IPM of Ethnocultural Crops

Jennifer AllenVegetable Crop Specialist

OMAFRA - Guelph

Growing Ethnocultural Crops

If you grow it, they will come…..

What is IPM?

• IPM incorporates a variety of cultural, biological and chemical methods to efficiently manage pest populations while lowering dependence on chemical means of control. 

• IPM, through its multi-tactical approach 1) lessens the potential for pesticide resistance 2) reduces chemical costs 3) limits human exposure to pesticides and 4) lowers the environmental impact of pest management.

IPM and Ethnocultural Crops

• Wonderful opportunity!

• Limited products registered in Canada

• Focus on cultural controls and allow the build up biological control agents (e.g. natural enemies, predators, and parasitoids)

Today’s Focus

• Indian Tinda

• Indian Okra

• Indian Karela

• Calalloo

• Choy Sum

• Oriental Eggplant

Indian Tinda

• Scientific Name: Praecitrullus fistulosus• Common Names: round melon, squash melon,

apple gourd, Indian baby pumpkin

• Plant Family: Cucurbit• Uses: Culinary, Medicinal • Growing Practices: - very similar to

watermelons - irrigation

- pollination- 60 days to maturity

Indian Tinda

Indian Tinda

• Pest Complex:

– downy mildew, powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt

– aphids, mites, thrips, cucumber beetles

– weeds

IPM for Indian Tinda

• Cultural– 2-3 yr rotation out of cucurbits– avoid planting near other cucurbits

• Biological– support natural populations of lacewings, ladybird

beetles, ground beetles

• Chemical– no registered products in Canada

Biological Control Agents

Lacewings Ladybird beetles Hover flies Ground beetles

Indian Okra

• Scientific Name: Abelmoschus esculentus• Common Names: calalou, gumbo, ocra• Plant Family: Mallow• Uses: Culinary, Medicinal, Fiber• Growing Practices: - direct seeding/transplant

- variety of soil types- many varieties;

focus on growing area- 50 days (from

transplant)

Indian Okra

Indian Okra

• Pest Complex:

– In Ontario: unknown

– In U.S:

- flea beetles, cucumber beetles, corn earworm, loopers (foliage and pod feeders)

- fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, nematodes

- weeds

IPM for Indian Okra

• Cultural– 2-3 yr rotation– do not follow crops that are attractive/susceptible to

root-knot nematode– crop debris management– use of protective coverings

• Chemical– no registered products in Canada

Indian Karela

• Scientific Name: Momordica charantia• Common Names: bitter melon, bitter cucumber,

balsam pear, alligator pear, cerasse

• Plant Family: Cucurbit• Uses: Culinary and medicinal • Growing Conditions:- warm, humid summers

- transplants- trellising

- irrigation- pollination- 65-70 days from transplant

Indian Karela

Indian Karela

• Pest Complex:

– downy mildew, powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt

– aphids, mites, thrips, cucumber beetles

– weeds

IPM for Indian Karela

• Cultural– 2-3 yr rotation away from cucurbits– plant away from other cucurbits– trap crops an option for cucumber beetles

• Biological– no specific predators/parasitoids; similar generalists to tinda

• Chemical– use only registered products (herbicide and fungicide)– no established thresholds

Calaloo

• Scientific Name: Amaranthus gangeticus• Common Names: Chinese spinach, edible

amaranth, bayam• Plant Family: Amaranth• Uses: Culinary, Grain • Growing Conditions: - currently grown in Ontario

- muck and mineral soils - seeded in June- 25-50 days to maturity; variety specific- sequentially planted

Calaloo

Calaloo

• Pest Complex:

– tarnished plant bug, flea beetles, leafminers

– fungus stem and leaf blights

– weeds

IPM for Calaloo

• Cultural– 2-3 yr rotation– grow under cover

• Biological– generalists (e.g. ground beetle, ladybird beetles etc.)– minimize insecticide applications at beginning of season

• Chemical– no established thresholds – use only registered products

Choy Sum

• Scientific Name: Brassica rapa var. parachinensis

• Common Names: Flowering white cabbage, tsoi sim, yu choy sum

• Plant Family: Brassicas• Uses: Culinary • Growing Conditions: - currently grown in Ontario

- muck and mineral soils - not frost hardy- 40 days to maturity- sequentially planted

Choy Sum

Choy Sum

• Pest Complex:

– anything that likes brassicas, including broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower will feed on choy sum

– caterpillar complex (ICW, DBM, CL), flea beetles, swede midge, thrips

– downy mildew, powdery mildew, alternaria, white rust

– weeds

IPM for Choy Sum • Cultural

– 3 yr rotation out of brassicas– field selection– crop residue management– good weed management– timing of planting dates (e.g. flea beetle)

• Biological– generalists and some species specific predators/parasitoids – minimize insecticide applications at beginning of season; use

biological insecticides• Chemical

– established thresholds on other brassicas– use only registered products

Oriental Eggplant

• Scientific Name: Solanum melongena var. esculentum

• Includes: Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai

• Plant Family: Solaneceous• Uses: Culinary and medicinal • Growing Conditions: - seeds or transplants -

support systems- drip irrigation/fertigation- mulches- 58-65 days to maturity

Oriental Eggplant

Oriental Eggplant

• Pest Complex:

– anthracnose, early blight, verticilium wilt

– Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles, cutworms, tarnished plant bug, European corn borer

– weeds

IPM for Oriental Eggplant

• Cultural– 3 yr rotation out of solaneaceous crops– place plantings away from previous fields and away from corn– crop debris destruction

• Biological– generalists– minimize insecticide applications

• Chemical– no established thresholds but scouting is critical to pesticide

timing – number of products (see Pub. 363)

Summary

• Planning is critical for an effective IPM program

• Take cues from how we grow crops in the same family

• Learn as much as you can before you start

• Become good friends with your seed supplier!