Grower’s IPM Guide for Florida Tomato and PepperProduction
This comprehensive, interdisciplinary resource guides the user through the process ofplanning a crop with up front decisions about pest and disease prevention and
management. It presents optional production methods and IPM tactics that can reducethe risks of insect outbreaks, disease epidemics, resistance to pesticides and associated
costs. The overall purpose of the guide is to increase the profitability of growingtomatoes and peppers while protecting human health and the environment.
Edited by
Dr. Jennifer L. GillettUniversity of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Entomology and Nematology
Gainesville, FL 32611
Heidi N. HansPetersenUniversity of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Entomology and Nematology
Gainesville, FL 32611
Dr. Norman C. LepplaUniversity of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Entomology and Nematology
Gainesville, FL 32611
Denise D. ThomasUniversity of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Entomology and Nematology
Gainesville, FL 32611
Published 2006
Acknowledgements
The project to produce a Grower’s IPM Guide for Florida Tomato and Pepper Production
succeeded due to the partnership that was created to assemble a complete set of IPM
resources for planning pest management at the beginning of each crop. This partnership
included county extension faculty, extension specialists, crop consultants, tomato and
pepper growers, and other pest management experts. Norm Leppla and Barbra Larson
prepared the grant proposal that was funded by the USDA, CSREES, Pest Management
Alternatives Program (grant # 2003-34381-13593), Monte Johnson, Program Director,
PMAP. Charles Mellinger, Glades Crop Care, Inc. was a formal cooperator because of
his expertise in managing pests of tomato and pepper. The Florida Fruit and Vegetable
Association advocated the project and encouraged its completion. Barbra Larson led
the initial phase of the project before becoming Coordinator, UF, IFAS Florida Yards
and Neighborhoods. We thank especially the section editors, authors of individual topics,
and those who reviewed the entire guide: Dan Botts and Mike Aerts, Florida Fruit and
Vegetable Association; Charles Mellinger and Steve Hoak, Glades Crop Care, Inc.; Kevin
Seitzinger, Gargiulo Farms; Wes Roan, Six L’s; and Steve Olson and Gene McAvoy, UF,
IFAS. Jane Medley designed the cover, Joyce Merritt helped with final production and
organization of the appendix material, and Esther Dunn conducted grower interviews.
During the more than 3-year effort to produce this guide, assistance was provided by
Rebecca Baldwin, Angela Vincent and several other staff members and students. The
UF, IFAS statewide IPM program is funded by USDA, CSREES, IPM, Mike Fitzner,
Director, Plant and Animal Systems, and administered by Larry Arrington, Dean for
Extension and Director, Florida Cooperative Extension Service and Joan Dusky,
Associate Dean. John Capinera, Chairman, UF, IFAS, Entomology and Nematology
Department provided considerable encouragement and guidance.
ii
Acknowledgements iiTable of Contents iii
chapter one~ Introduction
IPM Principles 1IPM Past, Present & Future 2Developing an IPM Plan 3Project Objectives 4
chapter two~ Tomato & Pepper Production
Unique Challenges to Growing Vegetables in FloridaWeather Events 5Poor Soils 6Pest and Disease Pressure 6Labor 7Development and Urban Sprawl 7Regulatory Issues 7
Cultivar Selection 8Tomato Cultivars for Florida 10
Round Tomatoes 10Roma Tomatoes 11Cherry Tomatoes 11Grape Tomatoes 12
Pepper Cultivars for Florida 13Resistant Cultivars 14Don’t Rely on Resistance Alone 14Types of Resistance 14
chapter three~ Soil & Nutrient Management
Best Management Practices (BMPs) 15Soil Types and Production Systems 17Irrigation 18
Methods of Irrigation 18Irrigation Schedule 20Improving Efficiency 20Flooding 22
Fertilization 23Nutrient needs for Tomato & Pepper 23Supplemental Fertilizer Applications 23Micronutrients 23Table of Fertilizer Recommendations - Tomato 24
Grower’s IPM Guide for Florida Tomato & Pepper Production
Contents
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Table of Fertilizer Recommendations - Pepper 25N Rate Recommendation for Grape Tomato 26Nutrient Deficiencies 26
Sampling and Diagnostic Tools 27What is a “Credible” Research Institution? 27How to Choose a Soil Testing Lab 27Water Sampling for Drip Irrigation 27Petiole Sap Testing 28Whole Leaf Analysis 28Record Keeping 29References 30
Cover Crops 33Steps to Success 33Benefits of Cover Crops 33Selecting a Cover Crop 33Cover Crop Selection Checklist 34Matching Production System and Cropping Cycle 34Avoiding Problems 35Description of Different Cover Crops 36
Compost and Manure 37Steps to Success Using Compost 37Benefits of Compost and Manure 37Nutrient Release 39How and When to Incorporate? 39How to Calibrate a Compost Spreader 39Avoiding Problems 40Sources of Compost and Manure 40
chapter four~ Pest Management
MonitoringAction Thresholds 41
Pest Outbreaks 41Why All Growers Should Scout 42How to Scout 42Sampling for Pepper 42Sampling for Tomato 42
Featured PestsGreen Peach Aphid 43Beet Armyworm 45Broad Mite 47Tomato & Tobacco Hornworm 49Vegetable Leafminer 51Cabbage & Soybean Looper 53Mole Crickets (Tawny & Short Winged) 55Pepper Weevil 57Tomato Russet Mite 59
Contents, cont.
