Each year, the Western Michigan Greenhouse Association and Metro Detroit Flower Growers Association partially fund floriculture projects performed by Michigan State University faculty and staff. In 2016, the associations awarded grants for seven projects in the MSU Departments of Horticulture, Entomology and Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences. “2016 MSU floriculture research summaries – Part 1” summarized the research results of tomato spotted wilt virus mitigation on chrysanthemums, increasing height of chrysanthemums with Fresco drenches, and comparing LEDs and HPS lamps for seedling production. Here is a short summary of the four other 2016 research projects and results.
Phytotoxicity of biological-compatible dip solutions for pest control on cuttings before sticking
To reduce incoming pest populations on vegetative cuttings, 28 cultivars of common bedding plants were dipped in low concentrations of BotaniGard (1.25 g/L), SuffOil (0.10%), M-Pede (0.50%) or a combination of all three. Twenty-four of the 28 plant species tested showed no phytoxicity symptoms. The four plant cultivars that did show symptoms were geranium zonal ‘Sunrise Hot Pink,’ Ipomea ‘Solar Power Black,’ Lantana ‘Little Lucky Pot of Gold’ and petunia ‘Headliner Violet Dark Eye.’ Therefore, dipping cuttings in biopesticides may reduce incoming insect populations with little or no phytotoxicity at the rates tested. However, growers should perform small-scale trials before using on all plant species and cultivars.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Michigan State University Extension