Developing integrated pest and pathogen management approach for controlled environment horticulture crops is of major impotance to safeguard growers interest, and community health and sustainability. The abilty to control temperature, light and to some extent humidity, creates optimal conditions for crop growth. However, the same suitable environment creates favorable opportunities for insect pest population growth, their associated viral diseases and fungal pathogens. Growers often rely on chemical insecticides to control CEH pests, leading to selective pressure and development of insecticide resistance in major CEH pests, such as aphids, thrips and whitelfies. This highlights the fact that insecticides are not reliable long-term pest control solution. Therefore, CEH specific effective pest and pathogen management approaches are urgently needed to move towards sustainable CEH crop production nationwide.
Speakers:
- Samantha Wilden, Cornell University
- Arash Kheroiding, Texas A&M AgriLife
- Krishna Bhattarai, Texas A&M AgriLife
- Erich Schoeller, University of Georgia
- Ruchika Kashyap, University of Georgia
- Andrew Ogden, University of Georgia
- Azlan Zahid, Texas A&M AgriLife