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Southern Armyworm 61Two Spotted Spider Mite 63Stinkbugs & Leaffooted Bugs 65Florida Flower Thrips 67Melon Thrips 69Tobacco Thrips 71Western Flower Thrips 73Tomato Fruitworm (Corn Earworm) 75Tomato Pinworm 77Yellowstriped Armyworm 79Sweet potato/ Silverleaf Whitefly 81Whitefly, Biotypes Q 83Whiteflies, TYLCV & Insecticides 84Whiteflies, Begomovirus & Insecticides 85
Southern Plant Diagnostic Network 87Pest Seasonality Charts 88
North Florida 88Southwest Florida 88West Central Florida 89
chapter 5~ Disease Management
Integrated ControlCorrectly Identify Pathogen 91Sanitation 91Nutrient and Water Management 92Chemical Control 92
Disease Seasonality Charts 93Featured Diseases
Anthracnose of Pepper 95Bacterial Spot 97Bacterial Wilt 99Early Blight of Tomato 101Fusarium Crown and Root Rot of Tomato 103Gray Mold and Ghost Spot 105Late Blight 107Tomato Little Leaf 109Nematode Management 111Phytophthora Blight of Pepper 113Pythium Damping-off, Root and Stem Rot 115Southern Blight 117Target Spot 119Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus 121Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus 123Verticillium Wilt 125Wet Rot 127
White Mold 129
Contents, cont.
v
Disorders of PepperBlossom End Rot 131Sunscald 132Misshapen Fruit 133
Disorders of TomatoBlossom End Rot 135Catfacing 136Cracking & Graywall 137Internal White Tissue & Irregular Ripening 138Pox and Fleck & Puffiness 139Rain Check & Sunscald 140Thrips Damage & Zebra Stripe & Zippering 141
Postharvest Diseases of Tomato 142Bacterial Soft Rot 145Sour Rot 147Rhizopus Rot (Fungal Nests) 149Black Mold and Rots 151Buckeye Rot and Late Blight 153Gray Mold (Botrytis Fruit Rot) 155
chapter 6~ Weed Management
Weed ManagementWhen to Manage Weeds 157Critical Weed-Free Periods 157
Classification of Weeds 158Featured Weeds
Alligator Weed 160Palmer Amaranth 160Spiny Amaranth 161Bermudagrass 161Smooth Crabgrass 162Large Crabgrass 162Dodder 163Eclipta 163Florida Pusley 164Goosegrass 164American Black Nightshade 165Purple Nutsedge 165Yellow Nutsedge 166Livid Amaranth 166Common Purslane 167Common Ragweed 167Spreading Dayflower 168Smooth Pigweed 168
Non-chemical Controls 169Chemical Controls / Herbicides 171
Implementing Control 172
Contents, cont.
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chapter 7~ Cultural Controls & Physical Controls
Introduction 173Featured Controls
Mulches 174Planting Dates & Times 176Field Sanitation 178Off-Season Management and Cover Crops 180Off-Season Management and Double Cropping 182Windbreaks 184
chapter 8~ Biological Control
IntroductionBiological Control 187Habitat Management 187Three Forms of Biological Control 188Attracting Beneficial’s Into Fields 189Micro-sized Good Guys 189
Featured Biological ControlBig-eyed Bug 191Brown & Green Lacewings 192Minute Pirate Bug 193Predatory Stinkbugs & Ladybird beetle 194Larra Bicolor 195Wasp Parasitoid & Predatory Mite 196
Beneficial Agents Interaction with Pesticides 197
chapter 9~ Chemical Control
Biorational InsecticidesIntroduction 199Oil, Soap and Neem 199Bt~Bacillus thuringiensis 200Nicotinoids 201Insect Growth Regulators 202
Pest ResistanceWhat is Resistance 203Managing Resistance 204MOA~ Mode-of-Action 204
Worker Protection StandardsIntroduction 205Establishment Operators 205Notification 206Warning Signs 208
Restricted Use Pesticides 209
Contents, cont.
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Appendix 1: Vegetable Pest & Disease Hotline
Appendix 2: How to Sample Insects, Nematodes, Diseases and Soil
Appendix 3: Calibration of Chemical Applicators Used in Vegetables
Appendix 4: Weed-Herbicide Interaction Table
Appendix 5: IRAC- Mode of Action List -Insecticides
Appendix 6: FRAC- Mode of Action List -Fungicides
Appendix 7: HRAC- Mode of Action List -Herbicides
Appendix 8: National Pest Alert -Tospoviruses
Contents, cont.
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