Temperature regulation is a cornerstone of protected agriculture production. High tunnels trap infrared rays from the sun, keeping temperatures sufficiently warm for production year-round. However, on hot, sunny, summer days, this very function can work against crops by disrupting the pest control services provided by natural enemies. Insect predators and parasitoids tend to be more…Read more about Too Hot to Handle? Entomopathogenic Nematodes for High Tunnel Biological Control[Read More]
Nematode
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) pose a hidden threat to vegetable production, with root-knot nematodes being among the most damaging soil-borne pests. These nematodes affect a wide range of crops and have caused significant yield reductions in Indiana, impacting both large-scale conventional vegetable production and small-scale diversified farms, particularly in high tunnel production. Despite their potential to…Read more about Unveiling Root-knot Nematodes and the Role of Suppressive Soils in Vegetable Production[Read More]
Root-knot nematodes cause severe damage in vegetable production. Its infection results in root swellings called galls that interrupt plant water and nutrient uptake (Figure 1). Aboveground, plants show symptoms that include stunted growth, wilting, and leaf yellowing. In addition to root-knot nematodes, several other plant parasitic nematodes can cause damage to vegetable roots. Damage to…Read more about Plant Parasitic Nematodes Survey in Indiana[Read More]