New predatory bug limits establishment of Nesi in tomato

New predatory bug limits establishment of Nesi in tomato

Researchers have found three species of predatory bug in the Miridae family that can limit the establishment of the harmful predatory bug Nesidiocoris tenuis
Rhizoctonia

Rhizoctonia

Rhizoctonia solani is a soil fungus with a wide host range and worldwide distribution. Host plants include almost all vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees.
Switchable optical filters: the future of greenhouse covering materials?

Switchable optical filters: the future of greenhouse covering materials?

One of the main tasks of the Smart Materials project was completed last year. Greenhouse simulation models were used to explore the potential effect
Spread of plant viruses calls for vigilance

Spread of plant viruses calls for vigilance

Viruses are among the smallest pathogens infecting other living organisms. Plants are also susceptible to a large number of viruses that can cause serious
Crop protection products much more effective with adjuvants

Crop protection products much more effective with adjuvants

Crop protection products are sometimes unfairly labelled as losing their efficacy against pests or diseases. On closer investigation it becomes clear that these products
Mycosphaerella

Mycosphaerella

The fungus Mycosphaerella, also known as Didymella bryoniae, can cause serious problems, particularly in cucumber cultivation. It can infect leaves, stems, flowers and fruits.
“Hygiene protocol and resistant varieties go hand-in-hand”

“Hygiene protocol and resistant varieties go hand-in-hand”

As a cucumber grower you have to have iron discipline and nerves of steel. An apparently invisible enemy – CGMMV – is always lurking
Prey diets greatly improve biological control by predatory mites

Prey diets greatly improve biological control by predatory mites

Predatory mites are the most important natural enemies used for biological pest control in greenhouse horticulture. Many of these predatory mites are mass-reared on
nematodes

“It works, but you need discipline to succeed”

Thrips are one of the biggest threats chrysanthemum growers face. But this hasn’t put off River Flowers in the central Dutch town of Zaltbommel:
Damage caused by an excess of manganese and zinc is the result of too much trace element fertilisation combined with a sharply declining pH.

More measuring and timely tweaks keep pH and crop in balance

Growing media must allow plants to develop healthily all the way from the potting area to the living room. The correct acidity or alkalinity
Grower Frans Kortenhorst: “With this film, we cut our watering by 25% and I got rid of Sciarid fly in one fell swoop.”

“Film over the top of the pot does nothing but good”

Dutch Rhododendron grower Frans Kortenhorst was looking for a way to get rid of weeds and moss in his pots for good. He cut
Pest monitoring forms the basis of good biological control. Knowledge of the ratio of harmful and beneficial insects is indispensable in determining the necessary control strategy.

Monitoring system for spider mite damage and yellow sticky traps

Pest monitoring forms the basis of good biological control. Knowledge of the ratio of harmful and beneficial insects is indispensable in determining the necessary
Orius nymphs turn out to be highly mobile. With targeted supplementary feeding, this adult bug can be attracted to new cuttings.

Researchers make breakthrough in thrips control in chrysanthemum

The predatory bug Orius has been used to control thrips in sweet pepper for many years with great success, but the results have so
Supplementary feeding of predatory mites with a pollen preparation has outgrown the trial phase. A large number of growers are using this method.

‘Before the problem starts, build up a vigorous predator population’

Supplementary feeding of predatory mites with a pollen preparation has outgrown the trial phase. A large number of growers is successfully using this method.
Fungi and bacteria that live in plants can help make the plants more resilient to pests and diseases

Fungi and bacteria boost resistance to pests and diseases

More and more research is revealing that endophytes – microorganisms that live in the plant without harming it – can significantly boost a plant’s
Penicillium chrysogenum is a beneficial fungus whose Latin name means “painter’s brush”,

Penicillium

Penicillium chrysogenum is a beneficial fungus whose Latin name means “painter’s brush”, after the shape of the branched hyphae bearing rows of black/grey spores.
The management of Koppert Biological Systems and mayor Pieter van de Stadt on stage.

Royal Award for the management of Koppert Biological Systems

The management of Koppert Biological Systems received a Royal Award on 15 September. Paul Koppert and Henri Oosthoek received the award from mayor Pieter
Spodoptera exigua caterpillar on a leaf

Tomato spurs caterpillars to cannibalism

A tomato that has optimised its defence mechanism against insects will not only suffer less damage from caterpillars, but will also incite caterpillars to
Scientists have been taking another close look at how to control this thrips with a range of species of predatory mites and bugs.

Controlling Echinothrips americanus with predatory mites and bugs

As every grower knows, thrips are a huge problem in ornamentals grown under glass. The usual suspect is the Californian thrips, a species with
The pests Bemisia and tomato russet mite surfaced in large numbers in the tomato crop last year.

Growers alarmed by outbreaks of Bemisia and tomato russet mite

Several growing areas in the Netherlands and Belgium had to contend with them last year: Bemisia tabaci and tomato russet mite. These two pests