While you were busy in 2006
Periodic News of Interest to the Horticulture Industry in Maine
Printable Version (.pdf)
Action Against Unlicensed Grower
The Department of Agriculture and the Maine Attorney General's Office settled a complaint against a greenhouse operation for selling plant material without first obtaining a license. The Department of Agriculture made numerous attempts to get the business licensed starting with a renewal notice sent in December of 2004. In 2006, a consent agreement was signed requiring the payment of a fine.
Chrysanthemum and Geranium Survey
in 2006, we participated in surveys for chrysanthemum white rust (CWR) and ralstonia. This is the third year we have surveyed for CWR. As in the past, no CWR was found in Maine, but CWR was found this year in Pennsylvania and Delaware. In response to concerns from the potato industry, we took part in a survey for ralstonia. We looked for symptoms of ralstonia on approximately 140,000 geraniums at 20 different businesses. No symptoms of ralstonia were observed.
Daylily Rust
Daylily rust was observed at several Maine businesses this year. In most cases, the plants came from suppliers in Florida. Daylily rust is widespread in the southern United States and growers should be on the lookout for orange spots on daylily leaves. For more information on daylily rust visit pest information section of our website.
New Pests to Watch
The St. Johnswort leaf beetle was introduced in the western United States many years ago as a biocontrol for weedy St. Johnswort species. Recently, it has appeared in the northeast. Watch for browning and dieback of St. Johnswort plants from the quarter inch, coppery leaf beetles. A new caterpillar, variegated golden tortrix, was identified in Newfoundland, Canada this year. This leafroller pest has a wide host range that includes many ornamental and fruit trees. Be on the lookout for any unusual leafrolling on plants from Canada.
Phytophthora ramorum
Ramorum leaf blight (RLB, formerly known as sudden oak death) was found at a Maine nursery for the first time this year. RLB caused by the fungal pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, is a serious disease on the west coast that affects a wide range of plants. This summer, several Maine businesses received potentially infected nursery stock from a supplier in Oregon and those businesses were surveyed for RLB. One business has a sample test positive for P. ramorum and the affected plants were destroyed. Additional surveying at the business yielded negative results. We also participated for the third year in a national survey effort for RLB and all results were negative. For more information on Ramorum leaf blight visit the California Oak Mortality Task Force.
Some Observations
Once again we had a wet spring that contributed to high levels of disease problems. Some of the disease we commonly observed were lilac blight, maple anthracnose, rose black spot, peony blight, cedar apple rust, apple scab and septoria leaf spot of tomato and rudbeckia. There were a number of instances of thrips, scale and mealybug on incoming plants this year. Remember to carefully check newly received plants for signs of pests to prevent their introduction into your growing operation. Populations of lily leaf beetle, columbine sawfly and viburnum leaf beetle were high this past year.
Vegetable Pest Survey
In 2006, we surveyed vegetable crops on 11 farms for several insect pests: swede midge (a crucifer pest), leek moth (a pest on onion, leek and garlic), two exotic species of wireworms (attacking a variety of vegetables), two exotic root knot nematodes (pests of potato and other crops) and old world boll worm (attacking small fruits, tomato, alfalfa and other crops). We did not find any of these pests.
For more information:
Email Horticulture program or call (207)287-3891
