Author
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Legaspi, Jesusa |
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Miller, Neil |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/12/2014 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: USDA, ARS scientists and staff at the satellite laboratory of CMAVE in Tallahassee, FL co-organized a vegetable field day with Florida A&M University (FAMU) faculty, staff and extension agents. The field days were held at the ARS and FAMU-Center for Viticulture and small fruit Research Integrated Pest Management (IPM) field sites in Tallahassee, FL. The focus of the outreach activity is to demonstrate the use of refuge plants to attract and conserve beneficial insects (example – hover flies, ladybeetles, green lacewing) that in turn can control insect pests such as aphids, diamondback moth and whiteflies in vegetable crops. Permanent displays of annual (i.e., sweet alyssum, Queen Anne’s lace) and perennial (ex. Blue mistflower, dotted horsemint) plants as sources of beneficial species were shown to sustainable community garden growers, homeowners and small farm owners. On-going experimental studies were shown such as intercropping vegetable crops such as kale, beans, peppers, and tomatoes with refuge plants such as sweet alyssum, buckwheat, and sunflower to control insect pests in a sustainable manner. |
