knowing the target pathogen prior to making a corrective chemical application is not only a legal requirement but also helps provide the best outcome for your crop and wallet. ImmunoStrips, offered by Agdia, provide a quick and easy way to conduct on-site tests for a variety of plant pathogens. This video from Agdia provides a quick tutorial on how to use an ImmunoStrip, but there are some specific considerations to keep in mind to make the most of your testing.

What do we mean by “breaking the green bridge”? After the last plants have shipped out and the greenhouse is empty for the season, remaining pests and pathogens require a host to survive and bridge to the next crop. Whether that host is a holdover from the previous crop, a pet plant, weeds growing under benches, loose debris, or an algae-covered surface, these hosts provide refuge and an avenue for pests and pathogens to find the next crop. This is why it is important to not only empty the greenhouse between crops, but also to sanitize and ensure everything is done to start clean and stay clean during the next production cycle.